Columns

LEUNG | Embracing the Now

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For my first article of the semester, I originally intended to publish an article I began writing in the summer. It was a sweltering hot day in July, I remember, and I had been jostled around on a crowded train for far too many hours. I was left with only my thoughts and not much else, with the cramped spaces leaving all else impossible. Strange things happen when my mind is left entirely alone with time to ponder, reflect, think and analyze; some of my proudest epiphanies are born when I’m forced on these long rides. A particular thought hit me on the train and from there, my fingers were flying.

Columns

LEUNG | Just the Beginning

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With only around three weeks of freshman year left — and that includes the study period and finals — the nostalgia is real. Even though I’m only a freshman and I can’t imagine what the seniors are going through, there’s something special about the first year at a university; there are some things that happen freshman year which will most likely never happen again. Will I miss the lack of air conditioning in my dorm room? The buffet-style dining halls that make me eat far more than necessary to make up for the over-priced swipe? The cramped living quarters that make catching a cold all-year round inevitable?

catcalling

LEUNG | Avert the Gaze and Stop the Calls

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I don’t remember exactly what time it was, but it was night, and my friends and I were laughing and walking back from a party together. We were feeling good and the energy from the night was still coursing through our veins. That was when I heard a car full of guys drive past. I didn’t think anything of it until the guys honked a few times, rolled down the windows and shouted an extremely inappropriate and obscene thing to me and my friends. I was livid.

Columns

LEUNG | For Better

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One of the things I find most difficult is describing experiences. Every experience is so unique to the individual going through it, and every emotion is so deeply felt. In my past article, “For Better or For Worse,” I wrote about my upcoming spring break trip to Nicaragua with Bridges to Community and my skepticism with service trips in general. It was only after a tearful Skype session with my parents after my return when I had to abruptly log off because the culture shock I faced was too overwhelming, that I finally understood how much the trip had impacted me. After spending just over a week in Siuna, Nicaragua, I cannot emphasize enough how important and meaningful a short-term stay can be. I had trust in the program I was going with, but at the back of my mind I couldn’t help but question the extent to which our work would really help and support the community.

Columns

LEUNG | For Better or Worse

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As Spring Break nears, I can feel my excitement levels rising. Normally, I would be counting down the days until I can enjoy the company of my three favorite things again (my family, friends and cats) but I won’t be returning home until the end of May. Instead, I’m packing my bags, fleeing the bipolar weather of Ithaca and heading to Nicaragua. But this isn’t just a regular spring break trip. As a member of Bridges to Community at Cornell, I have the opportunity to spend 10 days in Nicaragua doing service work.

Columns

LEUNG | A Collection

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Sunsets. We are sitting on top of a rock in Park Güell, feet dangling off the sides. It’s late December, but a warm wind ruffles my hair and blows across my skin. From our spot high up, we can see all of Barcelona sprawled out in front of us. La Sagrada Família’s unique structure and style stands out among the many buildings and, beyond and almost hazy, is the sea.

Columns

LEUNG | Modern Talk

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February 14th, Valentine’s Day. Some people call it SAD (Singles Awareness Day) and others use it as an excuse to make their significant other reaffirm their love through consumerism and diabetic means. The talk of love and romance over the past few days has led me to question today’s relationships. With such a prevalent “hook-up culture,” and technological distractions, I found myself thinking, when do we talk? When do we have real talk, meaningful talk, big talk?

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LEUNG | Work on What You Love

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The arrival of 2016 signalled the beginning of a new year and a fresh start. Of course, that also meant scribbling down some thoughts on the back of an already-used piece of paper and calling them my “New Year Resolutions.” On the list, I had written down some of the same things I’d written every other year. I told myself to eat healthier, concentrate more on school work and remember to look at the bigger picture. The unfortunate truth is that, like other years before, while I remembered my resolutions, I tended to break them right away. Had I already eaten ice cream for four days in a row?

Columns

LEUNG | Just Say It

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Feminism. What is wrong with that word? Ask whoever told Emma Watson to refrain from using it in her 2014 United Nations speech. The actress gave a speech to the U.N. Women’s HeForShe launch event last year, encouraging men to fight with women for gender equality across the world. She proudly used the word “feminism,” explaining that it is the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities, not a term that is used to label man-hating.

Columns

LEUNG | For Adel Termos

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Je suis Parisien. After the horrific terrorist attacks in Paris that left 129 people dead and 352 wounded, sympathy and support spread across the world. The attacks were the deadliest in France since World War II. Facebook launched a French flag tint for profile pictures, #PrayforParis spread throughout social media, candlelit vigils were held across the world and international monuments were lit in red, white and blue. As tragic as the events were in Paris, it is important to note that terrorist attacks have affected other cities as well, and their stories are not as publicly known.