THE EDGE VOL. 13 ISSUE 2

THE EDGE VOL. 13, ISSUE 2 ELON, NC

in The funk LESSONS WE CAN LEARN FROM DRAG| MAGIC MUSHROOMS FEELINGS THAT EVOKE NOSTALGIA | A RICH MAN’S WORLD

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h my god! If you’re reading this right now, it means you’re holding a freshly printed copy of The Edge’s latest issue. Or, you’re reading it in the slightly less exciting online format. Either way, I’m just happy you’re picking up the semester-long culmination of this incredible team’s hard work.

Incredible doesn’t even scratch the surface of what this team of creatives is capable of. When I was asked to take on the role of editorin-chief, I was terrified. I had already planned to take the semester to study in New York City, but I knew there was no way I could turn down the opportunity, despite how scared I was to run the magazine remotely. I had dreamed of working on magazines since my first issue of Seventeen was delivered to my doorstep in high school. I would spend hours reading every detail on every page, down to the descriptions of the clothes the models wore that I could never afford. I agreed with the promise from my former co-editors, Julia Oakes and Hannah Jablonski, that I could lean on their expertise throughout the transition.

And lean on them (& everyone else) I did. Even though I am the one writing this letter, it was only through the dedication of our wonderful team of 73 that I have the honor to do so. With the willingness to work with me through countless Zoom meetings and way too many emails, this team has had such patience with me as we’ve figured out a way to create something wonderful while being 518 miles apart.

When we were selecting the theme of the issue, we knew we wanted to break out of the shell we’ve all felt trapped in these past few years. The last two years have been filled with the overconsumption of content, making new trends feel old before they’ve even had the time to be picked up. So we wanted something new—a place for us to get loud about what’s been on our minds. We experimented with a few titles before selecting In The Funk. After being in a funk for a while, we all felt ready to get in the

funk—a title that pays homage to the past few years with an emphasis on just how ready we are to move on.

Since I began writing for The Edge two years ago, it’s been the one thing with the ability to pull me out of a funk regardless of what I had going on at the time. Whether it was experimenting with new content that I was scared to share with the world or pushing myself in leadership roles I felt underqualified for, The Edge has brought me out of several low moments and pushed me right where I needed to be: In The Funk.

I would be remiss if I didn’t say a major thank you to my extraordinary creative director, Leila Wilhelm.

Everything you see in this magazine is a culmination of her brilliant creative vision. She has executed the design of this magazine to be better than anything I could have imagined. A true partner in crime, she’s been there for the best and the worst that this process has had to offer and kept me sane throughout it all.

In my article for this issue, I wrote about imposter syndrome and the difficulties that come with gaining what feels like undeserved success. It’s something I’ve felt since Julia called me to ask if I would be the editor, and something I’m feeling as I write this letter. As I contemplate what to put in this letter, it still feels unreal that I even have the opportunity to be doing so. It’s surreal to see something we’ve been working on the entire semester finally see the light of day. I’m so proud of this magazine, of this team and of myself for pulling off our funkiest issue yet. Without further ado, it’s time to get IN THE FUNK!

Anna Cave, Editor-in-Chief

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LIVING ON THE EDGE

A PHOTO SPREAD

MAGIC MUSHROOMS

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BUT WHAT MAKES THESE MUSHROOMS SO SPECIAL?

TRAPPED IN MY MIND

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FEELINGS THAT EVOKE NOSTALGIA

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IDGAF

I DARE GREATLY ABOUT FASHION

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RICH MAN'S WORLD

SO CAN MONEY REALLY BUY HAPPINESS?

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INNER VOICE

THE ART OF EMOTIONAL REGULATION

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THE LESSONS WE CAN LEARN FROM DRAG

in this issue

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A LOVE LETTER TO MY ROADTRIP HOME FROM COLLEGE

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TRAVEL SPOTS BASED ON YOUR STAR SIGN

WHEN I GROW UP EXPLORING IMPOSTER SYNDROME

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STEPPING AWAY FROM PEOPLE PLEASING

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THE CARE AND KEEPING OF YOU 10 YEARS LATER

THE EDGE Editor-in-Chief Anna Cave Creative Director Leila Wilhelm Assistant Design Chief Olivia Parks Director of Photography Carlyn Marinaccio Assistant Photo Director Cameron Leslie Copy Chief Alejandra Gonzalez Assistant Copy Chief Emily Murrill

Fashion Editor Ainsley Marshall Assistant Editor Madison Mursch Writer Madi Keller Writer Emma Geismar Writer Hope Suire Writer Sadie Margolis Writer Emery Camp Writer Caitlin McAuliffe

Lifestyle Editor Sarah Hennis Assistant Editor Palmer Boothe Writer Alexa Morrissey Writer Camille Olmstead Writer Bailey Jordan Writer Alexandra Elliott Writer Anna Grenier Writer Ranya Russo

Beauty & Wellness Editor Riley Otis Assistant Editor Avery Paulen Writer Maya Drabczyk Writer Lydia Buckius Writer Madi Rotermund Writer Amanda Cantale Writer Olivia Brown Writer Marissa Manley

Videography Director of Videography Sophia Gaeta Video Editors Kate Spencer, Ayla Brongo, Jules Hallman

Travel Editor Catie Mannato Writer Katie Everitt Writer Kaitlyn Vigeant Writer Leah Dumaine Writer Kelley Gosk Writer Mollie Lund Writer Callista DeGraw Features Editor Amy Ellison Assistant Editor Caroline Donohue Writer Isabel Gouveia Writer Oona Timmeney-Tracy Writer Taylor Barbadora Writer Lily Billingsley Writer Leah Weinstock Writer Gabriela Rivas-De Leon

Social Media Social Media Director Maddy Phillips Social Media Designer Darby Vojtko Content Creator Julia Lissy Social Media Assistants Rachel Goldstein, Gia Sylvester & Gracie West Digital Media Podcast Director Graceanne Gaudiello Podcast Hosts Brianna Young Lauren Schenk & Emma Fadde Analytics Director Steven Mmari Newsletter Director Ellie Levine Designers Michaela VanDerVelden Hadley Kaeyer Victoria Cuciniello Kailey Casl Ashley Soderberg Photographers Michaela Brady Claire Mapes Paul Barretto Camille Duplechain Ana Luisa Scholtes Madison McCart

meet the staff advice for getting out of a funk?

Leila: Do things to spice up your routine! Try a new workout, plan out recipes, go to a new coffee shop.

Force yourself to try new things.

Catie: When I’m in a funk, I make sure to take time out of my day to do something purely for myself. Lately, it’s been a lot of hot girl walks as the weather grows nicer, where I listen to podcasts!

Steven: Schedule some time for self care in whatever form that is. After that, have a solid community to support you to get your work done.

Cam: Eat cereal.

a bold new trend you’d like to try?

Olivia: I’ve been loving the colored eyeliner trend, and it’s so fun to experiment with different neon colors.

Carlyn: Monochrome suits Maddy: Incorporating more bright neon pieces into my everyday style!

What’s your go-to no skips album?

Amy: Currents by Tame Impala.

