College Lifestyle

When my roommates begged me to attend Lancer Takeover at Castle Park this last Thursday, I was not interested. I was finishing up my last production week of the year for the newspaper I worked for, I had assignments piling up and I had a fancy awards dinner I had been invited to that would take place that same Friday.

And then they got me a ticket.

At that point can you really say no? I surely couldn’t. So I decided to make it work. On Friday, I would go into work early to make edits, then I would go to the dinner, leave early and drive myself to the over-crowded, corny theme park.

I was honestly dreading it. It seemed like way more stress than it was worth. I had too much work to do, too much sleep to catch up on, too much everything. But I still went because I hate disappointing my wonderful roommates.

Friday morning came, I headed to the newsroom. I got my work done, ate lunch, helped send the paper to print and went home to get ready for the awards dinner.

(While I know this doesn’t sound like much and I’m probably coming off as a whiny baby, trust me, publishing a newspaper is not easy. It was a long day.)

The dinner went well, our publications earned twenty-six awards and we went home well-fed. At this point, it was already past 8 p.m. and the park would close at 10. But I went anyway. People were expecting me and, as I’ve said before, I hate letting them down.

So I changed for the fifth time that day, got in my old, red 2002 Volkswagen Jetta and puttered my way down to Castle Park.

Honestly? I’m so happy I did.

Say what you want about cheesy amusement parks, but after Friday they really hold a special place in my heart. I got to take the end of a long, exhausting day and really get away from all of the stress that had been weighing on me. It gave me an opportunity to take a step out of my usual life and routine. It was wonderful. The colorful lights, rowdy college students and sketchy rides were surrounding us on every side. And I found myself being able to leave my life behind for an hour an a half and to take time out of my busy schedule for me and my friends in a way I had never considered before.

And many other agreed. Hannah Curtis, my favorite roommate, said it was like taking a breath of fresh air. As a biomedical sciences major, she finds little time for fun among her studying, TA job and biology club meeting. But this was an event she decided she couldn’t miss out on.

“It’s easy to get wrapped up in work and school,” she said sitting next to me on the ferris wheel. “I’m really bad at taking time for myself. But tonight has been such pure fun.”

I can’t help but agree. I went into it assuming I would be anxious in the crowds and would just be dealing with being around so many people, not actually enjoying myself. But it turned into so much more. I got to see my close friends outside of our usual routine and in a place where we all just felt like there was nothing to be worried or stressed about. Having known these people for nearly a year, it was exciting.

Gianina Chera and Andrew Cantrell, another of my roommates and her boyfriend said it was nice to be around their close friends and take time to experience something new with each other.

“I find that I don’t take as much time out of my schedule as I should to spend time with my friends,” Gianina said. “Nights like these are so good for building community with the people who you do life with on a daily basis.”

“It’s easy to be caught in a routine,” Andrew added. “As an engineering major, I spend a lot of my time with the same people working on projects and papers and all kinds of stuff. But we really got to let loose on the game Snead the rides and everything. It’s just so nice.”

When I think of de-stressing, it’s easy to differ to the usual “face masks and tea” nights in. I don’t think of going out to a carnival as a way to get away from the daily struggle of school and work. But it was just that. I implore you, look farther than the expected for your method of de-stressing. Do it with friends. It’s definitely worthwhile.

Break ups.

Whether you’ve been through one already or will go through one sometime in the future, they’re not an easy thing. Especially when you have to juggle a full college course load, a job where you work too much and get paid too little and all the other little stressors and anxiety monsters in your life.

Wanna know how I know?

I was dumped by my boyfriend (and almost fiancé) of two years less than a week ago after he joined me for a therapy appointment at the request of my incredible counselor Eimy.

I was blindsided. Angry. And surprisingly, indifferent. I had felt for weeks that something was off with us. Hell, it was getting so bad that I would cry to him on the phone nearly every night, saying “I feel like you’re over me, I feel like you’re going to break up with me, I feel like you’re going to break up with me.”

Reading it back now, I feel… weak. And like I should have just called him out and dealt with it. But how does that fall on my shoulders?

I’m ranting.

Since then, I’ve changed my thinking. I’ve left those feelings behind for today and have thought, “what can I do to make myself feel better?” I know it’s only up to me and I’m in control of my life. So what now?

I turned to my friend the internet.

Searching up “how to get over a break up” and google felt, frankly, juvenile to me. As a twenty-year-old woman, I should have developed proper coping mechanisms to handle these kind of things, right? RIGHT?

Apparently not.

Thus, Cosmo came to the rescue. Their article titled “22 Ways to Get Over a Breakup Like a Grown Woman” was the number one result on google. So I clicked.

Leading up to this point, I wasn’t rally sure what I was looking for. I knew eventually I would have to just get over it but that’s not what I felt like I wanted. I felt angry and indifferent, not sad and lonely like I expected. However, for the sake of this experiment, I persisted.

