【推荐2】For new students at Binghamton University, the first few weeks can be an exciting time. Their focus is largely on finding a sense of community. For Antoinette “Toni” Stefanakos, now a senior majoring in (主修) marketing, her sense of belonging (归属感) started with a flyer from Off Campus College Transport (OCCT).

“One day I was leaving the classroom and there was a flyer advertising (征聘) for student drivers,” Stefanakos said. “I had no idea that the buses on campus were run by students. So I called my dad, and said, ‘I’m going to be a bus driver.’”

OCCT is Binghamton University’s student-run bus service. The blue buses are a hallmark of the campus, and they are all driven in the lane (车道) by students.

“I interviewed, and it went really well,” Stefanakos said.

Stefanakos’s interest in public transportation continued to grow after she saw a job flyer for Transportation and Parking Services (TAPS). “I knew that TAPS was advertising for a marketing student,” she said. “And I thought that was great for me as a marketing major and someone who works with buses.”

Stefanakos began working with TAPS. Because of this job, Stefanakos found a new path. Now, she deals with public relations and trains new drivers for OCCT. “I can share my knowledge and experience as someone who is a driver,” she said.

The people make the job all the more worthwhile for Stefanakos. “One day, a passenger came up to me and told me I was her driver every Tuesday morning. And she told me that every time she was on my bus, she knew it was going to be a good day. I didn’t even realize that a simple ‘good morning’ could make someone’s day like that,” she said.

Stefanakos will surely miss the blue buses when she graduates, but she’ll always have unforgettable memories (回忆) to look back on.

【推荐3】When it comes to hobbies and career, all of us have our own stories. As a little girl, my favorite thing to do was read — same as today. So I figured I’d be a librarian when I grew up.     1     The library had a two-book limit, but she knew I’d blow through those in just a few days, so she always let me check out a big stack.

Time passed quickly and I was in fourth grade. Our school librarian, Mrs. Ketelsen, sent some poems I’d written about dinosaurs to Highlights magazine.     2    

At the University, though majoring in journalism, I quickly learned that I did not want to be a newspaper reporter.     3     It amuses almost everyone who knows me and thinks I’m outgoing. (I am, but only with people I know!) So I was thrilled when I was selected for a summer internship at Reader’s Digest.

Ten years after that, I came back to RD to work as an editor.     4     I’ve worked at other magazines too, but I’ve spent most of my career here, reading magazines, newspapers, websites, and books for stories we could condense (简缩); writing articles; even choosing jokes.

    5     “The Tractor War” takes me home to the Midwest. “Something to Sneeze At” reminds me of all the sneezing I did when I moved to New York City and was suddenly allergic to grasses and trees... I relate to lots of our stories this month, and I hope you do too. Enjoy!

【推荐2】The Best Destinations to Visit in 2023

Poland

We could list new openings in Poland, such as Hotel Verte in Warsaw, which will throw open its golden doors in August. But this is not the only reason you should visit Poland in 2023. Sharing a 300-plus-mile border with its neighboring countries, where there are forests, lakes and mountains, means now it’s your chance to take a vacation there.

Western Australia

On April 20, 2023, a total solar eclipse (日食) will be visible over the northwestern edge of Australia. For an event that will likely last about one minute, the town of Exmouth has been planning for over a year. There will be outdoor viewing platforms where observers can safely watch the solar miracle.

Liverpool, England

Best known around the world as the birthplace of The Beatles, Liverpool is adding another chapter to its musical legacy. In May, it will be the host city of Eurovision Song Contest 2023, which is expected to bring thousands of flag-waving fans from across the continent. In June, the city will celebrate the Liverpool Biennial contemporary visual arts festival, as more than 30 international artists and collectives takeover spaces in the city until September.

Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston shows its past like no other US city, but it often glosses over (掩饰) the history of its Black residents. It has been taking steps to fix that. Enter the International African American Museum, which promises to make an opening announcement soon for 2023 after pushing back its January date. The museum is on the shoreline of the Cooper River in the spot where many Africans first set foot in North America.