Every American has seen their ads when watching football on the television or on billboards during road trips. They’re Buffalo Wild Wings! This nationally famous establishment is known for the wide range of flavors they offer for their traditional wings, perfect for a meal after a long night out from bar-hopping or essential for a tailgate before the big game. Just around the corner from New York University, a Buffalo Wild Wings Go location serves customers everyday, even into deeper hours for those late-night snackers.
The interior of the Buffalo Wild Wings Go location on First Avenue.
Amanda, one of my good friends, and I were craving wings terribly, which inevitably brought us to the closest Buffalo Wild Wings. Neither of us had eaten that afternoon. We were two famished college students eagerly pouring over the extensive menu. Pleased to be eating food outside of our dining hall, we selected an abundance of entrees and appetizers to stuff our faces for lunch.
For starters, we had two servings of french fries and a generous helping of fried pickles. Amanda and I fought over the latter: the juicy and bittersweet pickle slices were coated in a light breading, complemented by a tangy, slightly spicy dipping sauce. As for the fries, these very thin potato slices were plentiful in amount and seasoned well with salt and pepper. We chose to add a salt and vinegar dry rub for extra seasoning, though the fries had plenty of flavor by themselves.
Our fried pickles and french fries for starters.
“The fried pickles were an amazing appetizer. Just so nice and crispy, with a good ratio of breading to pickle!” Amanda commented. “Plus, you can’t go wrong with fries. They were a good portion size, and honestly some of the best restaurant fries I’ve had.”
The two of us shared several entrees: six piece wings with lemon pepper sauce, six piece wings with medium sauce, six piece wings with spicy garlic sauce, a buffalo ranch chicken wrap, and an all american burger.
We began with the monstrous, double-patty, classic burger. The ground beef makes for a greasy, but delicious burger, especially sandwiched in between two brioche buns. The burger showcases a heaping amount of American cheese, tomatoes, pickles, lettuce, and mayonnaise. It is a classic staple in fast food done right.
“Although it was messy because of the mayo, it was amazing for me personally because of the piles of pickles and lettuce. The bun is delicious and it is truly a huge burger,” she noted.
Amanda tried the buffalo wrap and gave verbal approval of the entree. She noted an abundance of cheese and a proportionate amount of chicken inside.
Our three types of wings, with the lemon pepper on top.
“This actually used to be my go to dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings, before I liked wings on the bone!”
Still hot within their cardboard packaging, Amanda and I practically salivated once the wings arrived. The spicy garlic and medium were fairly similar in taste, a detail that did not diminish their deliciousness! Both were of mild heat and pungent flavor. I enjoyed every tender bite and would love to try the traditional bone in-wing for these classics. My personal favorite was the lemon pepper, though I suppose it was Amanda’s as well. We fought over the remaining few pieces and decided to have our own orders the next time we returned.
Amanda is seen here happily taking photos of our half-devoured lunch together.
If we were to suggest two main takeaways, Amanda and I would recommend students try the fried pickles for a starter, followed by the delectable traditional wings with lemon pepper sauce. We washed down our afternoon meal with fountain drinks, primarily consisting of Diet Pepsi and Pepsi Zero Sugar. Thankfully, Buffalo Wild Wings on First Ave has offered to give students a 15% discount when they present the coupon below and their valid student ID.
Like everyone else, I’ve been thinking about Bad Bunny’s Calvin Klein promotion for about three weeks. I am all for men in their tiny little undies looking all scrumptious for clothing brands, and it’s not just because the sight is easy on the eyes. Campaigns like Bad Bunny’s and Jeremy Allen White’s do more than just give the people what they want. When men take up sexualized spaces that have been historically imposed upon women, they highlight the gender discrepancy within partial-nudity reception. That’s what I’m also for.
Calvin Klein’s Instagram page has an audience of nearly 26 million. Bad Bunny appears in the most recent Calvin Klein campaign wearing just his Calvins, partially nude—something that’s been normalized for men in media but is often critiqued and policed when women do the same.
Bad Bunny received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the internet for posing in his Calvins, with many comments thanking Calvin Klein for giving them such a godsend of photos (I don’t disagree here). Audiences reacted the same with Jeremy Allen White and many of the other men who have posed in their tighty whities, such as Jacob Elordi, Michael B. Jordan, and more.
Bad Bunny’s Calvin Klein ad, cropped to your displeasure.
What happens when we compare the reception to JENNIE’s Calvin Klein campaign, which featured comments from viewers such as “She has a nice body, but is it sexy?” What about Disha Patani’s? A follower wrote, “Nowadays, showing partial body is the next way to get popular and attention.” Maya Jardon’s more conservative shapewear post didn’t miss getting hit either: “Why are you naked?” And then, for Lily Collins’ full-clothing campaign, a backhanded comment that almost had me hopeful, “This woman is sexy without showing anything,” plus a “this is not on brand.”
We can’t forget what happened to FKA twigs, either. In April 2023, Calvin Klein released an advertisement featuring FKA twigs wearing an unbuttoned denim shirt draped over her body, exposing parts of her butt and her breasts. It wasn’t too long after that the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) received two complaints alleging that the ad objectified women. Consequently, the ASA banned the ad, stating that it “used nudity and centered on FKA twigs’ physical features rather than the clothing, to the extent that it presented her as a stereotypical sexual object.”
FKA twigs publicly contested this ruling, expressing disappointment and highlighting double standards in advertising. She noted that similar campaigns featuring male celebrities, such as Jeremy Allen White, did not face the same scrutiny. In her statement, she emphasized her pride in her body and the empowerment she felt during the shoot, questioning why hers was deemed inappropriate:
“I do not see the ‘stereotypical sexual object’ that they have labelled me. I see a beautiful strong woman of colour whose incredible body has overcome more pain than you can imagine,” she wrote a day after the ban. “In light of reviewing other campaigns, past and current, of this nature, I can’t help but feel there are some double standards.” It’s still lost on the committee, which eventually responded that although they were concerned their “rationale for banning the ad was substantially flawed,” the photos were still overtly sexual, and thus the ban remained.
