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Student Advocate Spotlight
Written by Francesca Tero In light of this month’s edition: “Activism and Advocacy,” I wanted to take a moment to recognize a dedicated and accomplished student advocate in APIDA. Janelle Castro, a junior studying Political Science, Media Communication, and Legal Studies, spent her Spring 2026 semester in Washington, D.C., in a special program with the UD Biden School of Public Policy and Administration. Her work is very inspiring, and I believe it’s important to share it with the rest of APIDA. I sat down with Janelle to interview her about her position and more about what she’s learned in her role this semester. Here is a summary of our conversation!…
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The Best Surprise I’ve Ever Received
Written by Ruthie Suarez The summer before my sophomore year of college was one of the hardest times of my life. My grandfather passed away from liver cancer, and even though we all knew he was getting weaker, it still didn’t feel real when it happened. He was someone who had always been there for me, someone who made me feel safe and loved. When he passed, I felt like something inside me went quiet, and going back to school with all that sadness still fresh was really hard. A few months later, I came home for the weekend. I was tired from classes and honestly just trying to get…
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My Top 5 Newark Spots
Submitted by Francesca Tero If you were to ask my freshman self, 3 years ago today, what she could do in Newark, she would say “nothing.” In fact, I was actually debating transferring schools because I found myself so underwhelmed living in Delaware. However, I’m a few years older now, and I can confidently say that I’ve learned to appreciate this tax-free land for all it has to offer. I am not from Delaware, so you might want to take my words with a grain of salt, but these are some things I’ve grown to love about living here, and things that I will miss once I graduate in May.…
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How I Met My Best Friend
Submitted by Ruthie Suarez Starting college is supposed to be one of the most exciting times in your life. It’s when you step out into independence, meet new people, and begin shaping the path toward your future. But for me, my freshman year began with something I never expected: bullying. Up until that point, I had never been bullied before in my life. I had gone through middle school and high school without ever experiencing that kind of mistreatment. So when it happened in college – the one place I thought people would finally be mature and grown enough to know better – it was shocking. It didn’t feel real…
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My First Time in a Club
Submitted by Sophia Li First semester of senior year, how exciting! It’s a new beginning because this will be my first year in a club (AAPC). I’ve never been in a club before, mainly because I have no time and I’m busy with classes. Now that I’m in my senior year, I’m in fewer classes and have more time. It’s pretty challenging because I’m not used to this, and I’m still trying to get the hang of it. I am usually behind on things or still getting the hang of it, but with more time, I’m sure I will do better. Joining this club was a good experience to meet…
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Advice To My Younger Self
Submitted by Steven Pham There are so many things I could talk about, but if I could give my younger self one piece of advice, it would be this: start earlier, whether that’s calisthenics or anything else you’re passionate about. Looking back, I remember hesitating because I was worried I would be seen as unready, not disciplined enough to commit, or a failure in front of others. Though the truth is, if I had started earlier, I could have made more progress, and I would have developed the discipline, confidence, and resilience that come from putting yourself out there sooner. Challenges, whether learning a new skill, pursuing a passion, or…
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My Best First Date Story
Submitted by Ruthie Suarez It was the end of October, with Halloween just around the corner– and I was about to head out for my first date ever in my life. I had never gone on one before so I wasn’t sure what to expect. We decided to go to a movie theatre on Main Street to watch Five Nights at Freddy’s. As a big fan of the game franchise, I was super excited. He had offered to buy the tickets for both of us beforehand so we could get good seats. At this time, I was so nervous that I kept fidgeting in my seat and thinking about what…
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Unspoken Struggles: A Gap with My Family
Submitted by Jodie Li Like everyone else, I’ve had my ups and downs. I’ve struggled, felt lost, and been overwhelmed, but these thoughts have never been shared with my family. It’s not that I don’t trust them—it’s that I don’t want to burden them. There’s also a part of me that worries they might not understand how I feel; worse, I fear they might even be disappointed. My parents, specifically, are traditional Chinese immigrants—strong-willed and hardworking. I wanted to appear just as strong, capable, and independent—the person they raised me to be. But in choosing not to share my struggles, I often felt disconnected from them, carrying burdens that might…
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Lost in Translation: My Year in Vietnam and the English I Left Behind
Submitted by Steven Pham It was the spring of my third-grade year when my world shifted dramatically. My family decided to spend nearly a year in Vietnam, a choice that felt both exhilarating and daunting. Little did I know, this journey would lead me to a profound moment of change in my life. In Vietnam, everything was vibrant and new—the bustling streets filled with the sound of laughter and the fragrant aroma of street food. Surrounded by my family, I quickly became immersed in Vietnamese. With everyone speaking the language, I found myself picking it up effortlessly. Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, while my English sat neglected…
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A Film That Will Make You Reminisce on Your Past and Future
Today I finally watched a film that I had been meaning to watch months back. Past Lives has been on my watch list for a long time, not solely due to its intriguing Korean female perspective or the praised cinematography, but primarily because of the overwhelming relatability that I've heard it possesses to many peoples’ own life experiences. They say you have to watch films at different stages of your life and you will have a different perspective on it. I firmly believe in this statement as I feel that watching this film taught me so many things regarding what I have experienced this past year.
