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HOUZINE MAGAZINE

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HOUZINE TEAM

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Andrea Reyes

PHOTO EDITOR

Jennifer Soliz

COPY EDITOR

Carol Mora

MAGAZINE EDITOR

Andrea Reyes

Photo by Carol Mora

march

Photo by Carol Mora

Photos by Carol Mora

Photo by Carol Mora

THE INSIDER SCOOP

2026-2027 Housing Applications

Miners! The 2026-2027 Housing application is still open! Now that we’re halfway through the semester, be sure to submit your application.

Students are able to log into the Resident Portal and self select their space. Room selection will be available through May 31st.

SUMMER APPLICATIONS

Students planning to stay on campus this summer are encouraged to apply now. The Summer 2026 application is available on the resident portal.

Scan the QR code below to view our 2026 Summer Sessions and Rates.

A perfect event to tap into your artistic side, and walk away with a free room decoration. It’s also a great chance to meet neighbors around Miner Village.

Tuesday, March 24 at 6:00 PM. Summit Hall, Miner Village

If you have midterms after Spring Break, we feel you! And we want to help. Join us for a quiet, high-focus study environment. Low-sugar snacks will be provided to avoid that productivity killing crash. Testing supplies such as Scantrons and bluebooks will also be provided.

Sunday, March 29 at 7:00 PM. Horizon Hall, Miner Heights

SCREEN

LA LA LAND

La Land (2016)

If you’re looking for a movie that will make you dance and reﬂect about life at the same time, La La Land is for you. Directed by Damien Chazelle, it follows the story of Mia (Emma Stone) and Sebastian (Ryan Gosling), an aspiring actress and jazz pianist chasing their dreams in Los Angeles, who are challenged by the dilemma between love and ambition.

Genre: Musical, Romance, Comedy & Drama

Photo via IMBd

TIME

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS, PART 2

Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (2011), directed by David Yates: Recommended by one of our staff members, Silvana who describes it as “full of emotions: sadness, more sadness, emotion, happiness, commotion. The visuals and lighting are incredible, and the special effects are surreal.”

Genre: Drama, Adventure, Mystery, Suspense

Photo via IMBd

Photo by Carol Mora

ON THE PRESSURE TO BE AHEAD

Late at night, it’s easy for doubt to creep in. One moment you’re scrolling through updates from friends and classmates, and the next you’re wondering whether everyone else is moving faster than you.

If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. We live in a world where growing up feels like a nonstop competition. But the truth is simple: you’re not behind, you’re just pressured to believe you are.

We forget that everyone moves through life on a different timeline. What looks like the “right” path for one person might be completely wrong for someone else.

That’s why it’s worth stepping back and asking yourself: “Is this the path I actually want?” And if you don’t know the answer yet, that’s okay. Figuring things out takes time.

Social media doesn’t make it easier. While there’s nothing wrong with sharing achievements, it undeniably fuels comparison. Most posts don’t show the late nights, the failures, or the uncertainty behind the scenes, which is why comparing is not worth your time.

Photo by Carol Mora

Family expectations add another layer of pressure. They don’t always see the full picture of what students are navigating, which makes many hesitate to change majors or career paths even when their goals shift.

Student Victoria Holguin, Computer Engineering major shared:

“I have never changed my major, but it’s also because of the pressure… like, oh, you already chose one thing.

Especially from my parents, I feel like it would come off as a bad look to them if I changed my major, because it would seem indecisive, or like I don’t know what I want.” We can’t blame older generations either. Different eras shape different expectations. Their world followed a more linear path: school → job → family. Today’s students face something entirely different: more competition and uncertainty, but also more options.

Family expectations can guide us, but they shouldn’t deﬁne our worth or dictate our pace.

Victoria added:

“Honestly, this is something that does happen to me. Like, for example, a lot of my friends have had internships before, and I didn’t have one last summer. So I was like oh my god, I’m probably behind. It’s like I’m not getting this experience or being productive. But there’s a saying in Spanish that I always relate to that says A cada santo le llega su día. So in my mind it’s like if it will happen, it will happen. You just have to be patient. You have to put in the effort, but also understand that it won’t always turn out how you want, but it’s okay.”

Of course, everyone’s circumstances are different. Some students have more room to pause or change direction than others. That doesn’t make anyone’s journey less valid. Not everyone starts from the same place or has the same ﬂexibility

The reality is that people “peak” at different ages. We need to value the rest of our lives too, friendships, small joys, rest, not just achievements.

As filmmaker Guillermo del Toro once said:

“Yo nunca me sentí más acabado y viejo que a los veintitantos. Decía: ‘Ya me pasó la vida y no hice nada’. Pero aquí estoy para decirles que no: tienen un — de tiempo.’

Editor’s update: This opinion piece was written back in December 2025, same time I spoke to Victoria. In that same month, she ended up getting the internship!

SPOTLIGHT of the month

by Andrea

Photo

WHITNEY ELLIS

Senior Coordinator: Miner Village

Can you introduce yourself and tell us what you do on campus?

“My name is Whitney Ellis, and I am the senior coordinator for Miner Village, which basically means I oversee what would be 8 RA’s and 3 DA’s, and we help things stay up and running at Miner Village”

What are you most looking forward to in this position?

“I think I shared with my team that I had my 30 day meeting with the Director, and that conversation really reminded me about why I wanted to take this job and reminded me of my passion for residence life. And just him encouraging me to tap into my creativity, to try new things”

Movie or show you recommend?

“I recently watched “Accused” on Hulu. I think it's a really interesting show. They take real court cases or at least parts of the real court case and they act it out. But it’s really eye-opening how your life can change in an instant, even the best of intentioned people”

Photo courtesy of Whitney