Avery: Digital Druglord by Blackbear Sarah: Fuzzybrain from Dayglow Hadley: Anything by Peach Pit

What helps you express yourself?

Ainsley: Makeup and hair! Once you have a few basic beauty products, there’s endless makeup and hair routines to try.

Anna: I’ve been trying to use social media as a creative outlet recently!

Just posting what I want and having a little collection of my favorite moments on an account is so nice!

Catie: Cliche as a writer and storyteller, but writing truly helps me to express myself! I love journaling about the things I’m grateful for as well as answering short writing prompts in this notebook I found at a thrift store.

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AVERY PAULEN

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usic is arguably what makes the world go ‘round. After these trying past few years during the COVID-19 pandemic when we felt there was nowhere to turn, music was there for us as a therapeutic escape from reality. We all had that go-to song that could instantly help us feel better. The song “Trapped In My Mind” by Kid Cudi described what almost everyone was feeling: isolation, loneliness and standing in your own way, quite literally “trapping” yourself within your own mental roadblocks.

As we try to cleanse ourselves of these

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feelings from these last few years, it’s important to take into account the little moments that made us smile. Whether it was spending more time in nature, building relationships with the ones you love, exploring a new place or finding a new hobby, music can serve as not only a reminder of these times, but hope for the future and what’s to come.

Different songs evoke different emotions, which is why we at The Edge have curated some playlists with our favorite songs that make us nostalgic for our cherished memories and future dreams.

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PUBLIC PLAYLIST

Undying Love for NYC

NY CA L I EUPH ORIC

Imagine riding down the streets of New York City in a yellow taxi cab at night. You’re with your best friends. You look up through the rolled-down window and see the building lights glisten in the darkness. One of your more “rebellious” friends tilts her head back out the window to let her hair fly through the wind.

You take a black and white photo to capture the moment.

Then enter: your perfect NYC playlist.

PUBLIC PLAYLIST

California Dreaming It’s sunset. You’re driving in a retro red convertible along the California coast. Maybe you’re alone, or maybe there’s a love interest? You’re riding a high as you look out over the ocean that extends miles beyond the horizon. You feel the wind in your face and the salty smell of the ocean tickles your nose. This is your soundtrack for that moment.

PUBLIC PLAYLIST

Euphoric One of the most underrated things about quarantine was the opportunity to take a step back from the everyday hustle and bustle and simply just relax. This playlist makes you feel like you’re floating or have been transported to another dimension. You’re in a haze, but you’re not in danger or feeling unsafe. You’re surprisingly calm, and your mind is free from all stress. If this sounds like something you need, do yourself a favor and have a listen.

Kim Innes, a professor of epidemiology at West Virginia University’s School of Public Health, says that music can lift our moods, combat depression and ease pain. It can improve blood flow in ways similar to drugs that lower your cholesterol and it can decrease the levels of stress-related hormones. We as humans are hard-wired to respond to music. Music makes us feel. It provides meaning. It brings us together ■ LIFESTYLE | 13

SARAH HENNIS | LIFESTYLE EDITOR

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hether you have firsthand experience or not, you probably know what magic mushrooms are and what they do.

But what makes these mushrooms so magical?

Mushrooms are known for their naturally-occurring hallucinogenic powers, which stem from the chemical compound known as psilocybin. But what a lot of people don’t know is that these magic mushrooms have a long, complicated history.

Before Western civilizations first gained contact with these mushrooms in the 1950s, indigenous tribes all over the world had been using these special mushrooms within their sacred practices. These mushrooms were used frequently in indigenous cultures of South America, particularly in religious ceremonies for healing and divination purposes. Throughout the 1950s, there was a lot of experimentation with magic mushrooms in Western civilization. Key figures during this time, LIFESTYLE | 14

such as Gordon Wasson and Alan Ginsberg, began discovering the powers of magic mushrooms. They quickly spread information regarding these mushrooms and helped them gain popularity.

Magic mushrooms were officially made illegal in the U.S. in 1970. With the growing popularity, the government felt threatened by the drug. Magic mushrooms became classified as a Schedule 1 drug, the same category as both heroin and methamphetamine.

The federal government views all psychedelic drugs as dangerous and harmful, including magic mushrooms, despite research on the mental and medical benefits of these drugs.

These special mushrooms allow users to expand their mindset through transformative thinking, allowing them to realize that everything they thought was right could actually be wrong.

Psilocybin forces users to consider life’s bigger picture, which can lead to a lot of intense emotional development. When

experimenting with magic mushrooms, it’s important to remember that while some may have feelings of euphoria and amplified happiness, others might experience paranoia and confusion.

In recent years, there has been extensive research on the benefits of magic mushrooms, and the list just keeps getting longer. Magic mushrooms have been proven to aid symptoms of anxiety and depression, help combat addiction and improve physical health. A study conducted

by Johns Hopkins University in November 2020 administered treatment using two psilocybin doses given by two clinical monitors who provided both guidance and reassurance to the patients. The study found that giving two doses of psilocybin two weeks apart (dose 1: 20 mg/70 kg, dose 2: 30 mg/70 kg) to a group of adults with major depression produced rapid reductions in their depressive symptoms. Half of the participants even achieved remission from depression after the four-week follow-up.

This study led to the discovery that psilocybin treatment can significantly decrease levels of anxiety and depression in people with a life-threatening

diagnosis, as well as people fighting anxiety and depression on a day-to-day basis.

An additional study done by Johns Hopkins University found that psilocybin therapy significantly improved subjects’ abstinence from smoking nicotine throughout a 12-month trial, and it is believed that shrooms could additionally treat other substance abuse disorders. The head of this study, Matthew Johnson, believes the nature of these disorders stems from narrowed mental and behavioral habits. In properly orchestrated sessions, psilocybin can essentially force someone out of their routine by providing a glimpse of a larger picture, allowing people to step outside of their own problems.

Psilocybin ultimately forces the brain to function with less resistance and more open-mindedness, which curbs their overall desire for these substances.

These mushrooms have many benefits outside of their hallucinogenic powers, including skincare and gut health. Dr. Jeannette Graf, a board-certified dermatologist and assistant professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, has conducted studies regarding the benefits of topically applied mushrooms. One type of mushroom, known as Reishi, is commonly known as the “mushroom of immortality” and is known for its anti-inflammatory, anti-redness, antioxidant and anti-wrinkle benefits. Reishi has a property called beta-glucans, which attracts water from the environment to your skin, resulting in a healthy and hydrated complexion. This type of mushroom also supports immune system functionality, due to its adaptogenic, healing properties.

If magic mushrooms can help so many people and have so many benefits, why does the federal government want to keep them illegal? The Drug Enforcement Administration claims that all Schedule 1 drugs, including magic mushrooms, have a “higher potential for abuse and the potential to form severe dependence,” despite the National Center for

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Biotechnology Information deeming these mushrooms as “physiologically safe and not known to cause any dependence or addiction.”

So, are there downsides to these magic mushrooms?

