Access Magazine | Spring 2021

Issue No. 4

Spring 2021

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Reset & Reflect

Reset & Reflect

M a g a z i n e ACcess team Editor-In-Chief Managing Editor Copy Editor Lead Designer Designers Social Media Director Social Media Team

Photography Director Photographers Writers

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About Candace Farmer Elsa Martinez Castro Sierra Williams Kylie Harrop-St. John Kah Mun Chia Gia Pham Sam Saffold Luca Ferrieri Cameron Henry Saba Khorasani Travis Wynn Cameron Henry Christine Nguyen Elsa Martinez Castro Kah Mun Chia Candace Farmer Luca Ferrieri Saba Khorasani Tyler Skolnick Brian So Chris Padilla Joe Stiglich May 2021

Access Magazine is a student-run publication at San Jose State University. It is conceptualized, edited, designed, published and distributed by students at the end of the semester. Our goal is to write stories for our students and our community on topics that are important, informative, educational, and entertaining. Our team comprises creative thinkers and passionate writers who every semester strive to produce an unforgettable issue.

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Special Thanks Joe Stiglich, Dona Nichols, Phylis West Johnson, San Jose State University, Todd and the team at Casey Printing and our families, friends, and readers who have been exceedingly patient and supportive as we navigate through a unique period in time.

On the cover SJSU Senior Kah Mun Chia is ready to reset after reflecting back on the events that occurred during the last 18 months. Photography by Travis Wynn.

Candace Farmer headshot photo by Travis Wynn.

Back

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photography

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Editors Note.

Dear readers,

We’ve been challenged in countless ways over the course of the last year, our lives forever changed while we adjusted to a new normal. We stayed indoors, spent two semesters online and tried not to drive ourselves crazy -- some being more successful than others. While we’ve experienced many losses and seemingly unexplainable events, there is a new horizon.

Like many others, I refused to believe that all 2020 had to offer was doom and gloom. Instead, it provided a chance for us to reflect on where we’ve been and take the necessary action to get us to where we want to go. For some, it meant saying goodbye.

For others, it meant making additions, or even an overall change of priorities -- but all actions we took were necessary for survival. Now that we have survived, how will we thrive? As individuals and a campus community, we’ve been able to push through the worst of times together: An ongoing pandemic, political turmoil and all things in between. Now, it’s time to take a step back and decide where we want to go from here.

What have we learned about ourselves and the way we view life now that we’re seeing a sense of normalcy? These are the questions writers from the

spring 2021 edition of Access Magazine will answer in the stories that follow. I would like to thank my fellow editors, writers, photographers, and the design and social media teams for their hard work and dedication throughout the entire semester, despite the world’s ongoing challenges, to make a beautiful issue. I would also like to thank our instructor Joe Stiglich for his continuous support throughout the semester and for giving me the amazing opportunity to serve as the editor-in-chief. And lastly, I would like to thank my family and friends for their words of encouragement as I navigated this role my senior year. It was truly a privilege and honor to serve and be part of university history.

I hope those reading find this issue inspiring, uplifting and can reflect on their own experiences throughout the pandemic -- and hopefully see a bright future ahead.

Sincerely,

Candace Farmer, Editor-In-Chief may 2021

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Contents

Students look forward to life on campus after the pandemic.

When we rise

SJSU community members reflect on their efforts to seek social and political change.

Pandemiquette A playful guide on adapting pandemic etiquette.

Lights. Camera. Action.

SJSU transfer student finds a creative way to blend his passions while staying socially distanced.

Coping Skills

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Windows to our world

A first-person perspective from a staff writer focusing on his challenges with mental health.

Students reflect on things they missed about campus life through their “five senses”.

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The Power of Plants

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Journaling

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“Post ” Pandemic Life

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Bay Area residents share how plants have provided a new source of comfort during hard times.

SJSU student details how journaling empowers her.

Outdoor Dining Restaurant owners try to move forward after COVID-19.

Working out the pandemic Bay Area residents prioritize their fitness at home.

Book Reviews

Access staff members recommend their favorite summer reads. may 2021

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By Kah Mun Chia

“Post”

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D

ay by day, the “post” pandemic life we have been dreaming about is slowly becoming reality.

Vaccinations are well underway, and there is no denying that everyday life has changed.

So, what will that “post” pandemic reality look like?

San Jose State is expected to reopen campus and resume hybrid-model classes in the Fall semester, so this question is probably lingering on the minds of students, faculty and staff alike.

Paulina Trans, a 19-year-old business finance major studying at SJSU, is one such person.

“I want things to go back to the way they were but I know it’ll take time, maybe even years to be completely back to normal,” Trans said. “But I look forward to a brighter future.”

She prefers having classes in-person rather than online because it has affected the way she studies and learns as a student.

“I have been remote ever since last March and

Photo courtesy of Kevin Dam

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I haven’t been able to be in contact with many people,” Trans said. With everything online, it has certainly made it harder for her to connect with classmates and instructors through the screen of her computer.

After all, speaking to grids of images on the screen while in the loud silence of one’s bedroom never feels the same as speaking to others in person.

While the pandemic brought a lot of loneliness, stress and uncertainty, Trans was able to flourish and sharpen her skills. Over the course of the past year, Trans started a business selling her designs on stickers and apparel.

“I started an e-commerce [business] over the pandemic initially as a creative outlet but it took a turn into a learning experience and self-development type of situation,” Trans said. This experience has taught her a lot about conducting business rather than just learning about it in class.

“It helped me learn a lot about real-life business situations and gave me some experience and insight on how to approach them,” Trans said. For instance, she learned how to research online trends based on consumer shopping preferences.

Trans sold her designs on RedBubble, an on-

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Photo courtesy of Steven Nguyen

line marketplace, but has recently changed to another social commerce platform called Teespring.

Trans expressed her interest in continuing this work even when school reopens in fall but said it would be subject to her schedule.

Like many, she is excited to get back on campus after a long year away, especially with the added measure of vaccinations.

“I think the vaccine is the next step, but it’s definitely not the end,” said Trans. “We still need to take precautions and be safe.”

She also hopes that there will not be any effects from the vaccines in the long run. Some students, on the other hand, aren’t as interested in in-person classes.

“San Jose State, even though you reopened, I ain’t leaving my house,“ said Steven Nguyen, a 21-year-old communications junior at SJSU.

Students like Nguyen question the safety of such a decision. His worry makes sense. With students coming in from varying states, it would be hard to tell who has gotten the vaccine and who has not.

However, the CSU office has recently announced that it intends to require students coming on campus to be vaccinated against COVID-19. In addition to that, San Jose State has announced that precautions against the coronavirus will still be in place on campus.

Nguyen said he thinks that some of the precautions that have become the norm during this pandemic

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should still be practiced “post” pandemic, like social distancing and wearing masks.

“As long as we [are] responsible with our health, we take care of ourselves, we have to eat well, we have to be fit and in good shape,” Ngyuen said.

“And also we have to protect ourselves.”

