WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – ‘Tis the season for festivals, and with that comes cultural appropriation galore for celebs and plebs worldwide. For those who don’t know, cultural appropriation is defined as the act of taking or using things from a culture that is not your own, especially without showing that you understand or respect this culture. […]
WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Thanks to Mean Girls, whenever I say I was in marching band, I get asked if we really were sexually active. To answer that, I say we did not have time to be doing the deed, and yes, “that one time at band camp” truly is a thing. When you’re […]
WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – A Netflix adaption of the young adult novel, 13 Reasons Why, looks directly at the life of a high school girl named Hannah Baker, who left 12 tape recordings in which she explains why certain people and the situations they caused were the reason for her suicide. The show addresses the devastating effects […]
WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – To me, identity is how you define yourself; personally, I feel that I fit the ABCD stereotype, a.k.a. American-Born-Confused-Desi. I was born in India, but at the age of 7 months, my mom, dad, and I took a 23 hour flight to the great state of New Jersey. Of course, in […]
WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – With spring break always comes serious FOMO – fear of missing out – and for me, this year was no different. Many of my peers went to sun-soaked beaches and posted on social media aggressively about the great time they were having and what drinks they were consuming that hour. […]
WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – The French fairytale, La Belle et La Bête, was adapted by Disney Studios into the beloved 1990’s animated film Beauty and the Beast. This March, Disney released a remake of the film, a live action Beauty and the Beast, which was met with much critical acclaim. The original animated film was met […]
WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Recently, I was able to revisit one of my favorite childhood books, Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone. When I read the book the first time, I was immediately drawn to Hermione Granger, the bushy haired witch who made a family for herself in the magical world of Hogwarts. This […]
WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Now this may come as news to some people, but I was not born in America. I was instead born in a hospital just a few miles from the beach in India. However, I am a naturalized American citizen; this means that I literally pledged my allegiance to the United […]
WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – While these cold and dreary winter months might have us cooped up inside for days on end, they also foster the ideal atmosphere for cozying up with a good book. If you need some suggestions for a captivating read to keep you warm this season, look no further: here are my top […]
WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – There is a pretty solid outline for the typical Disney princess movie: the princess goes on a quest with her quirky animal sidekick, who may or may not be able to speak, and overcomes some obstacle with the help of a man she picks up along the way, a.k.a. the Disney […]