One of the FKA twigs Calvin Klein ad photos that wasn’t removed
As Summer approaches and Amiee Lou Wood’s White Lotus Bikinis sell out online, I’ve come to wonder, where are women allowed to be hot?
Campaigns like Bad Bunny’s indirectly highlight how algorithms and moderation policies on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and others unevenly censor content based on gender and sexualization. Because of this, it seems women are not allowed to be hot in the Calvin Klein campaigns, which are quite literally designated spaces for partial nudity to be accepted. Online platforms as a whole tend to sexualize and censor women’s bodies far more than men’s, especially in similar attire. If we take modeling underwear out of the picture, there must be other spaces where women can be confident and attractive while not being policed for it, right?
Certainly not at the gym, where sports bras and biker shorts have become demonized by men who don’t know how to confront their own wandering eyes. “It’s practically narcissistic, if someone has a great six-pack and young girls have amazingly shaped bodies that they are showing off basically, they should cover up a little bit, you know,” said a gym owner on Irish radio whose comments have since gone viral and irritated plenty. Men can work out shirtless and semi-shirtless—for when those muscle tanks are cut up so much they show both the nips—but women can’t have a matching fit that highlights their physique? Are they just upset because men’s clothes aren’t as thematic and interesting as women’s? Do the guys just want cute matching sets, too? I’m trying to find an attainable solution.
Clapbacks to the Irish man on TikTok
What about at work or school? Hilarious question. We’ve all seen Legally Blonde. Next.
Women also can’t be hot on the beach, where they’ll be reprimanded for wearing bikinis no matter what age they are. A council in Greater Sydney announced recently it would be banning G-string bikinis at its public pools without providing further details about how the rule will be policed. Last summer, actress Sydney Sweeney received criticism for posting photos in a long-sleeve one-piece wetsuit because it had a bikini bottom: “Didn’t she say she didn’t want to be sexualized anymore?” and “Who on earth made this mid famous?” In her op-ed, “Women – don’t get larger, don’t get older, don’t have fun, don’t dare to wear a bikini” for The Guardian, Barbara Ellen described the array of ridicule women get for showing skin: “Is she wearing a bikini? At her age? At that weight? Shouldn’t she be in a one-piece? Isn’t it all a bit undignified? On and on it goes.”
Sydney Sweeney’s response to her haters
It definitely takes a toll on the mental wellness of women. What spaces are we left in to just be hot in peace? Where can we go where we won’t get bullied into wearing something we don’t like, only to still receive slander from the opposite end where we’re not hot enough? The scrutiny of women’s clothing and skin exposure is just a breeding ground for shame, fear, and self-consciousness. How often do we feel unsafe or objectified on a daily basis, not even during times of shorts and tanks, but when we’re fully clothed head to toe? How often have we dealt with anxiety and reduced self-worth because some man opened his mouth? This pressure to dress “modestly” or “appropriately” undermines self-expression and contributes to internalized misogyny, ruining our mental health and body confidence. It’s something we’ve experienced for years before and will continue to for years to come.
It seems women are allowed to be hot anywhere that straight men are not present. If there are to be hetero-men present, there should be just one, and it should be your husband. If you’re single, and there are multiple men in the space, you’re still permitted to be hot, but in consequence, you will also have to be thirsty, immature, narcissistic, dumb, attention-seeking, and, above all, disreputable. And that’s just the way it goes for people with half a brain cell, apparently.
I do think, however, that getting men some more matching workout sets could be onto something. Maybe a lavender 5-inch inseam short and crop tank? Can we get a Nike collab with Ryan Gosling on this? Asking for a friend.
Boston Students! Head on over to Chivo in Cambridge and get free chips and salsa with a coupon and student ID 🙂
Brenna Sheets is a graduate student in Emerson College’s Writing and Publishing M.A. program. Her hobbies include going on long walks, watching bad television, reading, and writing.
A few months ago, I wrote about how women perpetuating the patriarchy was taking a toll on me (as if it were new information). I was frustrated by the way I was being objectified by men and women alike, belittled and dumbed down into something along the lines of a rom-com side character scripted by Richard Curtis. I have lived long enough to know that when that happens, someone is simply projecting their own insecurities, but by god is it still so incredibly annoying.
The truth is I don’t blame women, or men for that matter, for being insecure. The pressures we face today are unimaginable, and the standard of beauty and overall being is simply unattainable. If you’re not living off brand deals and traveling the world, are you really living? If you don’t have abs like Glen Powell, what kind of girl even wants you? And if you aren’t on the list of Forbes 30 Under 30, have you even found a purpose in life? It’s absurd what we compare ourselves to rather than appreciate all we’ve done.
Societal pressure has left us all insecure at one moment or another, and it’s nothing to be ashamed of. The point is how we handle that insecurity of ours. Maybe you’re insecure about your body type because the world has told you it doesn’t compare to Charlie’s Angels, but does it really make you feel better to comment “Jeez, put on some meat” under an influencer’s bikini pic? I may not blame anyone for feeling like they don’t measure up from time to time, but I will 100% blame women for putting other women down just to feel good about themselves.
According to Her Campus, “A recent social media phenomenon, the term ‘girl’s girl’ is used to describe women who support other women through every aspect of their lives, and not just the women directly in their lives either.” To be a girl’s girl takes active work. It involves dismantling the competitiveness and insecurities society has propelled onto us, which can be incredibly difficult when it comes to things we’ve been taught all our lives.
My mom: the ultimate girl’s girl
If you’ve been so fortunate as to have primarily healthy female friendships all your life, you may think to yourself, “Well, I know a lot of girl’s girls, and I thought most girls were girl’s girls, so just how many aren’t?” You’ll be interested to find that someone calls a woman a ‘slut’ or ‘whore’ on X (formerly Twitter) almost 10,000 times per day, and half of those comments are from women, a 2016 Washington Post study stated. More interestingly, The Workplace Bullying Institute found women bully other women up to 80% of the time. And if it couldn’t get worse, a 2020 study by the United Nations found that about 90% of men AND women “hold some sort of bias against women, providing new clues to the invisible barriers women face in achieving equality, and a potential path forward to shattering the Glass Ceiling.” The truth is, the world needs a LOT more actual girl’s girls, not just performances.
