HOW TO FIXA BAD DAYTen easy steps to

bring back your smile today

HAVE POSITIVITY,WILL TRAVEL

TURNING LONELINESSINTO SOLITUDE

Finding happiness anywhere on the map

Being at peace on your own

A World-Changing IdeaIn 1997, the Triad Foundation of Ithaca, N.Y., made a commitment to UNC that was to transform not only the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, but to make a deep imprint on the field itself.

Thanks to the Roy H. Park Fellowships, some 350 professionals have completed their doctoral and masters degrees in the 15 years between the time Dean Richard Cole announced the program and Dean Susan King presided over the 2012 commencement. The fellows, assuming research, teaching and professional posts in news, technology, advertising, web design and public relations are having, as Cole once predicted, a domino effect.

Their restless energy and world-changing ideas are reminiscent of the fellowships namesake. Roy H. Park, a Dobson, N.C., native who rose from Depression-era farm boy to media titan, reinvented himself through several careers. He wrote for newspapers, worked as a publicist, hatched a lucrative branding campaign with Duncan Hines using outdoor advertising and then embarked on a meteoric rise as CEO of Park Communications, estimated at its zenith to reach one in four U.S. households.

Parks final career turn, that of philanthropist, achieved a different reach. The impulse to leave the world better, more connected, more comprehensible than one found it, is the essence of the fellowship.

Through the Park Fellowships, Roy H. Parks legacy continues.

J O M C . U N C . E D U / P A R K

Pictured left to right: Elizabeth Park Fowler, Tetlow Park, Roy H. Park Jr., Trip Park and Laura Park

The R O Y H . P A R K F E L L O W S H I P S

SPARK | 3

*

7 How to tackle your bucket list

16 The chapstick chronicles

30 The dilemma of finding the right size

50 Happy to help

68 So you think you cant cook?

10 How to fix a bad day

21 The prime time for women

40 A global quest for happiness

60 Time management apps

73 Dear Piper

8 Reader Instagram challenge

18 Fun fitness

34 Turning loneliness into solitude

56 Entertainment: TV, movies, and more

70 Whats your passion?

13 The 3-minute makeup reality

26 My journey back

46 Two weeks as a vegetarian

64 A packing guide for people who hate to pack63 Treat yo self

74 The personality quiz

Whats inside

4 | SUMMER 2014

EDITORIAL STAFF

EDITORSchyler Martin

ASSISTANT EDITORAvery Thompson

WRITERSSamuel Fleming

Kali HackettRachel Hogg

Caroline HudsonChloe OpperBruna SilvaNidhi Singh

Ashton SommervilleDalisha Sturdivant

Ashley ThomasKatie Quine

Esther Yu

DESIGN STAFF

ART DIRECTORMarissa Techmeier

ASST. ART DIRECTORSArianna Holder

Denni Hu

DESIGNERSAlex BruskoTraci Carver

Gabrielle DiepenbrockRaShawnda Murphy

Andrea Rivers

SPECIAL THANKS

ADVISERSLinda BrinsonTerence Oliver

Dana McMahan

SPARK | 5

Eats flies. Dates a pig.

Hollywood star.

LIVE YOUR DREAMS

Eats flies. Dates a pig.

Hollywood star.

LIVE YOUR DREAMS

SPARK | 7

How to tackleyour bucket list(AND YOUR APATHY) BY ASHTON SOMMERVILLEHow many times have you come across an online bucket list and thought to yourself, I need to make one of thesesoon? Maybe youve already made one, or maybe its ironically still on your to-do list. But heres the real question: Have you done anything about it yet? A bucket list is one of those elusive ideas that everyone wants but no one knows how to create let alone complete. So, without further ado, here is the how-to youve been waiting for. Youre welcome.

BRAINSTORM (BE CREATIVE!)Okay, so lets be honest; while you should feel free to use others lists to springboard your own, it is not everyones dream to jump out of a plane. Dont feel pressured to include common bucket list clichs. Sit down and think about what you really wish to accomplish. What daydreams make your heart beat faster and bring an excited smile to your face? These items can be big or small as long as theyre yours. Audition for American Idol. Bike through a drive-thru. Reread the Harry Potter series. The world is your oyster.

DO YOUR RESEARCHWhile some items may be self-explanatory, many may require you to spend an afternoon exploring your options. This step heavily depends on your staying true to No. 3. Unattainable goals can lead to endless hours spent in a research vortex. Think carefully about the particulars of each item on your bucket list and what resources are available to you. Take advantage of the 1V\MZVM\IVLITT \PI\ Q\PI[ \WWMZJ]\LWV\ NWZOM\ \W^MV\]ZM QV\W \PMZMIT_WZTLIVLVLW\PMZXMWXTM_PWhave accomplished what youre attempting.

CHOOSE ONE ITEM TO STARTWhen embarking on a new adventure, it is of the utmost importance that you do not allow yourself to be overwhelmed by how unattainable it may seem I\ Z[\

8 | SUMMER 2014

#SPARKCHALLENGE

BY KALI HACKETT

SPARK | 9

+PWW[QVO\WWKK]XaXW[Q\Q^M[XIKM[KIVJMPQOPTaJMVMKQIT\Wboth our current mood and general state of mind. Last issue, we asked readers to upload an Instagram photo of the place where \PMaNMT\UW[\I\XMIKM

How To: Fix A Bad Day in 10 StepsBY CAROLINE HUDSON

Force yourself to think of one positive thing that happened throughout the course of your day. Is the sun shining? Do you remember that big hug your child gave you before catching the bus this morning? Encouraging yourself to focus on the positive will distract you from the negative and force you to see the silver lining when it can be \W]OP\WVL

Do something nice for someone else. Hold a LWWZWXMVWZWMZ]XaW]Z[MI\WV\PMJ][,WQVOsomething nice will not only make you feel good on the inside, but it may even make the other persons LIa3MMX\PMXW[Q\Q^MMVMZOaW_QVO

Hug an animal. Dog, cat, guinea pig. Whatever your furry friend of choice, it will undoubtedly make you feel loved.

Finish at least one thing on your to-do list. Being productive makes you feel accomplished and that something good has come out of your dayplus, XPa[QKITTaUIZSQVOQ\WaW]ZTQ[\_QTTNMMT[WOWWL

Start a small conversation with a strangermaybe the cashier at the restaurant you frequent while on your lunch break. Ask how his or her day is going. Social interaction can lift your mood, and it forces you to smile at someone _PMVaW]LWV\NMMTTQSM[UQTQVO

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SPARK | 11

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Carolina welcomes a new Knight Chair in Digital Advertising and Marketing to Chapel Hill this year to join forces with our Knight Chair in Journalism and Digital Media Economics. The dual Knight Chairs create an entrepreneurial hub that drives innovation at UNC.

The experimental Reese Felts Digital Newsroom was awarded a grant to provide a digital news service that advances the national conversation around the need for more science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) teachers in America. The service will distribute content and track audience engagement in order to inform future coverage and approaches to reporting. reesenews.org

The schools Coal: A Love Story project won the top student award from South by Southwest Interactive. It also drew an Award

of Special Merit from the Grantham Prize, which honors exceptional environmental journalism. See the new water-themed project at poweringanation.org

Congratulations to our students, faculty and alumni presenting at this years conference, and to doctoral alumni winning top AEJMC awards:

Dean Smith The Nafziger-White-Salwen Dissertation Award for the best Ph.D. dissertation in the field of mass communication research.

Kathy Roberts Forde The Covert Award for the best mass communication history article, essay or book chapters in edited collections.

Shaping the future of digital mediaThe UNC School of Journalism and Mass Communication is an international leader in digital media.

Digital Media

Innovation

Business Models

Entrepreneurship

Thanks to the Triad Foundation for 15 years of funding the prestigious Park Fellowships for graduate students at Carolina. jomc.unc.edu/park

jomc.unc.edu /uncjschool

SXSW Interactive Award winner and finalist / Horizon Interactive Awards best in category, gold and silver / Student finalists in Hearst individual writing, broadcast and multimedia championships / SABEW Best in Business contest winner / Gold in each multimedia category of 66th College Photographer of the Year competition / SND Best of Digital News Design silver medal / Zenith Awards in research, social media and case studies / Hearst Journalism Awards first place multimedia features / Hearst Journalism Awards first place radio broadcast news / Award of Special Merit from the Grantham Prize / Sweep of standalone multimedia category in student SND contest

The Three-MinuteMakeup Reality

BY RACHEL HOGG

Beauty bloggers do the three-minute makeup challenge, in which they try to make themselves presentable in a few minutes, as a joke. The truth for most women is that they simply dont have 30 minutes a day to spend on makeup. This is a practical everyday makeup guide that teaches you to make the most of the precious time you do have.

PICK YOUR SITUATION:

I was supposed to have left for class 10 minutes ago.TIME AVAILABLE: 3 minutes

Currently sitting on public transport on the way to work.TIME AVAILABLE: 7 minutes

Im meeting someone later, but spent 20 minutes watching Jennifer Lawrence interviews, and now I dont have enough time to do my makeup.TIME AVAILABLE: 10 minutes

3 minutes

7 minutes

FOUNDATIONYou are going to use just two brushes the ones God gave you: your hands. Just try at least to clean them before and afterward because: Hands are dirty, and makeup stains.

FOUNDATIONFind a concealer that has an applicator; it will make your life much easier. Foundation is messy to apply when in motion but not impossible. Our best advice is to opt for plastic tubes instead of glass bottles and try \WVLI[QVOTMU]T\QX]ZXW[MJZ][Pthat works for you.

LIPSGo for something neutral and nourishing; a nice, trustworthy lip gloss or balm, preferably something clear and non-sticky.

LIPSThe lipstick dilemma. It may seem like a bold choice, but nothing is more professional than bold, well-applied lipstick. Note the key word: well-applied. Wait until you are stationary, otherwise you might end up looking like the joker.

EYE MAKEUPMascara is your friend. Scientists have yet to prove it, but a lick of mascara is said to improve mood by up to 20 percent. JUST DONT BLINK, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!

EYE MAKEUPEye makeup is a little trickier to apply in a rush. Try to keep a steady hand, even though this might be hard. Regarding MaM[PILW_\PMJM[\\PQVO\WLWQ[\WVLa neutral pallet that suits you, and stick with that. Adventurous eye shadow is vastly overrated To apply, just use your VOMZ[JTMVLIVLOW8QVSQM[IZMM`KMTTMV\substitutions for eye shadow brushes.

CHEEKSForget it. Just move on. Most of these products are impossible to VOMZXIQV\WV[W[I^MaW]Z[MTN the emotional turmoil of trying.

CHEEKSFind a really great combination palette that includes blush, eye shadow, a mirror and a built-in brush. It will become your KZQUMOP\QVO[QLMSQKS

14 | SUMMER 2014

10 minutesFOUNDATIONChances are you have everything at hand, so just do a slightly more panicked version of your usual routine.