Aside from being a student at SJSU, Nguyen is also a church school teacher and is looking forward to the prospect of finally safely meeting his students in person again after a long year of lockdowns.

Nguyen has been a church school teacher at the Our Lady of La Vang parish for 3 years now, where he is the youngest church school teacher at the parish. He teaches mostly elementary and middle school students.

“...The experience though, I really enjoy either way, physical or online,” Ngyuen said. “But now since COVID has been really a big downfall of 2020, it’s much safer to do online.”

He said that although vaccinated students can technically come for in-person lessons, he prefers to stay online to be fair until all his students are able to be vaccinated.

Nguyen isn’t the only one who thinks staying online is safer.

Marketing major Kevin Dam, 21, shares the same sentiment.

“I would rather make sure and ensure that everyone is vaccinated before any in-person activities continue,” said Dam.

He also said that he would prefer that schools

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Screenshots courtesy of Paulina Trans

resume in-person activities next year just to be safe.

However, Dam is still excited to be able to be on campus again.

“Those long periods of time, they do add up,” said Dam. “I still need that social stimulus.”

Before the pandemic hit, he would be doing something different every weekend with friends. When lockdowns started, he was strict with his quarantine and stayed home all the time, resulting in him finding a new passion: keyboards.

“I found myself behind my desk and my monitor more than ever,” said Dam.

With extended amounts of time working at his desk, Dam realized that he wanted to improve the quality of the keyboard he was using, which led him down a rabbit hole of keyboard accessories. He plans on starting a business dedicated to designing and sell-

ing mechanical keyboards, parts and accessories.

So while Dam didn’t enjoy the pandemic, he was certainly productive during the past year.

“I don’t think that vaccines are the end of the pandemic,” said Dam. “Like vaccines are only a step towards curbing the effects of the pandemic.”

Dam said he believes that rather than returning to how things were before, society is going to have to adjust to a new norm. While precautions like social distancing and wearing masks might not stay forever, there will be more awareness of public and personal hygiene.

Photos courtesy of Kevin Dam, Steven Nguyen and Paulina Trans Design by Kylie Harrop-St. John

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Persevering through change

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WHEN WE

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RISE

By CANDACE FARMER o matter your political party or who you voted for in the past two elections, it’s abundantly clear that our country has never been more divided and drenched with pain. Our leadership was unreliable and daily breaking news events became numbing.

We didn’t just question those in power -- for some, it was family members, friends, co-workers or even next-door neighbors. Flags and slogans could now carry a hidden meaning. Distrust and blind allegiance were encouraged and reinforced in ways we’ve never seen before. Politicians were no longer afraid to show the dirty tricks hidden up their sleeves -- all during a pandemic.

Generations of people across the country who had never cast a single vote before showed out in numbers for the 2020 presidential election, putting an end to the Trump era. And while the damage from his presidency is far from over, millions of Americans broke voting records in the U.S. seeking change.

Along with change, came protests. Unlawful killings of Black Americans sparked months of protests in cities throughout the U.S. during the summer of 2020. George Perry Floyd Jr., whose neck and back were knelt on by a Minneapolis police officer for 9 minutes, 29 seconds while he was suffocating to death. Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old African Ameri-

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can medical worker who was shot six times in her own home by Louisville police who entered on a no-knock warrant. Ahmaud Arbery, who was fatally shot while jogging in Glynn County, Georgia. They are recent victim faces in the Black Lives Matter movement and a representation of unjust history.

San Jose State graphic design major, Jasmine Dator, 21, was one of the many SJSU students who participated in protests throughout last summer.

“It is emotionally draining but I am invested because I wanted to be and had to be,” said Dator.

For Dator, allyship came naturally. She is an active member of the campus community, first designing flyers for KSJS, the university’s year-round radio station. From there, she transitioned her way into the MOSAIC Cross-Cultural Center.

“I was inspired by art I saw on flyers in the student union, by my friend [and now co-worker] Erica during my junior year,” said Dator.

Dator is the first social media coordinator for MOSAIC, a diverse “safe haven” for students on campus whose mission is to provide a safe and welcoming environment for students of all backgrounds.

Along with attending virtual open mics during the pandemic, Dator has used her graphic design skills to promote information and events on social media through MOSAIC supporting POC, LGBTQIA and DACA students.

A sense of obligation was the overarching theme for individuals, communities and surprisingly

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businesses during a wave of Black Lives Matter protests. Allyship was a big topic of discussion, emphasizing that those who weren’t members of the Black community speak out and show support. For many people, it was an eye-opener that allyship was just as, if not more significant, in the fight for equality.

Companies such as Target, Etsy and Nike, are a few of the thousands of corporations and small businesses who stood in solidarity with the Black community through messages and advertisements, as well as donations to Black organizations during a wave of police brutality.

With allyship came voting. The momentum from the Black Lives Matter movement caused a shift in voting turnout.

“Government isn’t something you can opt-out of”

According to Pew Research, Americans cast 158.4 million votes in the 2020 election, which is more than six in 10 people of voting age and twothirds of the eligible voting population.

Voting was encouraged across all outlets, especially on social media platforms urging younger voters and older adults who never voted before to become registered and participate in the upcoming elections.

SJSU political science alumna Rawabi Hamid, 24, stressed the importance of voting. For the 2020 election, Hamid opted to vote by mail.

“Government isn’t something you can opt-out of,” said Hamid. “I’m pretty privileged, but I want to speak for those who can’t.”

Hamid recalled one of her former professors explaining to her class that the only way to see real change was through voting, especially in local and state elections. Voting is not only important on an individual level, but also for the greater good -- a point that was made through advertisements during the past election.

Strong voter turnout was seen in the race for U.S. Senate in Georgia when Sen. Jon Ossoff and Sen.

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Raphael Warnock won in a close race over Republicans David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, who were both up for re-election. This win caused a 50/50 split between Democrats and Republicans in the Senate leaving Vice President Kamala Harris as the tie-breaker, thus giving power to Democrats.

Georgia surpassed its voting record history, accounting for four million votes in the 2020 election, according to Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.

Georgia turning to a blue state can be accredited to the larger turnout of Black voters in Atlanta.

However, even with progress, Hamid knows that the government is no perfect system.

“The process, in general, is destructive,” said Hamid. “You don’t know the effects of policies until it’s in play, and usually it will be beneficial for one group but it can completely devastate another.”

This is a problem for the U.S., where there are both racial and socioeconomic disparities that are engraved in the construction of government from the highest to lowest levels. Hamid believes in an ideal world, the playing field would be 100 percent equal, but with America’s dark history it’s more than likely impossible.

Many political activists from the Civil Rights Era showed support and encouraged a continued fight for equality during the summer protests.

SJSU senior psychology major Réla Duncan attended two protests, one on Juneteenth at the Port of Oakland where political activist Angela Davis attended as a guest speaker. Following this, protestors marched through downtown Oakland to the city’s police department.

She attended this protest with Dator, a close friend.

As an African American woman, Duncan went through a series of emotions. While she was in shock and in disbelief of the continued mistreatment of Black Americans, she wasn’t surprised.

