Dear Students,
I got an email from myself today that I had set up to return to my Inbox on this exact date using Gmail’s Snooze feature. I wrote it on November 16, 2024, and the subject line read: Halloween Prep Tips. In it I had given myself advice on what candy the kids in our neighborhood like best when trick-or-treating. It read, "Don't buy so much chocolate. Get Swedish Fish, Sour Patch Kids, Starburst, Skittles, Smarties, Dumdums, packets of mini Oreos and Rice Krispie Treats. Get at least 10 bags total. Consider getting a bowl that lights up to hand out the candy.”
Wow. Who knew? I guess my past self knew. I must have known that these ideas would be lost forever in my always addled and overcrowded mind if I didn’t remind myself at just the right moment. And, that moment is now when I have, indeed, started to think about shopping for Halloween.
A bowl that lights up to hand out the candy? That one was a shocker. I guess I must have seen such a bowl last year and thought it was a good idea. There is a Halloween parade in my neighborhood that ends in Fort Tryon Park and at the end of the parade route all the adults sit on the park benches with bowls of candy, and the kids come up to us in their costumes for trick-or- treating. As the night wears on it gets dark and the little ones especially have a hard time discerning who is handing out candy and who might just be enjoying relaxing on the bench to watch the parade. (This is in addition to the trick-or-treating that happens in my apartment building. Hence the need for 10 bags). The whole Halloween scene in my neighborhood came back to me when I read that email. Without it, I surely would have bought two bags of Hershey’s kisses and thought I was set.
With the arrival of the Halloween email I had the very unfamiliar thought, “Wow, good job me.” I silently thanked my past self for knowing my future self would need help with this holiday. I then immediately felt surprised by my own self-gratitude and appreciation. That’s rare for me and I think maybe for most of us. All of us? I think our inner critics are usually far louder and much more active. I know mine is.
My younger son, Mateo, is home from college for fall break and he was asking for my homemade chocolate chip cookies and whether I could make my lemon-ricotta pancakes for brunch tomorrow so he and his dad can enjoy them while watching football (from London!?). I realized I had not baked chocolate chip cookies in a really long time. And, I can’t even remember the last time I made those pancakes. Where is that Mama who regularly had homemade cookies on hand for her boys and who happily made pancakes on Sundays without being asked? A lyric from a Zach Bryan song I love flashed through my mind, “God I miss the ole me.” My present self is missing my past self. What am I doing that I can’t even make some small treats for my kiddo? Oof, I felt bad about it.
In actuality, all these selves – past, present and future – mine and yours – are doing (and will do) a really good job. There is a lot going on in the world and there is a lot going on in OUR worlds. I am astounded when I hear about how much you are all managing on the regular – school, work, family, fitness, looking after yourselves, looking after loved ones, trying to take advantage of New York City, trying to stay on top of your studies, your responsibilities, your health, the news, your work, your sanity. The list is endless, really. I invite you to think of your many selves, all of them – past, present and future – with kindness, appreciation, even awe. The next time you’ve finished a long reading for class, met a deadline for your boss, called a friend who needed cheering up, taken a walk in one of NYC’s parks, stopped to savor a delicious cup of coffee, aced an exam or even just passed it, let yourself think, “Wow, well done me.” Then think it again.
I came across this poem recently which captures this idea for me.
Love after Love*
By Derek Walcott
The time will come
when, with elation,
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror
and each will smile at the other’s welcome,
and say, sit here. Eat.
You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give wine. Give bread, Give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you
all your life, whom you ignored
for another, who knows you by heart.
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf
the photographs, the desperate notes,
peel your own image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.
Love again the stranger who was your self. Feast on your life.
And on Halloween candy!
Warmly,
*“Love after Love” Originally from COLLECTED POEMS 1948-1984 by Derek Walcott.
Current Student Profile
Namrata Natarajan is a second-year master’s student in the Social-Organizational Psychology program at Teachers College, Columbia University. Originally from Mumbai, India, she completed her first master’s in Industrial Psychology and went on to work in Human Resources, focusing on Organizational Development. Driven by a curiosity to deepen her understanding of organizational systems and how they shape employee experiences, she decided to pursue another master's at Teachers College. Namrata is currently interning at VNS Health in the Organizational Effectiveness, Learning, and Development team, where she supports projects on performance management, employee engagement survey analysis, and employee recognition strategies. She is passionate about cultivating inclusive, emotionally intelligent workplaces and developing as a practitioner of organizational psychology. Outside of work and academics, Namrata is an Indian classical dancer who has trained in Bharatanatyam—a South Indian dance form rooted in storytelling and expression—since the age of six, and continues to find joy in the art.
Alumni Profile
Chrissie Domingo grew up in the Philippines and earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Ateneo de Manila University. Before coming to Teachers College, she built her early career at a children’s sports company, first leading a client-facing team as an Account Supervisor and later serving as National Operations Supervisor, partnering with regional managers to strengthen local business strategies and operations.
At TC, Chrissie served on the 2023–2024 OHDCC board as the Professional Development Chair, organizing opportunities for students to connect with practitioners and grow their skills. She also completed three internships—at VNS Health as a Leadership Development Intern, at Colgate-Palmolive in Global HR Solutions, and at Brainlabs as an HR Generalist Intern—exploring the many ways psychology and people strategy intersect in organizations.
Chrissie now works at Citi as part of the HR Rotational Program, where she first supported process improvement initiatives on the HR Re-Engineering team and recently began her second rotation in HR Business Execution for Investment, Corporate, and Commercial Banking. She also serves as Chair of the HR Program Council, leading events that bring together HR program participants for learning and connection.
Alongside her corporate role, Chrissie maintains a small coaching practice, having earned her certification through the Co-Active Training Institute. She occasionally assists in CTI classes and loves supporting others’ growth through coaching.
Outside of work, Chrissie calls this her “hobby year”—recently taking pottery classes, trying rock climbing, and continuing her love of travel (she’s about to hit her 50th country!).
Connect with Chrissie on LinkedIn.
Chrissie Domingo grew up in the Philippines and earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Ateneo de Manila University. Before coming to Teachers College, she built her early career at a children’s sports company, first leading a client-facing team as an Account Supervisor and later serving as National Operations Supervisor, partnering with regional managers to strengthen local business strategies and operations.
At TC, Chrissie served on the 2023–2024 OHDCC board as the Professional Development Chair, organizing opportunities for students to connect with practitioners and grow their skills. She also completed three internships—at VNS Health as a Leadership Development Intern, at Colgate-Palmolive in Global HR Solutions, and at Brainlabs as an HR Generalist Intern—exploring the many ways psychology and people strategy intersect in organizations.
Chrissie now works at Citi as part of the HR Rotational Program, where she first supported process improvement initiatives on the HR Re-Engineering team and recently began her second rotation in HR Business Execution for Investment, Corporate, and Commercial Banking. She also serves as Chair of the HR Program Council, leading events that bring together HR program participants for learning and connection.
Alongside her corporate role, Chrissie maintains a small coaching practice, having earned her certification through the Co-Active Training Institute. She occasionally assists in CTI classes and loves supporting others’ growth through coaching.
Outside of work, Chrissie calls this her “hobby year”—recently taking pottery classes, trying rock climbing, and continuing her love of travel (she’s about to hit her 50th country!).
Connect with Chrissie on LinkedIn.