Art by Amber ShinI used to think I wasn’t fun. In fact, in middle and high school, I surrendered to the idea that I was pretty boring. Then, one day, I realized fun is whatever makes me smile, brings joy to my life and fills me with excitement — even if the things I view as fun very well might have the opposite effect on someone else.Growing up, I was the type of … [Read more...] about Opinion: Be Fun in Your Own Way
growing up
Opinion: How to Get Better at Growing Up
As a child, I used to think of “growing up” as a process that would end by the time I graduated high school. Growing up does not just encapsulate puberty or smoking a joint for the first time but gaining insight into my parents and how they shaped me, releasing unhealthy expectations and learning to trust myself. According to the National Institute of Health, "growing up" … [Read more...] about Opinion: How to Get Better at Growing Up
Revisit Your Past
Graphic by Nate BartonI recently listened to Death Cab for Cutie's Plans album all the way through for the first time since I was probably 12, and it shook me. I was really into Death Cab back in the day, and it reminded me of the girl who imagined her future and thought she could do anything. She looked into her future to imagine who I am now. I wondered if she would be proud … [Read more...] about Revisit Your Past
Find a Role Model
Graphic by Nate BartonKids are often told to model themselves after someone they admire, but the same advice should apply to people of all ages. Becoming an adult and having role models are not mutually exclusive. In fact, having role models is an essential part of every stage of life."Just because we’ve become adults doesn’t mean that we’re impervious to … [Read more...] about Find a Role Model
Don’t Worry, I wasn’t Thrilled About NSO Either
Art by Peau PorotesanoThree years ago, overenthusiastic volunteers in neon orange screamed, “Welcome to Pepperdine!” as my polite father smiled awkwardly in the car rental that was 80 bucks cheaper but not nearly spacious enough for a family of five. The sea of orange is a shade so striking that lawmakers in the 1970s reserved it exclusively for prisoners. I … [Read more...] about Don’t Worry, I wasn’t Thrilled About NSO Either