An exciting to-be-read list — “When I think of all the books still left for me to read, I am certain of further happiness.” — Jules Renard I began 2023 with a goal to read as many phenomenal books as possible. And since there are only a few more weeks left in the year, I…

Are these popular books worth the hype? — It’s hard to keep up with all the amazing book releases that have happened in 2023. So, how do you know which ones are worth your time? I read three popular new releases to see if they were worth the hype. Here are my honest reviews: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros Genre: Fantasy Romance My…

And that’s what makes it amazing — I romanticized Europe for several years. Browsing news headlines, I thought Europe was a paradise compared to life in the United States. With better work-life balance, walkable cities, and rich culture, I was so excited to move there. But, after living in mainland Europe for several months, I’ve realized the…

It didn’t take long for my hobby to feel like a chore — I fell down the reading rabbit hole when I was a teenager. At thirteen years old, I didn’t have many friends. So, I escaped into the world of literature where I no longer felt like an outsider. The anxiety and stress I carried with me in my everyday life fell…

I’ll remember it for the rest of my life — I opened the window shade and looked out at the clouds with a huge grin on my face. Only a few more hours, I thought. “Is this your first time traveling to London?” asked a man with a thick Scottish accent. His question came as a surprise and I turned…

“Do you want to play UNO?” — One of the most heartwarming moments of my life happened in an unassuming college dorm room. I was sitting at my desk when my roommate, Olivia, opened the door and asked a life-changing question: “I’m hanging out with friends downstairs — do you want to join us?” I’d met her…

It left me speechless — When you think of Austria, what comes to mind? Is it the cultural capital city of Vienna? Or maybe it’s Innsbruck and Salzburg with their snow-capped mountain views? Your first answer is probably not Graz. As a tourist, I didn’t know what to expect when I visited the city for…

But I wouldn’t have it any other way — After living abroad for several months, I’ve learned that grocery shopping in a foreign country is a weird and wonderful experience. And most of the time, it feels completely different compared to the US. Here’s why: It’s painfully obvious I don’t speak the language “Perfect,” my boyfriend and I both said to each other when we were heading…

Progress is the only thing that matters — I can’t help but cringe at my old writing. Even looking back at articles from less than a year ago, I see a huge difference in the way I write now versus then. But, I’ve learned, that if you cringe at your past writing, it might actually be a good…