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You are more than “just a girl”
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I have often found myself in situations where I hear girls my age discussing their dreams of becoming a stay-at-home mom and “marrying rich.” I find this unsettling for many reasons, mainly because I fear that most people do not realize the reality of being a stay-at-home mom, and have been sold this idea…
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Pharmaceutical TV ads prescribe profit, not health
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I am sure we have all been in a similar situation, where we are sitting on the couch, watching a live game or movie, and an advertisement pops up, telling you to take this pill for mild allergies. Side effects may include: dizziness, vomiting, irregular heartbeat, mood swings, kidney failure, internal bleeding and sudden…
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A hot new controversy enters the villa
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The producers and creators of “Love Island” need to be pulled for a chat. “Love Island,” the most streamed show of the summer, has sparked controversy over its encouragement of superficial relationships and its social experiment-like design. While it may appear to be all fun and games, “Love Island” promotes one of the biggest…
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My future isn’t defined by a campus name
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“She probably didn’t get in anywhere else, that’s why she chose community college.” This was the whisper I imagined behind every glance, every nod, every conversation that trailed off when I spoke my choice aloud. Growing up, I always poured all of my heart into my education. I’d tuck myself away in my room…
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Navigate religion for yourself, not the people around you
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Since I was born, I’ve been getting up every Sunday to go to church. And every Sunday since my parents were born, they’ve been attending church with their parents. It always felt so normal, a part of my routine and nothing that felt uncustomary. Up until eighth grade, I also attended a private Christian…
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Volunteer from the heart, not from ambition
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For as long as I can remember, volunteering has always been a part of my life. In elementary school, families were encouraged to help around the community, so I would spend a few weekends working to take care of the garden. In middle school, students were required to complete several hours of community service,…
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Forgiveness opens opportunity for freedom
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The first thing I learned on my silent retreat last June, away from home and technology for four days in the heart of Los Angeles, was that you have to forgive yourself for your past mistakes before you can fully move forward. I remember the weight of the tea house smoke and the condensation…
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The fear of rejection creates inaction
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Fear allows us to survive; it is an emotion characterized by a perceived danger or threat that forces a fight or flight response. When we feel fear, our bodies experience a surge of stress that alerts us to take action and protect ourselves. Whether the fear one feels is real or imagined, the emotion…
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Aggressive coaches create quitters; kind coaches create winners
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Since March 24, a video of a girls’ high school basketball coach in New York aggressively yanking an athlete’s hair has been circling the internet, igniting outrage. The coach was fired and cited with harassment. From personal experience, I know that the energy a coach brings to the team can make or break an…
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I am plagued by an irrational fear of death
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For as long as I can remember, the lingering fear of death has consumed my every waking moment. Uncertainty of what happens after death and feeling as if I have no control has tormented me my whole life. Anxiety surrounding death prevents me from sleeping at night, as each time I close my eyes,…