LIPS1N aW]LMKQLMaW]KIVVW\IWZL\Wspend half of your day nervously peering into mirrors, try tinted lip balms or glosses, lip stains or chubby sticks. They are a little more manageable and low maintenance.

EYE MAKEUPEyeliner is a step where you have to pause and question your life goals. If you are still in the M`XMZQUMV\IT[\IOM_PMZMaW]always do one side too big and spend about 20 minutes evening them out until you look like a sad panda, then just forget it.

CHEEKSYou can do what you want. Blush, bronzer, highlighter the whole she-bang. Have fun, but dont get too carried away.

What you should always have in your bag8ZMXIZI\QWVQ[SMa.QVLXZWL]K\[\PI\IZM[UITTIVLXWZ\IJTM0I^M\PMUKWV[\IV\Ta

kept in one place and packed in a bag, so you can just grab them and go.

Spare hair grips and slides (because they tend

to always disappear)Dry shampoo Face wipes

SNEAKY MIRACLE PRODUCT

Eye bright makes it look like you werent up all

night re-watching Game of Thrones and crying.

TIME SAVERFigure out what colors

suit you and have one of each product with you

at all times.

SPARK | 15

CHAPSTICK CHRONICLES

the BY RACHEL HOGG

ry lips are enough to make even the most optimistic of souls pessimistic about life in general. There are roughly 5,000 lip balms available at supermarket checkouts everywhere. So Spark presents an honest

guide to the good, the bad and the plain unhelpful, all priced under $5.

Carmex: A heavy-duty medical grade lip balm that is capable of `QVOM^MV\PMZMLLM[\ISQM[\WN UM[[M[

SPARK | 17

Vaseline Original Lip Therapy:

Fun-cerciseBY ASHLEY THOMAS

1VW]ZNI[\XIKML[WKQM\aQ\KIVJMPIZL\WVL\QUM\W\ISMKIZMWN aW]Z[MTNM[XMKQITTa_PMVQ\KWUM[\W[\IaQVOIK\Q^M-^MVQN \QUMQ[V\IVQ[[]MUWVMaUQOP\JM/aUUMUJMZ[PQX[KIVKW[\IVIZUIVLITMO1\[MI[a\WTM\\PM[MJ]UX[QV\PMZWIL[\WXaW]NZWUM`MZKQ[QVOI\ITTJ]\PI^MVWNMIZ;XIZSPI[XZMXIZMLIY]QKSIVLMI[aTQ[\WN _Ia[\WPMTXaW]OM\UW^QVO

WALK IT OUT (BRISK 30-MIN. WALK OUTSIDE)

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VOLUNTEERING

ShifraMincer

Sews for thehomeless.

Mends morethanclothes.

VOLUNTEERING

ShifraMincer

Sews for thehomeless.

Mends morethanclothes.

BY AVERY THOMPSON

The Prime Timefor WomenAn analysis of femalecharacters in television

Lets all just confess: Theres that one television show with a NMUITMTMILQVOTILa[W[\ZWVOIVL[WKWVLMV\\PI\ZMOIZLTM[[WN gender, we root for her. We cheer for her. We cry with her. We love her. Whether its Scandals Olivia Pope subtly keeping democ-ZIKaIWI\QV?I[PQVO\WV,+WZ/TMM[:IKPMT*MZZaKPI[QVOPMZLZMIU[\W6M_AWZS+Q\aWZ,IMVMZa[

Lorelai Gilmore/QTUWZM/QZT[2000-2007When Lorelai became preg-nant at 16, there was doubt whether shed ever get her life back together. However, \PQ[Y]QKS_Q\\ML/QTUWZMgirl proved to everyone she could be an incredible mother without giving up her own aspirations.

In season four of the hit show, she told a young and nave doctor:

,WV\I[SUMQN 1U730I^M[WUMZM*M]V[\WXXIJTMJMI NWZKMWN VI\]ZM*MJM\\MZ\PIVIVaWVMPMZMIVLLWV\give a damn what anyone thinks. There are no teams here, no J]LLQM[AW]ZMWVaW]ZW_V*MWVaW]ZW_V

Her character is often a bit radical for the female demo-OZIXPQKJ]\+ZQ[\QVI[VM^MZMVLQVOX]Z[]IVKMIVLN]TTTUMV\of her dreams shows the upside of seeking achievements for ones self. She shines a light on the idea that a woman can be PIXXaIVLKWVLMV\JaX]\\QVOI[QLMM^MZa\PQVONWZIKIZMMZThis chase doesnt last forever; once the goals have been met, then comes the opportunity to settle down.

.WZ\PMaW]VOMZNMUITM^QM_MZ:IKPMT*MZZaWV/TMMQ[

the ultimate inspiration. Unabashedly determined to get to \PM*ZWIL_Ia[\IOM[PMM[KIXMLNZWUPMZ[UITT\W_VTQNM\WVLPMZ[MTN QV6M_AWZS+Q\aIXTIKM_PMZM[PM_W]TLJMNZMM\WJMIKPQM^MPMZXI[[QWV_Q\PW]\KZQ\QKQ[U*MZZaM`XMZQMVKML\PM \aXQKITZ[\ TW^M QVY]IZ\MZJIKS.QVV0]L[WVJ]\ \PMZM_I[IT_Ia[WVTaWVM\Z]MTW^MNWZ\PM[QVOMZ"*ZWIL_Ia0MZcareer and her love were one in the same; there was never really a choice to make.

Eleanore Hutch, show business editor of Irelands Evoke.QMIOZMM[IJW]\\PMQV]MVKMWN \PM/TMMKPIZIK\MZWV\W-days female youth.

Young girls spend so much time watching television, so they might as well learn something, she says. Its not all about being pretty and having boyfriends; you can have a great career.

Lisa SimpsonThe Simpsons 1989-present

Elaine Benes Seinfeld1989-1998

Dana ScullyThe X Files1993-2002

Joey Potter ,I_[WV[+ZMMS1998-2003

Olivia BensonLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit1999-present

Buffy Summers*]NNa\PM>IUXQZM;TIaMZ1997-2003 The complicated teenage heroine [I^ML\PMK\QWVIT_WZTLWN ;]VVa-dale and the world as a whole more times that anyone could imagine. .ZWU^IUXQZM[\WUWV[\MZ[*]NNawas a superhuman prowess that LMMLITTWLL[

Young girls spend so much time watching television, so they might as well learn something. Its not all

about being pretty and having boyfriends; you can have

a great career.

TIMELINE OF GREAT FEMALE TELEVISION CHARACTERS:

SPARK | 23

Sydney Bristow Alias2001-2006

Veronica Mars Veronica Mars2004-2007After her best friend was murdered, Veronica Mars became a brilliant and bi-onic detective who solved KW]V\TM[[KWUXTM`Ua[-teries for her classmates and the town of Neptune, +ITQNWZVQI

Most influential TV female charactersaccording to our poll:

Leslie Knope, Parks & Recreation: The vivacious and ardent director of the Pawnee, 1VLQIVI8IZS[:MKZMI\QWVLMXIZ\UMV\Q[more dedicated to making a difference in her small town than one could ever imagine. Knope is fearless in her pursuit of changes to allow 8I_VMM\WW]ZQ[P;PMIT[WMNNMK\Q^MTaJITIVKM[a career, marriage, friends and an obsession _Q\P_INM[

Daenerys Targaryen, Game of Thrones: Initially denied any worthy rights and treated as a piece of property in the quest for the Iron Throne, Targaryen metamorphosed into a woman with strength and leadership who is worthy of ruling the Seven Kingdoms. She commands her people _Q\PKWVLMVKMIVLKWUXI[[QWVJ]\LWV\cross her. She is also the mother of dragons, which make her practically invincible.

Olivia Pope, Scandal: Pope is the indelible and premier crisis manager for all of ?I[PQVO\WV,+?PM\PMZQ\[IXWTQ\QKQIV[QUIOMT][\aINNIQZ[WZSQLVIXXQVO[8WXMKIV`the problems of anyone who walks through the doors of Olivia Pope & Associates.

Dowager Countess of Grantnam,W_V\WV)JJMa2010-present

Daenerys Targaryen /IUMWN

My Journey Back

Even now, I can remember the exact moment I got the KITT1[KZIUJTMLIZW]VL\ZaQVO\WO]ZMW]\_PI\\W\ISMJIKSPWUM,W1\ISM\PMJTIKSLZM[[PWUM',WV\JM[WUWZJQL)^MZa1\WTLUa[MTN0MQ[OWQVO\WJMVM

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That was his way of allowing us to say goodbye./WWLJaM'6W5a[Q[\MZUaJZW\PMZIVL1NMT\KPMI\ML0W_

KW]TL _M [XMVL \PM ZM[\ WN W]Z TQ^M[ UQ[[QVO PQU' =XWV \PI\realization, my sister ran out of his room. I followed her and held PMZ I[ [PM KZQML 1 [\ZWSMLPMZJIKS I[ [PM_MX\ W^MZ \PM_WZL[[PMKW]TLVM^MZ\ISMJIKSIVL\PM]VZMXIQZMLZMTI\QWV[PQX[PMPILwith him.

That was the closest my sister and I have ever been. And possibly ever will be.

)N\MZ PW]Z[ _M _I\KPML I[ \PM V]Z[M X]TTML W]\ \PM JTWWLTTML\]JM[IVL\PMPMI^QVO[\WXXML?Q\P_MIZaJMTMIO]MZML[W]T[_M_I\KPMLas the rest of his life was measured by dwindling beeps.

I was tormented watching the man who had loved me unconditionally, who PIL ZMTMV\TM[[Ta _WZSML NWZ NWZOQ^MVM[[over the pain he had caused have his path \W ZMLMUX\QWV ]VNIQZTa []KSML W]\ WN PQU in seconds.

In that moment, my heart was burned with a permanent scar that can never be healed.

7\PMZ \PIV Ua KW][QV5QSM _PW _I[LMTQ^MZQVO Ua NI\PMZ[ M]TWOa Ua UW\PMZ_IV\ML 0MVZa ;KW\\ 0WTTIVL[ XWMU,MI\PQ[6W\PQVO)\)TTZMILI\PQ[J]ZQITand memorial service.

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5aLIL_I[V\XMZNMK\6WWVMQ[0MJI\\TMLQVVMZIVLW]\MZdemons that inevitably caused my family pain. After years of a JZWSMVUIZZQIOM UaUWU I[SML PQU \W TMI^M NWZ \PM [ISM WN \PMSQL[

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In the year before his death, I had mended my relationship _Q\P PQU IVL TWWSML NWZ_IZL \W IV IL]T\ ZMTI\QWV[PQX _Q\P UaXMZ[WVIJTMKPIZQ[UI\QKNI\PMZ0MPILX]\PQ[TQNMJIKS\WOM\PMZand forgiven himself. I was so proud.