“During the BLM protests, I remember feeling overwhelmed,” said Duncan. “There was definitely this sadness I felt and anger stirring up inside of me.”

Duncan and her family talked openly about the ongoing injustices towards their community. Despite her sadness and anger, Duncan appreciated the allyship from protestors of other ethnic backgrounds that showed solidarity.

“I was fed up but happy to see hundreds of

Jasmine Dator poses for a self-portrait

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Inclusive flyers designed by Jasmine Dator for SJSU MOSAIC

other people fed up too,” said Duncan.

Like many in the millennial and Gen Z generation, Dator stayed up-to-date with occurring events with the help of social media.

But there were downsides.

With screen time being a requirement for her education and work, she had to learn how to find a balance between staying informed while setting boundaries for herself and her mental health.

“Making things to look forward to throughout the day like going for a walk or watering my plants to recenter myself is important,” said Dator.

These small boundaries became big things amidst a time of turmoil. Dator also found solace within the extended campus community.

“MOSAIC really helped me process what was going on,” said Dator.

And as a Filipina woman, increased hate crimes against Asians following COVID-19 has been another source of anxiety for her amidst the pandemic.

The FBI warned at the start of the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. to expect a surge in hate crimes against people of Asian descent. This was following former President Trump’s tweet, on his now banned account, referring to COVID-19 as the “Chinese Virus” on March 16, 2020.

Since then, there has been a rise in attacks against Asian Americans across the country, including

the mass shooting at two spas in Atlanta, Georgia, killing eight people, six of whom were women of Asian descent.

“My heart dropped,” said Dator. “I found myself being paranoid in public.”

While the process is ongoing, Dator is learning how to navigate this stress and violence towards the Asian community through historical reading, hobbies and attending online safe spaces that empower her and others in the Asian community.

Hopefully, one day, we can live in a world where people no longer have to process this kind of trauma.

The unjust treatment of people of color and Black Americans is perplexing, jaw-dropping, evil and unfortunately rooted in American history. However, with the rise of social justice movements during the pandemic, more people are willing to speak out against these issues than ever before.

There is still so much work to be done in the fight for equality. But, 2020 showed us the importance of putting your foot down -- and that there is strength in numbers.

Photos courtesy of Jasmine Dator Flag cover photo by Slon Pics / Freepik Design by Kah Mun Chia

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Pandemiquette

Etiquette in the era of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has been life-altering in many ways and we’ve all had to adapt.

Here are some new rules of engagement to help make sure you avoid any faux pas.

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By Chris Padilla Zoom Don’t be tardy!

People will definitely notice when you’re late.

Social Distancing With social distancing, more is more. If you’re not sure of the distance, err on the side of caution and stay further away. You can only be safer in doing so.

Cameras on! Yes, it’s inconvenient and you might have to clean up a bit, but looking at each others’ faces is valuable in communication.

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Wear a mask in public spaces. Duh. Most places don’t allow you to enter if you’re not wearing a mask anyway.

Don’t look like a mess. This is especially important for business meetings and the like. You only have to look good from the waist up, but...

Don’t be a Chatty Cathy at the checkout line. The cashier wasn’t interested in your life story even before the pandemic started, so they definitely don’t want to listen to you now with the possibility of infection.

...wear pants. They don’t have to be super nice, but you don’t want to be bare-ass or in your undies if you have to stand up.

Deliveries

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Tip generously. It’s especially true now that delivery drivers are providing a valuable service which means you’re not out and about risking catching the ‘rona.

Keep your mic muted. One errant mic can disrupt a whole meeting and you may just find yourself getting the boot.

Keep your distance. It’s the whole point. If it’s available as an option, just have them drop the food off at your door. You can thank them if you like, but from far away.

Light yourself decently. You don’t need to be as well lit as your favorite YouTuber, but have at least two lights on you from two different directions so you don’t look like a zombie.

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Design by Kylie Harrop-St. John

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LIGHTS. CAMERA. ACTION.

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of moving cars as half of his body hangs out of the window of another car. This is the way he gets his best action shot. hen it comes to social distancing, some

Medina sits in the passenger seat of his 2020 might say they want the six-feet distance stick shift Honda Civic SI as his cousin, Alex Guzrule to stay even after COVID-19 is ‘gone’. man, drives the speed limit of the location to get the However, there is a lot people can do while staying right shot. The car being photographed normally socially distanced and still enjoy their daily life. drives five miles per hour less than Medina’s car.

Not only are there new innovative ways to

“I honestly would feel scared at first but then work, but also I got used to the to have fun. Briwind and the thrill, an Medina, a San and learned to Jose State transfer I honestly would feel scared at focus the shot and student majoring first but then I got used to the control my arm in psychology, has and body sticking found new ways wind and the thrill, and learned out of a moving to use photograto focus the shot and control car, ” Medina said. phy in a pandemic.

Guzman at Medina has my arm and body sticking out of tends Harbor High had a passion for a moving car and will be gradfootball since his uating this May. early years in high Medina first asked school, serving as him to start drivcaptain his senior year at Harbor High School in Santa Cruz. ing in May 2020. Medina was the first person to teach

He continued onto Cabrillo College in Aptos, Guzman how to drive a stick shift. but unfortunately had to quit football because of a

“He’s a great role model and he works hard. wrist injury.

He takes his passion for photography seriously. Not

Along with football, Medina has always loved only is Brian one of the best in the game but he’s a taking pictures of people, places and events. In the great person as well,” said Guzman. past year he picked up the hobby of taking pictures

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I feel like the most common reaction I get is disbelief.

The two work together as a team to get the best shots possible for the customer. Guzman has to focus on the driving aspect and not worry about what Medina is doing for the safety of them and everyone else on the road.

The shoots can take anywhere from 10-30 minutes since Medina tries to get as many pictures for his clients as possible.

“When you have a photographer like Brian, he can simply help you get a great amount of flicks anywhere, at any time, at anyplace with ease,” said Guzman.

They sometimes have night shoots which creates a different vibe for the client, but afternoon and evenings are the best for lighting.

Guzman looks up to his cousin and sees all the work he puts in firsthand.

“He’s always been competing with himself as he likes to better himself as a person. I enjoy that about him because he inspires me to bring the best version of myself.”

Medina says he takes up to 100 pictures during each photo shoot and ends up with eight to 15 good shots. But only two or three are deemed print-worthy.

“I feel like the most common reaction I get is disbelief, especially when they see my automotive ‘rolling shot’ pictures in which I hang out of a window and capture the moving car on either the freeway or a two-lane road,” Medina said.

Medina’s clients get to pick the scene of the background for their photos. Some like the highway, buildings, or local landmarks. He will travel for shoots as well if it’s to get the best shots.

There is no car Medina won’t photograph, but the most common types of cars he shoots are Camaros,

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Mustangs, Challengers, and of course, Hondas. Clients find him by word of mouth, social media or already know him from Santa Cruz.