Something to be mindful of before exploring them is the possibility of having a “bad trip.” What exactly does that mean? Psychedelics affect everyone differently. It’s impossible to predict how a hallucinogen will affect you personally, and trip symptoms can vary a lot. They can be mild or intense and range from overwhelming thoughts to frightening hallucinations and delusions. It’s important to be aware of this possibility and to make cautious and responsible decisions when it comes to obtaining and ingesting psilocybin. Although a “bad trip” is something none of us want to experience, it doesn’t need to destroy our perception or discredit the many benefits of shrooms as a whole.

There are many different theories surrounding the illegality of magic mushrooms, and a lot of them stem from the stigma surrounding psychedelics overall. It is incredibly possible that psychedelics are still illegal in the U.S. because our government fears higher thinking and the natural questioning people have while

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under these influences. Psilocybin allows people to expand their views on life and experience transformative thinking, which may threaten our government. By keeping magic mushrooms illegal, the U.S. government is keeping their citizens from reaping the many mental and medical benefits, as well as preventing them from discovering a higher level of thinking and understanding. What do you think? ■

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the lessons we can learn from

DRAG

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“We’re all b o r n n a k e d, and the rest i s d r ag. ” - Ru Pau l A n d r e C h a r l e s

AVERY PAULEN

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hough drag seems to have just rocketed into mainstream media, it’s an art form that’s existed since ancient times. Drag is a gender-bending art form in which a person dresses in clothing and makeup meant to exaggerate a specific gender identity, usually of the opposite sex.

While drag’s main purpose is performance and entertainment, it’s also used as a form of self-expression and a celebration of LGBTQIA+ pride. A typical drag show will include lip-syncing or dancing, and performers often have elaborate clothing, hair and makeup. Drag has deep roots in Western culture, specifically in the theatre, where women weren’t permitted to perform on stage, so men dressed in drag to play female roles. Drag performers were featured as far back as ancient Greece and carried on through Shakespearean times in the late 16th and 17th centuries.

By the early twentieth century, drag became tied to the marginalized LGBTQIA+ community and was no longer part of mainstream entertainment. Instead, performances became a major aspect of city nightlife, especially in San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York City. Then, after the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York City and through the 1990s, gay culture and pride gathered mainstream attention, and with that, drag became popular again.

We at The Edge had the incredible opportunity to sit down with Kai Arroyo (21), a junior student at Elon University, to ask him about his own experience doing drag. He provided us with key takeaways that many people can learn from, whether they are struggling with their own sexuality or methods of self-expression. Kai is an inspiration not only in the drag community but for anyone in their developing stages of life.

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Q: How did you get into drag in the first place?

What were the factors that encouraged you to start doing it?

Kai: Growing up, I didn’t have a lot of exposure to drag.

I didn’t really know what a drag queen was. To put things into perspective, I live in California in the suburbs just outside of Los Angeles. It’s actually a very conservative area, which you wouldn’t think. The entire county is very conservative and doesn’t really talk about being gay, certainly not in public. There are very narrow-minded people, so I try to stay away from my hometown as much as possible.

When I was at the end of my high school career, when I was a junior or senior, my friend showed me RuPaul’s Drag Race for the first time. I said to myself, “Wait, I should do that.” So I went home and bought a lot of makeup online in secret. I started working at it and looking back at the pictures, I looked rough. I stole one of my mom’s wigs that she had in her closet and just kind of played around with it for the latter half of my high school experience.

Then, I came to Elon for a tour when I was a senior in high school and saw the drag show— I had never been to a drag show before. I felt like it was an amazing space and I just felt so accepted. I finally felt like I could be who I wanted to be. So, when I got on campus my freshman year, I was like, “I’m going to do that damn drag show.” I got my look together and did my makeup. And again, looking back at pictures, I’m like, “That is rough.”

But, I did the damn thing. The crowd just went wild. The energy was so electric and it was so much fun. And that kind of sealed my fate right there.

Q: What have you personally learned from doing drag? What are some of the key takeaways you’ve gotten from being able to express yourself freely and authentically?

Kai: It definitely has boosted my self-confidence a lot. I was a very quiet and shy kid growing up. Drag kind of let me dig into my more extroverted tendencies to be outgoing and not care about what people might think of me. It also helped me become okay with being a loud voice in the room. Now, I’m not so worried about how what I do is going to affect other people, because that’s something I used to worry about a lot. I would overthink everything I said and would try to micromanage how people perceived me, as well as how I was affecting other people. That’s just not a good way to run your life.

For someone who’s struggling with their sexuality— there are a lot of labels in our [LGBTQIA+] community.

We love to tack on things that put us in a certain box.

With that comes a lot of roles and expectations that you either put on yourself or the community puts on you, and you’re expected to play the part. I just want to say, that is absolute bullsh!t. There is no reason to stick to a certain label and to think that that is the entirety of your identity. You are so much more than a label, and it’s okay to not have it all figured out right now. Whether you are 15 years old, 25 years old or 45 years old, it’s constantly an ongoing process—figuring out what you like, who you want to be, all of that.

Q: You mentioned that you were buying makeup in secret. Were your parents accepting of the path you were going down? Did you feel comfortable telling them? Did they know you were gay?

Kai: Yes. I came out to my parents as gay when I was 18.

Their reaction was, “Kai, we know.” They were very outwardly supportive— they would never say anything meaningfully harmful to me. There is always this kind of this resistance that makes them a bit uncomfortable, and it makes it hard for me to share some parts of myself with them. They don’t really understand it, and they think that it could possibly put me in danger. It’s not something I talk about a lot with them. I didn’t tell them I did drag until about a year ago.

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Drag is not just an art form, but a quintessential part of self-exploration and growing up. It teaches you to be proud of the person you are, even if you still have moments of doubt. It teaches you to be okay with straying away from the person you thought you would once be. As Kai said, the most important lesson drag can teach you is to “just be patient with yourself and enjoy the ride.”

KAI

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NNATO

CATIE MA

459 MILES.

and self-reflect. But when I’m amidst miles of road and countryside, there’s a gravitating silence in the air that hat’s the distance between my home in Collegeville, prompts deep thought.

Pennsylvania, and Elon University taking the fastIt’s also definitely easier to lose myself in my inner est route. thoughts when there are only 180 miles until my next The road trip between my two homes is estimated to Waze direction. be anywhere from seven and a half to nine hours. Unless Focusing solely on the road in front of me, finding my tire deflates in Maryland, in which case my trip my way from one destination to the next, shifts my extends to a rather lengthy 15 hours, but hopefully, that mentality from the chaos of my daily life to free my was a one-time unlucky instance. mind. I block out my present struggles and spend time The duration of a road trip may be tiring and boring reflecting upon my past and future. for some, but I look forward to my drive at the beginning and end of each semester. It is easy for me to fill this large THE PAST. gap of time by doing the little things others may take for granted.