There are times when I yearn for my dad. I just want one more RWSM WVMUWZM TI]OP WVMUWZM 1 TW^M aW]

-^MZa\PQVO1KW]TL^MXW[[QJTa_IV\MLIK\]ITTaPIXXMVMLFor those 83 days, I was blissfully happy. There was not a day

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XX | APRIL 2014

dilemm

athe

of finding the right

SIZEBY CAROLINE HUDSON

SPARK | 31

of finding the right

SIZEhe pants are too long on her short stature. The shirt constricts her shoulders and is too boxy on her small frame. The jeans cling to her slim legs, but they are too tight around her waist.

These are just some of the problems Mia Thompson, 21, faces

on a regular basis when shopping for clothes. Her shoulders are broad from her past swimming days, but her 54 frame slopes inward toward her waistline, giving her body what she calls an ice cream cone shape.

Thompson says two of her problem areas are her [PW]TLMZ[IVLXIV\TMVO\PIVL\PMKTW\PQVOQVMIKP[\WZM\[her a little differently.

I shop everywhere because I have to, she says. Its a reality many Americans have to overcome when shopping, as sizes are measured differently among brands. At The 4QUQ\MLI_WUMV[UMLQ]U\WXQ[UILM\W\IKPM[\JM\_MMV36 and three-fourths inches and 37 and three-fourths inches. Womens medium tops at Gap measure between 36 and a half inches and 37 and a half inches. Express medium \WX[IZMIT[W[TQOP\TaLQNNMZMV\I[\PMaIZMUILM\W\KPM[\[between 35 and a half inches and 37 inches.

The discrepancies are not limited to womens clothing. Men also have differing measurements from store to store. )UMV[UMLQ]U\WXI\/IXQ[UILM\W\IKPM[\JM\_MMV

39 inches and 41 inches. However, at Express, a mens UMLQ]U\WXKIV\IKPM[\JM\_MMV!QVKPM[IVLIVLIhalf inches. J. Crew offers yet another measurement, with its mens medium top having chest measurements of 38 inches to 40 inches.

So what does this mean for consumers? It means a woman may be able to wear a medium top at Gap, but she would wear a large at Express. In the same way, a man may wear a medium at Express, but he would need a large at J.Crew.

Similarly, the inseam of short-length pants at J.Crew is two inches shorter than the regular-length inseam, but three inches shorter at Express and two and a half inches shorter at Gap.

Yes, its a problem, but its common enough to where it is expected, says Thompson.

To show the differences in clothing between stores, Thompson tries on a small T-shirt and size 2 jeans in three different stores, which include The Limited, Express and Gap.

)\

Thompson also tries on skinny jeans in a regular-length size 2. The length of the denim is about 2 inches too long for her short stature, and the waist is too tight. ;PM_W]TL TQSMTa VMML I [QbM \W \ PMZwaist comfortably and pants in a shorter length. However, she does like the slim \IVLLIZSKWTWZWN \PMRMIV[[WUM\PQVOthat would show off her legs.

A trip to Express brings new problems to light for Thompson but also slightly LQNNMZMV\\[

You just work with what you kind of know.

Joey Vazquez, a store manager at Express in Columbia, S.C., echoes Sotaks ideas in that he also thinks it is up to the employee to work with the customer. He says that each store is going to have its own designs and different cuts, so the sales MUXTWaMMVMML[\WPMTX\PMK][\WUMZVLPQ[PMZXMZNMK\\

Although employees are there as a resource, customers do not always take advantage of their knowledge of the clothing in a particular store. Thompson says she usually avoids sales employees because she does not want to feel pressured to buy anything. I will ask about styles, but normally the best thing to do is bring your friend or mom who knows you best and will give you an honest opinion, she says. However, for shoppers who have just started looking for a piece of clothing and have not had the time to experiment with

sizes on their own, shopping without the help of a store employee can be more time-consuming and frustrating. I personally rarely use the resources because of the V]UJMZ WN LQNNMZMV\ [\aTM[ IVL \[ 1^Mtried. There isnt too much of a need, Thompson says.

A manager at Gap in Nashville, TN, who chose not to give his name, says customers have online size charts at their disposal and going to different stores to try on clothing is the best option. He also says drawing on the feedback from other customers who have tried a particular item of clothing is a great resource.

From a business standpoint, the manager says he does not know if the variation in sizes helps or hurts a companys business. However, in his M`XMZQMVKM K][\WUMZ[ IZM PIXXa \W VLIOWWL\QV/IX\PI\\PMaUIaVW\PI^MJMMV IJTM \W VL MT[M_PMZM _PQKP KIVoften lead to a shopper developing a new

loyalty to the store.Despite the size discrepancies,

Thompson says she does not think UISQVO \PMUMI[]ZMUMV\[ ]VQML IKZW[[all brands is a plausible solution, as each consumer has a different body shape and has different clothing needs. Instead, she suggests having a go-to brand where you SVW_ \PM \ _MTT[PM XZMNMZ[ -`XZM[[denim, for example. She also thinks having KTW\PM[\IQTWZML\WKZMI\M\PMXMZNMK\\NWZones body is another good solution. I think people forget that a lot, she says. In Thompsons experience, tailoring clothes can also be a solution to a common fear among shoppers of having to go up a size. She says she thinks its possible to make a body actually look slimmer if the shopper is willing to buy a larger size and have it altered. People need to not be afraid, [PM[Ia[1\[OWQVO\WJMUWZMI\\MZQVO

SPARK | 33

34 | SUMMER 2014

Paul Tillich, a 20th-century existentialist philosopher and theologian, wrote, Our language has wisely sensed the two sides of being alone. It has created the word loneliness to express the pain of being alone. And it has created the word solitude to express the glory of being alone.

Spending time in solitude can be relaxing and enlightening. It can remind us of our individuality, and it can give us time to think. But in a world where its easy to feel constantly connected via social media or text messages on our cellphones, the idea of doing things alone can be incredibly intimidating.

In an online poll, 65 percent of participating Spark readers said they would be less likely to go out to eat, go see a movie or attend a social function if they had to go by themselves. Just 35 percent of responders said they would feel comfortable on their own. Through comments, readers elaborated on why doing things alone can be a scary notion. Many feared the way others might perceive them. Others thought that they would be bored or lonely by themselves.

Jamie Linker, a sophomore at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, admits that she hardly ever goes in public by herself and that she wouldnt dream of eating in a restaurant alone.

Theres something sad about it to

me, Linker says. I feel like everyone would judge me.4QVSMZ Q[ J]JJTa \aXQKITTa KWVLMV\

and pretty much everything but shy. Still, she says that she doesnt even feel comfortable eating alone in the dining halls at her college, despite the fact that many other students dine alone.

I just feel like I dont have any friends if I eat by myself, Linker says. Its so lonely!

Amanda Ross, a professional hairdresser, shares Linkers sentiment. When asked if she feels comfortable doing things alone, she says that she almost always feels more comfortable with at least one other

person.Its not that Im

that uncomfortable with what Im doing, Ross says. Its more that I feel like people are looking at me like Im weird for not

being with someone.The idea of feeling judged for being

alone is not a new one. But is it valid? Do people really judge those who dine alone more harshly than those who dine with others? Harvard professor Bella DePaulo, an expert on single life and the author of several books about living life on ones own, explored judgment regarding dining alone in an unpublished study. She revealed the results of the study in an online article in 2011.

In DePaulos research, she took XPW\WOZIXP[ WN LQMZMV\ OZW]X[ WN NW]Z

FIGHT THE STIGMA SURROUNDING DOING THINGS ALONE AND LEARN TO LOVE YOUR OWN COMPANY BY SCHYLER MARTIN

THE BIG PROS TO SEEING A MOVIE ALONE:YOU GET BOTH ARMRESTS! No longer are you forced to share or feel uncomfortable. You can stretch out, sit wherever you like and feel completely at ease with your view of the screen.

YOU CAN CRY IF YOU WANT TO. Or dance. Or laugh. Or react just about any way you want to, without risking any judgment from whomever youre with.

YOU CAN LEAVE. If the acting in the TUTMI^M[[WUM\PQVOto be desired, youre unhappy with the way the plots going, or you simply feel like getting ice cream, you dont have to stick it out because of someone else. You can simply get up and go.

YOU CAN GET POPCORN AND CANDY. Speaking of leaving for ice cream, if you see a TUITWVMaW]LWV\PI^M\WNMMTM`KM[[Q^ MIJW]\what you bring into the theater. If you want to

eat a pretzel, a chocolate bar, popcorn and an apple, you can do it without feeling as though you need to explain yourself,

which, for the record, you really dont have to do anyway.

SPARK | 35Photos by Morgan Smith | Illustrations by Traci Carver

36 | SUMMER 2014

people two men and two women each time as they had dinner together in a restaurant. Some of the sets of people were young adults. Some were middle aged. DePaulo used Photoshop to airbrush out one or more of the people seated at the dinner. After the airbrushing, some photographs included the original four people, some included two people, others included three people, and the key photographs for the study included just one person dining alone.

What was important about the technique of Photoshopping is that each diner had the

exact same facial expression and posture in each version of the photo, DePaulo said in her 2011 article. That way, if other people judged the solo diners more harshly (which is what we expected), it wouldnt be because the solo diners actually appeared more despondent than the coupled diners did.

After showing the airbrushed photographs to hundreds of people and asking them to share their judgments about the solo diners, DePaulos research showed surprising results.?PQTM [WUM XMWXTM LQL WMZ PIZ[PMZ

judgments, such as assuming that the lone diner was lonely or had no friends, DePaulo concluded that the way the solo diners were R]LOML PIZLTa LQMZML NZWU \PM _Ia \PMcouples or groups of diners were perceived.

According to DePaulo, many perceptions of the solo diners were actually quite positive. For example, some said the person eating by himself or herself looked as if he or she wanted to relax, was enjoying dinner, just wanted to eat alone, wanted time to ponder or was secure.

The research was very careful and

TIPS FOR DINING ALONE:While the stigma surrounding dining alone may not truly be as extreme as many think, that doesnt mean that everyone will suddenly be comfortable alone in public. However, there are some simple ways to feel more comfortable while on your own.

BRING A PEN AND NOTEPADEven if you dont have work to do, bringing a notepad to scribble thoughts in can help you look and feel busy. Who knows? Maybe inspiration will strike while youre out, and the paper and pen can come in handy? After all, the idea for Harry Potter simply fell into J.K. Rowlings head while she was traveling on a train.

POP IN SOME HEADPHONESIf the silence is too much for you and aW]VLaW]Z[MTNJWZML_PQTMITWVM][MU][QKWZXWLKI[\[I[I_Ia\WXI[[\PMtime and make yourself feel more comfortable. To help, weve included a few good suggestions for what to listen to on the side!

BRING A BOOKEating alone can be a great time to get some reading in, and the book can help you forget about whatevers making you uncomfortable.

systematic, DePaulo said. It was never published, though, because all of my predictions turned out to be wrong. The ways that solo diners are judged turned out \WLQMZPIZLTaI\ITTNZWUPW_KW]XTM[WZpairs of friends or groups of three people are viewed.