It’s important for us as women to remember that being a girl’s girl extends far beyond just watching another girl’s drink at the bar. It’s in the way we speak to each other, the way we act with each other, and the way we stand up for one another. It’s in the way we stop ourselves from falling into sexist rhetoric, from using gender as an insult, from objectifying each other more than we applaud one another. Like the scene from Mean Girls, I’m sure we could all raise our hands and admit we’ve said things we regret about another girl. You’d think, though, that once we reach Ms. Norbury’s age at the latest, all the weird ‘girl-on-girl crime’ would just… fizzle out?
In our 20s, it seems to just take on more forms. A random back-handed compliment from a friend here, an insulting up-and-down glance from a stranger there, A humiliation fetish disguised as a joke everywhere! Not to mention, it’s SO second-hand embarrassing for me and for everyone I tell afterward (Yes, I will absolutely gossip about the hurtful thing you said to me. It’s my way of coping). You should see the grimaces and furrowed brows that glide over everyone’s faces, the cringes and widened eyes that follow suit, and the “Um wtf!” texts that fly in like clockwork. If non-girl’s girls knew they came off this way, would they change their ways, like Regina George? Or would they still play victim, siding with misogynists, calling women hormonal b-words? I’d like to think they can still be saved.
Tally: another ultimate girl’s girl
If we support one another, uplift one another, and stand up for one another, it won’t only make us better people, but actually make us feel better, too. A study from the National Institute of Health states, “Friendships among women can provide critical social resources and promote overall wellness, feelings of self-worth, and empowerment. Findings from studies that examine these relationships among women indicate that the quality of friendship support is more important than the mere number. Supportive friendships, which are characterized by intimacy, nurturance, loyalty, and prosocial behaviors, are associated with heightened psychological and physical well-being.”
Being a supportive girl’s girl is so important, especially in a world that has always been and still is against women. Uplifting other women creates a sense of community, which means we’ll have more people to hear us out and learn from in times of need. Hyping up our friends and strangers also shifts our mindset away from toxic comparison, because life is hard enough without mentally competing in a game no one actually wins. Plus, acts of kindness release feel-good hormones, so we’re not just being nice—we’re chemically hacking our own brains into happiness. At the end of the day, why make enemies out of the very people who could be your biggest allies?
“I love my husband, but it is nothing like a conversation with a woman who understands you. I grow so much from those conversations.” – Beyonce
Boston Students! Get free chips and salsa at Chivo Taqueria in Cambridge!
Brenna Sheets is a graduate student in Emerson College’s Writing and Publishing M.A. program. Her hobbies include going on long walks, watching bad television, reading, and writing.
Ole and Steen is a bakery and cafe chain with locations around Manhattan. I spent my Wednesday morning at their Union Square location to review their assorted lunch teams, desserts, and handcrafted drinks. Nestled among NYU buildings, bustling shops, and grocery stores, Ole and Steen is an excellent space to settle into after classes and errands.
To my left, two businessmen conversate over a startup company with a variety of packaged Danish pastries. To my right, a university student handwrites her notes, occasionally sipping on what seems to be a cortado. I sit at a dark wooden, circular table with surrounding leather couches to accompany. An attentive barista calls out my two drinks: an iced matcha made with almond milk and a hazelnut iced latte with oat milk. The matcha has an authentic taste, without the overly bitter undertones I tend to stray away from. Almond milk compliments the matcha’s flavor well, revealing its earthy taste without the heavy residue that lingers on the tongue. As for the latte with hazelnut syrup, the nutty add-on and espresso taste are light. The next time I order from the establishment, I plan on adding extra shots. With my international relations tests coming up, I’ll need more caffeine. The coffee served here is just perfect for my palate.
A close-up of the Hot Honey Turkey Toasty at Ole and Steen in Union Square.
Juggling an internship, the maximum amount of credits, and scholarship applications can be rough, which is why I often try to find affordable, tasty sandwiches to take on the go. Ole and Steen satisfies my expectation in a savory sandwich, from the hot honey turkey toastie to the bagel and lox toast. The turkey toastie had a pungent and powerful dijon mustard. The bread is light, soft, and slightly crispy—wait, are those apple slices? This was the most unique sandwich I’ve had, and yet I thoroughly enjoyed the wild assortment of flavors found within a single bite! The bagel and lox delicacy was similar to a typical salmon cream cheese bagel, but instead of the thick dough we’re all used to, it was served on a multigrain slice of bread. A large dollop of cream cheese was scooped onto the unfamiliar type of grain, a perfect amount for my liking.
Slices of lox are placed on a large dollop of seasoned cream cheese, set atop a piece of Danish bread in this delectable dish.
A large, ivory white paper box with a sticker seal encased several astonishing desserts handled carefully and skillfully. The array was composed of a vanilla cream bun, a strawberry tart, a slice of mango cheesecake, and a gateau marcel. One of my favorites were the tangy tastes of the mango cheesecake, a fluffy and light take on a typically thick and overly sweet dessert. The consistency of the custard-like base paired perfectly with the texture of the crust and the oozing red-orange syrup. A balanced ratio between each element was evident in every mouthwatering bite. This distinctive cheesecake slice was softer than its original New York counterpart, with the gentle sting of the mango flavoring and its sweet graham-cracker-like crust. The gateau marcel, on the other hand, was a chocolate concoction of sorts, with a generous cocoa dusting and unique layered structure. This moist dessert has a cute presentation, and is not sickly sweet which individuals would presume of it, based on its appearance. Two large square pieces sit atop the rounded, espresso-brown cake slice.
Seen here are four of the desserts available from the bakery-cafe, carefully packaged in a paper box.