There’s arguably nothing more nostalgic for me than I spend the drive cruising down Interstate 95, connect- the flood of memories as I depart from the place I spent ing highways and backroads having a one-woman show my entire childhood, leaving my family and friends and singing too loudly for someone who has a terrible behind. voice. I love talking on the phone with an old friend or When I’m driving to school, it doesn’t usually occur checking in with my family to give them traffic updates, to me that I won’t be back in Pennsylvania for a few listening to my favorite podcasts when my throat grows months until I reach Fredericksburg, Virginia, a town raspy and, ultimately, just thinking. just before the halfway point of my road trip.

When I’m on the go nearly all day, flying from task to It may seem like just another ordinary suburban task, I rarely take the time to just stop to clear my head town to most people, but it’s become memorable to me

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because it’s the one-stop I have made on every single trip to and from school. In Fredericksburg, I immediately head to Wawa, a popular food and gas chain in some northern states on the East Coast. For me, though seemingly silly to others, going to Wawa is my last taste of home before I’m at Elon.

Growing up in a fairly small town meant there was only so much to do nearby. My childhood and early teenage years were marked by Wawa runs with my little brother and best friends—times I will always hold close to my heart.

As I leave Fredericksburg to continue my drive, I can’t help the overwhelming feeling of nostalgia as I realize Wawa trips— and my time with the people I grew up with—are fleeting memories now that I only temporarily live at home during the year and will eventually move away from it entirely.

There’s nothing like listening to the lyrics of mellow sad songs on the road as background noise for the sudden awareness that I’ve now spent the most time I ever will at once around my family and childhood friends.

THE FUTURE. Let’s be honest, it can be exciting but absolutely terrifying to dwell on.

For many college-aged kids like me, the future revolves around the overbearing pressure of becoming a “real” adult.

This includes transitioning from four classes a semester to working a 9-5 job.

As a 20-year-old sophomore, just the thought of being

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halfway through my college experience scares me a bit.

On my first road trip down to Elon at 18, I didn’t have a clue what the first chapter of my adulthood held in store for me. I was simply amazed at the fact that I had driven myself the longest I ever had and was the furthest south I had been in my entire life. Life was a state of pure bliss as a college freshman.

At 22, after my college graduation, I’ll make the drive up north to home for the final time. I don’t know exactly where I’ll live, the work I’ll do or the person I’ll be exactly, but hours on the road allow me to simultaneously daydream and worry about it all.

A whole new chapter of my adulthood begins at 22 too, just as it did at 18. Each is characterized by newfound independence, character development and fear of the unknown. We just develop a sense of maturity along the ride.

The trip combines my past and future through two main destinations—home and college—paralleling the cusp of adolescence into early adulthood.

Throughout my four years here, I’ll make almost the same drives up and back, yet the woman I become will change and grow for the better ■

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IMPOSTER SYNDROME AND THE REALITY OF LIVING WITH YOUR HEAD IN THE CLOUDS. ANNA CAVE | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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hen we’re little, we are asked what we want to be when we grow up. At that age, any answer becomes the right one. And why not, right? At such a young age, we don’t have the capability to attempt those seemingly impossible dreams, so there’s no need to shut them down. We marvel at the young mind’s ability to dream up fantastical careers. There’s no reason to tell the little girl who dreams of being an astronaut that the only people who go to space are billionaires who own big companies.

We expect those dreams to fade away long before they’re old enough to chase after them.

Once you’ve grown up a bit, out-of-the-ordinary dreams start to get reality checked. We find out that our hopes of being an artist will only pan out if we’re comfortable sharing a studio apartment with a roommate until the age of 30. Once our junior years of high school hit, we’re forced to make our first life-altering decision—and an expensive one at that—about where we might go to college. The narrative that we can be anything we want in life feels significantly less true once we see the price tag on the 4-year package that’s supposed to set us up for success. Each year that passes comes with an extra dose of reality, weighing us down until we feel forced into practicality.

And then there are the ones who break the cycle of conformity and go on to achieve all they were told they couldn’t. But they don’t have it as good as expected. Cue “ Lucky” by Britney Spears.

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hose who go on to achieve the lives we envy on social media may fall victim to imposter syndrome, a phenomenon that was first detailed by Pauline Rose Clance, Ph.D. and Suzanne Imes, Ph.D. in the 1970s to describe high achieving individuals with the inability to process and accept their successes. People who deal with imposter syndrome have a mental block that leads them to believe that they are not as successful as others perceive them to be.

Even though we see people living these fantastic lives, it may not feel that way to them. They can be strangers to their own success, believing that they don’t deserve what they already have or that they aren’t qualified enough to hold certain positions.

Imposter syndrome is typically associated with academics and professional success, but can also impact social life and general perfectionism. Anxiety and depression often come with the syndrome and can become debilitating if not addressed.

Though imposter syndrome is felt internally, it can stem from outside factors. Societal pressures can weigh heavily on the need to be high-achieving.

So much value is placed on professional success and advancement, which can make sense when we reflect on the fact that most working Americans revolve their lives around the typical 40-hour workweek.

Work is central to most people’s lives, so it makes sense that so many people base their worth on their work.

When it feels like your value resides in the professional success that you don’t think you deserve, it can be incredibly difficult to manage your life. Imposter syndrome manifests differently in everyone. Some try to push through difficult tasks without asking for help as an attempt to prove their worth, even though there isn’t anything wrong with leaning on others. Some procrastinate so they don’t have to face the impending doom that comes with working towards something you don’t feel you deserve.

Insecurity runs rampant in these “imposters.”

Even when you complete something, they’re left waiting for approval or a signal that their work lives up to the expected standards. And the cycle can continue, as many will use their success as a justification for the massive amount of anxiety they may have felt as they completed the project, even if that anxiety was unnecessary.

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So how do we begin to fight this syndrome? The good news is that if you’re feeling like an imposter, you probably aren’t one. The fact that you’re even doubting yourself points to the fact that you’re aware of your high levels of success and have deep care to continue on that path.

There are a few ways to combat those phony feelings. Talking to both mentors and mentees can be incredibly beneficial toward recognizing your own success. On one end, talking to a mentor can give you the confirmation you need that you are

THE GOOD N YOU’RE FEEL

YOU PROBAB where you are because you deserve to be. On the other end, talking to someone who looks up to you, and to whom you may be able to impart wisdom, can help you put your achievements in perspective.

Take risks when it comes to how you typically handle the manifests of imposter syndrome. If you’re someone who typically waits until your work is perfectly polished before getting an opinion, let someone look over it at an earlier stage. If you feel nervous talking about your achievements in social settings, allow yourself to vocalize your successes without shame. Chances are, the feedback you’ll receive will be more positive than you may expect.

And, of course, there’s always ol’ reliable: therapy.

Imposter syndrome can be seriously debilitating, so talking with a professional about how you feel and the train of thoughts that lead you toward self-doubt can be incredibly helpful.

NEWS IS IF LING LIKE

BLY AREN’T ONE.

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t’s possible to celebrate your success, and it’s possible to achieve dreams that seem unrealistic. There’s something special about going after what you really want and making your life feel a little bit more exciting.

Remember that the person who judges you the most is always going to be yourself.

