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Columns


Life

Falling out of love with fall

Because I refuse to give Comcast any more business than it deserves — which is negative 800 billion customers, in case you were wondering — and because “Arrested Development” and “Breaking Bad” are on Netflix, I do not watch television at school.


Life

The art of texting

I will be the first to say it — I am addicted to my phone. When I leave it in another room, I always make sure the audio is up loud so I know if someone wants to talk.


Life

Presence and absence

Being abroad — away from my home, friends, family and school — for more than two months has given me some new ideas about the meaning of presence.


Life

Christmas in October

I’ll begin with an important announcement. Christmas is only 68 days away. You’re probably thinking, “Doesn’t she mean Halloween is only two weeks away?” Nope!


Life

Take a deep breath

Last Thursday, while waitressing, I started to feel ill. My manager told me that I looked terrible, which would have been offensive if it weren’t true.


Life

Five people you meet in lecture

The lecture hall. The universal symbol of collegiate education — a motif almost as prevalent as the red solo cup, the universal symbol of “screw you, Mom.” Yes, midway through the semester I have presumed it time to discuss that pesky, bloodsucking parasite on the backside of the unceasing party that is college: learning. I use the term loosely, of course.


Life

Internet problem solving

I’m sure we’ve all been there. Something random breaks, a friend asks you what you should be for Halloween, you’ve bought something that looked really great on the mannequin, and now you have absolutely nothing to wear it for.


Life

My seven-year-old brain

I came home for break, exam-weary and craving home-cooked food, desiring nothing more than to lie on my back while drooling in the general direction of the TV.


Life

Fear of missing out

Growing up as an only child wasn’t all that it was cracked up to be. Although people think being an only child means you get whatever you want, there is a dark side too — … dun dun dun — the feeling that you are always being left out. As a kid, the only things that mattered to me were my Pokémon cards, my friend’s movie birthday parties and group playdates after school.


Life

It's never too late to apologize

Supposedly we 20-somethings have trouble saying a particular grouping of three little words. But it occurred to me the other week that there’s another set of two words that seems even harder for people to say, myself included.


Life

Come dine with me

Last Tuesday I had dinner at my professor’s house. Earlier in the day I texted my friend who had dined there the night before: “Does he serve wine?” She answered in the negative. Completely sober, I chatted with 11 of my classmates during dinner, dessert and drinks — Sprite and lemonade.


Life

The plague

It only seems appropriate I take this time to discuss the plague. I’m sure you’re familiar with it.


Life

The value of wasted days

In this day and age we value being busy. This is nothing new. We admire the people who barely have time to breathe in between their extracurricular meetings, their 18-credit class schedule, their dedicated workout regimen and their full-to-the-brim social life.


Life

Veggie tales

Until two weeks ago, I had been a vegetarian for about six years. Beyond that, I had never eaten seafood — not even before I became a vegetarian. If you had asked me last year, I would have told you that I didn’t have any plans of quitting vegetarianism, thank you very much.


Life

Good grief

I knew it was going to happen. I spent the summer in New York City hanging out with Commerce School students who were working at banks.

Latest Podcast

From her love of Taylor Swift to a late-night Yik Yak post, Olivia Beam describes how Swifties at U.Va. was born. In this week's episode, Olivia details the thin line Swifties at U.Va. successfully walk to share their love of Taylor Swift while also fostering an inclusive and welcoming community.