Basically, DePaulo found that the stigma surrounding dining alone isnt as strong as many seem to think it is. In fact, most people dont seem to think any less of solo diners at all, and statistically, that makes sense.

In a 2012 essay, Eric Klinenberg, a sociologist and author, reported that 5 million people in the United States between ages 18 and 34 lived alone. Thats 10 times more than the number that lived alone in

1950. According to Klinenberg, the largest numbers of people living alone are between the ages of 35 and 64, and they live alone by choice.

Though we live in a connected world, we also live in a highly individualistic one. More and more people are living alone. While living alone might be more drastic than what many people are looking for, that SVW_TMLOM LWM[ WMZ I JQ\ UWZM KWUNWZ\to those who dont feel at ease going to a restaurant, going to a movie theater or going to a social event alone.

With so many people living alone, the stigma surrounding loneliness seems to be changing. So, take a chance. Head out to a restaurant and ask for a table for one.

Feeling comfortable on your own

35% of readerswould feel comfortable on their own

65% of readerswould be less likely to go alone

In an online poll, participating Spark readers were asked if they would be less likely to go out to eat, go see a movie or attend a social function if they had to go by themselves, or if they would feel comfortable on their own.

SPARK | 37

Having a solitary meal in a restaurant is a basic spiritual practice, Sherry Turkle, an author who studies the relationships between technology and people, says in one of her books. Its a classic way to experience moments of solitude and to refresh and restore and gather yourself.

Indeed, modern society seems to be embracing the idea of enjoyable solitude, rather than sad, ]VN]TTTML TWVMTQVM[[ 2W 8MIZ[M I \MIKPMZ NWZa telecommunications company in Alberta, Canada, says that after getting past the fear of social stigmas, she has found her happiness in going to see movies alone.1 ZMUMUJMZ \PMZ[\ \QUM 1_MV\ \W \PM

movies by myself, Pearse recalled in a recent interview. I felt so sad, so obviously alone. I bought two drinks to go with my popcorn, as though I was waiting for a friend.

After the movie ended, Pearse wound up going to see three more movies in the same afternoon. She says that, surprisingly, she found the action brought her relief and exhilaration rather than anxiety. These days, Pearse regularly goes to the theater by herself.

Going to the movies alone is something that Ive realized surprises people, and it makes me feel proud of my aloneness, instead of being ashamed that Im not with someone else, Pearse says. I am doing my life the way I want to, instead of waiting for somebody else to join me.

Pearse might be on to something with her solitary trips to the movies. Because of the dark, cozy setting and the lack of potential KWV^MZ[I\QWV L]ZQVO TU[ \PMI\MZ[ UQOP\

just be the perfect place for some alone time.Though Pearse admits that she was

nervous about how others would view her, she says that she quickly realized that no one even noticed that she was by herself, and she soon forgot about any of her issues. Though she knows everyone wont take her advice, Pearse urges people to try going to the movies alone at least once. She says that one of her favorite things about spending time alone is that she can do whatever she likes, without having to ask permission from another person.

The great Justin Timberlake said it well: The best part about being alone is that you really dont have to answer to anybody. You do what you want.

Venturing out on your own doesnt have to mean that youre sad and lonely and have no friends. It doesnt have to mean that you spend your days being bored. Instead, let alone time be something special. Learn to enjoy your own company, and allow yourself to enjoy the time you have to let loose and relax. A bit of solitude might be exactly what you need.

A PLAYLIST FOR

SOLITUDETHIEVES BY SHE & HIM In this breezy, upbeat tune, Zooey Deschanel sings, Sometimes lonely isnt sad, and shes exactly right.

THE MAN BY ALOE BLACC This song is an instant KWVLMVKMJWW[\

RIVER FLOWS IN YOU BY YIRUMAThis beautiful piano tune can help you relax and open your mind.

JOY TO YOU BABY BY JOSH RITTER

LIVE LIFE

Nola Ochs, 95

Oldest collegegrad.

LIVE LIFE

Nola Ochs, 95

Oldest collegegrad.

LIVE LIFE

Nola Ochs, 95

Oldest collegegrad.

a global quest for

BY KATIE QUINE

HAPPINESS

SPARK | 41

You know the drill: It is 9:17 a.m. on a Monday, and no matter how much you love your job, you are wishing you were somewhere else. You dont want to be at work right now. No one wants to be at work right now. You murmur, I need a vacation to your co-workers, who muster up all the energy theyve gained from their lifeless yogurt parfaits to nod in agree-ment. You solemnly swear to yourself to soon book a vacation to Jamaica or the Hamptons or anywhere but here, really.

1[VLQVOPIXXQVM[[I[MI[aI[TWKI\QVOpinpoints on a map? Answered simply, perhaps. In September, the United Na-tions issued its second World Happiness Report, ranking the Scandinavian country of Denmark at the top of the list and the West African country of Togo at the very bottom. The United States ranks 17th, trailing No. 16 Mexico while No. 6 Cana-da holds its own spot near the top. (Some-thing has got to be in their maple syrup.)

The report is part of a greater initiative to get countries talking about the emo-tional well-being of their citizens, which is crucial even in highly developed countries. Approximately one in four people struggle with a mental illness in the United States, where themes of the elusive American Dream and pulling yourself up by your boot straps mantra still reign supreme.

The report weighed variables such as GDP, life expectancy, social support, free-dom and generosity in its ranking of coun-tries, along with individuals self-reported levels of happiness. It has served as a great catalyst for encouraging countries to ad-dress happiness through public policy. But in actuality, its not that simple. Placing a VOMZ WV_PI\UISM[ KW]V\ZQM[ PIXXa Q[

A recent United Nations report ranks countries according to happiness, but discovering the source of a smile isnt so simple.

quite the complicated task, leading many across the globe to ask what happiness re-ally is anyway.

How happiness is perceived in a coun-try depends greatly on the values its cul-ture holds, says Sharon Cannon, a profes-sor teaching intercultural communications at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Its not necessarily the same world-wide because what goes on in your culture and what your culture values is probably going to have a lot to do with how you val-ue or perceive happiness, she says.

+IVVWVXWQV\[\W[M^MZITLQMZMV\\PM-WZQM[ \PI\ M`XTIQV PIXXQVM[[ LQMZMV\QIT[one of which is the Geert Hofstede mod-MT_PQKPKTI[[QM[KW]V\ZQM[][QVO[M^MZITdimensions, such as individualism and in-dulgence.

According to the model, the United States is largely individualistic, meaning the dominant perspective is that the needs of the person outweigh the concerns of a larger society. Much of the time, this means framing happiness within the con-text of the question, Am I getting what I want? The country is also largely indul-gent, meaning citizens tend to have rela-tively weak control over their desires and impulses.

Perhaps even sometimes, things like divorces are caused because people are so focused on themselves and their own needs whereas in a collectivist culture it might be more on the family and everyone involved in terms of achieving harmony, Cannon says.

Given our values, it can sometimes be a challenge to accept the cultural traditions of other countries, such as South Korea,

41 | SUMMER 2014

Four ways toboost your mood

right now

FAKE ITWhen you feel the least like smiling, try to anyway. Longstanding results from a 1988 study led by psychologist Fritz Strack found that those who held a pencil between their teeth, which forced them to smile, consistently ranked cartoons as funnier than those in the control group.

CREATE A DAILY AFFIRMATION When so much can go wrong, it can be hard sometimes to see the good. Say something along the lines of There is good in today to yourself out loud. (Yes, really.) Soon enough, youll begin to believe it.

BREATHE IN, BREATHE OUT Actively telling your body to breathe deeply can reduce stress almost immediately. For an extra boost, light a soothing lavender candle.

COMPLETE A RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS Some suggestions? Leave W_MZ[WVI[\ZIVOMZ[doorstep or donate your KWMMUWVMa\WILQ[I[\MZZMTQMN VWVXZW\

sometimes feels stressed when concerns regarding employment pop up among her American peers at UNC-CH, which is ranked as one of the happiest colleges in the United States and is often referred to as the Southern part of Heaven.

In Ecuador, I feel like people dont focus that much on professional life, she says. Its something that I have noticed a lot here.

As business practices become more globalized, linear Western values of pro-ductivity have found their way into the multi-active cultures of Latin America and Southern Europe, which have tradi-tionally been considered comparatively people-oriented and gregarious in nature.

Most recently, Spain, which is known for its afternoon siestas and 10 p.m. din-nertime, has considered taking a step away

which is considered 18 percent individual-istic and 29 percent indulgent according to the Hofstede model.

Sometimes well even want to project. Well, wouldnt that person be happier if and we dont understand why, Can-non says.

If youve been brought up to real-ly look at the needs of others in making your decisions, the idea that youd choose a [college] major just based on yourself _W]TL[MMUXZM\\a[MT[PIK\]ITTa

Jessy Guggenbuhl, a 21-year-old study-ing on exchange at UNC-CH from Quito, -K]ILWZ [Ia[ [PM LWM[V\ ZMITTa VL ITT\PI\ JQO I LQMZMVKM QV PIXXQVM[[ TM^MT[between the United States and her home country, which ranks 49th on the United Nations report.

In Ecuador, my happiness is my fami-ly, my friends and the people that surround me. But here, its pretty ironic, my happi-ness is being independent and getting to do what I want to do, like not having to tell my mom where Im going, Guggen-buhl says.

Though Guggenbuhl has had a rela-tively easy transition to the United States since arriving in August, she says she

VENEZUELA20th Happiest

12% Individualistic

100% Indulgent

UNITED STATES17th Happiest

91% Individualistic

68% Indulgent

SPARK | 42

from its easy-going lifestyle by pushing the clock backward to align with its actual geographic time zone, Greenwich Mean Time. Some hope the contentious move would make the country more globally competitive following the economys re-cent derailment.

Sometimes we dont understand other people because we see things through our own values, but I think that what happens is every culture, theres some sort of com-promise, Cannon says. If the economy is such that they start to see some value with our approaches, they might start to adapt them more.

Some researchers suggest a link be-tween modernization and happiness, believing countries that become more urbanized and technologized become fun-damentally happier. But there are setbacks

that come along with the shift. Jessica Bodford, a graduate student at

Arizona State University who research-M[ PW_ \MKPVWTWOa IMK\[ XMZKMX\QWV[ WN oneself and others, says as technology access has increased in rapidly develop-ing nations, well-being has been found to decrease.

We were given it in the course of slow quantities over decades, Bodford says. On the contrary, you have a very fast developing country who is experiencing ^MZa PQOP VMOI\Q^M MMK\[ []KP I[ [\ZM[[sadness, anger and anxiety because there are suddenly so many changes all at once, and the human mind is not equipped to handle that so quickly.

But even in the West, many argue pub-lic policy and business practices could be improved to better promote happiness and

general well-being.. In January, Missouri State House Rep-

resentative Courtney Allen Curtis intro-L]KMLIJQTT\WUISM\PMPQOP^M\PMW-cial state greeting. Many poked fun at his attempt, saying he should focus on more pressing issues, but Curtis believes it could just be the trick to discouraging political stalemates.

