Be Impolite Or Be a Statistic?

By Amanda Castro-Crist My brother’s room is dark. The only brightness spills through the open door from the hallway in a narrow slice that gives just enough light for me to see the outline of my mother’s cousin lying in the bed. At 10 years old, it was the first time I’d met Angelo*. He was […]

Healing Slowly—and Then All at Once

By Amanda Castro-Crist The last thing I can remember before the cast came off several weeks later is running across the cushions of our brown-and-orange couch. It’s weird how the time between the two points – broken and healed – is a blank. I can list a million details about the house we lived in. […]

I’ve Learned to Love Myself, Even if She Doesn’t

By Jean Reese When I was little, I would run to the one place I knew was safe. To you, to anyone, it was just a closet. In it was a small white chest—nothing fancy or decorative. The only markings on it were the ones I had put there. It was filled with bits of broken […]

My Life’s Most Meaningful Moment

By Jack Browne* The night started like any other. We were sitting on her couch, watching Grey’s Anatomy on Netflix, when I was struck with an idea. I asked her if she wanted to go outside and look at the stars. At first, she said it was too cold. It took some convincing, and about […]

Billboard Dad

By Olivia Daniels* His scent was reminiscent of peppermints and Axe body spray. The kind of smell that lingered long after he left a room, making its presence known. I begged him to sleep in my twin bed when my mother reluctantly allowed him to crash in our home. Not because I wanted to sleep beside […]

How Dancing Set Me Free

By Jennifer Hicks Most of my life was spent in a box with minimal windows and doors. Not a bad box, though. The purple color of the exterior made the metallic silver letters that said “Earle Cobb Dance Studio” stand out. Purple was the favorite color of Dena, the owner. The front wall was covered in mirrors, with […]

#TuneInTuesday: Chance Won the Grammys

By Courtney White For some, Sunday may have just been a day to catch up on homework or watch the season premiere of The Walking Dead. For me and many others, it was a day to set aside all of my priorities and watch the 59th Annual Grammy Awards. While I am usually displeased with the […]

What Not To Ask Me At Thanksgiving

On Nov. 16, #thxbirthcontrol began trending on Twitter. Women across the world celebrated reproductive rights and the ability to decide when to have a child by posting why they are thankful for contraceptives. I tweeted my support. My tweet referenced Speaker of the House of Representatives Paul Ryan’s recent dismissal of birth control and whether it […]

So You Think You Can Senior: Freaky Freshman to Sizzlin’ Senior

We went from “red bags” touring the Texas Tech campus to freshmen in college. I remember thinking I had to look perfect on the first day of college, just like high school. I was also hoping I could find my classes and not embarrass myself by walking into the wrong class. I now know I looked like a freak […]

So You Think You Can Senior: Job Searching

Spring break is over, and we have eight weeks until the semester’s end. Can you believe that?! I’m officially stressed out because, like the rest of you, I’m scared to go out into the real world. It’s now time to search for jobs. Some people may not even know where to start. First, make sure your resume […]