He is able to remain socially distanced inside his car, and always keeps sanitizer close by. Medina says his favorite part about photographing cars is “meeting new people and getting their reactions once they see the final product.”

Ever since COVID-19 started, it has been hard for Medina to practice other forms of photography, and he thought the university would be a good way to showcase his skills. He wanted to combine his passion for football and photography as he entered SJSU.

Medina also serves as an assistant coach at Harbor High under head coach James Gaynor. Gaynor happens to have connections to the San Jose State football coaching staff and wanted to help Medina out by getting him in touch with one of the coaches because he knows what Medina has to offer, on and off the field.

“Medina connects with our current players and is a part of our Santa Cruz community. Having him be a part of this hopeful experience adds a lot of value for him personally and our current student-athletes,” Gaynor said.

Medina has also started to broaden his portfolio by taking pictures of the high school football team during practice, so he can gain more experience taking action shots of moving people. He still has time at SJSU to hopefully get the chance one day to snap from the sidelines of a Spartans football game.

Photos courtesy of Brian Medina Design by Kylie Harrop-St. John

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online. I watched as roommates and friends reined in their social lives and stayed indoors. This wasn’t how any of this was supposed to go. I stepped out for air ince human connection is vital to mental health and when I came back in, the house was on fire. What treatment, what happens when the world asks us to was I going to do now? turn away, socially distance and disconnect?

Trying to practice proper mental healthcare as

I became worried that everything I had worked a college student already feels like trying to hit a movon to fight my mental illness was about to fall apart. ing target. Now the playing field was entirely different.

Would the coping skills I learned hold fast through un The social cues, etiquette, expectations were certain times? The pandemic ushered in challenges for completely flipped, all changing in weeks. The “normental health care programs as the industry is adaptmal” reality was hard enough, but now what remained ing and the need for care rises. This process leaves of social life was full of uncertainty and mystery. those like myself, who have coped with mental health Feelings of confusion and panic began to fester. disorders for years, struggling to stay afloat. I’ve had

All the while, one question played on replay an anxiety and panic disorder that has disrupted my in the background: How am I supposed to continue life time and time again. Unchecked and unwilling to getting the care I need to maintain my mental health? ask for help, I led myself to the point of failing out of

If there is one thing I have learned, it’s that not one, but two great universities. In 2019, the comgood mental health isn’t a destination you arrive at, pounding problems were piling on again, and I was it’s a state of self-care that one must maintain. Mental reluctant to get help. health programs like La Selva add coping mechanisms

In the spring semester of 2020, I took a leave of absence from SJSU. Despite having completed a few semesters here, I was again slipping into some of the same patterns that led to my academic expulsion at other schools. Panic and anxiety attacks crippled my ability to function as a student, friend or employee. I couldn’t ignore the patterns any longer.

I made the choice to step away from campus and check myself into an outpatient mental healthcare facility in Palo Alto.

This center, La Selva Group, is a behavioral health treatment program run by Momentum for Health that specializes in group therapy and skill building for those afflicted with varying acute mental illnesses.

This was the most seriously I had taken my mental health treatment in my life thus far. I began attending group therapy sessions in January 2020. I felt as if I, albeit hypothetically, had taken a step outside for a moment to get a breath of fresh air to collect myself. The plan was to return back to the school with everything I needed to succeed.

As I neared the second month of my stint at La Selva, the news of coronavirus came closer and closer to home. In March, COVID-19 was at our doors and La Selva had to drastically reduce the capacity of their center for the safety of their patients.

At this point, I knew that the world was going

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Arnold also saw this in her own practice.

“We had such a hard time before, finding local psychiatrists and therapists, and now people can have an appointment with a therapist in Maine!”

This opened a door for patients with physical ailments or disabilities, as well as those who would previously have trouble finding in-person psychiatrists, therapists and treatment. The flexibility and accessibility of “telehealth,” as Arnold calls it, was a silver lining. As the pandemic progressed and weeks of online school went by, I still felt supported by all the systems that were in place because of my time at La Selva, and all my other healthcare providers.

In the recent months, La Selva has been reaching out to clients who had participated or discharged from the program since the beginning of the pandemic.

“All to see how they’ve been, inviting them to come back if needed,” said Arnold. “And we heard lots of successful stories. To see that people were

and skill to one’s utility belt.

So much of what I had learned previously was meant to navigate the world pre-COVID. A type of treatment called Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, is meant to equip folks like myself with strategies to improve emotional regulation and challenge unhelpful behaviors and cognitive distortions.

CBT involves carrying oneself through structured and well-thought out goals, requiring lots of self-monitoring and gradual exposure to difficult situations.

Along with several other coping mechanisms, CBT was meant to be the foundation to practicing self-care and maintaining positive mental health choices for myself. It is safe to say the pandemic made it all feel unstable.

I knew I wasn’t alone. In June 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a report that stated, “40% of U.S. adults reported struggling with mental health or substance abuse.” The world was disrupted and people were hurting.

Monika Arnold, a licensed clinical social worker and the director of outpatient admissions at La

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maintaining their coping skills and making it through the pandemic means that we’re doing something right.”

To me, this outreach has shown that I am not alone in my experience and that help is out there.

Mental healthcare is still able to connect with people even if it’s not face to face.

My experience is a drop in the ocean of what students have lived through in the past year. I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have such a strong support system that has been there for me.

For those who are still grappling with their own mental health, it is important to remember that asking for help and connecting with other people who can help you is the best gift you can give yourself in 2021.

Photography by Travis Wynn Design by Kylie Harrop-St. John

Selva, worked closely with me during my time at the center. She helped me navigate the ins and outs of all that I could learn from La Selva.

“There just weren’t enough mental health services for people who need help and people were really starting to get affected,” said Arnold.

With a full semester looming at the end of the summer, I was desperate for something to work for me. The feelings of loneliness and depression were heightened. At La Selva, they saw a rise in demand as one of the few mental healthcare centers that was able to welcome in-person patients. Arnold described seeing the increased demand while also trying to balance the COVID-19 safety of patients and providers.

“On one hand I wish we could triple the program and the space to really bring in everybody who tried to get in,” said Arnold.

One thing that shined through as a saving grace for myself and many others was ultimately teletherapy. For months I have been able to talk to my therapist over the phone. Continuing to work on myself through teletherapy has been one of the biggest successes of the pandemic so far.

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Windows to our

Wo rld

By Tyler Skolnick

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tudent life is made up of a rush of stimuli and experiences that flash by in a blink.

In the past year, physical distancing has changed all of those stimuli and reduced them to a few buttons on a screen. The “mute” and “start video” buttons on Zoom are our keys to the classroom. The distance and commute to class is just across the screen, with a simple press of “launch meeting.” The sensory experience of being a student has been ripped out root and stem.

So what went missing? The senses that we use to experience the world saw a change in routine. The feelings of missing friends, longing for new connections or wanting to simply leave the house are all too familiar. Life is made up of little moments. Here are some of the examples of the ones students have missed while in our new virtual world.