From this brunch at Ole and Steen, I have several main takeaways. The first being that danish bread is delectable and scarcely found at casual bakeries around the cities. My second was the pleasantness of the cafe’s environment, where there is a safe, calm, and stable atmosphere. My final point to raise is how the beautifully decorated, Instagrammable desserts are served with care and taste as great as their presentation!
This mango cheesecake is vibrant in color and flavor.
For students craving a sweet treat or the multitude of other options on Ole and Steen’s menu, the Campus clipper has partnered with the establishment to offer 20% off. To redeem this offer, students can present their valid college or university ID with the coupon listed below!
I had never heard of Black Forest cake, a german layer cake composed of cocoa powder, cherries, and whipped cream, until my close friend Amanda abruptly squealed upon reading its name on the menu at Orion Diner and Grill. Apparently, she has failed to find her favorite dessert in Manhattan time and time again. As fate would have it, the quaint establishment we would be spending our evening in had it as one of their specialties. The Orion Diner and Grill, situated just around the corner from Baruch College, serves as a casual, sit-down restaurant for individuals from all walks of life, including famished college students.
The nighttime exterior of Orion Diner and Grill.
Diners welcome a feeling of nostalgia, friendliness, and comfort, emitted through their wide selection of foods and laid-back environment. Orion was no different. Amanda and I immediately sat in a cushioned booth, ready to order two classic milkshakes, a platter of mozzarella sticks, and a heaping portion of fried calamari. The two of us agreed that diners would never go out of style, and could always be a haven for reliable, delicious, hot meals. Our filling appetizers proved us right, arriving promptly and piping-hot to our table, served with generous sides of marinara sauce and lemon slices. The chocolate and vanilla milkshakes were creamy, smooth, and slightly sweet—all necessary traits for a beverage meant to wash down a three course meal.
Our vanilla and chocolate milkshakes to start!
“The calamari rings get bonus points. They’re my favorite,” Amanda reviewed. “For the mozzarella sticks, the ratio of breading to cheese is immaculate. Such a great cheese pull!”
After devouring our first plates, we decided to place an order for a cheeseburger with a side of curly fries and a chipotle chicken wrap with onion rings. Our main courses were served by a sociable waiter, eager to chat and make conversation. The crispy, golden brown curly fries were a diner staple. My cheeseburger had fresh tomatoes, leafy-green lettuce, and a soft brioche bun, which was perfect for a hearty dinner. Amanda had no leftovers of her wrap, and was visibly content with her meal.
A close up of our main entrees: a cheeseburger and a chicken wrap
“The wrap had a great portion size. The chicken was juicy and tender, pretty much cooked to perfection,” she reflected. “My meal paired well with the onion rings. Definitely a ten out of ten for those!”
Lastly, we wrapped up our evening with a caramel sundae and slice of Black Forest cake. My caramel sundae was rimmed with whipped cream and a chocolate drizzling, perfected with a warm brownie-like, chocolate, nutty base. The differences in texture between the various elements of the dessert kept the dish enticing and appealing. I preferred it over the Black Forest cake, though Amanda had a different opinion.
“I was so excited about it, because nowhere else in New York City has it,” she eagerly noted. “The portion slice was absolutely huge! There was a good amount of cherry, with a perfect ratio to the cakey portion.”
Our favorite aspects of the restaurant were the classic diner atmosphere, a plentiful menu of more than traditional American dishes, and the unique Black Forest cake. Amanda expressed a keen interest in returning solely just for her favorite dessert part. I’ll be back to try their selection of Greek foods! Overall, the Orion Diner and Grill is a great choice for casual dining after a long day of classes and office hours, especially with a group of friends. Thankfully, the establishment has partnered with the Campus Clipper to offer students a 15% discount when they present this coupon and their valid student ID.
The Campus Clipper coupon for Orion Diner and Grill. Valid with Student ID.
I was recently watching the Real Housewives of Atlanta, season 15 (I know, I’m behind). There was a scene where the girls were dishing out some gossip, not over tea or coffee, but instead over Vitamin IV drips. It was a peculiar sight, but not one I hadn’t seen before. The reality stars of Selling Sunset also had a very similar scene. Still, I can’t get past the casualness of it. It reminded me of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives where they all meet up to gossip at the Botox office, inhaling the laughing gas like oxygen. Okay, maybe that one is a little different, but whatever happened to talking crap at the nail salon? Or while grabbing some appetizers? More than likely, I’ve simply become too exposed to reality TV ever since I bought a Peacock subscription.
Most vitamin IV drips, also known as vitamin therapy, include vitamin C, B vitamins, magnesium, calcium, and electrolytes like Sodium and potassium. The anticipated plus side of using vitamin therapy as opposed to taking vitamins by mouth is that they enter the bloodstream directly, which users have expressed makes them feel better more quickly. Vitamin therapy has also been used specifically for hydration, especially in sports (or, in the reality TV world, hangover cures).
Cynthia Bailey from RHOA getting a “Fountain of Youth” IV drip
While vitamin IV drips have definitely become a rising trend, especially for the rich and famous, I prefer to steer clear of needles. They make me feel queasy.
The idea of vitamin therapy, though, has me thinking about all of the different kinds of vitamins, supplements, and teas people take for a variety of desired effects. According to a study by Harvard University, approximately 50% of adults take a daily vitamin, and about 33% take a daily multivitamin. On any given day, over fifty percent of the American population drinks tea.
Most of the people I know are heavily into supplements. My mom used to take a handful of gas-station vitamin supplements a day when I was a child, and probably before that, too. Now, she takes more dignified vitamins from a vitamin store, of course. My sister and I take probiotic vitamins and multivitamins. My friends take magnesium supplements and calming gummies and gender-specific one-a-days. My boyfriend takes melatonin like it’s no one’s business. The list goes on.
Besides multivitamins, the only time I lean towards taking supplements is when they offer some kind of calming effect that I am desperate for.