1. Block them from your Instagram/Snapchat.

“Like a grown woman?” Come on, Cosmo. This is the most childish item on this list. Next.

1. Create an ex-free environment.

Finally, something I can do. Over the last two years, I’ve definitely acquired many letters, sweaters, rings and the like given to me from my now ex-boyfriend. So, I began to pack it all up. I didn’t feel the need to return any of it or toss it out. Every shirt, envelope and knick knack was neatly tucked away in the bottom of my closet after an hour or two.

It felt… interesting.

It felt like it wasn’t my idea. If I’m honest, I kind of hated doing this solely because Cosmo told me it would make me feel better. And when it didn’t, I just felt disappointed. Which got me thinking.

Why is it we turn to the internet and lifestyle magazines for the way to feel better? What happened to talking to each other, to soul-searching and doing what feels right? As individuals, we are just that. Individual. People aren’t just a dime a dozen. I mean, they are, but they’re not. Let me explain.

It sounds cheesy but every person really is unique. Mentally, physically, emotionally, every single person is different for the next. So why do we think an internet search can give us what we’re looking for to feel better?

In break ups, we look for the answers in all the wrong places. In life, we look for answers in all the wrong places. I think rather than looking everywhere else for answers on how to make ourselves better, I think we need to take our time and do some introspection. Yeah, it might have felt okay to get rid of all of my ex’s stuff. But the thing that’s helped me most is talking. And the thing that might help you most is blocking them on social media.

Learning about yourself and taking your time in hard life situations will, ultimately, lead you to a place where you can find true understanding and happiness for yourself.

In a world where celebrity Instagrams are at everyone’s fingertips, “social media influencers” are all the rage and kids have decided that the answer to “what do you want to be when you grow up?” is “a YouTuber,” it can be easy to be quick to judge the rich and famous for their mistakes. That being said, young people within our society have developed a certain “cancel culture” where, if the general populace deems a well-known internet personality or celebrity to be problematic, they are shunned and decidedly cancelled.

Take Logan Paul, for instance. Admittedly, even typing his name out sends shivers down my spine after the Suicide Forest incident that everyone wishes they could forget. People analyzed Paul’s apology video for body language indicators and tweeted with #LoganPaulIsOverParty. People denounced him on Twitter, unfollowed him on Instagram and unsubscribed from his YouTube channel all in the same breath.

Celebrities, social media influencers and YouTubers are packaged as commodities to be sold rather than people and society has decided it has the right to be won over or it won’t buy. One mistake and the Jake Paul’s of the world are sent packing, deemed cancelled and careers nearly ruined. It reminds me of Roman emperors putting innocent people in the ring with lions or gladiators, deciding if they are to live or die. When did society start to think it has this power and right to destroy?

Besides, it doesn’t do any good.

“But cancelling people is the only way to make them learn,” I hear Buzzfeed proclaiming from its high rise windows. Is it really?

Let’s go back to Logan. In the days after his video was released, Paul ventured to apologize twice: once, using the stock iPhone Notes app, then again, via a monetized YouTube video. “I’ve made a severe and continuous lapse in my judgment, and I don’t expect to be forgiven,” Paul said. “I’m simply here to apologize.”

Though #LoganPaulIsOverParty continued to trend, his career wasn’t over, naturally. He continued to make videos. He continued to make millions.

The most obvious problem with cancel culture is that it rarely has any tangible or meaningful effect on the lives and comfortability of the canceled.

The notion of collective cancellation is often more hopeful than it is plausible; as a democratic aspiration, it’s an exercise control, a reclamation of power for the viewer/follower/fan. To withdraw from supporting someone whose actions and behaviors are now inconsistent with one’s values can feel like a radical boycott.

Yet to succeed in the midst of cancellation is less of an exception to the rule than it is the rule itself.

That video? According to Huffington Post, it gained some 6.3 million views in 24 hours. Tubular Insights, a video marketing company, says vlog content videos only get 2,354 views per video, on average. If anything, Logan Paul’s views went up while people called for him to go down.

Cancelled culture is nothing more than a pipe dream, a misinformed society that assumes it has power over the course of those YouTube commodities they treat like gods one minute and nothing the next. But it doesn’t do any good. Logan Paul’s subscriber count continues to rise along with his bank account. And we wait for the next mistake.

By: Sarah Boutin

Seniors entered the California Baptist University’s Event Center ready to attend Grad Finale but were suddenly filled with emotions as they took one step closer to graduation.

           Grad Finale was a two-day event, March 28 and 29, where seniors finalized some last-minute things one month before graduating. Students could attend either day. As a graduating senior I also participated in this event.

I attended the first day to see what the event had to offer. CBU faculty greeted me upon arrival then directed me upstairs. I was nervous to be there because it began to hit me that my four years were almost up.

