User:Arice
An entry of CTY, for CTY
Hi, as many of you may or may not know, my name is Erica Suzuki (she/her), but I go by Ari, so if you ever see me around camp, that's what you'll probably know me by. I'll be the Empress and Game Deity for JHU 2026 Session 2, and this is a entry of and for CTY.
It's currently 10:05 in the morning, Japan, Tokyo, on Saturday, August 30th. There's a few more days to go till it's officially been a month since my last camp session ended. Right now, I'm writing this with sadness, because I miss the camp. No, I don't miss the location, but I miss it for its activities, for its food (i didn't eat much but still-), for its parties (which are, and most of all, for its people and as an accomplice, the traditions that we bring). It's honestly so shocking how far I've come because of CTY, and how much I care about it now. I probably would've laughed if I said this to myself 4 years ago, but CTY has impacted me in so many aspects I couldn't realize about when I was smaller. Its community has taken care of me at every single low in my life, and it has been my biggest, longest, and most valuable impact.
I understand if you're confused at how big and I guess, important CTY sounds. But please understand, it's what you give, that you get back. It's how much you make it worth, that it will be worth to you. If you make it worth your while and enjoy it to the fullest, it will impact you, not just academically, not just socially, but also mentally, emotionally, and physically. Ironically, every single time I'd gone to CTY, I was always at the lowest, and each year, it's helped me get up, and struggle on, just a bit more with life, and do my best to fulfill my goals.
So, when I go back next year, and the year after, I'm gonna make it worth my time, to the best of my abilities, and I hope you do too. I'd be sad if anyone misses out on the unbelievable experience at CTY and quite frankly, it's because this is CTY that all of this is possible.
I like you, I love you, I CTY you. I love CTY and I love the Passionfruit. I love the place, the traditions, and the people who make it possible.
The entry is completed.
Dedicated to Nora, Alex, Graey, Gavin, Jackson, Ellie, Eli, Derek, Matvei, Johannes, and Finn
Relationships and the People of CTY
From quite a while back, I’ve had the pleasure of realizing that CTY is the host of one of the most tightly-knit communities and a multitude of opportunities. In all my years at any site I have gone to, while there have been some ups and downs, along with moments I regret experiencing, I’ve always felt the happiest there, and feel like I belong. Some years I have far more deeper friendships that do last a very long time, and some, fleeting, lasting only within the duration of camp. Needless to say, both are equally impacting and important to me, and I believe each interaction shapes me into, well, me. While I could mention well over a few hundred people who I have had the pleasure to be impacted by, here are mentions of some I can never forget, with experiences I treasure, whether the friendship lasted long or short.
Ako Gunji- While I met you quite a while back, and I have an admirably horrible memory, I can’t quite list every moment I had with you. I do remember you as someone I had looked up to when I was in camp, both your academic and social skills. Thanks for making me feel like I belonged at CTY, and that it was my home. I CTY you.
Rosalie Oliver- Now that I look back, I can’t count with my hands how many times I was rude to you without intending to. Thank you for understanding, never pressuring me, and always supporting me.
Yukino Suzuki- Thank you for accepting me truly as who i was, and while we ALWAYS had ups and downs, crazy moments and high ones, I cty you so much. I’ll see ya someday, k?
Rihito Ueda- 色々あった夏だったけどありがとうね、なんか結局連絡途切れたけど、またいつか絶対話したいわ。それまで、あざっす、とおやすみやけえ！I CTY you!
Fengyou- Thank you for teaching me sm about well, everything. It was such a fun time I spent with you, I wish you the best of luck in everything, and I CTY you.