POV: You and I spill the tea over lavender stress-relief tea served in a Madame de Pompadour tea set.
I am no medical expert, but I do have a list of supplements, whether it be in pill, gummy, or tea form, that I choose from when I’m having an anxious or stressful day. They could be placebo, they could be legitimate, or they could be somewhere in between. Regardless, these are my favorite go-to supplements for calmness and relaxation:
*These recommendations are my own opinion and should not be taken unless consulted with a doctor.
L-Theanine – I think of L-Theanine as my brain’s cuddle buddy. Found in green tea, this little amino acid boosts feel-good neurotransmitters like GABA and serotonin, helping me stay relaxed yet focused. It’s perfect for those days when stress is high, but I still need to get things done (which is pretty much every day).
GABA – When my brain feels like it’s in overdrive, GABA tends to slow it down. As the body’s natural calming neurotransmitter, it helps quiet racing thoughts, reduce anxiety, and even improve sleep. I like taking GABA at the end of the day to wind down before bed.
Chamomile – A warm cup of chamomile tea before bed isn’t just cozy—it’s science-backed stress relief. Chamomile’s antioxidants interact with our brain’s relaxation receptors, helping to melt away anxiety and promote restful sleep. I drink chamomile tea during the day when my anxiety is high, or at night when I want a good sleep. I like to throw in some lemon and ginger in there when I’m feeling a bit under the weather, too.
Ashwagandha – Period! This powerful adaptogen helps balance cortisol (our stress hormone), making us more resilient to daily pressures. Whether you need a mood boost or better sleep, ashwagandha has been known to help with anxiety and stress. Ashwagandha tea and gummies have always helped with my anxiety.
Lavender – There’s a reason lavender is in so many spa products. Its soothing scent and calming properties help reduce anxiety, lower stress hormones, and even improve sleep. Whether in tea, essential oils, or supplements, lavender feels like a cute lullaby for my nerves. I like throwing in a lavender shower steamer or two for extra relaxation after a workout.
All in all, vitamins and supplements can be helpful to add to your diet, with many of them being scientifically proven to improve your mood, cognitive function, and stress tolerance. However, not every vitamin supplement is the magic cure marketers want you to believe—unless your wallet is feeling a little too full, like the reality stars and their extra IV drips. Before you start popping pills like a medieval king trying to avoid the plague (RIP King Henry the 8th, you would’ve loved vitamin B12), chat with your doctor to see what, if anything, you actually need.
Boston Students! Get 5% off with a cash payment at MG Hair Artistic Studio in Allston.
Brenna Sheets is a graduate student in Emerson College’s Writing and Publishing M.A. program. Her hobbies include going on long walks, watching bad television, reading, and writing.
One of my closest friends was recently flipping through pages of her journal from a few years ago. She had written down manifestation statements back in 2021, setting up goals for herself to actualize in the next few years. “I’m so happy I was able to buy a house in the Dominican Republic by age 24” was one of them. “I’m so happy that, by age 25, I found someone who is right for me, loves me, supports me, and makes me a better person” was another. She cringed while reading them, but she also started tearing up because those two statements came true.
I’m the kind of person that will try anything as long as it can’t hurt me. With manifesting, I always figured nothing necessarily bad could come out of it, so why not try it? When I first moved to Boston, I went to Salem and bought ‘magic’ candles from a witch store. They were color-coded to what aspect of life one wanted to manifest good things for: green for finances, white for peace, yellow for intelligence, and so on. I went home and lit the red candle, symbolic of love and attraction, and I let the wax melt onto a piece of paper where I had written about my crush on my now boyfriend. Did I feel silly, trying not to set off the fire alarms as I performed a ritual in my bedroom? Yes. Would I do it again? Probably. And THAT’s on girlhood.
My boyfriend’s and my new shoes: manifesting at its finest
I’ve been using the word ‘manifest’ a lot over the past few weeks, and the people around me have been using it as well. In our 20s, we’re all manifesting new jobs, better relationships, and internal peace. “Please manifest for me!” and “I’m manifesting it” and “Manifest good shit” have a surprising amount of hits in my text message results. I’ve never considered myself a believer of pseudosciences like astrology or chakra alignment, but I do think there’s something to be said about the mental energy that goes into getting what you want, along with the inherent determination that comes with it.
According to the Cambridge Dictionary, to manifest is to “imagine achieving something you want, in the belief that doing so will make it more likely to happen.” The word ‘manifest’ was looked up almost 130,000 times on the Cambridge Dictionary website in 2024, making it one of the most-viewed words of the year. In the United States, the idea of manifesting has grown less taboo with time, with many people turning to it daily.
Today’s concept of manifesting can be traced back to the New Thought Movement of the late 19th century, which is based on the idea that our thoughts and beliefs can have an influence on our health, prosperity, and success. The New Thought Movement emerged in the United States and Britain, drawing influence from the literary transcendentalists, the celebrity mesmerists, and, most prominently, Hindu philosophy. In Hinduism, manifestation is connected to the belief in Karma, meaning that our thoughts, intentions, and actions directly influence our reality.
In 2006, Rhonda Byrne published a best-selling self-help book, “The Secret,” exploring the topics of manifesting and the Law of Attraction, which centers on focusing your thoughts and energy on positive desires to attract positive life experiences. “The Secret” went on to sell over 35 million copies worldwide. The rise of celebrities like Jim Carrey, Oprah Winfrey, and Will Smith speaking about their practice of and belief in manifestation aided the book’s sales and reputation despite its lack of scientific foundation.
Manifesting was brought back into the mainstream media during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, with people turning to the concept as almost a coping mechanism for the tough times ahead. During 2020, Google searches for the word ‘manifest’ rose by over 600%, and trends on social media skyrocketed with practices like positive affirmation statements and the 777 method. Pinterest saw a 565% increase in searches related to creating vision boards based on the cultivation of desired self-images. The conviction of social media participants seemed to be split in half, some manifesting comedically and others religiously.
A few examples of the affirmation memes that circulated the internet during COVID.