One party emphasizes individualism, the other values collectivism, Cannon says. Maybe in the U.S. were not as indi-vidualistic as we may think.

)[[QUXTMI[IPQOP^MWZM^MVI[UQTMhappiness can also manifest itself much LQMZMV\TaQVK]T\]ZM[IKZW[[\PM_WZTL

Sandra Markovska, a 23-year-old liv-QVOQV7[TW6WZ_Ia[Ia[[PMLWM[V\VLfellow Norwegians to be happier com-pared to the people she has met during

GERMANY26th Happiest

67% Individualistic

40% Indulgent

SAUDI ARABIA33rd Happiest

25% Individualistic

52% Indulgent

AUSTRALIA10th Happiest

90% Individualistic

71% Indulgent

CHINA93rd Happiest

20% Individualistic

29% Indulgent

UGANDA120th Happiest

No data onindividualism and indulgence

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43 | SUMMER 2014

Where should you go on holiday?See which countrys dominant culture fits best with your approach to happiness.

her schooling in London, U.K. or else-where despite the fact her home country is ranked as second happiest in the world.

In fact, when tourists visiting the area dont get a friendly nod or wave from lo-cals, she said they might be surprised, giv-en the countrys presumed reputation for being happy.

Norwegians are often described as shy or not polite because they are not as open as they should be when described as the happiest people, says Markovska. Though Markovska says she wouldnt rank Norway as the happiest, she still be-lieves Norway is comparatively happy to other nations, given its national healthcare system and emphasis on leisure time.

Bodford says physical expressions of happiness in the form of smiling tend to be muted in collectivistic societies and ex-aggerated in individualistic societies.

You see that in China, theyre most likely to smile without their teeth, so imag-ine a grimace or a very content but calm smile that does not show your teeth, Bodford says. In America, you see teeth. You see big smiles, crows feet at the eyes. Youre happy and you want to show it to everyone.

Though economic and political cir-cumstances vary from country to country, with strife strongly correlated to dimin-ished happiness among citizens, happiness might truly lie within after all, regardless

of whether youre on the Swiss Alps or in the Sahara dessert.

No matter what culture youre in, if something happens and your automatic reaction is somehow that its something negative, then youre going to be probably more unhappy than a person in any cul-ture who tends to be a little bit more opti-mistic once something happens to them, Cannon says.

Theres got to be happy people in ev-ery culture, right? she says, laughing. Its R][\IUI\\MZWN VLQVOQ\VWXZQKMaXTIVMticket required.

Youre in the grocery checkout lane and spot a tempting chocolate bar. Do you cave?A. Yes. Duh. Grabbing a bag of M&Ms too while Im at it.B. How I wish, but I better not.C.Yes, I deserve a reward after a hard week.

Youre running 45 minutes late to a dinner party. Youre:A. Not all that concerned. The party doesnt start until you walk in, anyway.B..MMTQVOITQ\\TMO]QT\aJ]\\ZIK_I[SQTTMZC. Time is money, people. Ive surely missed some good jokes and all the artichoke dip.

What does your profile picture look like?A. Tons of friends all crammed together, re-enacting that ^QZITOZW]X[MTM-TTMV,M/MVMZM[\WWSI\\PM7[KIZ[B. Me and my siblings at our last family get-together.C. Just me. Dang, I looked good that night.

Your blind date stands you up for dinner. You:A. Stay in the hopes of snagging that alluring stranger at the bar.B. Order some desserts to-go and split them with your roommates.C. Promptly get the heck out of Dodge. But just for the record, Im an independent person who dont need no (wo)man.

Boss says youll need to collaborate a good bit with other department heads on your next project. You:A. Think itll be a good chance to make small talk. Dont know how much work well get done, though.B. Cant wait. Youre at your best when you can brainstorm with others.C. Rather not.

Mostly As Mostly BsTake a trip to Costa Rica, and aW]L\ZQOP\QV

www.opt imist .org

46 | SUMMER 2014

BY DALISHA STURDIVANT

MEATLESS LIFE

Photo by Ezran Kamal, Illustrations by Andrea Rivers

ve never been the type of woman who was picky about her weight, self-conscious about her appearance

and in need of keeping up with the latest fads that was, until I went to college. Instantly, the rules of the game changed, and issues that appeared irrelevant before []LLMVTaJMOIV\WUI\\MZTQSMLMVMLIJ[IVLI_TM[[PIQZ*]\_PW_I[ 1 SQLLQVO'I could never have those things, or at least \PI\[_PI\1\ZIQVMLUaUQVL\W\PQVS*]\\PM [WKQIT XZM[[]ZM LQLV\ IMK\ UM ITT I\once.

Like an annoying sibling slowly gnawing away at your nerves, the craze of staying in [PIXMIVLMI\QVOPMIT\PaVITTa\WWSQ\[\WTTsecond semester of junior year. That year, I took on a challenge that was completely out of my nature. I decided to go 14 days without meat.

0W_PIZLKW]TL\PI\JM'1\PW]OP\\Wmyself, but then again I remembered I was talking about the same person who had to eat meat with every meal. After two weeks WN []MZQVO 1 [WWVLQ[KW^MZML \PMIV[_MZto my question. This is the story of my 14-day vegetarian journey: the ups, the downs and everything in between.

Day One1\_I[.MJ IVL \PMLIa [\IZ\MLW

like any other Monday for an overworked, sleep-deprived college student. The alarm

KTWKS _MV\ W I\ " IU IVL 1 \W[[MLand turned until my brain was ready to function. After 10 minutes of just lying there, my body instantly became aware of the time. Five more minutes in the JML _W]TL PI^M LMVQ\MTa \PZW_V UM Wschedule.

It wasnt long before my stomach began to growl. Eager to hush the noise, I headed straight to the kitchen in search of food. It was at this moment that the reality of my situation began to set in. While scavenging through the cabinets and peering in the refrigerator of my college apartment, I saw that there was plenty to eat, but nothing I truly desired. I had just gone grocery shopping a day before, so there was no reason to awkwardly stare at the range of choices in front of me. Plus common sense reassured me that doing so would not make meat magically appear, so I grabbed a carton of eggs and began to make breakfast.

While I was whipping away at the eggs, relentless thoughts such as, What is JZMISNI[\ _Q\PW]\ UMI\' IVL 7P 4WZL_Pa UM' SMX\ KZW[[QVO Ua UQVL *]\doing my best to push those thoughts aside, 1VQ[PMLKWWSQVOIVL\ZQMLQUIOQVQVO\PI\the plate of eggs was something ravishing. ;]ZXZQ[QVOTa\PQ[_WZSMLNWZ\PMZ[\KW]XTMof bites, but my mind wouldnt allow itself to be deceived more than twice. After I forced the eggs down with a cup of orange

R]QKMQ\_I[\QUMNWZUaZ[\KTI[[ I arrived to Political Science 101 just in time

to get a seat up close to \PMNZWV\*]\VW\M^MV30 minutes into the lecture, my stomach was rumbling. This was a problem. How could I have eaten

breakfast less than one hour ago and still

NMMTNIUQ[PML'Something will have

\W OQ^M 1 \PW]OP\ \W Ua[MTNI couldnt compromise my learning by worsening my attention span with hunger pangs. As soon as the class ended, I raced to the dining hall to eat my packed lunch, _PQKP KWV[Q[\ML WN I 8*2

sandwich, water, yogurt and a JIVIVI\W\WXQ\ITTW*]\\PQ[_I[

new; I hadnt packed lunch since my

high school days, and I would be lying if I told you I actually enjoyed my lunch that day. For some reason, the peanut butter felt extra thick going down my throat, and the aWO]Z\TMN\I\IZ\I^WZQVUaUW]\P1KW]TLonly think that I was eating to survive. And dinner, lets not even mention it, the lack of satisfaction exceeded that at both breakfast and lunch.

Day Four

*a \PM NW]Z\P LIaU][KTM KZIUX[ PILmy body in severe pain. I could barely walk, stand up straight or have a decent conversation without showing some sign of discomfort. It was right then and there that I knew something was wrong with my diet. I have never ached like this before. In fact, this pain was so serious that it nearly persuaded me to see I LWK\WZ *]\ JMQVOcheap and lazy, I checked online for a diagnosis in hopes of VLQVO IV[_MZ[

48 | SUMMER 2014

only wonder if this was a new skill that came along with not eating meat.

Day Six and Seven

When I went home for the weekend, all of my desire to continue the vegetarian diet went downhill. I could only imagine the aroma of my mothers home-cooked meals and the satisfaction of knowing that she always had something prepared for her only child. These thoughts brought immediate relief to a deprived student, who hadnt had a home-cooked meal in W^MZ[Q`_MMS[*]\1LQLV\OQ^MQV\W\PW[M\PW]OP\[I\ TMI[\VW\I\Z[\ 1V[\MIL Q\took a full day before I completely caved in to my mothers southern cooking. And when I did, I felt it was well worth it.

When I went home for the weekend, all of my desire to continue

the vegetarian diet went downhill.

The spaghetti and meatballs along with a slice of cheesy garlic bread melted in my mouth with every bite, transforming the idea of failure into something of a tasty ZM_IZL*]\\PI\[VW\\W[Ia1LQLV\ZMOZM\succumbing to the meat; its just disappointing that I didnt last long. And whats even worse is once I admitted to myself that I failed the challenge, my desire for meat went haywire. Within a few hours, I had cleared two plates and the thought of eating a third one crossed my mind several \QUM[*]\_PI\SMX\UMNZWUW^MZQVL]TOQVOwas the fact that I knew the next day my vegetarian diet would start over again.

Day 10After miserably failing the prior

weekend, the second week on the diet was less challenging, especially as the days became occupied with studying for midterms. I would leave class and head straight to the library. It became my one-way stop.

Food or better yet meat was the TMI[\WN UaKWVKMZV[;WWV.MJ1_I[so preoccupied with life and my to-do list

that I only ate one full meal. The only meal \PI\OZIKMLUa[\WUIKPKWV[Q[\MLWN I8*2sandwich, a cup of yogurt and a tangerine. 1\_I[LMVQ\MTaVW\\PM\aXQKITIUW]V\WN calories I was used to putting into my body. In fact, I was so accustomed to eating three meals a day, plus a snack, that this decrease in calorie intake caused me to feel frail and thwarted, a feeling I associated with high school, a time when my legs were the size of sticks, and my classmates called me tooth XQKS 1\LMVQ\MTaLQLV\ ZMKITT I [MV[MWN nostalgia.

