Photos by Kelly RodriguezOne of my favorite things about walking around in Shanghai is being surrounded by spoken and written Chinese. Now having studied in China for three semesters, I have become fairly familiar with the language. No longer do I hear locals speak and not understand one word. However, “ting bu dong” — the equivalent of "I did not understand … [Read more...] about There Must Be Some Misunderstanding: Why Language Barriers Are Good For You
Perspectives
Fear Drives Division
Art by Kris HarperDear Americans,We can do better. As I watched the protest that shut down Donald Trump's rally in Chicago, I decided to mute the TV and watch the faces on the screen. As I watched tensions escalate between two groups of people, I became very still and upset. Two groups of people facing each other, screaming so loudly you could see veins bulging out of their … [Read more...] about Fear Drives Division
Sometimes the Clothes Do Not Make the (Wo)man
Art by Christopher Chen“I can’t believe she’s wearing that outfit again.” “Didn’t anyone tell her a skirt would make her look more feminine?” While these kinds of conversations sound like they come straight out of a movie like “Mean Girls,” they have, unfortunately, increasingly become part of our national political … [Read more...] about Sometimes the Clothes Do Not Make the (Wo)man
Diversify Your Friendships
Art by Christopher ChenTake a quick moment to look around the people you've surrounded yourself with, your closest friends. Are they all or for the most part a certain religion? Ethnicity? Political leaning? I know that by and large, mine are, and it's likely that it's true for you too.So, friends. Maybe it's time to diversify them?Now this isn't to say that it's time to … [Read more...] about Diversify Your Friendships
Seek a Mentor, Be a Mentor
Art by Peau PorotesanoIn the four years since I graduated from high school, there are exactly four people with whom I have remained in contact. Three of them are friends I've known for years, and one of them is my high school literature teacher and newspaper adviser — a 70-something-year-old firecracker of a woman who has a desk covered in politically provocative stickers … [Read more...] about Seek a Mentor, Be a Mentor