From candle ceremonies to Pinterest boards, the art of manifesting today has become a staple in Gen Z’s self-care and wellness culture. New research from American Express reveals that nearly seven in 10 Gen Zs (69%) engage in manifestation practices, with over half saying it’s to help them achieve their goals.
While there is certainly no evidence to support the idea that manifesting gives you exactly what you want without any work involved, there are legitimate mental health benefits to practicing it. If we look at manifesting as not just a trend, but not a whole identity, either, we see that it can be something of a self-care practice, promoting positive self-talk, long- and short-term goals, and confidence in those who participate. Many of us are ‘manifesting’ without even knowing it.
Implementing manifestation tactics like positive self-talk, personal affirmations, and goal visualizations into our daily lives has been shown to improve self-esteem, stress management, and well-being, as well as reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. In studies by the National Institute of Health, self-talk specifically has beneficial effects on attention and emotion regulation and is widely used for performance enhancement in sports, academic engagement, and regulating anxiety or depression. Additionally, according to BetterHelp, “The latest research shows that the brain does not recognize the difference between real or imagined scenarios and that “rehearsing” future scenarios with visualization can build new neural pathways, calm anxiety, and increase confidence as you work toward your goals.”
Affirmation: I will catch the train on time. I will not miss the train and wait outside in 20-degree weather. The T is on my side.
Olympians across the globe have discussed the mental training that goes into achieving their dreams, from visualizing their race over and over again like Grant Holloway to posting manifestation statements on Instagram like Noah Lyles. It’s clear that the activities involved in manifesting are more than just wishing and wanting; they’re active steps taken to achieve one’s dreams.
The truth is, when we show up our best, we do our best, both mentally and physically. If we are constantly telling ourselves that we don’t deserve something, that we aren’t good enough, or that we don’t believe in ourselves, it’s more likely we won’t even put the time or energy necessary into our goals. With that, how are we ever supposed to get what we want, or get closer to getting what we want? No one is saying you can just sit on your couch, light a bunch of candles, and wait for a million-dollar check to fall into your lap. Likewise, there’s nothing wrong with being mentally diligent and committed to your goals, either.
I like to think of it as a self-fulfilling prophecy. A self-fulfilling prophecy, in a gist, is when what you predict to happen becomes what actually happens because it is what you expected to happen (I know, it’s a bit wonky). Basically, your actions end up aligning with your expectations. For example, let’s say I was going to a party, but I was afraid that no one was going to talk to me, and I wouldn’t make any friends. The self-fulfilling prophecy here would be that I went to the party, was too afraid to talk to anyone for fear of rejection, and consequently did not make any friends. I fulfilled the prophecy I set out for myself because I didn’t visualize a different outcome. It’s similar to people who say, “I’m going to fail the test anyway, so why even study?”
However, if I had told myself–whether it be by writing it down in a journal, visualizing the scenario in my head, or using positive self-talk to affirm my wants–that I was going to make friends at the party despite the chances of no one talking to me, I may have been more inclined to talk to people myself. I most likely would start up conversations with strangers and make friends via my own determination and confidence to get what I want. This is how I see manifestation: taking the time and energy to be specific about your desires and how you’ll fulfill them. “I will study, and my hard work will pay off.”
Of course, things don’t always go the way we want, and we can’t expect life to be all smooth sailing. We could easily talk to people at the party only to find out they’re kind of annoying and not really our speed. We could easily study all night and still fail the exam. We could easily be on time for the subway only for it to stand by at the stop before ours for 20 minutes. However, the point is that by focusing on the possible positive outcomes, we open ourselves up to opportunities that we may otherwise not have. If nothing bad can come out of it, why not give it a try?
Boston Students! Get 10% off at Cambridge Naturals with this coupon and a Student ID.
Brenna Sheets is a graduate student in Emerson College’s Writing and Publishing M.A. program. Her hobbies include going on long walks, watching bad television, reading, and writing.
Common Statistics of Workplace Bullying in America.
We like to think of bullying as something only kids go through when they’re learning about social hierarchies and how to approach people’s differences. Most of us are taught at a young age about the cycle of bullying and how to break the chain, however, as many as 45% of Americans say they have been bullied during adulthood. Often, adult bullies are more calculated than those we can recall from our childhood, as they tend to teeter the line between being domineering and unambiguously committing a form of harassment. This leaves workers questioning themselves, feeling uncomfortable, and struggling with their mental health.
According to the WBI U.S. Workplace Bullying Survey conducted in January 2021, “30% of Americans have experienced workplace bullying; another 19 percent have witnessed it; 49 percent are affected by it; and 66 percent are aware of its occurrence.”
It can be hard to tell just what constitutes workplace bullying, but a lot of the characteristics are the same as what we learned in grade school. The Workplace Bullying Institute defines bullying as “repeated, health-harming mistreatment of one or more persons (the targets) by one or more perpetrators that takes one or more of the following forms: verbal abuse, offensive conduct/behaviors (including nonverbal) which are threatening, humiliating, or intimidating; or work interference – sabotage – which prevents work from getting done.”
In a 2017 study, the Institute discovered that nearly 75% of workplace bullies are men, with 60 percent of that portion targeting women. Moreover, two-thirds of women workplace bullies (referred to as “mean girls”) target other working women.
When work issues get the best of me, I like to turn to my hobbies to bring me joy. Here’s a coconut lemon pie I made from scratch, which was sooooo delicious! Baking has become a very therapeutic pastime of mine.
Aside from the more commonly known experiences like written or spoken personal insults, name-calling, or public shaming, workplace bullying also includes:
Intimidating or undermining employees by demeaning their work standards
Setting them up for failure and constantly reminding them of old mistakes
Threatening employees’ personal self-esteem and work status
Withholding Information that involves them
Making unreasonable demands, creating undue pressure and stress, and overworking employees
Giving constant and unfair criticism
Blaming without factual justification
Giving hostile glares and other intimidating gestures
Purposely excluding or isolating a coworker
Deliberately insulting others and taking part in behind-the-back putdowns
Monitoring another excessively
Ignoring personal boundaries
A meta-analysis based on 140,000 participants showed an overwhelming amount of evidence that toxic work environments have an incredibly negative impact on mental health. This can even generate chronic stress and burnout, and it can lead to the worsening of any pre-existing mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression. Chronic stress has been linked to issues such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and a weakened immune system. After all, we spend about ⅓ of our lives working, so it’s no wonder how a negative work environment could impact us so tremendously.