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May 2021 Photography by Christine Nguyen Design by Kylie Harrop-St. John

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Taste

Sound

Sight

Sight is most often at the front of our aware-

ness on campus, and students tend to identify with this sense most profoundly.

They miss seeing someone they recognize in class on the first day, or a friendly face through a crowd of people. Catching a glimpse of a dog approaching across campus. Or seeing a couple napping peacefully on the grass.

Lee recalls memories of when club sports were allowed to go on. “Seeing rain fall through the lights during practice, always felt so cool.”

People watching was a midday pastime that many look forward to taking part in again. Seeing everyone walk by, a rush of life and activity that gathered between Fourth and 10th St. every day.

Touch

Touch is something that we are now incredibly cautious about. Contact with any surface or person means that there is a bottle of hand sanitizer somewhere in the surrounding area. But there are moments like shaking a professor’s hand after a long semester,or energetic high-fives or handshakes when things go well.

Even tapping someone on the shoulder to say, “Hey your backpack is open!”

There are several sensations that students really don’t miss, like sitting on a chair and the seat is still warm from the person in the previous class. Or, dodging lime scooters and bumping into students in crowded hallways, especially those who don’t say, “Excuse me.”

But when walking out of a cool building and feeling the warm sun or walking from a warm classroom into cool winter air, students are reminded of why coming to campus is so worthwhile.

Students warm their hands with a hot drink in the mornings. Feeling the breeze between buildings when they choose to take a different route to class.

Senior Michael Estonilo recalls his favorite memory of campus life being “that dive into bed as soon as you got back home from classes, the cool sheets.”

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Taste is the clear favorite of many students’ senses. We dedicate three meals a day to it, and what’s not to love about tasting delicious things. In San Jose we’re blessed with so much great food all around.

The first sip of a Mint Mojito from Philz across the street from campus, or the defiant bite into a Doordash-ed meal that was smuggled in the library.

Even the taste of water after a workout at the gym.

“There was nothing better, nothing, than the first bite of anything when you’re done with class,” says Lee. Being able to fit in a meal between classes always felt like a little victory, by taking a moment for oneself.

Students miss that sought after and wonderful question, “Want to get some food after this?”

Life is pretty quiet now. The sounds of campus offered plenty of solace for those who miss getting outside their homes. The sounds and echoes of conversations that flow in the student union were inviting.

“Even through all the craziness, it was nice to hear people laughing and being happy outside of class,” said Saba Khorasani.

The quiet hum and droning of library white noise is a comfort that several students miss more than they expected.

Unexpectedly, senior Eric Lee misses hearing what he describes as “that one study room on the quiet floors of the library that is being way too loud.” It’s a moment of solidarity with everyone around silently looking at each other exchanging looks, “Can you believe these people?”

There are new sounds that students look forward to hearing in-person across campus. “I’m excited to hear TikTok audio’s that I recognize coming from people’s phones,” said Angela Ting.

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Smell

If any of the five senses have been brought much closer to the center of our attention this year, it’s been our sense of smell. Early on we realized that sense of smell could be the first thing one could lose when diagnosed with COVID-19.

The way that the chlorine smell from the pool at Spartan Recreation would invite you in for a dip. Or over to the student union, where the Subway on campus would smell like fresh baked bread.

Many miss the smell of fresh cut green grass that sprawls in front of Tower Hall, a refuge of green amidst the downtown campus. Campus, for several, was a place to escape the more unpleasant odors that lingered around the surrounding area.

With the prospect of a return to campus in our near future, these experiences may be closer than we think.

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By Elsa Martinez Castro

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THE Power OF Plants 28 access Magazine

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orking from home, mask mandates, curbside pick-ups, and virtual, well, everything. It’s become the new norm thanks to COVID-19.

Although the situation could be trying every now and again, some have found that a new hobby might just be the thing they need to help them cope with these peculiar times.

Enter plants--the big pandemic trend that began over quarantine but has carried through to 2021, providing a new way in which people are not only decorating, but self-caring these days.

“When I am taking the time to water and clean their leaves, I feel most at peace,” Zoe Alvarez, 28, said.

Alvarez lives in the Alviso neighborhood of San Jose. Her home is also home to 115 houseplants, a collection that quickly grew during the earlier months of quarantine last year.

“Once we became quarantined, I realized how cluttered and neglected my home was and I decluttered everything to the point of bareness,” Alvarez said. “Once I started caring for a couple of plants, I liked the way they made my home feel and look. So, I began to decorate with them, and this ultimately created a new hobby entirely.”

Bringing nature indoors isn’t something that is new to Alvarez. She grew up with grandmothers who she claims had “jungles for homes.”

“They taught me how to care for them. I just never really applied those skills until now,” Alvarez said.

Aside from helping her create a beautiful green space at home, Alvarez says her plants have also had positive effects on her mental health – another topic that has gained traction over the last year. She usually listens to music or a podcast on her headphones as she cares for her plants, a process that she says has been super helpful.

“There is so much going on outside of our homes while we are locked inside,” Alvarez said.

“Focusing my attention on something that will only survive if I tend to it takes my mind off of the chaos.”

The fondness that Alvarez and other plant parents share for their plants has been proven in studies to be beneficial to their health and well-being. A study

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by Washington State University found that not only do plants contribute to cleaner air, but they also make one’s environment more comforting and calming, thus creating a space where one can feel more at ease. And of course, they’re simply enjoyable.

“Being hands-on and getting my hands dirty, literally, is the fun part about owning plants,” Alvarez said. “And then seeing them grow larger or longer and sprout flowers brings me so much joy.”

Studies have also shown that plants in the workplace can help reduce stress while also improving productivity. An American Society for Horticultural Science study found that even adding just one small plant on a desk can make a difference.

Like Alvarez, San Carlos resident Olivia Oldenbuttel, became interested in plants during the pandemic. She says that having plants in her surroundings has definitely made working remote much more pleasant.

“They have been a fun distraction from everything and help make the house look more alive while working from home,” Oldenbuttel said.

Oldenbuttel works for a tech company in San

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Francisco. She is part of the trust and safety department and a typical work day for her consists of meetings and data requests for criminal investigations and emergency situations.

“The content of my work can be very taxing at times,” Oldenbuttel said. “Caring for growing plants is a nice way to decompress from work.”

Oldenbuttel says her mother and grandmother’s green thumbs helped her discover her love for plants early on. “My childhood was full of weekends in the garden assisting them,” Oldenbuttel said.

But the pandemic allowed her to finally invest time into caring for plants. She now has 13 plants at home and says that having something to care for makes life worthwhile.

For San Francisco resident Kristian Elizes, 24, plant collecting began back in 2018.

“I can totally see why the pandemic would

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induce people to have this craze for plants,” said Elizes. “Being stuck indoors, we can be more attached to things stemming from the natural world outside that we’re so suddenly separated from during this pandemic.”

Elizes’ collection consists of 45 plants, with the Fiddle Leaf Fig being their favorite of them all.

“I love that despite the troubles I’ve had with it, it’s pushed through all of it,” Elizes said.

