Culture | Identity, Aesthetics & Gen Z Life

The holiday season usually means comfort food, nostalgia, and an excuse to slip away from reality for a moment. But if walking into festive gatherings this year already feels emotionally loaded, trust me, you are not alone. The disruptive political climate has been relentless, especially for young and marginalized communities. National conversations and debates surrounding highly polarized issues have created real fear, frustration, and emotional exhaustion. Add in the constant stream of social...

At the end of my first year of college, I ghosted my roommates. Not in a “we had a falling out” kind of way — more like a quiet, middle-of-the-night exit from people I didn’t really consider friends.Let me explain.I was the last one to move into our four-person dorm about two months after school had started in the fall. (I’d been staying in temporary housing while I waited for a single-occupancy bedroom to open up.) When I finally moved into my permanent place, I just never really clicked with t...

The first time I ever heard the word “Juneteenth,” I was scrolling online in 2020, in the wake of George Floyd’s murder. I was 17. At that point, my idea of summer had always been shaped by one holiday: the Fourth of July. It meant backyard barbecues, popsicles in plastic lawn chairs, sparklers in my hand, and watching the grown-ups set off fireworks as we all laughed under the haze of grill smoke and blind patriotism. I genuinely believed it was a day to be grateful — to celebrate how “free” we...

It’s hard to imagine the new semester starting with anything but excitement, but for students in Los Angeles, the start of the spring 2025 semester has been marked by devastation and uncertainty. With five wildfires tearing through the region, at the time of publication, over 180,000 people have been forced to evacuate, leaving behind homes, belongings, and any sense of normalcy at the beginning of the new year. The skies over LA, usually sunny and clear, are thick with smoke, and the air is hea...

The holiday season is often seen as a time for joy, celebration, and giving, but it can also be a challenging time for many people. From financial strain to feelings of loneliness, this time of year isn’t always easy, especially for those in need. As a college student, it’s easy to feel like you can’t make much of a difference. After all, with limited time and tight budgets, giving back might seem out of reach. However, there are countless ways to make an impact, even with small gestures.Partici...