A long line of students snaked along the second floor. A man in front of me came to my rescue as he told me the line was for seniors taking graduation photos.

Naveh Riles, a sociology major, said as she was waited in line she was able to reflect on how she felt about graduating.

“While I am excited about graduation, I am very nervous because I still need to find a job and prepare for grad school. I do not like things feeling out of control or not in order, so it’s a very scary thing to think about. But I am ready to finish strong and start the real world,” Riles said.

As I made my way around the upper deck of the Event Center, I noticed there were only five booths. It was hard to hide my disappointment because the school made it sound like this event would be huge. The first booth I went to was for class rings where I was able to buy a ring I liked.

          Two other booths which belonged to Spiritual Life and the Alumni Office. Even though I had no interest in those booths they reeled me in by giving out free CBU Alumni license plate frames and keychains. I am a magnet for free things. I collected as much free stuff as I can from the two booths. After I ran into another long line, but this is what I have been waiting for: the distribution of the caps and gowns.

            When it was my turn to get my gown, I looked down in disbelief and I could not think about what was happening. I touched the silky blue gown and was just filled with so many emotions. After four hard years of homework, projects and working it was all starting to pay off. I looked around the room and I saw other students admiring their gowns too. It was like a dream come true.

            I went down the escalator and got in line for the student store. That is where the Grad Finale ended and we were waiting in line to buy our last item, graduation bundles. Grad Finale was shorter than I expected, and I decided to ask a girl in line what she thought about it.

           Elizabeth Ajtun, an international studies major, said she wished it was a bigger spectacle.

“I attended Grad Finale to pick up my cap and gown, buy a class ring and get free stuff. I had a good time with my friends talking about graduating together, but I was a little disappointed because I expected Grad Finale to be much bigger and on the actual basketball courts like with the career fair,” Ajtun said.

Eventually we got to the front of the line and I was able to buy everything I needed for our graduation day. As I left the Events Center, I looked back and took in everything that just happened. I noticed some students were taking photographs of their gown and free goodies. Others were with their friends jumping in excitement about the weeks to come.

I looked back and thought about all the stressful times, the late nights studying, and balancing work. It was a difficult four years. Although as I looked down at my graduation gown, I knew it was all worth it.

By: Sarah Boutin

With news coming out about the dangers of ride share apps, new safety features are being developed for users to utilize, especially for users like college students.

           Because not all college students possess a car so they must look for other transportation options. They turn to Lyft and Uber. These ride shares can be affordable, depending on destination. People without cars or rather not drive for a particular reason rely on the ride share services. Unfortunately, incidents of dangerous situations involving passengers have been reported.

           In late March, Samantha Josephson, a student from North Carolina. She accepted a ride under the impression it was the Uber driver she requested. But it was not. She had disappeared.

It was later discovered that Samantha was kidnapped and murdered. According to the news outlet The Verge, Uber’s Chief Legal Officer Tony West told NBC “We are heartbroken about what has happened. For us, it’s a reminder that we have to constantly do everything we can to raise the bar on safety.”

In response, Uber has implemented a push notification to verify the license plate of the vehicle users are waiting for. Lyft also upped security procedures by adding continuous background checks on drivers and will have to show a real time photo with their driver’s license. Lyft will permanently ban any users fraudulently posing as another driver.

           College life is a fun time for many students who like to go out with friends and make lasting memories. Venturing off campus to experience the city night life aesthetic is one to behold, but many dangers come with it. Ride share companies helps many people get where they need to go, but students should always be careful if using these companies.

Although Uber and Lyft are making new strides in safety parameters of their business models, the passengers need to make sure they are safe. A good rule of thumb with ride share is to ride in a group, especially if intoxicated. Another effort for safety is for users to give live updates to their friends of their location. Sometimes these methods are difficult to accomplish but doing so can give you peace of mind.

Not all drivers are bad, and some look to give customer satisfaction. But knowing of all possible dangers is important to the safety of those who use these ride share services.

By: Sarah Boutin

As students pack for their new college dorms, they might be saddened by leaving their most prized possessions behind: their pets, that is why colleges should consider opening their dorms for pets.

It can be hard for some students to transition their home lives into college life. Most students have close connections with their pets. It can be difficult to not be able to see them every day. More colleges have started to open their dormitories for pets of any kind.

Most colleges have policies on what animals can be kept as pets while living in the dorms. These policies can vary between being allowed to have small pets like fish. These policies do not apply to emotional support pets. Colleges though have started to change their policies to welcome bigger pets like dogs and cats.

Pets provide a comfort and a touch of safety for students, especially new students who are nervous to start college. It also brings in a sense of responsibility.Students, who for the first time from families cannot rely on them anymore for things. Students will need to gain independence and responsibility for their new life. What better way to gain responsibility than taking care of an animal?