It’s okay— good, even— to cut yourself some slack and stop taking yourself so seriously. Have some patience and empathy for yourself and your achievements. And remember, you’re actually pretty f*cking cool for chasing after your dreams. Not everybody does ■

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YOU’RE ACTUALLY PRETTY FOR CHASING AFTER YOUR DREAMS. NOT EVERYBODY DOES.

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A RICH MAN$ WORLD MAYA DRABCZYK

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et’s be honest with ourselves. Money is everything. Okay—maybe not everything, but it’s definitely more important than people are willing to admit. Finances are a sensitive subject across all economic classes. From elementary school to retirement homes, the topic of money can always be difficult to discuss. Although personal funds may be a commonly unspoken subject, the amount of money an individual has often reveals itself in different ways.

When we were kids, the type of sneakers worn on the playground mattered. Then, slowly and somewhat silently, brands of shoes turn into what college you attend (if you attend college), what your zip code is and what type of car you drive. These things are materialistic, and while not everyone cares whether you sport a Honda or a Porsche, having money still makes a difference in life.

The question of whether or not money buys happiness is debatable, but it definitely provides individuals with an advantage. This monetary leg-up can purchase all sorts of benefits—and not just materialistic things.

Money is the difference between life and death. The difference between having money and not having money determines where you buy your groceries, whether or not you have healthcare, where you go to school and many other aspects. Almost every choice made in life is determined by how much money an individual has, whether acknowledged by society or not.

As college students, we’re all over the spectrum when it comes to our money—and Elon is no exception.

On Monday, November 15, 2021, Elon University announced that it would be raising tuition by 9% for the 2022-2023 school year, bringing the total tuition—including room and board—to $56,127 per year. For some students, the tuition increase is a small price to pay considering the quality of education that Elon provides them with each day. But for others, the tuition increase brings stress and apprehension.

This anxiety does not come without reason, with the Student Loan Debt reaching $1,750,707,560,000 in 2021, according to the Education Data Initiative. As of 2022, 43.4 million people have some amount of federal student loan debt. According to the Education Data Initiative, the average federal student loan debt balance an individual has is $37,113.The pandemic did not help the rise of student debt either, with the nationwide total student loan debt balance increasing by 8.28% in 2020 alone. In summary, students are struggling.

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The average day of a college student is hectic. From classes to meetings, to appointments and applications, students are lucky if they make it to bed before midnight. Added financial stress is the last thing most college students want.

For many working students, there is no choice when it comes to having a job. One Elon student, who chose to remain anonymous, shares their experience with juggling a job while enrolled as a full-time student.

“Getting a job in college was not required for me, but highly suggested by my parents.

Without a job in college, I would feel financially unprepared for life after college. It was important for me to feel financially stable

assign. When juggling both, my motivation decreases, which oftentimes does not help with my mental health. I tend to overwork myself and not give myself enough time to rest or hang out with friends. Getting my work done can be a challenge when working shifts and trying to stay actively involved with other organizations on campus. Elon gives students so many amazing opportunities for involvement, but it can be quite difficult to make time for multiple organizations due to your course load.”

With these years comes academic, social and financial stress. The more commitments one adds to their schedule, the less time they have to focus on their well-being and academics.

As of 2022, 43.4 million people have some amount of federal student loan debt. and independent. I am definitely more stressed and busy. I feel a weight on my shoulders. It is hard for me to prioritize my job or the quality of my academic work. That is definitely a difficult decision I feel I shouldn’t have to make. Having a job just adds more items to my long to-do list. I often have trouble focusing on my academics in class and outside of class, because my job has so many requirements.”

Another student, who also choose anonymity, described the stress that juggling a job with academic responsibilities puts on their mental health.

“I often find myself very overwhelmed when balancing my class and work schedules. I understand that I have agreed to make time for both commitments, but it can be quite challenging to impress employers and still manage to complete the hours of homework and out-of-class projects professors FEATURES | 36

It is important to remember that money means a lot, and everyone comes from a different place. Conversations need to happen, but even more so, assumptions need to not happen. Respecting different backgrounds is a crucial part of having productive conversations regarding money, and we at The Edge encourage people to be mindful when they choose to engage. ■

Conversations need to happen, but even more so, assumptions need to not happen.

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F A IDG FASHION | 38

I DARE GREATLY ABOUT FASHION SADIE MARGOLIS

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s Urban Dictionary so eloquently states, the definition of IDGAF is quite simply, “I don’t give a f***—something to say when someone is annoying you about something you don’t care about or when their opinion is not valued by you.”

We at The Edge DGAF, or in our terms, Dare Greatly About Fashion. With a chic connotation, we believe this newfound attitude towards wearing comfortable, colorful and confident pieces will put your self-assurance and self-image in vogue. There is no f*cking around here.

Envision yourself flipping through a magazine and you come across a spread from an acclaimed designer (think Gucci), and you can’t stop yourself from staring at the page. Why? Because you’re trying to decide if the

mismatched pieces really look good together. But then you remind yourself that it’s couture, so these designers have the power to make a fashion statement through their artistry.

Gucci has attracted millions of people in this fashion by establishing a name, creating bold, contrasting articles and inspiring conflict between tasteful and tacky. Similarly, the late Italian fashion designer Giovanni Maria “Gianni” Versace was known for his audacious fashions and glamorous lifestyle. According to Style Barista, Versace said, “Don’t be into trends.

Don’t make fashion own you, but you decide what you are, what you want to express by the way you dress and the way you live.”

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ike Versace and Gucci, YOU have the power to wear whatever pieces you want. Embody your personality through style and express how you want others to perceive you, regardless of the label. Why? Because you, too, can not GAF. Bold colors and color-blocking have taken the fashion industry by storm and can be key to self-expression.

Color-blocking is defined by Gianluca Russo on Byrdie as “mixing two to three (if not more) bold and often contradictory colors together in one ensemble to make for an exciting statement piece.” Color blocking was largely popularized by Black fashion designer Stephen Burrows in the 1970s disco days and is now being used as a means to outwardly express emotions.

While emotions are internal feelings, including

happiness, sadness, fear and anxiety, we can DGAF and express them externally by embracing patterns and color to influence our mood and show our individuality. Red: strength, power, passion; Orange: energy, bravery, warmth; Purple: ambition, creativity, spirituality; Blue: tranquility, loyalty, trust; Green: nature, healing, soothing; Yellow: optimism, happiness, sunshine.

We are facing a mental health crisis on college campuses today. According to College Stats, 80% of students are overwhelmed by their responsibilities, with 50% of students rating their mental health as “below average.”

It’s time to break the stigma associated with mental illness. One way to raise awareness is through fashion.

In the 1950s, Gucci’s popularity grew with celebrities wearing the iconic brand on the stage, on the big screen and on the streets of LA and NYC. Today, we see similar daring expressions through fashion and makeup in the accredited HBO Max series, Euphoria. In the developing, dramatic episodes, the characters turn to fashion to evolve as well. Their styles reflect their inner feelings or how they want to present themselves to the world. Furthermore, the students embrace their individuality and conceal their insecurities while daring greatly about the possibilities of fashion and flair. With the disco ball texture of Maddy’s prom look, she dismisses her insecurities about her looks and turbulent relationship with her boyfriend Nate. She doesn’t want to feel the weaknesses that she hides so well through her amount of confidence, and she does so by using fashion.