Cayden Chen, Colin Campbell, Mose(s) Albert- Holy crap. I think we had the most chaotic admin-including CTY experience ever. While it was mildly trauma inducing, I had so much fun with yall, see you someday, I cty you three, and Mose, ur our Moses. (I still have the vid of Cayden giving Colin a piggyback ride-)
2025
Ok for the sake of all things both holy and dirty, I think this year deserves SO many shoutouts. Like what the-? Starting off strong:
TA COLIN: LET’S GO, COLIN OUR KING. Omg ty for putting up with our…slightly CTY inappropriate *cough* talks at our table, pure insanity of missed volleyball spikes, and me using only one hand to try to get it. Also ty for adopting Hawon as your son. I CTY you, good luck with your future, and remember. The power of the beautiful frog and crow leafblowers is with you.
Dr. Mo- Holy moly, thank you for putting up with the pure amount of chaos our class (especially me and Ellie) caused you and Colin. You were such an amazing teacher, and I hope to be able to see you again someday, next time with my health properly intact. I cty you!
Mo & Hawon- The smart and smarter of our class. The power of long bathroom breaks, disgusting water tastes, and missed volleyball spikes is with you two.
Nora & Alex- Holy shoot you two, I genuinely can’t believe I got to spend cty with yall. That was..wow. Thanks for putting up with all my loud chaotic nonsense. I like you, I love you, and I cty you. I love CTY and I loved the passionfruit with you.
Graey- Ok Emperor! It would’ve been simply nonsensical to NOT put you in a section of your own. I can’t even begin to describe you, cuz A, that would take WAY too many words, B, I would break my computer, and C, a decillion words could NOT describe how amazing you are. I admire so many qualities of you, and while this might not seem like much+being cliche, but I really do look up to you now. I’m glad I was able to spend a whole CTY summer sesh with you, and FYI I got a digicam for next year ;3. Also, around 100 glowsticks and shoelaces, tape, stickers, and some stuff for then. See ya around prolly lolz. I like you, I love you, I cty you. I love cty, and I love you so much!
Ellie- While I can’t discuss details here, ty for putting up with my talks and rants, and being such a wonderful person. I love you so much gurlie, stay safe, and I’ll be here for you. I cty you.
Gavin- Dear Gavin,
You are our lovely Trump VA. Drill baby drill. <3333
Eli- Need I mention more? Well no, since we still talk lmfao, lovely friendship we have. Anyways, I cty youu!!!
Derek- WASSUP MY PVK (Pookiest Volleyball King) GG ON THE DESTROYED SHOE GNG WE LOVE YOU, THE BEAUTIFUL BABY BOY/FROG, AND LEAFBLOWERS. THE POWER OF THE CROP TOPS SHALL BE WITH YOU!
Matvei- My Role model, and teach. Thanks for being here and literally saving me countless times brother. I love ya and cty u.
Johannes- Dap me up the next time we meet cuz ong, you and me? Chillin in life gng i cty u.
Finn (My pookie and love)- Finn goddamn Russell. I ain’t saying more, except wow, you came in my life REALLY weirdly. Ong ilysm, and ig thank you for camp. It was so exhilarating with you, and I felt the best and most alive I have in probably years. You were what made the experience so much better for me. <333
Courses
2021-22 Winter- CTY Online, Honors Grade 6 Mathematics
2021-22 Winter- CTY Online, The Young Historians - Continents: Europe and the Americas
2022 LMU S2- Marine Ecology
2023 LMU S2- Introduction to the Biomedical Sciences
2024 Ursinus S2- Anatomy and Physiology
2025 JHU S2- The Global Environment- Shoutout to my chill TA Colin, unhinged class, slightly questionable friends, and my returning dormmates: Nora, Alex, Graey. Mo, Hawon, you will always be our smart and smarter, and then there's them. My seven, Gavin, Eli, Matvei, Derek, Johannes, Ellie, and lastly, and on all the stars above, the most, Finn.
Contacts
Discord: @selenithyium (Arice in Server 42)
Instagram: @selenithyium (Send me a follow request and don't have a weird username tysm)
Gmail: uninkwood@gmail.com
P.S. I'm on discord and insta the most, so try to find me there first if you can <3