The Fiddle Leaf Fig was the first plant Elizes ever owned, a gift from a friend. And as fellow plant parents out there will know, caring for this plant is no walk in the park. Although the Fiddle Leaf Fig may be stunning and oh-so popular, it’s certainly picky.

“As I started collecting more and more plants, for some reason I always struggled with my Fiddle Leaf Fig,” Elizes said.

It’s had spider mites three times — a plant

Zoe Alvarez tenderly cares for her plants

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parent’s worst nightmare. But Elizes never gave up on it, moved it outside so it’d get more sun and continued to care for it. The Fiddle is now thriving and “doing great.”

“Plant care teaches us to be patient and trust the process,” Elizes said.

Stories like these are common in the plant community and inspire plant parents to grow their collection and continue caring for their plants. That sense of accomplishment, after watching a plant struggle and then seeing that with love and attention it can come back to life, is a feeling most plant parents relish.

“It makes my heart feel full when I am succeeding in caring for them,” Alvarez said.

The positive ways in which plants impact people are aplenty, and it’s definitely something that many benefitted from last year.

“Most people don’t expect plant collecting to be so therapeutic,” Elizes said. “And not just because

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they’re beautiful, but because when we’re having hard times, sometimes we just need something that needs us and will do well under our care and give us that success that we need to keep going, especially during hard times such as the pandemic.”

To those who may still be on the fence about owning a plant — it is, after all, a tad intimidating — Elizes says not to overthink it.

“Just have fun,” Elizes said. “Even though it seems like a lot to learn, you can learn a lot of these things along the way.”

Plants, like a lot of things in life, require practice, patience and time. But it’s worth it, especially when the results can be quite rewarding.

Photography by Travis Wynn Design by Kylie Harrop-St. John

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JournaliNg has it changed?

By Saba Khorasani

S

ocial media has recently brought a lot of attention to various hobbies, including a new appreciation for the world of journaling.

Because of the pandemic, digital journaling with apps such as Procreate and Notion have gained immense popularity among journaling enthusiasts.

Even social media apps like TikTok have quickly become a place for people to share their creative journaling styles.

Janice Le, 21, a senior public health major at SJSU, started journaling in her senior year of high school after she was struggling in some of her classes. As an active Tumblr user, she was able to find helpful tips from the studying community, which eventually led to her joining the journaling community. Since then, Le has continued journaling both creatively and as a form of planning.

Le’s passion for journaling has gained

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said. “I don’t like doing daily spreads, I just feel like those are a waste of time for me personally.”

She says that she does not necessarily put one assignment over another, but she does prioritize bigger assignments such as essays in order to avoid procrastination. She divides up the work into smaller tasks in order to better plan out what parts she will work on each day.

“With projects, I like to break down the assignment, even more, and then distribute it throughout the day/throughout the week so I don’t have to stress myself out,” said Le.

Kiki Boice is a 20-year-old college student at the University of South Florida and is one of Le’s followers. Like Le, she is also a journaling enthusiast and has been experimenting with the hobby since she was young. She first found Le’s work through another Instagram account, and says the reason Le’s work

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is so unique is because she doesn’t care about following popular trends.

“She creates the work that she likes and focuses on enjoying the process. She allows herself to be inspired by the trends where they fit her style or give her room to experiment,” Boice said.

Boice says Le’s work stands out to her because it doesn’t fit in any particular category. Her work has contrast and is intriguing with the various layouts and frequent use of more warm and muted colors.

“You won’t be able to find anything similar to this anywhere in the journaling community and I think that this is not only why I keep gravitating to her account, but also why others do as well,” Boice said.

Apart from traditional journaling, there are many advantages that come with digital journaling.

online attention. After getting her start on Tumblr, she decided to create an Instagram account sharing her unique spreads with nearly 6,000 followers. She also found that Instagram was an easier format to work with.

“I was able to gain a sense of control through journaling,” Le said.

Le says that social media is ultimately what led her to find an interest in journaling. And while she never felt like she really had any hobbies, journaling has become a hobby for her.

When she first started journaling she began the bullet journal method, which has become one of her favorites.

Bullet journaling is a method of journaling and organization created by Ryder Caroll that allows you the freedom to create based on your own personal needs. Recently, Le has been able to figure out what styles and methods work best for her, especially when it comes to planning out her assignments and daily activities.

“I like doing it by a weekly basis,” Le

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Le says that she likes having greater options such as the ability to experiment with different brush strokes, as well as how cost-effective it is since she does not have to worry about wasting supplies.

“You have a lot of opportunity to really be creative and personalize a lot of stuff when it comes to digital journaling,” Le said.

Boice agrees that digital journaling can be more helpful for some people, but it shouldn’t be appreciated more than physical journaling or vice versa. She also mentions that she prefers Le’s physical spreads since she sees more of them, but she still enjoys her digital work just as much.

“I love how she immediately defined a new version of digital spreads.

In her digital spreads, she plays around with a wider range of colors and includes her writing,” said Boice.

Le likes to use apps like Procreate, Goodnotes and Keynote on her iPad for her digital spreads. She also enjoys finding free digital stickers and images to incorporate into her work.

“I personally like digital journaling more when I do school stuff,” Le said.

Le says that digital journaling is great for school because she can quickly jot down notes, plan or schedule because she does not really care about making it look a certain way. She also prefers to use blank templates instead of planner templates, because they allow her to customize it to her own needs.

While digital journaling has its benefits and allows her to establish a routine, Le says that it will not replace traditional journaling for her because of the overall disconnect. She also says that just touching the journal and writing down everything is just more meaningful for her.

“I think that journaling is really an extension of myself, so I really like creatively journaling or journaling when it comes to self-care, I like having a physical journal,” Le said.

“

Even though journaling is a form of selfcare for Le, she says that at times it can be emotionally draining.

“It gives you the opportunity to be more self-aware. That doesn’t cost just time, it costs yourself too, but in a good way I think,” Le said.

Maria Judnick, the Coordinator of Digital Initiatives at SJSU’s Writing Center, runs their social media accounts and blog. Judnick says that journaling has always been present throughout her life, even though it has been on and off at times.

“Journaling is really helpful just to document different parts from your life, especially when things are really changing,” Judnick said.

Judnick says that it has been important for her to journal during this pandemic, especially as a way to document the transition of becoming a new mom.

Her two forms of journaling include her daily Twitter haikus, as well as a one line a day, five-year journal.

“This pandemic journaling sort of grew out of that desire to have something for me to remember specifically creatively what it’s been like to be a mom in a pandemic,” Judnick said.

Judnick agrees that journaling can definitely be a useful tool for college students. The Writing Center often has blog posts that encourage SJSU students to find ways to incorporate writing into their daily lives as a way to help process thoughts and feelings.

“I’m someone that’s always been interested in other people’s processes and I’ve always encouraged students to keep track of things in ways that make sense to them,” Judnick said.