This spring through summer, we challenge you to take a hint from our favorite designers and characters and scream, “IDGAF!” ■

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ALEXANDRA ELLIOTT

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ou’ve probably heard the first part of this saying a few different times throughout your life. However, the second part is less commonly known, and yet arguably the most important. This idea might seem controversial, especially to life-long people-pleasers, but recognizing the truthfulness behind it is an essential first step to reclaiming your life.

As with most habits, becoming a people-pleaser might be a slow process. You say yes to going out with your friend. Not because you want to, but because she wants to. You say yes to taking on more at work. You’re already exhausted, but it would make your boss happy.

Eventually, you start saying yes to everything, even though you’re screaming no on the inside. This internal voice is silenced over time, as it’s being ignored and pushed away, and that silence is a symbol of something deeper: a loss of identity.

When you people-please, your sense of self-worth

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becomes determined not by how happy you are, but by other people’s happiness with you. While it may be hard to recognize, this way of living is ultimately self-destructive. You are burying your identity and losing yourself in the process.

College is the time to find yourself. What you believe in. What you want to do with your life. What your values are. By focusing on everyone else, you are wasting valuable time that could be put towards figuring yourself out.

As humans, we love comfort. The comfort of your parents’ approval, even if it means majoring in something you aren’t passionate about. The comfort of your two-year relationship, even if it doesn’t make you happy anymore.

What we fail to understand is that sometimes these comforts are, in reality, suffocating. Chasing comfort prevents us from pushing past our unease and uncertainty. The fear of upsetting others holds us captive in an unfulfilling life, and until we can move past it, we remain trapped in the shadow of other people’s wants and needs.

- CONSTANCE WU It’s not easy to just wake up one day and decide to stop being a people-pleaser. It’s a hard habit to break, especially since most people grow up thinking that they are expected to make others happy. Especially with young women, it is so difficult to adjust to saying no after saying yes for so long. You’re taught to be pretty so you can be admired. You’re told to be quiet so you don’t seem “annoying” or “controlling.” You learn to smile when you don’t feel like it because you don’t want to appear “stand-offish.” Eventually, you don’t find value in your individuality, but rather in others’ opinions of you.

We fear going against what is expected of us because we’ve been conditioned to answer to others, instead of ourselves. As you begin to step away from this way of life, you are going to make other people uncomfortable. It’s important to keep in mind that it is not your responsibility to make other people comfortable with your life choices. Ultimately, it’s YOUR life. You might outgrow friendships, deal with more conflict and feel lonely. All

of these circumstances are signs of growth, and the process is so worth it, despite the pain you might experience along the way.

You are never stuck in a life that you don’t want, whether that be with a major, relationship or job. At any time, you can make the choice to change your circumstances. There is this perception that everyone knows exactly what they want, but this isn’t true. Who we are and what we care about constantly change, and that is perfectly normal. Whatever you do, make sure that these changes are a reflection of you and not the people around you.

The ultimate question you have to ask yourself is, “Who is the most important person in my life?” The answer—every single time—should be a simple “me.”

Putting yourself first isn’t selfish, but rather necessary, especially when it comes to creating the life you want.

Your future self will thank you when your life reflects your own passions and values instead of everyone else’s.

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BEAUTY & WELLNESS | 48

MOLLIE LUND

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any of us have been driven by our emotions at some point in our lives. This is a normal facet of the human experience. We are sentient beings with big, complicated brains that allow us to assess and react to our surroundings and circumstances.

Our emotions are such an intrinsic aspect of our everyday lives that we often fail to acknowledge the power they can hold over us.

Thanks to the work of the late Dr. David Hawkins, we now understand the impact our emotions have on our physical and mental health. Dr. Hawkins was a celebrated psychologist, physician and spiritual teacher who is remembered for his Map of Consciousness as well as his bestselling novel, Power vs. Force. Hawkins’ groundbreaking research found that our emotions have measurable energy. It’s this emotional energy that causes the physiological sensations we often feel when an extreme emotional state has been triggered. Have you ever felt such an intense joy that you feel you could float? Or have you ever been so grief-stricken that your entire body aches?

These palpable physical sensations are the result of emotional energy passing through your body. According to Dr. Hawkins’ Map of Consciousness, each of us has a log level that determines the measurable energy level within our magnetic field. Our individual log level rises when we feel positive, high-energy emotions and falls when we feel negative, low-energy emotions. Hawkins’ logarithmic scale ranges between 1-1000 and is split into seventeen different energy levels which are labeled according to the emotions they represent.

Not only do our emotions have measurable energy, but they are also capable of promoting cell growth as well as cell death. Higher log levels associated with positive emotions, such as joy and peace, have been found to promote cell growth. Conversely, negative, low-log emotions such as anger and fear actually kill our cells.

When we suppress these negative emotions or react to them in unhealthy ways, we risk negatively impacting our mental health, physical health and general well-being at a cellular level. Additionally, our emotions are directly responsible for how we decide to show up in the world.

Seventy percent of our body’s total energy stores are emotional, not physical. By giving in to the negative thought patterns that result in low-energy emotions, we are depriving our bodies and minds of the energy we need to flourish.

Emotional regulation can be a tricky task.

Many go their entire lives without realizing that emotional regulation is possible. The first step to regulating our emotional state is understanding the connection between our emotions and thoughts. Human beings have two central thinking systems that are used to process and categorize information—controlled and automatic. Controlled thinking occurs when we are consciously contemplating a situation or concept, such as when we study for an exam. On the other hand, automatic thinking occurs subconsciously, as our inner monologue is constantly assessing our external surroundings. It’s this automatic processing system that is directly responsible for our feelings and emotions. Our brains create and sift through tens of thousands of ideas, memories and concepts in a given day. The automatic processing system allows us to subconsciously filter out unimportant information and focus on what is deemed important. Our brains identify what details are important according to our life experiences.

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The details that have historically been important in the past will likely be focused on again and again.

Internalized fears, hopes and beliefs also influence what details our brains may decide to focus on. Once our brains have decided what details are important, they will assign a meaning to these specific details, which results in our opinions and feelings on things.

While the automatic processing system allows us to navigate our lives with relative ease, it does not always work in our favor. We sometimes fall into negative thought patterns, which cause our brains to focus on less relevant pieces of information. When this happens, our brains assign meaning to a detail that is not grounded in the facts of our reality. This is referred to as negative filtering. For example, say you are invited to a dinner party, but you aren’t the biggest fan of some of the people who will be attending. You may mull over the prospect of going several times, but you’ll keep coming up with more and more reasons for why you would be miserable. You won’t have anyone to talk to, the food will probably be gross, you’ll get home too late—the list goes on and on. These negative assumptions trigger equally negative emotions that seem to reaffirm any beliefs you’ve established about the situation. Say you do end up deciding to go. You have already assigned so much dread and displeasure to the evening that you will continue looking for evidence that reinforces your preconceived beliefs. By spiraling into negative thought patterns and negative emotions, you are showing up with low energy and will likely not enjoy the night.

