Maybe it’s because of the recent rise in popularity of the multiverse in movies, but Izzy Ster has been contemplating the various versions of herself that do not walk this Earth. Would she have stuck with the stick figures trapped in the margins of math homework to become a painter? Or maybe she would have continued building model cars and become an engineer.
Read MoreThis personal essay talks about self-destruction that a person portrays through depressive episodes and the everyday difficulties of living with depression. It explains why a person will perform self-destructive behaviors and destroy everything around them because their depression makes them “invincible.”
Read MoreHBO’s sensational show Euphoria recently returned with its second season, resulting and in with mass criticism from viewers. What does this reaction teach us about the stigmatization that addicts might face? How can we do our part in forgiving Rue forgiveness, and peeling back our own biases?
Read More‘That Girl’ wakes up at 6 a.m. every day to workout, and proceeds to complete every possible task in 24 hours. She is organized, beautiful, cool, and fun. She owns the best products and is always able to do whatever she pleases. You might attempt to become ‘That Girl’ and be frustrated with yourself when it doesn't align with all the videos you’ve been scrolling through. See, the problem with ‘That Girl’ is that it is completely unrealistic. In this article, I will examine why becoming ‘That Girl’ is unattainable, and how the strive for perfection will ruin us.
Read MoreWhile TikTok’s hub for all things fitness, more commonly known as GymTok, is great for workout inspiration and ideas, it is susceptible to spreading harmful misinformation as well. It’s important to know how, and when, to listen to GymTok’s advice. This essay discusses the importance of setting personal fitness goals, using TikTok’s algorithm to your advantage and understanding the differences between progress on social media and progress in real life.
Palmer Smith weaves together poetry and prose in her debut book, “The Butterfly Bruises.” This intimate collection of poems and short stories captures the complexities of a “new world—some full of magic, others full of mystery.” Her writing explores everything from the wonder of New York City to the history of Charleston. As she delves into mystical memories and dreams, we join her on a journey of growth, self-discovery, and resilience. Page after page, we admire her metamorphosis: the way she transforms before she spreads her wings to fly.
Read MoreGrowing up we are taught very little about the uniqueness of love. Subconsciously we are taught what we think it should look like from our parents or that it's an intense connection between two people. What does love really look like beyond what we saw as children? Where does love dwell other than within the connection between two people?
Read MoreI have a habit of always remembering the good parts of my past and forgetting most of the bad ones. While this makes for great stories and nostalgic conversations with friends and family, there also comes the false belief that things could always be better than they currently are. In this essay, I talk about what it’s like to look at the past through rose-tinted glasses, and the negatives and positives that come along with this perspective.
Read MoreWhy do we consistently undermine ourselves and treat ourselves less than? This is my journey to becoming the main character.
Read MoreAs Ann Brashares, the author of my favorite book about friendship — The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants — so simply said, “Love your pals, love yourself.” After spending the better half of my adolescent years in my bedroom due to a global pandemic, merely seeing my friends in person, not through crappy FaceTime calls or Snapchat videos, is enough to make me tear up. These last six months of re-connection with the world and the small group of my best friends that make my world so much brighter have made my days full of joy and full of memories I will remember for a lifetime.
Read MoreIn light of a traumatized generation, Izzy Ster discusses how cynicism has been normalized, as reflected in media such as Fleabag. This essay will also center around her love for the show Fleabag and discusses the lessons it can teach its viewers on maintaining vulnerability.
Read MoreAny Gen-Z who has been on social media in the past 3 years is familiar with the term ¨Hot Cheeto Girl¨. The internet´s biggest laughing stock is actually a vehicle for racism against Hispanic and Black women: just hidden behind the term ¨Hot Cheeto Girl.” The origins of the descriptors of the ¨Hot Cheeto Girl¨ come from the cultural aspects of these two groups. These women have carried their culture with them for decades only for it to have been made a joke.
“What’s a human being gotta be like?” Impostor Syndrome is a psychological condition in which people doubt their own abilities and believe themselves to be unworthy of their accomplishments and successes. It plagues so many every day, making them feel insignificant and as though they are frauds in their own lives. Sidney Gish’s “Impostor Syndrome,” released in 2017 on her album “No Dogs Allowed” explores the psychological phenomenon of the same name as well as her own personal experiences with impostorism.
Read MoreEuphoria has been one of the hottest shows on HBO. Fans are hitting every social media platform to share everything from their favorite characters to their wild conspiracy theories. As a fan of the series, I wanted to share my thoughts about the current season. There is so much that viewers can take away from the show. In this article, I talk about one of the main characters in Euphoria, and how one scene in particular, changed the perspective of “self-love” in the plus-size community.
Despite the light-hearted nature of this annual occasion, Spotify users face pressure about posting their Spotify Wrapped. They must weigh the consequences of being publicly judged for their music taste, resulting in feelings of shame or concern surrounding their listening habits. How will they be perceived for their top artist, most played song, or number one genre? Is playing into this social media performance really worth it?
Read MoreWhy is it that the most wonderful time of the year can sometimes feel like the loneliest one instead? In her article “Home for the Holidays (I Guess),” Izzy Ster talks about what the concept of home means to her and offers solace to those facing bouts of uncertainty, isolation, or any conglomeration of emotions.
My hair has gone from red to blue, to blonde, and back again. I’ve had super short hair, and decently long hair, sides shaved, pixie cut, you name it. My hair has also been everything from insecurity to a beacon of confidence. I’ve utilized it as a blanket to hide from the world and a tool of expression. Looking at my Instagram now, you may never guess that I had a shaved head from 10th grade till freshman year of college. In this personal essay, I’ll tell you how my hair journey allowed me to understand that my hair has absolutely no tie to my worth or confidence and at the end of the day hair is just hair.
Read MoreKeeping our New Years’ resolutions can be hard and quite the challenge for some of us. However, that’s because we’re doing them wrong. Here is how to set resolutions that aren’t destined to fail and are most likely to be kept by following these tips.
Read MoreIn this essay I reflect on 2021 in terms of what I learned from this past year, shifting the definition of a “successful year” away from accomplishments and towards experience gained.