Like many students, Le says she is not the biggest fan of routine, but digital journaling helps her in that aspect as it allows her to stay organized and on track. Le has also noticed that journaling has gained lots of popularity because of the pan-

demic and has definitely seen a lot of people creating digital spreads.

“I think definitely social media has given people more opportunity to be creative without having to be wasteful, or being conscious of what’s happening in the world,” Le said.

Nevertheless, Le says that her journaling work is something that she is super proud of. What started off as a hobby has quickly grown into a skill that she is now able to showcase to others through her Instagram page. She says that her page is not so much about educating others on journaling but more so a way for her to get feedback and others’ opinions on her work.

“It really is, to me, kind of like a book,” Le

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said. “Having things on Instagram or Tumblr and to be able to see my progress. A journal within a journal.”

Boice says that Le’s work definitely inspires her and has encouraged her when it comes to her own journaling.

“I have learned to enjoy the process of journaling more,” Boice said. “It has also helped me understand how to stay true to the things I like and that I don’t need to keep creating, posting and adapting to popular styles to stay relevant in the journaling community.”

Photography by Janice Le Design by Gia Pham

You have a lot of opportunity to be creative and personalize a lot of stuff when it comes to digital journaling.

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Janice Le details her assignments on her iPad

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By Brian So

C

OUTDOOR DINING

ountless industries have been affected by the pandemic, and the shelter-in-place orders that resulted from it.

One of those hit the hardest was the restaurant industry.

Restaurants across the nation had no other option but to shut down their businesses, causing them to lose much needed income to survive.

One of these restaurants was Señor Taco Taqueria in San Jose.

Enrique Salasbeauvais, who established the authentic Mexican restaurant in 2000, never felt more desperate running his business than in 2020.

“When this whole pandemic started, I honestly didn’t know if I was going to make it,” Salasbeauvais said. “I was concerned about how I was going to pay my bills, my employees, and just surviving without an income.”

But as we look forward to the second half of 2021 with a sliver of hope, Salasbeauvais and his employees look forward to returning to a state of normalcy with the restaurant.

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“This past year has been extremely hard on me with work,” said Enrique’s nephew, Jacob Salasbeauvais, a server at Señor Taco Taqueria. “I essentially lost my job and I had to figure out how to not get evicted from my place.”

Jacob says he foresees a better 2021 as restaurants slowly open up and vaccines become more readily available.

As the opportunity to open restaurants to a semi-normal state becomes reality, restaurant workers like Jacob hope to eventually return to full capacity.

And while there was doom, gloom and negative impacts from 2020, we can look to the positives.

As we approach the opportunity to dine in, we remember the hardships that people went through with losing their jobs and struggling financially after they saw their restaurants closing down.

As of Dec. 1, 2020, 17% of U.S. restaurants closed due to the hardships while costing 5.9 million restaurant industry jobs, according to a letter sent to Congress by the National Restaurant Association.

Although not indicative of the restaurant business as a whole, many articles published have indicated that it costs thousands upon thousands of dollars to install air purification systems and supply a constant

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“I felt super bad when this pandemic started and all these people lost their jobs,” said Su Kwon, a patron of many different restaurants in Mountain View.

“That’s why I try to tip bigger when I order food.”

Because of this remembrance, people have come to appreciate the service that comes along with restaurants and all the new additions due to COVID-19, whether that be dining in, taking out or even being able to have food delivered to us.

Kwon, someone who enjoys eating out with family and friends, has come to appreciate restaurant workers after what the pandemic has done to everyone.

“I’ve come to have a newfound respect for restaurant employees,” said Kwon. “I’ve seen the struggles of people who lost their jobs, so I want to pay it forward.”

And with this new found appreciation, we trek onward in the second half of 2021 with a new sense of humanity where we come to support one another and to care for one another.

With the prospect of a better second half of 2021, people continue to lean on and support one another.

“When we were able to open up again and to make fod for people, people were more willing to help us out in any way possible,” said Enrique Salasbeauvais. “I sense that people are willing to be more generous because of how much struggle they saw us going through as an industry.”

There is a greater sense of community that this pandemic has brought upon us despite other issues that may come about.

We saw firsthand the struggles of people staying at home, losing their jobs and being worried that they might not be able to pay their rent.

Many of us may have struggled ourselves and have lost our jobs, but with the help from others, we’ve made it out of 2020 and look to better our circumstances as the second half of 2021 progresses.

“I am just grateful that we had the opportunity to open up again as a lot of restaurants I’ve heard closed down,” said Salasbeauvais. “But to see people being more generous, whether that be ordering one more item to make a bigger bill or giving a bigger tip to make people less financially worried, it just warms my heart.”

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With everyone coming together to give a hand, there is certainly no shortage of generosity to go around.

“I feel way more grateful for the situation that I’m in to be able to come back to work,” said Salasbeauvais. “I definitely won’t take any job or customer for granted anymore.”

Looking to a better ending of 2021, everyone is more willing to be generous and hopeful.

“I’ve seen people struggle and face trials,” said Sarah Singh, an SJSU sophomore. “I hate to see them struggle financially, so I’m more willing to help out by eating out more and tipping a little more than usual.”

Photography by Cameron Henry Design by Kylie Harrop-St. John

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WORKING OUT THE PANDEMIC

By Luca Ferrieri

F

oxes returned to the streets of San Francisco. The ozone got a bit of a reprieve.

China had some of the cleanest air in the entire world. Dolphins occupied the canals of Venice.

Ok... that last one proved false.

The pandemic allowed nature to recuperate while humans struggled to do the same. With gyms closed and social activities severely restricted, opportunities for exercise appeared more sparse than ever.

Monet Goldman, a 29-year-old therapist from Hayward, and Fei Shyuan of San Jose both expressed as much.

“I had a routine where I’d schedule days at the gym in order to get my workouts in,” said Goldman.

The preparation, travel and actual time at the gym takes up a lot of time for an individual. It becomes a part of their regimen.

When asked about how his routine changed, Goldman said: “I began baking a lot.”

Indeed, the closing of gyms en masse took its toll on gym-goers in more ways than one.

“I had to find other ways to get more physically active,” said Shyuan. “I lost a lot of muscles from all the running.”

Both Goldman and Shyuan are self-proclaimed “gym rats” with routines that take two or more hours to complete. Working out was a ritual for them, albeit a lengthy one. Having this

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routine removed from their daily lives affected their social interaction and competition, both of which play an important role in their gym experience.

“When you’re there with someone else it’s like added motivation. They push you and you push them back,” said Goldman. “Not being in the gym you have to find that motivation on your own, and for me, it was much harder.”

For Shyuan, it was also about the ability to interact with others.

“I used to go to the gym with friends. I also miss playing basketball with friends. We are not able to do that now because of the restrictions,” said Shyuan.

Miguel Granados, a 32-year-old trainer from Smooth Move Fitness who works out of Redwood City, took the opportunity to work on new ways to help his clients.

“When COVID hit I was able to really push myself,” said Granados.

He spent time developing routines and exercises that could cater to almost any space without the use of weights or machinery.