Having pets is also a great way for students to stay active. College life for some students can include just lounging around or playing video games. With a pet it will require students to take them on walks, change their bedding, go to the store for necessities and take them for checkups. The Pittsburg Post-Gazette reported, “Animals ward off homesickness and breed responsibility in otherwise harried and forgetful young adults, say those developing policies. The pets can boost student productivity and improve the overall campus experience” (2019). By learning how to take care of a pet, students are basically learning how to take care of each other.

Allison Strandberg, a psychology major attending California Baptist University, said she would love to bring her pet, but does worry about other students.

“I have a dog back home in Oregon that I always miss and would love for him to be here, but there would have to be safety precautions for students who could be allergic,” Strandberg said.

Colleges know the limitations in order to provide a safe environment for everyone. That is why if you choose to have dogs or cats in your dorm, students must take care of their pets separately from other students so they are not affected.

Bryce Acosta, computer science major at CBU, said he likes the potential idea of having bigger pets on campus, but does not know if he could handle all that responsibility.

“It is a cool idea to have your pets with you, but personally it is not for me because balancing school and work and a pet can be too much responsibility,” Acosta said.

The option is not for everyone, but it can bring in a lot of potential students. A lot of people love their pets and having a pet friendly campus can give colleges a boost in admissions. Colleges like La Salle University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Northern Colorado and Stephens College are just some colleges that allow big pets in dormitories. Each year the number of colleges is rising and trying out this new pet friendly option. The Washington Post reported, “The decision came in response to rising requests from prospective students — and their parents — for such a perk,” (2018) in a response to Southeast Missouri State University adding the pet option.

Students from colleges across the country are asking to bring their pets to their dorms and colleges are responding back. Colleges might be apprehensive about the decision, but it does not hurt to try. Taking care of a pet can teach students responsibility, empathy, time management and they will learn how to take care of themselves as well. There are many benefits to having a pet friendly college living area so why not give it a chance? Looking back at your college years and say you did it with your best furry friend by your side can be the experience of a lifetime.

By: Sarah Boutin

As each college semester begins, students try to create a checklist of what they need to start off the semester right: food, toiletries, books and for most—jobs.

Most students work while attending college. Students seek jobs to help pay for tuition, gain work experience, want money to spend, or just want to keep busy. With the stress of a university workload and various work hours, it can take a toll not only on yourself, but also your grades.

Students want to enjoy the college life experience which can include attending sports games, dances, events or just hanging with friends. Working students either get caught up in the college life or in their work life.

Jericho Lingo, senior mechanical engineering major at Riverside City College, said he tends to prioritize work than school because it is not as difficult as college.

“I get more stressed out about school because I do not manage that as much as I do with work. With work, I do not have to think about much whereas school, I have to micromanage many things,” Lingo said. “School is still a bit difficult due to all the new material that I learn about and I try to get a good enough grasp of it in the allocated time I am given.”

Most jobs students get are either on campus, food services or retail jobs. These are some of the easiest areas to get jobs in which is why most students vie for them. Though with those easy jobs it means that they may be only getting minimum wage. If students need to help earn money to pay for tuition or bills, it can be expensive, so you see students try to put more work hours in just to help pay. This distracts them from schoolwork.

Lisa Singer, associate director of employer relations at California Baptist University’s Career Center, said the jobs students get should be easy enough where it does not affect their studies.

“If those students must work, by all means it should be a job that they do not have to think about before they leave. School is a priority, try to work a schedule where it is easy, and it still allows you to have some space,” Singer said. 

Students can burn out coping with the stress of trying to balance studies, work and a social life. There are students who were “perfect” students who had good grades in high school, but entering college is another thing. The shift can catch many students by surprise and their grades can reflect that. If those students start to get bad grades there are unfortunate times where they may think to dropout. According to the Chicago Tribune, “working more than that can exhaust students, interfere with their studies and lead to high dropout rates.”

A positive quality that can come out of having a job is discipline. If students work more than 20 hours added on to their schoolwork, then they may acquire good time management skills. It is all up to the student and how well they balance.

Qiantong Huang, sophomore music major at CBU, said having no job gives her more time to focus on her studies.

“Without having a job, I noticed that I participate in a lot of activities that I know I would not be able to. I can go out with my friends, play basketball but also study. Since I am not from here, I need all the studying I can get because it is hard to understand some things. I usually have many hours of studying,” Huang said.

Students without jobs have more time to focus on their studies while working students must plan things out and hope that everything works out in their favor.

 A lot of factors could contribute to why college student’s grades are failing, but a main reason is working. As someone who has two jobs with a fifteen-unit course load, the struggle is definitely real for working students. Some students must work during college, and it is not their fault. Balancing a college workload must be essentially to any student, especially working ones or else their grades might be in jeopardy.