On Sept. 11, students and faculty gathered in the Shanghai Symphony Hall to watch the much-anticipated NYU Shanghai Reality Show performed by 12 brave and open-minded NYU Shanghai students. NYU’s president, John Sexton, who will soon pass his position on to Andrew Hamilton, spoke a few words before the performance. He primarily praised NYUSH students for taking a “less conventional path” in their higher education. “The theme of [the Reality Show] is, we’re here for each other,” said Sexton. “We just need you to know that there are other people out there that care about you. Maybe you’ll remember something that was said—or a song from the show.” First written eleven years ago in New York City, this year’s Reality Show encompassed a wide range of topics relevant to any NYU student. Executed in several skits accompanied by songs and choreography, the show ultimately conveyed the message that NYU is, in fact, “here for you,” as Sexton said. No matter what problem an NYU student encounters --academic, health, social, or cultural-- there is always hope and, as the show repeatedly points out, help can be found simply by calling the school’s Health and Wellness Center. The show also emphasizes that NYUSH is unlike any other college in the world because of its international community. One of the first musical skits --a piece about roommates-- demonstrated that overcoming cultural barriers requires a willingness to embrace and understand one another’s differences. The show also included other relevant topics such as sexual consent, safe drinking, peer competition, fiscal responsibility, and body image. The baseball skit threw the audience into uncontrollable laughter, as performers (Lilly Korinek, Oscar Fossum) educated a young student (Ben Weilun Zhang) about the rules of playing baseball, a euphemism for safe sex. “When you hit a home run, make sure that your glove’s on,” sang Fossum. “So the whole point of baseball is getting a home run?” asked Ben Weilun Zhang. “Well, getting a home run is great, but some people don’t get past first base for a long time. Just remember to have fun and respect the other team… Good luck, kid,” responded Korinek. After a moment of silent confusion, Zhang responded: “Wait-- these kids are talking about baseball? I’m just looking for a condom...” The comment resulted in thunderous laughter. Another skit satirized the academic pressure that many NYU students feel on a daily basis, which is influenced by the competitive environment fostered by their peers. Defne Inhan, in a skit about peer competition, “created world peace.” “I created intergalactic peace,” shouted Cheryl Li in response. This type of competitive attitude is prevalent at many prestigious universities, and NYU is no exception. Sometimes it can be overwhelming when everyone is talking about internships, company start-ups, and building resumes when one is simply trying to pass a certain class. “Don’t waste your energy trying to be better than others,” concluded Korinek in a public-service announcement, similar to the type that followed each performance. The show lasted about two hours, and if laughter were bricks, the performance could have built the Great Wall of China. Still, a few skits illuminated the more serious aspects of college life, such as abusive relationships and drug use, which the audience met with respective and completive silence. “I thought the Reality Show was a very genuine portrayal of life in Shanghai both for students and people in general. I appreciated the honesty in which the performances presented themselves on stage, and as an audience member I felt engaged as well as touched by various moments throughout the show,” said Lou Demetroulakos ’19 when asked about the show. Orsi Liddiard ’19 said: “I thought they approached the topics in a very relatable way, meaning that people could understand what was going in in the show, and while doing so, draw parallels between the show and their own lives at NYU Shanghai.” The Reality Show not only educated the audience about relevant social topics, but also entertained. Ultimately, the Reality Show’s greatest accomplishment was the encapsulation of the enterprising spirit of NYUSH—diversity, inventiveness, ingenuousness, and fallibility. As Sexton said, “If it’s legal and moral do it once. Play another octave of the piano. Reach out to different people. That’s the vision of NYUSH and its global network.” [cincopa AsMAE5shgBuN] This article was written by Maeve Lazor. Send an email to [email protected] to get in touch. Photo Credit: Ewa Oberska and Dylan Crow