Opinion | Columns - The Independent Florida Alligator

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Don’t let your impostor syndrome haunt you

Jan. 9, 2018

I remember meeting seniors when I was a freshman almost four years ago. It felt like I was meeting someone from another generation — another dimension, even. While I was struggling to remember which Regional Transit System bus would take me home, they seemed like they knew everything and done everything. The word senior seemed synonymous with wisdom. And I hoped I probably would have this wisdom, too, by senior year. I had time.

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The good, the bad and the elevator pitch

Jan. 9, 2018

Two words: Elevator pitch.

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This year, I want to meet people different from me

Jan. 9, 2018

I am conflicted about New Year’s resolutions. I doubt they do much beyond remind us of how fickle our willpower is. The culture of the new year itself entraps us in a cycle of goals, effort, failure and guilt. It’s not the culture’s fault, however. The culture is simply a reflection of our society.

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Don’t be afraid to make a resolution, even if you have failed in the past

Jan. 8, 2018

Happy New Year’s, dear reader! Welcome back to Gainesville, to school and to your unbridled independence. Did you miss it? Judging by my extensive Twitter research, it would appear that a lot of you did. While I was conducting my all-important social media research, I also came across another common thread. Many people seem to have already crashed and burned in the pursuit of their New Year’s resolutions. This trend is not unique to 2018 — nearly every year I have been a user of social media I have noticed this. People exit a year with big plans and lofty goals for self-improvement. We set goals to accomplish everything from going to the gym to eating healthy, from stopping bad habits to being more positive. And each year, we get upset when we are unable to meet these goals.

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I’m loading up my last-semester bucket list — are you?

Jan. 8, 2018

Welcome back! If you underwent a smartphone or social media cleanse this past break, I’ll bring you up to speed. Everywhere got really cold out, the #MeToo movement picked up speed and we’re not (yet) engaged in a nuclear war with North Korea. Is everyone caught up?

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My final column

Dec. 6, 2017

As that old proverb says, all good things must come to an end. At long last, to the joy of some and the great disappointment of others, you’re reading my final column of the semester. While I won’t miss the hate mail, I’ll miss this great opportunity I had to speak to my peers. Here are some of my final thoughts before I go.

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Take care of yourself first (HELP HELP HELP)

Dec. 6, 2017

Confession time: After four semesters of reporting and editing, writing in first person is going to be a challenge. So, buckle in.

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Amanda and Michael finally get to say goodbye to the Alligator

Dec. 6, 2017

The stress of this job has killed our social, physical and spiritual well-beings. Still, we have learned more than two things that have made us the people we wanted to see in the mirror when we were 7 years old.

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We need to address mental health before people are in danger, not after

Dec. 3, 2017

On Friday, there was a bomb threat at my old high school. The school went into lockdown, and people were scared out of their minds. It turned out the bomb was not real. However, as we have seen over the last few years, these stories of terror in everyday places like schools, churches and concert venues do not always have a happy ending. Innocent people have their lives snatched away from them for no reason other than being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

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We need a DREAM act that grants a pathway to citizenship to dreamers

Dec. 3, 2017

Earlier this year, President Donald Trump terminated Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), an executive order by former President Barack Obama which gave undocumented people who came to the U.S. as children protection from deportation for two years. This order was also renewable.

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Even when we think we won, we must keep working

Dec. 3, 2017

Potential trigger warning: This column cites anti-LGBTQ+ quotes in an effort to demonstrate how we must vote against anti-LGBTQ+ politicians.

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We should avoid unhealthy, discouraging memes

Nov. 30, 2017

In a way, the process of how rapidly and expansively a new meme spreads is impressive. Someone takes an image that is only mildly funny and then does something to it that suddenly renders it into a new creative medium of expression. If the meme is hot, “memelords” from around the internet will start using the new template and begin the production of new content utilizing this meme. For a few days, it will be the only meme you see on the internet, until it dissolves into irrelevancy just as quickly as it entered it, the ultimate fate of every meme.

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On the beginnings and endings of things

Nov. 30, 2017

In about two weeks I'm going to graduate. It’s been an interesting four and a half years, filled with ups and downs, things I expected and others I never thought would. I didn’t think I’d end up at UF, but I sit here now and realize this was where I needed to be. I'm happy with how the last four and a half years transpired, and now I wait for the next.

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When sex is king, fraternity men stoop low for the throne

Nov. 30, 2017

Nicole (which is not her real name) was a freshman, a virgin and a long way from her Midwestern home. She indulged in the staples of first-semester college life like alcohol, fraternity parties and boys. Although she had heard stories of sexual assault on campus, she never thought its reach would extend to her.

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Stop panicking over ending net neutrality

Nov. 28, 2017

Last week, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai announced that the FCC would terminate the Obama era regulations on net neutrality, which is the idea that all data on the internet is equal and that it should be treated as such. This decision was met with intense backlash from politicians, members of the media and tech companies across the country. Hashtags and social media campaigns have even emerged with the predictable hyperbole. Some users and news sites are warning that a repeal of net neutrality would cripple the First Amendment and would bring the end to a free internet. Newsflash: It’s never been free. So which side is in the right here?

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Let's finish this semester strong

Nov. 28, 2017

For the next two weeks the majority of us will be bogged down by endless assignments, finals and lengthy papers. While it’s easy to lose your motivation and throw up your hands, I hope you have the strength to finish strong.

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Our lives should pass the Bechdel Test

Nov. 28, 2017

A guy friend of mine recently crashed a girls’ night out. It was a Thursday like any other: unnecessary wedges, ‘90s song requests and all we could drink. It even ended where all GNO’s should — at the Flaco’s Cuban Bakery window. Just one thing kept me from calling the night a success, however. That night, I learned one important thing. Nothing spoils an arepa more than these words from our token dude: “I didn’t know girls talk about guys so much.”

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We need 24-hour access to the UF Infirmary’s $10 Morning After Pill

Nov. 27, 2017

Throughout life we are encouraged to have a “Plan B.” Didn’t get into UF? Clown school it is. Leonardo’s By the Slice is closed? Italian Gator it is. We miss the pill, or the condom breaks? Then we seek out the Morning After Pill (MAP) as soon as possible.

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Leave Malia alone, we have our own problems to worry about

Nov. 26, 2017

A couple of days ago, a video of Malia Obama blowing smoke rings went viral. The internet flipped out. Everyone either sang her praises or was deeply offended. “Go, Malia! I’m glad you’re having fun in college and doing your own thing! Get it, girl!” Or, “How dare she! What a delinquent. As a daughter of a former president, she should not be behaving in this manner.” There was a third response, which was something along the lines of, “Who cares?” This whole incident brought to mind something I find very important. It is also something frequently underemphasized, particularly in this day and age. This, dear reader, is the art of minding your own business.

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It’s dangerous to think Democrats are immune to sexual misconduct

Nov. 26, 2017

Roy Moore. Al Franken. John Conyers. Bill Clinton. Harvey Weinstein. Bill O’Reilly. The list goes on. The past year has brought an onslaught of sexual harassment and assault allegations from Hollywood and Washington, D.C. It’s sad and telling that this is at least the second time this semester I’ve written about this topic, but it’s not going away anytime soon.