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Perfection has its pitfalls
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I have often wondered what it truly means to be a good person. My life experience thus far has taught me the importance of treating others with kindness, serving one’s community, being grateful and admitting to one’s failures. I would like to say that I am a good person, but of course, I have…
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The life of a Buddhist warrior monk calls me
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I am not what I do. I am not the articles I write, the assignments I turn in, the sports that I play or the parties I attend. And yet, all of those things are, and I am. Since reading a variety of books on Buddhist lifestyles, most notably “Saltwater Buddha” by Jaimal Yogis…
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Seahawks unsurprisingly dominate Patriots in Super Bowl LX
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Super Bowl LX, contrary to a captivating National Football League season that precluded it, was one of the dullest products in recent memory. In a matchup that featured a quarterback who was one vote away from being the MVP and a wide receiver who had a record-shattering season worthy of “Offensive Player of the…
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If old age doesn’t kill me, nostalgia will
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I can tell you exactly what I have done for the past 1,883 days, from the people I was with to the mood I was in; every detail is accounted for. I can tell you about birthdays well spent, holidays surrounded by family and around the world vacations–dating back to Dec. 28, 2020. No,…
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Growing up means rediscovering who I am
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Growing up, I was a really good kid. Not just in the listening to my parents or getting good grades kind of way, but in the sense that I was good at being a kid. The spirit and magic of childhood were at the core of my identity, and I leaned into it completely,…
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The culture shock that comes with the European dream
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During winter break, I spent nine days exploring Paris with my family. This was my first time visiting Europe and I observed several culture differences between Europe and America. During my trip, I shopped at food and flea markets, ate food at fancy and local restaurants and walked (a lot) all over the charming…
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My new year’s resolution: to rediscover myself
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I have long been a philosophical child. I always had more questions than my parents or teachers had answers, and gathered knowledge to hoard it away in the cracks and crevices of my mind. When I was little, I did things because they were fun, because they brought me joy. In my most vivid…
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Proximity does not equate to closeness
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When my brother, Duncan, left home for UCLA, many cautioned me with horrified expressions and a constant echo of comments like “just wait for how lonely you’ll be” or “I can’t believe you’re an only child now.” Initially, these remarks scared me into thinking that I would suddenly become an isolated, sibling-less individual. But…
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Slice of Life: Hiking provides the cheapest form of therapy
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Growing up in Newbury Park for most of my life, I can say with a full chest that I do not take advantage of it enough. In addition to In-N-Out and Potrero Road late at night, there are miles and miles of trails that curve and switchback like our own patchwork. I have attempted…
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My identity is in my name
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As summer came to an end, the inevitable ring of the first school bell brought a new year of teachers inquiring about my name. While my name is definitely not unique, it is slightly long and has a variety of nicknames. “Elizabeth,” they call, followed by “any nicknames?” Every year, my response is the…