Another thing I do when the going gets tough is remind myself of how far I’ve come and where I’m headed. This is from December 2023 when I found out I was going to Emerson! Reminding myself of the small wins I’ve accomplished (like Emerson and being a part of Campus Clipper!) is a great way to stay positive and push through difficulties.
The most common tell-tale signs of toxic work environments that are often supplemented by frequent bullying include a lack of organization, high turnover rates, poor communication, gossip, a general absence of trust, micromanagement, and inappropriate work-life expectations. Often, we are unaware of just how toxic a work environment can be until we’re knee-deep in it, searching for a way out. Of course, many people are not in the privileged position to simply quit a job without having another one lined up immediately. What, then, do we do after we’ve found ourselves stuck? Surrounded by workplace bullies?
Focus on the Positives, if Any
Focusing our attention on the positive things about our work can help protect our mental health by shifting our mindset away from stress and frustration and toward moments of gratitude and personal growth. Finding small wins here and there can boost resilience, making it easier to maintain motivation and emotional balance, at least while you try to find a new job.
Keep Good Company
Having supportive colleagues can provide a sense of belonging, validation, and encouragement amid workplace stress. By building positive connections, we can also help counteract negativity, making it easier to navigate challenges and maintain our sanity.
Leave Work at Work
Setting a boundary with yourself to leave work at work allows us to protect our personal time from stress and negativity that doesn’t belong there. Disconnecting helps us recharge, focus on self-care, and maintain a healthier work-life balance.
Connect with HR
If your workplace has an HR, contacting them is incredibly important for your mental health and self-care because it ensures that acts of harassment and bullying are being documented and addressed, helping us create a safer and more respectful environment. Speaking up also reinforces the idea that we deserve to be treated with respect, and we won’t expect anything less. Most importantly, workplace laws protect employees from harassment and unfair treatment, and HR has a responsibility to uphold these standards to ensure a fair and lawful work environment.
Quit!
Quitting a toxic job sometimes is the only way to protect our mental health. As we know, staying in a harmful environment can lead to overwhelming stress, anxiety, and burnout. It can cause us to lose self-esteem and feel like things won’t ever get better, and the consequences can be long-lasting, both mentally and physically. Prioritizing our well-being by leaving allows us to reclaim our peace, build confidence, and seek a healthier, more supportive workplace. Being upset every day you go to work is no way to be spending ⅓ of your life. Your future self will thank you.
Boston Students! Head to Cambridge Naturals and kickstart your health and wellness journey with 10% OFF using this coupon and your student ID!
Brenna Sheets is a graduate student in Emerson College’s Writing and Publishing M.A. program. Her hobbies include going on long walks, watching bad television, reading, and writing.
In between my classes, I wandered into Colomba for a quick and filling brunch—which is exactly what I got. This small business, situated not far from the New York University string of buildings in Greenwich Village, serves a variety of pastries and sandwiches to customers, alongside their unique menu of beverages. Ranging from drip coffee made from La Colombe’s beans, to lesser known flavors, like their limited edition, bright-purple taro latte. All students can find their cup of tea here, especially when the baristas are more than happy to help and have a high-spirited chat over the counter. Colomba Cafe and Bakery is just right when one needs to unwind, curl up in a chair, with a hot chocolate and a book, or if they’re running late for class and are seeking a quick bite.
A look into Colomba’s simple, welcoming environment.
Inside the quaint establishment were a few tables and chairs, some more eclectic in color and material than others. Their cliente ranged from hungry, on-campus college students to business professional regulars. Many of them have built a rapport with the baristas, engaging in continued small-talk about their studies, friends, and complicated little lives. It was a wonderful communal space to sit in, even if it’s just to watch others socialize and smile. One of the baristas, Garrett, helped me for the majority of my late breakfast. He seemed to know many of those standing in line, hopeful for their daily pick-me-up in the form of espresso and milk.
I started with two drinks: an iced taro latte and a hot chocolate, both with oat milk. The taro drink was a deep, royal purple, which was initially unsweetened, but fixed with the simple syrup provided at the self-serve counter. It was unlike any latte I’ve had previously. It was unlike ube, but definitely resembles an authentic, earthy, taro taste. Meanwhile, the hot chocolate was warm enough to drink—not scalding hot to the point where I burn my tongue and all food is ruined for the day, which often happens at other cafes in the city. This cocoa was not overly rich, sweet, or heavy. It was just enough for a sugary start to my day, with a layer of foamy and frothy goodness sitting atop.
Garrett recommended the “parm sandwich” and breakfast croissant with ham and cheese for my meal, to which I indulged in. It was toasted for me and served on coffee-brown cardstock trays, lined with vibrant, yellow paper. The sandwich consisted mostly of a thick bed of arugula between two pieces of thick, chewy, white bread. Thick slices of mozzarella, prosciutto, and tomato fit perfectly into my breakfast, with a generous helping of olive oil slathered onto the classic baguette. The flakey, buttery croissant paired nicely with the salty, gooey yolk of my overeasy egg. The ham was a necessary and filling addition of protein. I was just able to order two desserts before taking off for my international relations class.
My spread of delicious goods for the morning.
A little golden brown teddy bear stared at me through the display case, with chocolate decals in the form of a smiley face and buttons. I had to have one—so, I did! The madeleine-like treat has crispy edges and a moist, sponge cake texture. It was slightly sweet, unlike the black and white cookie I ordered. This dessert was much larger, which made it worth the price. The white frosting had a lemon flavor. The dried dark chocolate was velvety and sickly sweet. I enjoyed the cookie itself: dense, yet still airy and soft texture. Out of all the different delectables I sampled, I favored the teddy bear and hot chocolate the most.