Day 147V5IZKP1_WSM]XR][\QV\QUM\WOW

to church. There were no spare minutes left to cook breakfast or plan out my last three UMIT[ I[ I ^MOM\IZQIV ?Q\P UQV]\M[left before the church van would arrive, I \PZM_WVUa;]VLIaI\\QZM`MLUaPIQZand headed out the door. I wasnt worried about food because as a Sunday tradition, \PM^IVLZQ^MZIT_Ia[\WWS][\W*WRIVOTM[*]\\PMZM_I[WVM\QVaXZWJTMUQ\_I[UaTI[\ LIa I[ I ^MOM\IZQIV IVL *WRIVOTM[really wasnt vegetarian-friendly. I thought what could I possibly eat without dipping into the meat section, and I knew I did not _IV\*WRIVOTM[NIUW][[QLM[

SPARK | 49

EXPERT ADVICE

After reading this article and exploring resources, have you LMKQLML\PI\aW]IZMZMILaNWZ\PM^MOM\IZQIVKPITTMVOM'*MNWZMyou fully dive in, read these tips from dietician Melissa Doggett on how to maintain a balanced diet.

Tip 1*M N]TTa I_IZM WN _PMZM aW]Z XZW\MQV Q[coming from because the essential proteins you get come from meat. Tip 2

If you choose to cut meat totally from your diet you would need to increase your protein intake by eating items such as beans and nuts.

Tip 4You need protein to survive. Its essential for hair, nails, skin, hemoglobin, among other things.

Tip 6*M[]ZM\W[\QKS\WKITWZQM[ILIa_PMVmonitoring if you have eaten enough food.

Tip 5When becoming a vegetarian, you might not WVTa M`XMZQMVKM XZW\MQV LMKQMVKa J]\ IT[WQZWVLMKQMVKa_PQKPTMIL[\WW\PMZIQTUMV\[such as anemia.

Tip 3

toHappyHelpeet Tabitha Blackwell. Born and raised in North Carolina, she wanted to become a lawyer. Her dream was to help people. After she worked with

low-income kids in Baltimore, however, her life changed. She forgot about law school and began her nonprofit journey. Now, 11 years and 49 states later, she is back to her home state, and she is still helping those in need.

MBY BRUNA SILVA

XX | APRIL 2014

HappyHelp

Regrets? None.Happiness? Plenty.

52 | SUMMER 2014

Imagine: Youre having dinner with friends, youre at home with your family or aW]ZMI\aW]ZX[aKPWTWOQ[\[WNKM;]LLMV-ly, one question pops up in conversation, ;W LW aW] KWV[QLMZ aW]Z[MTN PIXXa';WUMXMWXTM_W]TL[Ia\PI\aM[\PMaLW1Vfact, they consider themselves the happiest XMWXTMQV\PM_WZTL;WUMUQOP\VWLIVLKPIVOM\PM[]JRMK\7\PMZ[_W]TLI^WQL\PMquestion not because they are not happy, but because they dont know exactly what PIXXQVM[[Q[

When Tabitha Blackwell, the executive LQZMK\WZWN IVWVXZW\WZOIVQbI\QWVKITTMLChapel Hill-Carrboro Youth Forward, is asked if she considers herself a happy per-[WV[PMLWM[V\PM[Q\I\MI\ITTAM[1LW[PM[Ia[_Q\PKWVLMVKM

Blackwell goes on to say that doing OWWLQVPMZKWUU]VQ\aQV7ZIVOM+W]V\a6WZ\P+IZWTQVILMVQ\MTaUISM[PMZPIX-py, but, more than that, the simple decision that she made a couple of years ago, the decision to come back to North Carolina IN\MZ aMIZ[ WN TQ^QVO QV?I[PQVO\WV,+UISM[PMZM^MVPIXXQMZ

0WUM UISM[ UM PIXXa *TIKS_MTT[Ia[)VL1O]M[[\PI\\WJMPIXXaaW]R][\PI^M\WVL\PM\PQVO[\PI\UISMaW]PIX-Xa_PI\M^MZIVL_PMZM^MZ\PMaIZM

WORKING WITH KIDS IN BALTIMORE: THE TURNING POINT IN HER CAREER

Everything started in the summer of *TIKS_MTT PIL R][\ VQ[PML KWTTMOM;PM _I[ aMIZ[ WTL IVL PIL I XZMTI_LMOZMMNZWU+IUXJMTT=VQ^MZ[Q\aQVPIVLHer plan, which she had formed when she was a kid growing up in Roxboro, a little \WJIKKW NIK\WZa \W_V QV6WZ\P+IZWTQVIwas to go to law school, become a lawyer IVL PMTX XMWXTM *]\ JMNWZM [PM X]Z[]MLthat goal, she decided to take a year off and RWQVML)UMZQ+WZX[

Blackwell packed her things and went to Baltimore, Maryland, to work with 30 low-income kids, between the ages of 9 and

_PW_MZMQV\PM[WKQIT_WZS[a[\MU,W-ing this gave her experience with the legal

side of the system, but she also got to see \PMQUXWZ\IVKMWN VWVXZW\OZW]X[

Blackwell saw lawyers reach out to vol-unteers and ask, Hey, can you help them OM\NWWL'

SPARK | 53

)[\PM_MMS[XI[[MLIVL*TIKS_MTTKWV-tinued to work with the kids, the idea of be-coming a lawyer did not seem as attractive I[Q\LQLJMNWZMPMZM`XMZQMVKMQV*IT\QUWZM

Working there, with those kids, changed UaTQNM*TIKS_MTT[Ia[-TM^MVaMIZ[PI^MXI[[MLJaIVL1[\QTTZMUMUJMZ\PMU

There is no law school degree hanging WV *TIKS_MTT[ WNKM_ITT J]\ PMZ XTIV Q[VW\ITTOWVM

1PMTXXMWXTMM^MZaLIaIVL1IU[]ZM\PI\1PMTXUWZMJa_WZSQVO_Q\PVWVXZW\[\PIV1_W]TLQN 1PILJMKWUMITI_aMZ

FROM BUILDING PLAYGROUNDS TO GIVING BOOKS, SHE HAS DONE IT ALL

THE DECISION OF COMING BACK TO NORTH CAROLINA

Traveling across the country to do her job never seemed to bother Blackwell, but she always had the desire to go back to 6WZ\P+IZWTQVIWVMLIa

Besides the fact that North Carolina is \PM OZMI\M[\ [\I\M WN ITT [PM [Ia[_Q\P IOZQV1_IV\ML\WKWUMPWUMJMKI][M1NMT\\PI\1KW]TLLW[WUMOZMI\\PQVO[PMZM

Because of that dream, she kept an eye out, looking for challenging opportunities QV\PM[\I\M_PMZM[PM_I[JWZVIVLZIQ[ML

1 PIL OZMI\ RWJ[ [W 1 LQLV\ _IV\ \WTMI^MNWZIVa\PQVOaW]SVW_'

Thats when the job at the Chapel 0QTT+IZZJWZWAW]\P.WZ_IZLKIUM]X

OPTIMISMMichaelJ. Fox

Determinedtooutfox

Parkinsons.

OPTIMISMMichaelJ. Fox

Determinedtooutfox

Parkinsons.

OPTIMISMMichaelJ. Fox

Determinedtooutfox

Parkinsons.

The LEGO MovieThe LEGO Movie is an incredible

animated feat that manages to provide not only a meaningful story, but also laughs aplenty. The story follows Emmet, played by the always-lovable Chris Pratt, who

lives under the assumption that he is nothing more than ordinary. However,

hes mistaken for the hero who has the key to saving the world, and Emmet is wholly underprepared. Emmet must discover his inner hero, all while being surrounded by pop cultures greatest superheroes. Pratt is accompanied on this epic quest by an all-star cast of voice actors including Elizabeth Banks, Will Ferrell and Morgan Freeman. The LEGO Movie proves that everyone has the ability to be extraordinary. This fantastic animated comedy can be enjoyed by all ages. Photo by Warner Bros. Pictures/MCT

ENTERTAINMENT

One Last Thing Before I GoJonathan Tropper has yet again brought another beautiful

and painful family drama to the fold. One Last Thing Before I Go is a poignant story of redemption.

Drew Silver is at the worst stage of his life: Hes TQ^QVOWIUWUMV\IZaWVMPQ\_WVLMZNZWU

his younger days in his quest to become a rock legend, and the only reaction he

receives from his ex-wife and Princeton-bound daughter is pity. Silver never

reached his own personal apex, and he allowed his life and NIUQTa\W[]MZ;W_PMVPMVMML[ITQNM[I^QVOPMIZ\[]ZOMZahe turns it down. Instead, he uses his ticking time bomb to focus on becoming a better father and live each moment as if its his last, literally. The best aspect of Troppers latest novel is that his characters are incredibly likable even in their own fallibility and thats what makes them so relatable to readers. One Last Thing Before I Go is a charming and compelling tale that proves that everyones worth a second chance. Photo by Google images

Mini reviewsA MOVIE, A TV SHOW, AND A NOVEL BY AVERY THOMPSON

About a Boy7^MZ aMIZ[ IN\MZ \PM JMTW^ML TUadaptation starring Hugh Grant and Nicholas Hoult, About A Boy returns to the small screen. David Walton stars as Will Freeman, a successful songwriter and careful bachelor who befriends Marcus, played by Benjamin Stockham, IV I_S_IZL aW]VO UQ[\ _PW UW^M[next door. Through their prospective journeys toward maturity, Will and Marcus have a lot to learn from each other. In this adventure comes a quirky and genuine comedy thats a breath of fresh air in the world of television. The chemistry between Walton and ;\WKSPIUQ[MWZ\TM[[ LM[XQ\M\PMIOMLQMZMVKM\PMZMQ[VW[PWZ\IOMof wit between the two. With a whimsical and delightful script along with convincing chemistry of the two leads, About A Boy is the most promising comedy (and bromance) of 2014. Photo by Jordin Althaus/NBC

SPARK | 57

ENTERTAINMENT

Steel Magnolias (1989) This one pleasantly shocked us. Many

polltakers cited this as their top feel-good movie. While we understand the overwhelming warmth of

friendship surrounding this movie, it doesnt lessen the hurt of watching MLynns (Sally Field) daughter Shelby (Julia Roberts) tragically pass. However, points are made up for Dolly Partons hair and Shirley MacLaines epic portrayal of Ouiser.

10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

To fall in love or not to fall in love? That is the question. Over the years, \PQ[\MMVTUILIX\I\QWVWN ?QTTQIU

Shakespeares The Taming of the Shrew has become a classic. Watching Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles verbally spar at each other in the name of love never gets old. This clever comedy about teenage love isnt sappy whatsoever and rivals the 1980s classic The Breakfast Club.

Remember The Titans (2000)

Before there was Friday Night Lights, there was Remember the

58 | SUMMER 2014

THE DEFINITIVE LIST OF 2014S MOST DEVOTED FANDOMS BY AVERY THOMPSONWatching television isnt just a personal thing anymore. Most popular television shows have a collective kingdom of fans where fans can LQ[K][[LMJI\MIVLOP\W^MZ_PW[PW]TLJMTWVO_Q\P_PWU0MZMIZMINM_WN \PMUW[\LM^W\MLNIVJI[M[QV"

Game of Thrones.IKMJWWS"!TQSM[.IVK\QWVVM\" 3Twitter: @GameOfThrones NWTTW_MZ[Time/Network: Sundays 9/8c on HBONickname/Slogan: Winter is ComingRating on IMDb: 9.5

GleeFacebook: 24,295,442 likes.IVK\QWVVM\"3Twitter: @GLEEonFOX NWTTW_MZ[Time/Network: Tuesdays KWV.7@Nickname/Slogan: Gleeks:I\QVOWV15,J"!

