Opinion

  • Modern advertisements reflect the shift of modern values

    Modern advertisements reflect the shift of modern values

    Societal desensitization ebbs and flows for dozens of factors and reasons. From media saturation to political power and ideologies, what we deem as “okay” or “normal” has never been linear. Ever since the 2000s, hyper sexual content and outrage marketing have been used as a marketing play to increase product sales; it has not…

  • Sportsmanship is on the decline in professional sports

    Sportsmanship is on the decline in professional sports

    Imagine yourself as a professional athlete, fueled by encouragement and cheers from fans. Now imagine thousands of people booing you, rendering you weak and discouraged. Being degraded is soul crushing and can ruin potential. Good sportsmanship from opponents, team mates and fans is essential for athletes to succeed. Sportsmanship differentiates sports from simple competition.…

  • Activism is worth more than a like or repost

    Activism is worth more than a like or repost

    Instagram was previously used as a platform for people to share the highlights of their lives with friends and family. Recently, instead of being uplifting, social media has become filled with heavy topics, leading to conflict and heated arguments outside of the app. While it is important to share your beliefs, to me, social…

  • Energy drinks cause more harm than good

    Energy drinks cause more harm than good

    At school, I can see my peers drinking energy drinks in almost every classroom. However, energy drinks are addictive, artificial and can cause many health problems.  I remember the first time I made coffee; I was surprised how the bitter coffee beans turned into a tasty caffeinated beverage. Unlike coffee, energy drinks have no…

  • How to win the war with yourself

    How to win the war with yourself

    Everyone is fighting a silent battle, whether they realize it or not. A gory, bloody, merciless battle with their greatest opponent: themself.  When I was a little girl, I had a recurring dream: a twisted, demented, recurring dream. My slumber revealed to me my truest and most vulnerable wish. I wanted to completely change…

  • Labubus, matcha and Dubai chocolate create community

    Labubus, matcha and Dubai chocolate create community

    My room is a museum, littered with ancient items from the past and modern artifacts. In my closet sit my old Crocs and checkered Vans, and under my bed, my first-generation iPod is in a cracked pink case. But beyond this collection of mementos are physical reminders of the past. I refuse to believe…

  • Artificial intelligence prompts global warming

    Artificial intelligence prompts global warming

    A famous Cree proverb states, “Only when the last tree has died, the last river has dried up, and the last fish has been caught will we finally realize we cannot eat money.” The advancement of ChatGPT is highly profitable and just as dangerous.  ChatGPT, the rapidly evolving artificial intelligence [AI] program, has become…

  • Updated phone policy forces a return back to reality

    Updated phone policy forces a return back to reality

    There is one thing we never forget when we leave the house: a phone. We put our phone in our bag or pocket so we can check the notifications we have received in the last five minutes, see if anyone has liked our Instagram story and repeat. Most people have iPhones, including myself, but…

  • The guilt of choosing where to go

    The guilt of choosing where to go

    I cannot remember the last time someone brought up Ohio without a punchline trailing behind it. Despite the stigma around the state on social media, I am drawn to Ohio because I have family out there and it would be nice to be able to see my cousins more than maybe once a year.…

  • You are more than “just a girl”

    You are more than “just a girl”

    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…