An Interview with a College Freshman and Senior

In a unique and insightful exchange of perspectives, a college freshman and senior come together for an illuminating interview. As they sit down to discuss their respective experiences, this intergenerational conversation promises to reveal the contrasting insights, challenges, and growth that define the college journey. From navigating the bewildering terrain of freshman year to reflecting on the wisdom gained during the senior stretch, this interview promises to offer a candid glimpse into the world of academia through the eyes of both a newcomer and a seasoned scholar.

With Davaianna Prescott and Lily Greenberg

So it's over

So it's over.

You've graduated and the world is in the palm of your hands, and that is incredibly terrifying.

As time ticks down for wherever you are right now, you can't help but wonder what the future holds.

Things end and you can never really prepare, you can spend all of your time in the world wondering what the jump will be like, I remember, I felt so alone by the end of my senior year, I ate lunch in the principal's office, and spent most of my time wondering how my future would unfold. I had lost most of the people closest to me, and what I thought I wanted my life to look like got completely flipped upside down, and my senior year had not panned out anything like I had dreamed.

Still, I miss high school. miss is a strong word.

I’ll admit subjecting myself to 7:30 a.m. classes and repetitive speed walking to each one is not how I would ever like to spend my time again.

Many of the things I did in high school are of result watching “Ferris Bueller's Day Off” and learning the word hooky way younger than I was meant to, and if I publicly published how many absences I received, I’m afraid someone would ask me to mail back my diploma.

That being said I never truly found the right cadence when it came to school.

when I think of all the reasons I wish to never go back, I can’t help but feel nostalgic for the reasons I would.

There’s a feeling of community that comes along with adolescent persistence.

We all spend so long fitting ourselves into the perception of others, that when we finally find people who are willing to put their armor down as well, high school stops feeling like a battlefield

Kids I might never see again, singing in harmonies between lunch and 5th period. Freshman Study buddies who were basically certified geniuses in my book. The girl who told me my outfit looked nice on the day I needed it most. Shared injuries from fellow cheerleaders and a laugh to go with the pain. Teachers that made me feel like my words were actually important.

Goodbyes are hard. Sometimes we are unlucky enough to never do them properly or never realize at the moment that goodbye is really goodbye. God, truthfully I hate goodbyes and endings, I hate the feeling that I wish I could go back and change everything and make different choices. Love better, apologize faster, sing louder. This feeling has never arisen faster than now, at the precipice of a new school year for most, or simply just a new beginning.

I know looking back at it all I probably see it much sweeter than it was. But I’d be a major liar to say there’s nothing I would do differently, or just again. If I could I’d probably take more time listening to the people around me if I knew I’d never see them again. I would be less afraid of who saw me wear what and what people would think if I joined certain clubs.

I would not be so afraid to take big risks.

Instead, I can live in the knowledge that the fourteen-year-old girl who walked through the doors, left at seventeen with wishes, hopes, a stupid amount of tardy slips, and the chance to make a bigger impact outside of the walls I had spent so much time in.

This is all to say I still remember the last class I was in, and I still remember my computer lab password, and even though I would never go back, I hope I always remember.

There are so many wishes I had, people I wish I could have said goodbye to, moments I wish I lingered in more, I don't know why nostalgia is such an easy path to go down, or why it makes me cry like a baby, I think it has something to do with forgetting, or thinking the best of it might be over.

On graduation day, the future surrounded me faster than I could ever imagine, and I don't know exactly what I thought it would be, but I remember telling myself to enjoy it, to feel it because this isn't the best of it, but it’s just the beginning.

I wonder what it will look like, the beginning.

There are a mountain of things I wish I could give you to let you know everything is going to be okay, I don't even know where I would start, all I know is, it's over and you're scared and you won't admit it, or maybe you will, and you're much better than me, and you have no clue what is coming next. If I could tell you a secret, it would be this, this is the good part, it doesn't feel like it, but whatever you're leaving or wherever you're going, when you jump, don't worry about where you're landing or what cliff is behind you, for those two seconds for the rest of your life, feel yourself fly.

By Toni Desiree

Cardigans, Cable Knits, And Coziness: Fall Fashion in Film and TV

Autumn lovers, our time has come! The sun’s reign of terror is finally over, and we can rejoice in our turtlenecks and cardigans once again. Gone are the days of wanting to rip your skin off just to feel some relief from that flaming ball of space fire’s torturous rays, now we are free to wear as many layers of wool, corduroy, and cotton as we wish. Hell, we can even wear velvet cloaks if we are so inclined! The age of sunburns and mosquito bites is over. Yes, fellow haters of the heat, the fall season is upon us, also known as the best season for fashion.