The little golden brown bear that caught my eye.
Colomba Cafe and Bakery is a notable stop for university students within the area if they need a coffee to-go, or a wide selection of baked goods for a chat with a friend. Papa Pascel—the owner’s name. according to Garrett—had partnered with the Campus Clipper to give students 20% off their purchase with the coupon below and their valid student ID.
Joanne and I sit next to one another at the theater for Life & Times of Michael K. As she stands up so I can take my seat, I compliment her tan faux fur hat and ski pants as a form of introduction. She is my height and frail, and her eyes have a smile to them that makes me inexplicably emotional.
There’s silence for a few minutes as we settle in. I take pictures of the art deco ceiling and she reads the playbill. I play with my nails, and she smooths back her white hair into a thin ponytail, her hands shaking from an aggressive tremor. Then, when she takes a sip of her coffee, I gather up just enough courage to tell her this is my first time inside the Paramount Theatre, and I’ve made it a point to myself to do more things this year, even if it means doing them alone. I feel uncomfortable rambling to a stranger, but her smile has an earnest compassion to it, like that of a pre-k teacher listening to a child tell them about their weekend. Originally, she says, she was supposed to meet up with two girlfriends, one of whom is from Barbados and paid for her ticket. 27 degrees and overcast kept them at bay, but she loves doing things, too, anything to get out of the house, and she finds the theater especially “cathartic.”
The Paramount Theatre before showtime!
Joanne tells me she’s been in Boston since ‘66 or ‘68, and she hardly ever goes back home to Minnesota because she finds it boring. There are valleys, however, along the Mississippi that she still dreams about, and great rolling hills and cliffsides. She sways her shaking fingers from side to side as she demonstrates the movement of the tall grass blowing in the wind. In her dreams, she goes everywhere, even the Notre Dame de Paris. She asks me if I liked growing up in Miami because it seems a lot less boring than Minnesota, but I tell her I don’t really like going back home either, and Miami reminds me of the girls in high school who had boating licenses and access to ketamine. I refrain from telling her my dreams often involve screaming because I want her to like me, the same way a granddaughter craves the approval of her matriarch.
When she finds out I’m a publishing grad student, she asks me what I think of the word ‘charming’ and whether it’s out of use. This is because she had a conversation about it with her siblings wherein she described one of her brothers as charming ‘even though he has brain damage’, and they found it weird to call someone with brain damage charming, so she’s been thinking about it ever since. I tell her I use the word charming relatively often, and I think it’s fine to describe her brother that way. She says I can call her Jo since that’s what her siblings call her, anyway.
Jo was a substitute teacher for a while and worked a bit in psychiatry, but she developed a neurological condition and has been retired for some time. After telling me this, she is quick to change the subject and mentions when she first came to Boston, she would go to all the libraries and bookstores and just sit there for hours and hours reading. She gestures with her hands in circular motions when she says ‘hours and hours’, and her eyes light up as she seems to regain a sentimental memory that has been out of thought for some time. Her brother also loves books, so they have a bond there. I tell her my brother and I were the first in our family to get degrees and they both happened to be in English, and she says it’s nice to have someone older than you who understands those things.
The best acting is at Central Square, and she prefers the interior design of the Paramount Theatre to the Opera House. She doesn’t know anyone in the mafia, but she knows a lot of Sicilians, and she doesn’t like their attitude. She says the only way to get used to the cold is to be in it often, and that rule applies to a lot of things in life. I’m not entirely sure what she means by this, but it sounds important.
The announcer comes on, and we quiet down. I am immersed in the play, but from time to time, my mind wanders to what Jo is thinking. There is something about her that reminds me of myself, though I can’t quite place it. In a way, I see her as an older version of myself, and I want to know her whole life story but feel too embarrassed to ask. I wonder if she’d think me a loser to ask her to coffee, as I’m sure when she was my age she didn’t want an old lady as a friend. I also wonder if she is going home to an empty apartment and might enjoy the company.
Shakespeare in the Park from the first time I came to Boston by myself in 2019!
After the standing ovation, we slowly gather our things and put on our extra layers. I contemplate asking her what her plans are for the rest of the day, but as I shove my hands through the elastic of my jacket sleeves, she says, “It was nice to share a little bit of life with you.” I shake her hand and say “Maybe I’ll see you again at the next play,” and she agrees. As I’m heading down the stairs, she mispronounces my name in an attempt to remember it, but I don’t correct her, I just smile and say yes. I put on my earmuffs, open the theater door to the outside world, and cross the street to the cafe. I find myself waiting for her to walk out after me. I tell myself if she comes out within the next 5 minutes, I’ll run over to her and exchange emails. I wait for 10 minutes, but I don’t see her, so I leave. The whole encounter leaves me feeling refreshed and lost at the same time, like someone who takes their honeymoon alone.
When I get off the trolley, I pass the local elementary school and baseball field. A flock of Canadian geese is resting in the milk-white snow, their long black necks coiled up into their feathers. They are sitting so still that they look like little pebbles. I think to myself that they must be stopping in from Quebec or New Brunswick, making their way down to Florida.
I wonder if Jo enjoys the migrating geese in Minnesota, if they ever pop up in her dreams about the nature of her home state. I imagine a young Jo about 12 years old, sprinting through the Aspen Parkland prairies in the spring, her siblings at home waiting for her. The Canadian geese fly above her against the clear blue skies in a V formation. I make her hair blonde like mine, and I wonder if one day I will be in my 80s, trudging out through the snow to the Paramount Theater, alone. If I am, it will be an honor.
Boston Students! Get 20% off at Nirvana in Cambridge with this coupon and your student ID.
Brenna Sheets is a graduate student in Emerson College’s Writing and Publishing M.A. program. Her hobbies include going on long walks, watching bad television, reading, and writing.
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