culture

I can’t help but feel that a part of me will always think skinnier is “better” because of the environment I grew up in. However, by appreciating the American take on body image, I’ve learned to believe that all bodies are beautiful and we should never dictate our worth based on the number on a scale.

While we may not resemble Frankenstein physically, we too are made of the various parts of our life experience that shape and change us.

Our names are our identities. They are awesome. Names are a funny thing to think about. They are the set of syllables that, together, refer to ourselves.

It was unsettling to hold this new kind of significance on my relatives and the people surrounding me. Way back when, breakfast was served on a first-come-first-serve basis, and you only got to eat what was left.

For new students who do not know people on campus, coming to Berkeley can be a daunting event. In order to find a sense of belonging and community in a new place, students such as Milena Galindo Zepeda, the president of Salsa at Cal, found themselves joining Latin social dancing organizations.

Coming back feels different, and I can’t help but feel like I’m a visitor in a town that’s supposed to be home. The foods I used to eat now recall the past, and I revel in those memories. 

The buzzing of mopeds and sirens emanating from nearby skyscrapers and highways was a constant reminder of the encroaching urban development that threatened this historic neighborhood.

Nimmala becomes the first first-generation Indian American to be drafted into the MLB.

From this simple reconnection to Korean culture, I caught a glimpse of what could’ve been if I hadn’t run away.

every birthmark, every inexplicable habit — love notes from my lineage.