It tends to prioritize comfort as well as style to suit the transitional weather. This is where we see a lot of people finding ways of incorporating layers into their outfits of the day. Because of this, there’s more versatility in fall clothes, with layering it means more pieces to use. Pairing denim skirts with cotton sweaters, tights, and leather belts makes for an outfit that is both breathable and will keep you warm if the weather starts to get colder. Additionally, fall fashion is about using what you already have in your closet. Since most of us probably keep our cool weather gear stored away, fall gives us a chance to dig through and find those hidden gems.

Of course, the back-to-school season has some influence over popular fall trends. Dark/Light Academia was practically made by fall people for fall people. The aesthetic leans heavily into autumn marking the beginning of a new school year. As we get older there is a sense of nostalgia for our old school days. If you’re looking to channel the academic vibes then look no further than the movie “Dead Poets Society”. Taking place in a boarding school in the 1950s we see the characters wearing argyle sweaters, button-up shirts, khaki pants, and corduroy. The boys wear loose-fitting sweaters and comfortable trousers that are perfect for both running around late at night or spending the evening in the study hall. The costumes in the movie also make good use of darker colors and earth tones. Much like the leaves that fall on the ground, the color scheme of the fall is typically, orange, black, brown, beige, and darker shades of blue and green. However, by strategically layering warmer and cooler colors underneath neutral shades, the clothes channel the academic style without looking boring.

While the colors of the fall may be warm, the temperature is severely cold. After fall comes winter, and Mother Nature is planning accordingly. But, just because we have to start piling on the layers, doesn’t mean we should resign ourselves to cosplaying as the Marshmallow Man every day. The short-lived, but well-loved TV show “I Am Not Okay With This'' showcases some understated yet memorable looks from Sophia Lillis’ character, Sydney Novak. Sydney’s androgynous style is often in solid colors with little to no patterns. We see layering being a major part of fashion because the movie takes place during the fall/winter semester which is a great source of inspiration for fall wardrobe choices. Outfits are made visually appealing through differences in texture rather than relying heavily on prints. Sydney’s gray, knitted sweater and brown corduroy jacket pair well because of how the textures complement one another. Details are very subtle, we don’t see too many accessories, so all the focus is on the actual clothes being worn. We also see Sydney re-wearing articles of clothing but paired with different items. Again, fall is a lot about working with what you have, so it is refreshing to see a TV character finding new ways of making outfit combinations.

We can’t forget about the classic fall rewatch “Gilmore Girls”. Taking place in an idyllic small town, the show is the TV equivalent of being wrapped in a warm blanket with a cup of coffee (preferably from Luke’s). If you don’t feel particularly inclined to dress up like a boarding school student in the 1950s or a Pennsylvania teenager with burgeoning superpowers, Gilmore Girls has some outfits that play into the aesthetic of the season without asking for too much. The clothes remain on the casual side and lean into Gen Z’s love of Y2K styles. While Rory Gilmore made some questionable life choices during the show’s run, her sense of style is something that most people can get on board with. Most of the time, Rory is simply in a shirt or sweater, jeans, sneakers, and depending on the weather a jacket or coat. We don’t see her deviate too much from this blueprint, but we do see her finding small ways of making each outfit different from the next. Rory’s oversized beige sweater sounds basic on paper but is arguably one of her best looks. The sweater’s chunky knit pattern is what stops it from looking too boring and its color gives the outfit a touch of elegance. Plus, there is no denying how cozy that sweater must feel. Then there is the ever-iconic Lorelai Gilmore whose leather blazer is practically a necessity for the fall season.

Lastly, I want to talk about a movie with outfits that deserve a little more appreciation; “Coraline”. This is a weird one, but hear me out– that star-studded turtleneck lives in my head rent-free. Coraline is all about individuality. From her dragonfly clip to her brightly patterned gloves and black flat-topped cap, her style takes pieces that are delightfully random and makes them go together. Coraline’s trademark yellow raincoat and matching boots are perfect for when it rains in the fall and her style has a childlike quirk. Part of what makes them go together is the confidence with which she wears them. I mentioned going back and finding hidden gems in an old pile of cold-weather clothes to bring back for the fall. Instead of sewing buttons onto your eyes, I suggest finding hand-me-downs that can be re-worn or random accessories that you loved wearing as a kid. Fall makes the passing of time more concrete, and as we get older it loses the charm it had on us as children. So, why not bring back something from the fall seasons of your youth?

Written by JD Valdepenas

Photography by Leonardo Amaral

Movement Directed by Claire Goldes

Styled by Ka'enaaloha Watson

Production Management by Mark Bluemle

Casting, Production Assitance by Jake Pranian

BTS Content Jazzi Almestica