Being a college student in the current world is not an easy task. Balancing exams, papers, internships, mental health and a pandemic with no light at the end of the tunnel is exhausting. Let us not forget that we just witnessed one of the most crucial elections in American history. But being an international student – pandemic or not – brings a unique set of challenges.

I have deleted and redownloaded apps like Instagram and Twitter too many times to count. I have frequently heard friends and colleagues say they are “taking a break from social media.” Most people seem to understand why and what that means. But why is it normal, and why do we accept this without questioning it?

Music thrives off of diversity. It lives across cultures, in nature and in memories. It thrives as both community-building and an individual experience. How, then, did musical study become so exclusive?

I decided that I wanted this for myself, for someone to look at my laptop stickers and understand my personality, maybe even use them as a conversation starter. I wanted a medium for personal expression, and the idea of this was perfect for that.

To many, David Fincher’s 1999 thriller “Fight Club” was a glorified coming-of-age film for restless teen boys that go through life with their fists furled. To me, it was a slap in the face.

We have all read about the scandalous affair of Cal Cunningham. I will admit it doesn’t look great on his integrity and morals. However, holding politicians as a shining beacon of morality is a fantasy that lives in the minds of voters. 

In the wake of the #MeToo movement, empowerment has been a central theme amongst survivors. Praised for using their voices, women have found hope and inspiration after years of repression. However, the vulnerability and trauma that come with sexual assault are overlooked.

Your alarm goes off at 7 a.m. and you hear your mom call you from downstairs, something about being late for school. You hit your alarm clock into silence, and that’s when you see his green orbs in your mind again. It’s Harry Styles on your mind.

I believe in paying it forward, in fighting for those who have lived through similar circumstances but whose national, racial and religious designations, among others, have kept them from the same considerations and privileges my grandparents were granted in 1960.