If your brain had instead assigned more optimistic meanings to the dinner party, you would’ve shown up with positive emotions and a higher energy level, and you would be much more likely to have a great evening out with friends.

Learning how to process these negative emotions in a productive way helps us escape the s p i r a l i n g t h o u g ht patterns that tax our mental health and exacerbate issues such as anxiety. The first step in this process is allowing BEAUTY & WELLNESS | 50

yourself to feel the unwanted emotion without judgment or fear. Facing the emotion head-on rather than suppressing it will allow you to begin processing the emotion both mentally and physically.

Next, it is helpful to try identifying the thoughts that contributed to the unwanted feelings. The act of identifying your thoughts as thoughts, rather than objective truths, is known as metacognition. This allows you to put the situation in perspective and identify the extreme and potentially baseless beliefs that are creating your negative mood. By adopting metacognition practices such as journaling and meditation, we are able to distance ourselves from involuntary thoughts and beliefs. After we recognize and analyze the automatic thoughts that contribute to negative feelings, we are able to consciously assign more positive meanings to the

situation. This process of actively assigning positive meanings to difficult situations makes it easier to identify the lessons and silver linings that are inherent in every life experience.

Our thoughts create our perception of reality. As a result, we are actively creating our own version of the truth. By harnessing the power of our thoughts through metacognition practices, we are developing the ability to maintain a more positive worldview.

Actively seeking out positive meanings and beliefs also provides an opportunity for unprecedented personal growth. You can use these practices to improve your mood, build confidence, alleviate anxiety and so much more.

We are the authors of our own stories. You can choose to focus your thoughts on whatever you so desire, so why not try and focus on the positives? It’s not always easy to break out of the long-held convictions and thought patterns that have constructed your sense of self and worldview. The good news is you quite literally have nothing to lose by trying.

Let us end with a bit of advice from Gandhi himself: "A man is but the product of his thoughts.

What he thinks, he is." ■

“A MAN IS BUT THE PRODUCT OF HIS THOUGHTS. WHAT HE THINKS, HE IS.” BEAUTY & WELLNESS | 51

GABY RIVAS-DE LEON

A more adult take on the book that taught thousands how to handle their first periods, first break-outs and first bras.

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ith careers looming, deadlines growing closer and the first fleeting feeling of love impounding, what no one tells you is that growing pains aren’t just for kids.

There are extreme differences between who you are now and who you were when

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you were 13. It gets even messier when you look at the changes in who you want to be when you grow up. Let this be the guide for the undergrad, the couple-ofyears-post-grad and all those messy, exhilarating years in between.

Working Only 9 to 5 Running on fumes does not equal work-life balance.

Repeat after me: Hustle Culture is Dead. We’ve been taught to become the ultimate yes girl, to swipe right on every opportunity that comes our way. But how can you enjoy the fruits of your own labor if you’re laboring the whole time?

We recognize there’s an inherent privilege in this advice, and this is not a decree to stop working towards your goals or to give up at your job.

We sat down with the freelance designer, podcaster, influencer and Elon alum, Katy Bellotte (@katybellotte), to talk about the damaging toll that comes with saying yes all the time. Bellotte worked in corporate marketing before turning to freelance design and social media creation full-time. She went from having a sign at her desk that read “HUSTLE” to realizing that the glamorization of the workaholic (known collectively as #girlboss) was not sustainable. There was tremendous guilt, she said, for feeling like she was simultaneously

working too hard and not working hard enough. She then realized that there was sometimes greater success in just saying no.

“I’m capable, I’m skilled, I’m able to do a lot of different things. I recognize that, but that doesn’t mean I have to do it all the time,” said Bellotte.

There’s no reward for burnout. Recognize that success can be measured over time and not always through speed. It’s important to have fun on the weekdays and to keep your work at work. Go a step further and glamorize your 5-9, or lay in bed until the sun sets. Your 20s, like your tween years, can be full of exploration, promise and discovery. Allow yourself the time to make that happen.

“ Working yourself to the grind will not just lead you to burnout, it will also cause your relationships to suffer.”

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Loving is Easy All lies.

Songwriters belting about the great loves of their lives must have never been in the body of a 20-something girl.

Relationships, from the platonic to the flirtatious, never seem to stay simple.

Let’s change that.

You need to be selfish.

Women are often taught to be people-pleasers, to give in because they are worried about the repercussions of their actions. This can show up in the workplace, in friendships and in relationships.

People-pleasing is the conditioned need to seek value and affirmation outside of yourself, and in placing your selfworth in the hands of others, you constantly seek approval elsewhere. This can lead to unhealthy relationships and patterns, where you constantly feel insecure and inadequate.

But the best—and the longest— relationship you will ever have is with

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yourself. A healthy relationship would never make you sacrifice your standards or boundaries, and if you start to recognize that you consistently buckle under pressure, take a step back.

“Stop and think, ‘Am I saying yes to this because I can do it and I want to do it, or because I want them to be happy with me?’”

Bellotte advises.

The idealized romantic trope is that love is uncomplicated and undemanding. There’s an innate sense of understanding that seems to radiate between two people’s eyes every time you turn on the TV. Translated to real life, it promotes t he ide a t hat communicating expectations is pushy, not purposeful. No one can read your mind. Friends or significant others can’t anticipate your desires unless you verbalize them.

Striking Out on Your Own Cheerleading without the pom-poms.

“I feel like you, after college, realize how capable you are,” said Bellotte. “ It’s my feet carrying me into that meeting, my mouth moving and giving ideas, my brain working.”

The hardest thing about growing up might not be leaving the safety net of childhood homes and college towns—it’s realizing that you have to shed any imposter syndrome and become your own advocate. Taking ownership of your life can be difficult, especially when it feels like the whole world is pushing back.

Bellotte said she felt stupid all the time in college, and she still remembers the professors that sought out her failure.

It’s so easy to feel like you don’t belong, and that luck is the only thing keeping you at an internship or job.

“For those people who feel that they don’t know enough in their job or like they’re a fish out of water, remember that you have something they don’t,” said Bellotte.

Beyond needing recognition from an outside source, striking out on your own means having the autonomy to make

your own choices. Good or bad, you have one person to hold accountable at the end of the day: yourself.

Entering your 20s can be confusing and strange, and it comes with so much more than what you bargained for. But the great part about being so young is that you gain as much as you lose. The Care and Keeping of You is not about how to appear like you have it all from the outside. It’s not about how to win over others or learn new party tricks. It’s about caring enough for the deepest parts of yourself so that everything else shines through■

“The best thing to do is to always invest in yourself.”

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Travel Spots Based On Your Star Sign

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e are all guilty of catching ourselves daydreaming about exotic destinations around the globe, and what it would be like to visit each one. When there are so many important options and factors to consider when planning your travels, it can be difficult to narrow the seemingly endless list of choices down to one. We have a unique solution for determining your next trip, all based on your star sign! Astrology reveals elements of everyone’s personality and energy, which correlates to how and where you may like to spend your vacation time. Using your star sign as a guide, we planned possible locations for your future travels.