Sherlock.IKMJWWS"! TQSM[.IVK\QWVVM\"3Twitter: @BBCOneTime/Network: 9/8c on PBS (In the U.S.)Nickname/Slogan: Sherlockians:I\QVOWV15,J"!

The Vampire Diaries.IKMJWWS" !!TQSM[.IVK\QWVVM\"3Twitter: @cwtvd !!NWTTW_MZ[Time/Network: Thursdays KWV

7KH0$LQ7HFKQRORJ\DQG&RPPXQLFDWLRQ0$7&RHUVDULJRURXVXQLTXHFXUULFXOXPWKDWHQDEOHVFRPPXQLFDWRUVWRDGGUHVVWKHFKDOOHQJHVDQGRSSRUWXQLWLHVSRVHGE\FKDQJLQJWHFKQRORJLHV0$7&VWXGHQWVWDNHRQOLQHFRXUVHZRUNSDUWWLPHFRPSOHWLQJWKHGHJUHHLQWZRDQGDKDOI\HDUV7KURXJKFRXUVHVVXFKDV

:ULWLQJIRU'LJLWDO0HGLD

1HZ0HGLDDQG6RFLHW\

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8VDELOWLW\DQG0XOWLPHGLD'HVLJQDQG

/HDGHUVKLSLQ'LJLWDO0HGLD(FRQRPLFV

VWXGHQWVJDLQVNLOOVWUDLQLQJDQGDQDO\WLFDOWKLQNLQJWKDWZLOOQRWRQO\LQIRUPDQGHQKDQFHFDUHHUVEXWWUDQVIRUPEXVLQHVVSUDFWLFHVLQWKHHYROYLQJGLJLWDOHQYLURQPHQW7KH0$7&SUHSDUHVFXUUHQWDQGDVSLULQJPDQDJHUVIRUOHDGHUVKLSSRVLWLRQVLQMRXUQDOLVPDGYHUWLVLQJSXEOLFUHODWLRQVGDWDYLVXDOL]DWLRQDQGPXOWLPHGLD

7KH81&-6FKRROVQHZO\GHYHORSHG0DVWHURI$UWVLQ7HFKQRORJ\DQG&RPPXQLFDWLRQLVIRUMRXUQDOLVWVDQGRWKHUFRPPXQLFDWLRQSURIHVVLRQDOVZKRDUHVHDUFKLQJIRUH[LEOH\HWFKDOOHQJLQJZD\VWRUHWRROIRUQHZPHGLD

PDWFMRPFXQFHGX

An innovative masters degree in digital media delivered online by the acclaimed UNC J-school.

The ability to live here (in Manhattan) and do what I do (public relations) but also be able to get online and learn with so many other people has really been a tremendous experience.

-CEO/managing director, gobal health communications group

XX

XX

XX

XX

XX

Time Management Apps

Messages Time Planner Safari Calendar

My Minutes Camera Weather Schedule

Clock A:Tracker Reminders Organize: Me

Notes Contacts Calculator Settings

Phone Mail App Store Music

Carrier LTE 4:06 PM 97%

ne of the ways to increase your positivity is being able to manage your time and plan your daily schedule. Traditionally, this has been done with planners, but since people have more technology on

hand, its time to see how you can use your iPhone to better manage your time and have a less hectic life. Lets \ISMITWWSI\^MXTIVVQVOIVL\QUMUIVIOMUMV\IXX[[W\PI\aW]KIVPI^MIVQLMIWN _PI\_WZS[IVL_PI\LWM[V\IVLJMIJTM\WKPWW[MWVM\PI\\[aW]ZVMML[IVLXMZ[WVITQ\a6W\M"MIKPZI\QVOQ[W]\NW]ZXW[[QJTM[\IZ[

My Minutes: )T\PW]OP\PQ[Q[\PM[QUXTM[\IXXWN ITT^MZM^QM_MLQ\ZMY]QZM[I!!Q

Schedule Planner: Some people may prefer using an electronic planner that has a similar feel to that of a paper planner. This perfectly describes Schedule Planner. It certainly feels like a planner, since the primary graphics color is brown. Unlike real planners, though, this does allow you to measure productivity and to easily compare what you plan on doing with what you actually do. There is also a pretty good calendar, and just like Time Planner, Schedule Planner does PI^MIV]XOZILM^MZ[QWV\PI\Q[!!

SPARK | 63

BY DALISHA STURDIVANT

FOR INSTANCE: PICTURE THIS

((),$/) $-!%+() $/$+)*" $"% % &(%"#) ** - $%+$*( "/ ! * $-) % XZMOVIVKa[WUMQ[[]M[KWUMM`XMK\MLTa_PQTMW\PMZ[KI\KPaW]W+(*,(*)#/ * )$("/ #&%)) "*%+""/&(&(%(-*" )

%*%""*.*(#%&* # )*)%+**( *)$)#*%,*%*""/%+**$ *(* "&"$$ $$%()&%$*$%+)" , $- """"%-/%+*%)&* $, *" - ""&&$* $)- "" "$/%+- """%)%$*(%"%) %$""/

+* %$1*-%((/-%((/ $ ) *( #$*" *% /%+( "* $"*1)%$)* *")%%)$1*"&$)*&(!""$)/%+*%*(*/%+()" -$" )& $)%+*% %$*(%"$$%+()/%+*%*!,$*% )%#* $**/%+$,%#&"*#)*(/%,(/%+(%+*"%%!

%/%+ "**)*/%+)&$*%+())*+/ $%(*1)-1,""$*($)*% #%& $(%+$*%+)(/%+(!/)$*%*#""%+1,$ $*%+)"%$$%+

$%(*%)% /%+-%-%(!#%(*$%+()* )-!$ )* ""#$ *% %%! $$( %( /%+( )&%+) $ ! ) /%+)(,$-(+*) $** )+$" !"/&(&)#))%(& +(- ""%

*/%+%%)*%%*%"", *" 1)# )%(*+$)- ""+&\WaW]

XX | APRIL 2014

A Packing Guidefor people who hate to pack

BY BRUNA SILVAIllustrations by Gabrielle Diepenbrock

SPARK | 65

verything has a

downside. Packing

(and unpacking

lets not forget about

this amazing task)

is the downside of

traveling. Some people

complain that they pack too much stuff

(and wear just half of it), some complain

that theres never enough space in the

suitcase, and some that its impossible not

to forget something. I cant deny that I

complain about all of those things too.

1st Stage

Shoes: Put them in shoe bags and lay

them in the bottom of your suitcase so

they dont weigh down on your clothes and

wrinkle them

Jackets and coats: As they are heavy,

fold them and lay them in the bottom with

the shoes

2nd Stage

Rolled clothes: By rolling your clothes

you prevent wrinkles and save space. You

can roll pants, sweaters, T-shirts, dresses,

skirts and shorts

Underwear and bathing suits: Fold

them and put them in a small zipper bag

*ZI["3MMX\PMUQV[PIXMJa[\]NVO\PMUwith socks and tights

3rd StagePajamas: Leave them on top, as youre

going to use them as soon as you arrive

Cosmetic bags and toiletries: These are the

last items that you should pack. Place them

on top of everything else

Carry-on-Extra clothes: just in case of some

unforeseen event

-Passport and copies of your documents

-Wallet: credit cards, cash and ID

-Paper and pen: You never know when

your phone will die, so its good to have

something to take notes the old-fashioned

way

-Phone + phone charger + ear buds

-Mini wash bag for the essentials:

pack toothbrush, mini toothpaste,

make-up basics, wipes, deodorant and

headache/nausea medicine

-A small umbrella: because you cant

always trust weather forecasts

-Pocket dictionary: for those going to a

non-English-speaking country

-A book or magazine: just to have

something to entertain yourself while

_IQ\QVONWZQOP\[

is it financially sustainable?does anyone need this?

can it be done?

these questions and moreanswered each semester at

R E E S E N E W S L A B . O R G

68 | SUMMER 2014

So You Think You Cant Cook?BY MO YAN ESTHER YU

As Julia Child said, careful cooking is love, but we know you are too busy to cook! We are offering quick, easy, on-the-go recipes. This way, you can make homemade food while still having time for, well, everything.

Cookie Salad

We probably shouldnt call it salad since it has no greens, but it is a delicious treat for all. Mix together a pack of instant vanilla X]LLQVO IVL K]X WN J]\\MZUQTS NZ]Q\ IVL IJW]\ ^M \W crushed cookies. Indulge and dig in!

Homemade Yogurt Popsicles

They are the best healthy snacks under the sun in summer, and they are ridiculously easy to make! All you need is fruit, yogurt and some paper cups. Put two small ripe bananas, 2 tablespoons of honey, 2 cups of yogurt and 1 cup of blueberries in a blender and process until smooth. Divide the mixture evenly into cups, freeze them for three hours until frozen solid. Then, share with family and friends!

Banana Oatmeal

This is going to be the best breakfast to start your day! Pour half a cup of WI\UMITIVLUQTSQV\WIU]OXTIKMQ\QV\PMUQKZW_I^MNWZ![MKWVL[[TQKMup your banana, mix and serve! This is the easiest way to kick-start your Monday morning and energize you throughout the day!

SPARK | 69

Korean Kimchi Pancake

6MML[WUM\PQVO\W[XQKM]X\PMLIa'

SPARK | 71

BY NIDHI SINGHKarishma Lalchandanis life is

based on a lie. Well, a good one that is. The 20-year-old junior at the

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill remembers developing

an interest for art at age 3, when her mother told her something that

wasnt entirely true. I wanted to be just like my mom because I thought she was an artist, she said.

Lalchandanis mother and father actually owned a formal clothing store in their hometown.

Years later, Lalchandanis love for art has not faded.

After she posted pictures of her artwork on social media sites such as Facebook and Instagram, Lalchandanis art grew popular throughout the Chapel Hill community as more and more people recognized her creativity and talent. Soon, she was receiving a number of requests for paintings, drawings and even

tattoo designs. For one tattoo, I had to

do a rose and a lotus swirling into one, she said. It took me

forever because I didnt know how to start it, but now its one

of my favorites.Lalchandani has even expanded

her business to selling her art on KTW\PQVO0MZZ[\XQMKMWN KTW\PQVO

that has gained popularity was decorated Tar Heels on tank tops. Tar Heels are the symbol for UNC Chapel Hill.

However, starting the new business was not always an easy feat. ?PMV1Z[\LMKQLML\WUISM\PQ[IJ][QVM[[

thing, I started to think of things that I thought would sell, which didnt make me happy, she said. I stopped that within two weeks.

Now, her art and business are slowly growing into something she truly enjoys.