But how could he put himself out there during a pandemic?

“Zoom gave me the option to meet people first in a safe way,” said Granados.

Now, he could meet someone anywhere at any time. And for Granados, it’s important to motivate his clients through positive reinforcement.

“I’m thankful to help people pursue their

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“We would try to get back before the day gets dark,” said Shyuan.

It was a way to bring in some competition, comradery and motivation among coworkers and friends.

Zoom also afforded a new avenue for Shyuan to virtually work out with people across states and even across continents.

“I was able to connect with more friends that I was not able to go with to the gym before. Friends from Malaysia and the UK,” said Shyuan.

Fei Shyuan trains at a gym before the pandemic

Miguel Granados demonstrates a home workout

goals,” said Granados. “You just made a win. You decided to make the decision to get a good workout in.”

He focused on building regimens that allowed people to use whatever equipment they had available, even if it was just a small space in their living room and body weight.

These new ways of working out at home provided additional benefits for Shyuan.

“I feel mentally healthier. It’s amazing to see the progress,” said Shyuan.

Goldman took the time away from the gym to focus on ways he could improve his at-home workouts.

He invested in a pull-up bar, adjustable weights, and a dip tower. The only thing missing: motivation.

Motivation can be one of the biggest hurdles to

overcome. Goldman found him by watching YouTube videos.

“I started watching videos of Dan Gable,” said Goldman.

Dan Gable is a former Olympic gold medalist who competed in wrestling. He compiled a wrestling record of 183-1 in high school. His collegiate career record was an astounding 117-1. He won a gold medal in wrestling in the 1972 Olympics without losing a single point.

As a former wrestler himself in high school, these videos were the fodder that propelled Goldman’s athome workouts.

Shyuan took a slightly different approach.

He and his coworkers started a new daily ritual where they would agree to run one mile as fast as they

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Tools such as YouTube, Facebook Live, Instagram, Zoom and other platforms provided much-needed options and opportunities. It also removed some of the intimidation factors of the gym itself.

“The gym can be an intimidating place,” said Granados.

“You start getting into a headspace and comparing yourself to other people.”

Goldman had a similar view.

“Whether you think you are or not, being at the gym is like being in competition with everyone there,” said Goldman. “That can be unnerving.”

The sheer volume of a gym’s equipment is imposing and though the gym has every workout machine imaginable it can be overwhelming. Not to mention it can feel like every eye is upon you.

The mirrors that outline a gym’s interior adds to this effect.

It leads to many feeling out of place. Or worse, you feel like you need to try and perform exercises at a higher weight to not appear feeble or weak. Unfortunately, trying to overperform can lead to injuries.

The gym is not for everyone. The culture that exists in many gyms can also be a deterrent.

“The workout culture focuses on bodybuilders,

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CrossFit lifters and athletes,” said Granados. “And not everyone fits into those categories.”

However, finding ways to exercise is integral to feeling good and maintaining physical and mental health.

It releases endorphins, too -- the body’s natural “feel good” chemical.

And no matter what, there will always be a need and place for gyms.

However, it’s important to remember that exercise is not confined to weights, squat racks and treadmills.

Getting creative with whatever space you have available can be all a person needs.

“We can do a lot for our physical health within the confines of our living rooms.

It’s all about your mindset,“ said Granados.

Gravity is also a helpful tool. Who needs weights, anyways?

“Our body weight is sufficient,” said Granados.

Still, for many individuals like Shyuan and Goldman, the gym is important.

It has all the amenities and equipment a person needs.

And while a home gym is certainly convenient, space is limited.

Not to mention the weights themselves are not cheap.

According to Home Advisor, an average in-home gym costs $2,000.

So as gyms slowly reopen, what’s next?

“I just started going back,” said Goldman, through a brief text exchange when asked how his workouts were going.

“My shirts are getting loose,” said Shyuan, with a smile on his face. “I have to put on some muscles.”

WE CAN DO A LOT FOR OUR PHYSICAL HEALTH WITHIN THE CONFINES OF OUR LIVING ROOMS. IT’S ALL ABOUT YOUR MINDSET.

Photography by Luca Ferrieri Illustrations by Stories and Macrovector Official / Freepik Design by Kah Mun Chia

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CANDACE FARMER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Mary L. Trump’s book “Too Much and Never Enough” offers a unique insight into the Trump family dynamic that only a relative close to the situation can provide.

She offers her take as a professional within the field of psychology and is able to artfully break down difficult concepts for the reader.

The book’s main character is, of course, Donald Trump, and how her grandfather enabled, propped up and cultivated Donald into the power-driven, unapologetic businessman many believe he is today. Her book, however, LUCA FERRIERI is more than a biopic about Donald. It offers STAFF WRITER comprehensive insight into the Trump family dynamic: from how Fred built a real-estate empire that eventually Donald would inherit, to the struggles of her own father growing up a Trump, Mary Trump paints a picture that she is uniquely qualified to.

46 access Magazine

May 2021

One of my favorite books is titled “The Four Agreements” by Don Miguel Ruiz. I received this book as a birthday present last year and finally got around to reading it during quarantine. I am so thankful that I did because it was truly what I needed - especially given the circumstances. Before reading this book, I found myself lost and stuck in beliefs that robbed me of joy. Based on ancient Toltec wisdom, “The Four Agreements” offers life-changing advice that has helped me change my outlook on life, love, freedom, and happiness. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone.

CAMERON HENRY PHOTOGRAPHER and SOCIAL MEDIA

“I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter” by Erika L. Sánchez was gifted to me by a member of my family. It wasn’t Christmas or my birthday, he just thought I might enjoy it. And that I did.

A raw and engaging story revolving around a Mexican family that touches on topics like sexuality, love, loss, Elsa Martinez Castro friendship, Latinx traditions and ideals (whether you Editor and Writer love them or you hate them), and just enough mystery to keep you turning the page.

Julia’s sister Olga was a paragon of goodness and what her parents thought a perfect Mexican daughter should look like. But soon after Olga dies in a tragic accident, Julia discovers that her sister might not have been as perfect as everyone thought. It turns out she had a lot of secrets and even lived a double life. Julia is determined to find out the truth. All of it. But on her journey to uncover the truth, she also learns a lot about herself. This is truly a wonderful book and definitely a must-add to your summer reading list!

Illustration by Harryarts / Freepik

Design by Kah Mun Chia

May 2021

What We Think About...

All seems well if not perfect, to those on the outside observing the lives of 15-year-old Kambili and her older brother Jaja, who come from an affluent family in Enugu, Nigeria. Her father is well respected and a giving public figure to their community, and she and her brother are star students who have everything they want. But nothing is as it seems behind closed doors.

Their father is relentless in his expectations of his family. His harshness he justifies through his religious beliefs, causing a home life filled with uneasiness, violence and silence. After spending time away with their aunt, a university professor who lives outside their hometown, Kambili slowly begins to break her silence and find a sense of independence. Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie tells a beautiful story surrounding youth, family trauma and freedom in “Purple Hibiscus.”

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