CATIE MANNATO | TRAVEL EDITOR

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taurus

ARIES Mar 21-Apr 19 Full of a zest for life, Aries is always on the go and relishes the finer things in life. This fire sign is in need of an energetic, dynamic scene where it’s next to impossible to experience boredom— we suggest Dubai! Aries can begin their day sandboarding the dunes of Dubai’s desert terrain. Next, head downtown to walk along the edge of a skyscraper at Sky Views Dubai with an unforgettable view of the city.

Top the day off with an exquisite Argentinian-style dinner at Asado in the Palace Hotel—nothing less of luxury for an Aries!

gemini may 21-jun 20 Gemini tends to analyze and ponder—sometimes too much—about the little details. The intense curiosity of these air signs fuels a necessity for Gemini to experience the world around them, and they often feel as though they do not have enough time to do so. A perfect mind escape for Gemini is a South American adventure to Paracas Sea Cliffs off the southern coast of Peru.

Here, Gemini could admire the beauty of the nature reserve by taking in its marine wildlife. Visitors enjoy photographing pelicans, flamingos, dolphins, sea lions and Humboldt penguins.

Gemini can also venture off to the beaches of the cliffs to see the famous Playa Roga, the Red Beach, known for its dark-reddish sand that stands in sharp contrast to the stunning white cliffs in the distance.

apr 20-May 20 Taurus values a steady routine and appreciates physical beauty. An earth sign, Taurus is the most in tune with their senses, valuing touch and taste more than any other star sign. In that case, we recommend Bologna, Italy, for some of the world’s finest cuisine in a country where food is an integral part of culture.

Italy’s “culinary city” boasts its freshly handmade tortellini, mortadella and other authentic Italian food found in Bologna’s many family-run restaurants.

Taurus’ vacationing here can live out their foodie dreams while also exploring Bologna’s green areas on hiking tours of castles, waterfalls and fortresses just outside the city.

cancer jun 21-jul 22 Sympathetic, intuitive and sentimental, Cancer highly values family and friends. Fiercely loyal, this water sign takes comfort in the presence of things that remind them of those close to them and the warm feeling of home. An intimate trip with a partner, close friends or family in Salida, Colorado would please any Cancer sign. In Salida, centered in Colorado’s “Banana Belt,” Cancer can cherish the state’s vast mountains without the constant brisk, snowy weather. We recommend heating up at Salida’s Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort, where Cancer can relax in manmade thermal pools overlooking Chalk Creek and the valley below it. Cancer can also venture just west of the town for an adventure at the Monarch Ski Area.

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leo

jul 23-aug 22

The most charismatic of the star signs, Leo enjoys being the star of the show and dedicating themselves to achieving anything they put their mind to. Confident, natural-born leaders, the fire sign would thrive exercising their competitive spirits while in Zimbabwe with white-water rafting and bungee jumping. Leo can plunge right into Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, or conquer the rapid waters of Zambezi River— after all, Leo the Lion is King of the Jungle!

sagittarius Always a ball of never-ending energy, Sagittarius is open-minded and seeks out adventure in their everyday lives. This fire sign is especially in tune with their wanderlust side, since they are typically known as the travelers among the star signs. Ready to conquer whatever they set their mind to, we selected a trip to New Zealand’s South Island for a wide variety of thrilling escapades. Sagittarius can choose a moment of boldness and skydive over Queenstown. Next, take things a little slower by embarking on a leisurely kayak tour in the Marlborough Sounds. This sign can top off the neverending adventure by swimming with dolphins in Kaikoura.

jan 20-feb 18

AQUARIUS Among Aquarius’ you will find a mix of electric and quieter personalities. Understanding and empathetic, this air sign includes intellectual individuals who would thrive on a South African getaway to the town of Grahamstown. Grahamstown, rich in the country’s history and previous center of war, suits the Aquarius who like to lay low with its tours of historic architecture and museums. For the outgoing Aquarius, Grahamstown is home to a vibrant nightlife with an array of bars and restaurants to linger at, as well as an up-and-coming arts scene with the country’s National Arts Festival. A happy medium for Aquarius is Grahamstown’s nearby nature reserves that house the endangered Big 5: lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and buffalo.

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jan 20-feb 18

capricorn dec 22-jan 19 Structured, serious and responsible, Capricorn likes to be in control and set plans. Enjoying their independence, this earth sign needs a step-by-step itinerary for their next trip. Capricorn signs can outline their time how they please throughout the British Virgin Islands in the Caribbean. With 16 of its islands inhabited, traveling in the British Virgin Islands allows Capricorn to schedule daily trips via ferry to popular tourist islands like Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost Van Dyke. These star signs can marvel at the islands’ resorts, white sand beaches, snorkeling and deep-sea fishing. We recommend that Capricorn experience The Baths National Park, North Sound, White Bay and Smuggler’s Cove Beach.

pisces feb 19-mar 20

scorpio virgo Aug 23-sep 22 Virgo approaches life methodologically and carefully curates every decision they make. Self-aware perfectionists who do not thrive in uncomfortable situations, these earth signs would adore a relaxing Scandinavian getaway to Nordfjord, Norway, no matter the season. Nordfjord, with its unique coastal landscape to explore, is the perfect place for Virgo to reach their step goals for the day, enjoy a glacier walk in the wintertime or a stroll on the beach when it’s warmer.

These signs can take the adventure a step further by hitting Nordfjord’s ski centers, scuba diving, canoeing, fishing and more.

oct 23-nov 21 The most passionate of all the star signs, Scorpio is known to be dedicated and assertive.

This water sign coincidentally loves to be near the water and prefers to spend free time with their partner, so a Canadian river cruise through the Rideau Canal would best suit this sign. The canal stretches 202 kilometers long with a chain of breathtaking panoramic views of rivers and lakes, from Kingston to Ottawa, to delight Scorpio and their traveling companions.

libra sep 23-oct 22 Libra values tranquility and the company of others, since they do not like to be left alone. It is also important for this air sign to maintain their health and appearance. So, Libra, grab a few of your best friends and head to Fiji for a trip of pure relaxation at one of the world’s top spa resorts. Enjoy some mindful relaxation with yoga classes, massages and facials at Fiji’s Como Shambhala Retreat at Como Laucala Island. Libra will swoon over their Instagram-worthy morning view of the island’s majestic blue waters, sandy beaches and tropical rainforests.

Selfless and intuitive, Pisces is the friendliest sign and enjoys the company of others. This water sign is easily caught up in their inner thoughts and tends to focus on fantasy over reality, so a tour around Ireland of the country’s famous castles would suit their romanticized view of life. First up, Pisces signs can trek to Ireland’s 600-year-old Blarney Castle to see the legendary Blarney stone, a symbol of good luck. Next stop: admiring the Rock of Cashel, a castle rich in the country’s religious history and culture, which was once visited by old Irish kings and St. Patrick.

Finally, Pisces should round out their castle tour by checking out Slane Castle, located in the Boyne Valley. This castle is a venue for concerts where musical icons like The Rolling Stones have performed.

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