Lalchandani, who is studying psychology, eventually hopes to combine her love for art and her studies in the future.

Art is the most stress-relieving thing ever, she said. If it is so therapeutic for me already, then imagine what it is going to mean for people who are in greater need of therapy.

Eventually, the blooming artist wishes to become a clinical psychologist and use her love for art as a way to help patients in need of rehabilitation or relief. Sometimes people PI^M\ZW]JTMVLQVO\PMZQOP\_WZL[\WM`XZM[[themselves, she says. Swapping words for a canvas and some colors is a way for people to illustrate their true feelings.

For Lalchandani, art has given her a new understanding of what she is capable of doing. She hopes she can give the same inspiration to others that she receives from her activities.

Despite living with a small lie for 10 years of PMZTQNM4ITKPIVLIVQVL[\PMJQOOM[\[]XXWZ\from her parents. Whether it is through their funding or their opinions, she cant continue pursuing her passion without a little input from her biggest critic: her father.

Basically, every time I draw something, the person that Im looking forward to showing it to

the most is my dad, she said. If I get a good reaction from him, I know I did a good job.

About the lie that started it all: For 10 years after her mothers light-hearted comment, Lalchandani continued to believe that her mother was an artist. Growing up, she grew inspired from the art she learned from her mother. From a young age, Lalchandani was inspired to create art, whether she was drawing W_MZ[\ZMM[WZIVI_IZL_QVVQVOKTW_V\PI\NIUW][TaP]VOQVIVWNKMJ]QTLQVOQV:W_IVCounty, her home, for a year).

Maybe the lie was a joke, but what began as a small untruth has evolved into a blessing for Lalchandani and for her patients in the future.

Passion?Whats Your

72 | SUMMER 2014

be happy

Dear P

iper,

Our anonymous advice columnist, Piper, dishes out advice that you need to hear but no one wants to tell you. The worlds better off with a little spunk.

Dear Piper,

SPARK | 73

Hi Piper,

Im a freshman in college, and Im faced with the issue of choosing a major. My question is: How can I make such a monu-mental decision while Im so young? What happens if I mess up and pick the wrong thing?

Sincerely, Young and Unsure

Dear Young and Unsure,

Arent we all? No one is ever ready. No one is ever sure. Theres some rule of the universe that states that somewhere, I \PQVS:MUMUJMZPW_aW]\PW]OP\aW]PILM^MZa\PQVOO]ZMLout when you were 15? Then you turn 18 and you realize that your 15-year-old self was incredibly off-base. Then a funny thing happens when you reach 21, and you realize you were an idiot at 18, too. Like, when does that stop? Im not too much older than you, Unsure, but I dont think it does.

?MKMZ\IQVTa_W]TLTW^M\WJMTQM^M_MPI^MQ\ITTO]ZMLW]\but thats when mistakes happen. Certainty is a friend of the fool. We will ourselves into believing were always right as a means of self-preservation because we can never be human, dag gummit. Or, so society says. But certainty, more often than uncertainty, gets in the way of things. How many times have doctors said, Im sure antibiotics will take care of your cough? Thats why our nations bacteria are becoming more resistant to treatment. How UIVa\QUM[PI^MXMWXTM[IQL1U[]ZM1KIVLZQ^MPWUMR][\VMbefore getting into a car accident because they didnt surrender the keys after drinking?

Maybe the narrative of your life wont be about how you went to a top-notch university, chose the exactly, perfectly right major IVLTIVLMLaW]ZLZMIURWJQVIK][PaKWZVMZWNKMQV6M_AWZSCity. Maybe it will. And if youre happy, thats great. Or maybe it will be about how you were totally on track to be a corporate big-wig, but you one day a conversation with a woman on the subway inspired you to drop everything and join the Peace Corps.

I say pick what your gut tells you right now, and go with it. AW]ZO]\SVW_[aW]JM\\MZ\PIVaW]LW+WUM_PI\UIa1N aW]VL\PQVO[IZMV\OWQVO\PM_IaaW]LTQSM\PMU\WUIZSQ\]Xas another chapter in your book. Change your path. Embrace uncertainty, Unsure, because so many people dont, and theyre stuck on the same dang page. There are so many beautiful chap-ters ahead, Unsure. I cant wait for you to see them.

XO, Piper

Dear Piper,

Ive been having sister problems lately. We used to be so close, but now she will barely speak to me. I know shes having problems getting over her ex-boyfriend, but she has completely shut me and \PMZM[\WN UaNIUQTaW]\1U_WZZQMLIJW]\PMZ0W_KIV1`things between us?

Sincerely, Sister/Sister

Dear Sister/Sister,

5aZ[\ZMITPMIZ\JZMISPIXXMVML_PMV1_I[aMIZ[WTLMy boyfriend dumped me on my doorstep with few explanations and fewer apologies three days after I had moved to a new city where I did not know a single soul. It was the loneliest period of my life. Family and friends called constantly. Theyd offer compliments and would criticize my ex in every way imaginable. 1KIV\[\IVLPQU?PI\IVQLQW\\PMaL[IaAW]LM[MZ^M[Wmuch better.

Though they found it easy to hate him, it wasnt an easy task for me. I still loved him, and even now, sometimes those traces of love remain, gnawing at my gut. I blamed circumstance instead of him. I isolated myself from just about everyone as your sister has, Sister. Though you havent elaborated all that much, Im sure youve tried to encourage her with all the words youre feeling in your soul. Trying to be the good sister, maybe youve said some things about this guys less-than-admirable qualities in an effort to help her move on.

AW]KWUMNZWUIXTIKMWN OWWLQV\MV\QWV[;Q[\MZ1SVW_Q\AW]_W]TLV\JM_ZQ\QVO\WUM_Q\P[]KPKIZMQN aW]LQLV\*]\maybe what youre saying isnt what she need to hear right now. No one ever follows the same healing timeline, and its important we give credence to that. The best thing you can do right now is listen. Listen, listen, listen even when she isnt talking. Dont M^MZJMINZIQL\WKPMKSQVJ]\TM\PMZLW\PM\ITSQVOAW]UQOP\JMsurprised by what she has to say.

XO,Piper

ItalianBiology Journalism

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1 Pick a snack food

2 Your friends ask you to go out on a Friday night. You 3 What is your biggest weakness?

A C

heese, wine and crackers.

B Buttery popcorn.

C G

rapes or some other fresh fruit.

D Protein bar.

E H

omem

ade cookies.

F C

hocolate-covered pretzels.

A Politely decline. Youve had a hard

week and would rather stay in alone and

have some me time.

B Come up with an alternative. Maybe

you guys could all do something more

relaxing instead.

C Say yes, please! Youve been looking

forward to this all week. Time to blow off

some steam!

D Say of course, you cant wait to dance

and run around town with your friends!

E Say sure, you heard the new bar down

the road has amazing drinks.

F Immediately go to your closet and think

WN _PI\W]\\KWUJW_QTTUISMaW]TWWS

the most fabulous.

A Too introverted sometimes I need a break

from the real world.B

4 Your ideal vacat

ion would

be

6 Wha

ts yo

ur id

ea o

f a p

erfe

ct d

ate?

7 Pi

ck a

mov

ie g

enre

A Relaxing on

a

serene tropica

l island.

B Seeing a Bro

adway.

show in New Y

ork.

C On a cruise

with all

of your friend

s, livin

it up!

D Camping in

a

national park.

E In Italy, hom

e of

pasta and gela

to.

F Backpacking

across

Europe wh

o knows

what will happ

en?

A A

poetr

y rea

ding

, or s

omew

here

else t

hats

calm

, intim

ate

and

rom

antic

.

B A

classi

c din

ner a

nd a

mov

ie da

te,

best

way t

o get

to kn

ow so

meo

ne.

C Sa

lsa d

ancin

g or a

fun

danc

e clas

s.

Som

ewhe

re liv

ely w

here

you

can

both

cut u

p an

d ge

t loo

se!

D W

alk ar

ound

dow

ntow

n or

go fo

r

a stro

ll on

the b

each

.

E St

ay in

, ord

er C

hine

se fo

od,

eat s

ome i

ce cr

eam

and

just

talk.

F Pl

an so

meth

ing?

How

bor

ing.

I

like t

o live

life o

n th

e edg

e.

A;KQW

ZNIV\I[aU

W^QM

B Ea

ch g

enre

has

its p

erks

.

C)KP

QKSQKS

[WUM\P

QVO

light

, fun

ny a

nd u

plift

ing.

D A

ctio

n m

ovie

or a

thril

ler

the

mor

e su

spen

se th

e be

tter.

E D

id so

meo

ne sa

y po

pcor

n?

F.WZMQOV

TU

5 Peopl

e woul

d desc

ribe y

ou as

A Inte

lligent

and th

oughtfu

l.

B Focu

sed an

d intere

sting.

C Fun

and lig

hthear

ted.

D Athle

tic and

motiva

ted.

E Inno

vative

and ta

lented

.

F Crea

tive an

d free-

spirited

.

Ds: Be active! You are too motivated to let a bad day get you down. Go for a jog or take a walk around town. If its rainy outside, stop by your local gym and take a yoga or dance class. Anything that gets the MVLWZXPQV[W_QVOQ[[]ZM\WZMTQM^M[\ZM[[and make you feel refreshed!

Es: Make something delicious! You love food, and food loves you. Nothing sounds better right now than a hot fudge sundae with extra caramel sauce. Come ]X_Q\PI\I[\aVM_KWVKWK\QWVWZVLIyummy recipe online. If youre running low on ingredients, dont let this hinder you. There are plenty of websites that tell you what you can make with the few ingredients you have. Lets get cooking!

Fs: Be creative! Youre always up for a challenge or a new project. Go on 8QV\MZM[\IVLVL[WUM\PQVO\PI\OM\[\PMKZMI\Q^MR]QKM[W_QVO1N VW\PQVOWVTQVMsparks your interest, just go to an art store and explore. Whether its turning wine glasses into art or accessorizing your phone case, being crafty is a fun distraction from whatever may be going on.

Are you just having one of those days? We all have those days the days where you want to crawl into bed, throw the covers over your head and just quit. Well, good news. Its not too late to turn your day around! Impossible you say? Nope, dont give up yet. Whether you had a bad day at school or fought with your boss, this personality quiz is for you. Find out what easy, fun activity you can do to brighten your day!

SPARK | 75

A World-Changing IdeaIn 1997, the Triad Foundation of Ithaca, N.Y., made a commitment to UNC that was to transform not only the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, but to make a deep imprint on the field itself.

Thanks to the Roy H. Park Fellowships, some 350 professionals have completed their doctoral and masters degrees in the 15 years between the time Dean Richard Cole announced the program and Dean Susan King presided over the 2012 commencement. The fellows, assuming research, teaching and professional posts in news, technology, advertising, web design and public relations are having, as Cole once predicted, a domino effect.

Their restless energy and world-changing ideas are reminiscent of the fellowships namesake. Roy H. Park, a Dobso