A Few Lines

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Robin Williams, 1951-2014.

Thanks for the laughs and the wisdom.

News of Robin Williams’ death sent shockwaves through Hollywood and beyond. Read celebrity tweets mourning Robin Williams here.

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Robin Williams was a beloved comedian and philanthropist. His movies were part of my childhood. Rest in piece Mr. Williams.

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Alexander Pavone

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This is a great photo!

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San Francisco’s Chinatown.

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Freshmen 15: Helpful Tips

My best friend’s cousin will be attending the same college as me. And, now she shares my past anxieties. She’s been asking me tons of questions: “How many units should I take? Will I graduate on time? Any tips for an incoming freshman?” Her questions had me feeling a bit nostalgic so I’ve put together a list of 15 helpful tips and information that got me through my first year.

Don’t skip class. For many freshmen, they think they can get away with attendance. I’ll give you some advice from one of my high school teachers, “it’s all fun and games until grades come in.” Professors are there to help you learn the material so take advantage of that. In addition, pop quizzes and attendance can make or break your grade.

Pick the right amount of units/classes. Go at your own pace. Take care of GE classes first. Some of you may be commuting or working while attending school. 

Think about whether or not you need to bring your car.  Many colleges have public transportation systems making it easier to get around. You’ll save money and it is better for the environment! If you do decide to bring it, look into school parking garages and permits.

Attend freshmen orientation! It’s not just another campus tour, but a helpful workshop to get you situated at your new school. You’ll learn everything there is to know about what to expect during your first year. From registering classes to using your student ID card.

Find housing as soon you can. Unless you’re commuting from home, you’ll need a place to live. Dorm spaces run out fast and some are first come, first serve. The earlier you apply, the better your chances of getting a space. Other options include getting your own apartment, though it is recommended you dorm during your first year for the college experience. 

Register for classes as soon you can. Most colleges give priority registration for freshmen. Take advantage of that and choose the classes that you need. It may be harder to choose classes later on because of your school’s registration system.

Look into your school’s resources. Many colleges offer all kinds of services for their students. There are school printers and copy machines, computer stations, libraries, health services, tutoring, counseling, career centers, etc. 

Get a calendar or planner. It’ll be easier for you to remember exam and due dates, even school events. It’s a great way to stay organized and keep a balance. Get a real planner, an app, or write notes on your phone. Whatever helps.

Meet with an academic advisor each semester.  This amazing person will help you when it comes to choosing the right classes. He or she will make sure you are on track for graduation. They are extremely helpful if you are undeclared and need help deciding on majors. 

Get involved with campus organizations. Some freshmen feel homesick during the first few months. Joining an organization will help you meet new people and feel more welcomed at your school. And, if there’s an organization that doesn’t interest you, start one!

Stay connected. Set up web cam dates with your friends or calls to your family to deal with those homesick feelings.

Eat and sleep on time! A lot of students get sick from a lack of food or sleep. Try to avoid the top ramen college student diet. It isn’t healthy!  Sleeping on time and eating right will make it much easier to attend class.

Compare different prices when it comes to buying your books. Ever heard of the broke college student? You’ll hear that a lot during your college career. Look into your school’s rental program or check sites like Amazon or Chegg for deals. 

Get to know your roommate(s). Always remember to be kind and respectful to them. Set ground rules early on, this will help to avoid any future conflicts you may have with them (i.e. cleaning, visitors, etc.).

ALWAYS save your work! Whenever you’re doing an assignment on the computer, save it! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen my friends worry because their computer suddenly malfunctioned or their printer broke. Make sure you save your work. I have friends who email their completed assignments to themselves in the event something goes wrong. This way they can print it at the library. Some friends use Dropbox or Google Docs. Whatever works for you, just remember to save important files.

*I don’t remember when I wrote this, but it was for the now defunct online girl’s magazine, High School Pieces. It has been edited for wordiness.*

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Throwback Thursday: When I wrote about “might-T” by designer Kumiko Watari for N.E.E.T. Magazine. 

"Hand drawn illustrations of stamps, airmail and gifts  between friends and lovers are just some of the ideas that feature in the prints of Kumiko Watari’s S/S 11 collection, "Long Distance Love." Bursting with playful patterns and bold colors, the collection of playsuits, oversized tees and dresses was inspired by the designer’s love of far away lands.

Now based in London, Central St. Martin’s graduate Watari was born and raised in Japan. She combines  unique prints and her love of storytelling into her clothing line, migh-T. The brand was developed for strong minded people who believe in the power of individuality, with the brand’s name a play on words for “might,” meaning strong and “T” for shirts, creating the phrase “my-t-shirts.”

Watari’s current collection explores the variety of emotions one goes through while in a long distance relationship. By pairing a childlike quality with her honed design skills, Watari presents a beautifully crafted collection, solidifying herself as one of London’s ones to watch.”

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Sometimes commuting isn’t that bad.

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"Performance artist Patricia Alvarado has punched walls, glued hair onto old porn images and reenacted old beauty rituals to challenge and question societal standards.

The 21-year-old Chicago native is not your traditional artist. Instead of using paint or models, Alvarado uses a variety of mediums that include her body, images, text and video. Her work often focuses on topics like identity, femininity and issues surrounding women of color. “

I interviewed Chicago performance artist Patricia Alvarado for an awesome online magazine called Bitchtopia. Be sure to check it out! We talked about her creative process, beauty standards and empowering women of color.

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Relaxation. #vacation #vscocam

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#japan #trainride #commuting #commuter #japanrail #travel #vacation #summer #exploring #traveling #ilovetraveling #fun #adventure

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 -What’s the stupidest thing you’ve ever done?-

When I was about 3 or 4, I ended up cutting my own hair because I was scared of my mom’s hairdresser. It was probably the stupidest thing I’ve done. While it did leave me with an edgy pixie cut, I ended up looking like a boy. It took awhile to fix, let alone grow out. Everyone makes mistakes. Sometimes we find ourselves in stupid situations. I decided to go around to see if anyone had stories about their stupid decisions. 

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Street Photography

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Visit Original Link

I recently spoke with my friend Cristy Lee, a nursing major at SFSU. Cristy often feels unlucky or cursed because her parents chose Yuri as her second name. A majority of her injuries have involved glass which is ironic since Yuri means glass in Korean. She tells me of the first time she got stitches after cutting her knee open.

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Visit Original Link

I spoke with my friend, Nick Galindo, about the time he was invited to a party after meeting with some classmates for a group project.

The party was filled with people smoking joints and hippies baking pizza in a stone oven. He meets an interesting character, a man named Oscar, who tells him stories of coming to America. Soon after, Oscar offers Nick a drink and things get crazy.