Student Union
5 Articles That Might Change How You See the World
5. What Does it Mean to "Be American" As a Chinese Student?
The struggle to define yourself, and to decide how much your definition of self is in relation to others, is something everyone goes through in college. But when you're struggling to define yourself within another culture, as Qian has, it takes on a whole other dimension.
Waking from an alcoholic stupor after a party and walking in 5-inch-heels with my friends in the empty streets of Hong Kong at 3:00 am, I kept asking myself again and again, “Is this the life you want? If yes, why did you feel uncomfortable? If no, why do you have to continue this lifestyle you don’t actually enjoy?”
(Also make sure to take a look at Tara's thoughts about dating in America, the "relationship talk," and the fascinating differences in Chinese and American attitudes towards relationships)
4. Apetito and Acai Berries: Beauty and Weight in Zimbabwe and America
When being in America means redefining what it means to be "beautiful" and "healthy." Senzeni explores the obsession with weight in America, and back home in Zimbabwe.
During my freshman year, I watched with undisguised fascination as my friends would eat not to fill their stomachs, but to ensure that they had just barely met their daily calorie requirement. I also remember, vividly, watching helplessly as my American roommate’s face clouded over when I “complimented” her that she had gained weight (as you may have guessed, in America this is not a compliment).
3. Three perspectives on the meaning of "home"
Okay, I know this is cheating a bit, but Sebastian, Qian, and Olena each had SUCH unique perspectives on going home for the first time after spending months in America. Does living abroad mean changing your definition of home? Three different people gave three very different answers.
Does Gaining a New Home Mean Giving Up the Old One? - Sebastian
If I were to talk about the differences between Kansas and Santa Cruz I could write pages and pages about it, but here I’d rather say that those differences don’t seem to affect me anymore, whichever place I’m in.
A Fresh Perspective on My Two Homes: US and Ukraine - Olena
I had this weird feeling of belonging and at the same time not belonging to the place, which is my home country, for at least my first two weeks back. Almost nothing had changed in Ukraine, but after staying abroad for almost a year and a half my perception of many things changed...
Not the Home of My Memories, but Still Home - Qian
I have a 9-year-old cousin, once my sweetest little angel, who I watched grow up. This winter when I went back to Chengdu, I bought her several child-size-10 dresses as Christmas gifts. However, as soon as I met her at the airport, I realized those dresses were too small for her; she was already in 5th grade and in the year since I’d seen her had grown to almost five feet tall!
2. Don't Curb Your Enthusiasm: The Story That Inspired Me to Move Forward
Alex tells the story of his friend Diana, who faced a series of medical school rejections but kept fighting for her dream of working in medicine. If this doesn't inspire you to work towards your dreams, nothing will.
I was one of those inspired by her journey. Hearing her story led me to reflect on my own life. I realized that I have been holding on to so much and in effect it was holding me back. I wasn’t moving forward. Diana inspired me to say two things that I needed to hear myself say:
Dear past… thanks for all the lessons! Dear future… I’m ready!
1. Disability, Difference and Left-handedness in China and America
Is being left-handed something to be frowned upon, or just a difference like having blue eyes instead of brown? Are people with disabilities just as capable as the rest of us? Dandan struggles through those questions, and meets a professor who changes her perspective, in this fascinating piece.
My professors do their daily writing with their left hands. Unbelievable. They are not lunatics, but professors! My classmates do everything in their daily life with their left hands. Unbelievable. They are not lunatics, but incredibly talented people, as I’ve seen during in-class discussions, after-class group projects and many other activities!
Bonus: I didn't include this in my list because it got a shout out in yesterday's post of the most read items of the year, but you should read Simba's post about facing down negative stereotypes about Africans: On Being an African in the US: Navigating an Endless Web of Stereotypes
See all News Updates of the Day
Several students charged in hazing case at University of Alabama
Several students were accused in a reported fraternity hazing incident at the University of Alabama in which a pledge said he was shoved, stepped on and had things thrown at him, according to NBC News.
Four men, age 20 to 22, were charged with two counts of hazing at the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. NBC News reports that some of the actions were captured on video. (October 2024)
San Diego school requires course in climate change
If you want an undergraduate degree from the University of California, San Diego, you’re going to have to take a course in climate change.
The requirement, which affects students who will graduate in 2028, is meant to prepare students for the future, according to a report by ABC News. (October 2024)
‘Study away’ programs in the US can provide enrichment opportunities
While studying abroad can expose students to new cultures and experiences, researchers are finding that domestic ‘study away’ programs can be helpful as well.
Some students, including those on an international visa, may not be able to study abroad, but they can travel to other locations in the U.S. for enrichment experiences, Ashley Mowreader writes in Inside Higher Ed. (October 2024)
Fewer students disclose race in applications to top colleges
FAfter the Supreme Court’s decision to end affirmative action in college admissions last year, fewer students are disclosing their race or ethnicity in applications to top colleges.
Writing in USA Today, Zachary Schermele notes that the data is preliminary, but it could signal a change in the way students are approaching college applications. (October 2024)
Overall college enrollment is up, first-year enrollment down
For the second year since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, college enrollment has climbed in the United States.
But the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center noticed a substantial drop in the number of freshmen, which could be troubling for future enrollment, according to a report in Forbes. (October 2024)
