IBCoMagazine Issue 4 |2018 - 2019 |

IBCOMAGAZINE

THE FINAL ISSUE. LIMITLESS. THE FINAL ISSUE. LIMITLESS. THE FINAL ISSUE. LIMITLESS. THE FINAL ISSUE. LIMITLESS. THE FINAL ISSUE. LIMITLESS.

COLOPHON 2

EDITORIAL TEAM Editor-in-Chief

Copy Editor

Temi de Groen

Ashe Aziz

Art Director

Angel Esajas

DESIGNERS & ILLUSTRATORS Alejandra Murcia Femke van Bruggen Myley van Prehn

Roos de Waard Zofia Jalowieka Louise Lu

PHOTOGRAPHERS Anano Shalamberidze Max Peeters

WRITERS & BLOGGERS Salem Asghdom, Ana Mishkovska, Cece Arroya, Effie Korpershoek, Fé van Ham, Karim Oteify, Diana Zavyalova, Crystal Goh Rawding, Tessa Peterse, Renée Mötter, Donya Kaersenhout, Antonia Radmacher, Kat Nivera

Nicky Papilaja, Nicoleta Ciobanu, Floortje Passchier, Tasha Mhishi, Zeynep Kundaracilar, Varvara Porenchenkova, Giani Kasanmonadi

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CONTENT 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 4

Sunscreen o

Citizens of e

Travel destin Staycation

Summer mus

Sunflowers (p

Glass skin? I’

Caster Seme

Duckfaces a

Friendship so

I watched Sp

Summer play

TS

out, screens off

everywhere and nowhere

nations

sic festivals

poem)

’ll have one please

enya

oulsucker

pecial and I can’t relate

ylist

IBCOMAGAZINE

and Influencers

5

read more

check us out

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ear Readers,

As the 2018-2019 school year comes to a close, so does the journey of this particular IBCoMagazine team. Our combined hard work, determination, and for a few, even some sacrifices, have shown that nothing is really limitless.

Well, nothing is limitless without all that work. Whether they are boundaries we create in our minds, or just those that come across us - there are ways around them. So summer of ‘19 might be your time to realize that you are, to repeat once more, limitless.

This issue is meant to showcase our limitlessness, while helping you strive to yours. So fix your friendships and your skin, pick out the perfect places for summer sun (or just find out how to have fun staying indoors), and read what our amazing team wants you to hear.

We hope you enjoy this issue, IBCoMagazine Editorial Team 2018-2019

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e n ou e r c t, ns

ns off: break up with your smartphone this summer Written by Effie You’re cramming in those last few chapters, a few more papers, deadlines and presentations. The end is near, the academic year is almost over. The cold days of Dutch winter are slowly making way for longer, warmer days. As you sit behind your laptop in a crowded, boilingly- hot Polak building, you’re fantasizing about the days of which you can hang out at the beach, no papers on your mind, as you sip on your cold bottle of coke and scroll through your Instagram feed instead of canvas.

Wait... what 8

?

W

ith summer break approaching quickly, I started thinking of my summer plans. I am off to work at an outdoor activities lodge on an island in Canada. No signal, some WiFi and I will be spending most of my days outside. A part of me started to freak out. ‘Why do I want to do that?!’ As a communication and media student, we are ought to know most about what is going on in the digital world, and all the important things of our studies and lives revolve around, well, the worldwide-web.

As a media student I am all for the advantages modern communication technologies provide us with. However, I think it is time for us to take a real critical look at our smartphone behavior. Especially since I was still stressing out about what I would do without my phone this summer. In order to prepare for this adventure, I downloaded an app called ‘Moment’, in order to log my smartphone behavior. The results shocked me.

I picked up my phone over a hundred times that day and spent 31% of my waking life glued to my screen. As someone who is not even that into their phone and only uses it for news consumption, texting and the occasional Instagram scroll, I started realizing how much we rely on these tiny devices, which are keeping us away from the ‘real people in the real world’. Checking our phones has become a habit. We forgot what it is like to be bored, or what to do in uncomfortable situations. Because, instead of facing these situations, we face our phones.

I am not saying that everyone needs to abandon their phones for two months to go hang out in a forest, but I am sure that limiting your time spent online will make you feel more present in the now. You can post that selfie a few days later, and you don’t need to reply to every text right away. The status update can wait, how about updating your friends in real life first?

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CITIZENS OF EVERYWHERE AND NOWHERE: THE THIRD CULTURE KID

Written by Kat

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rd

3

k i d culture

Like any student around this time of the year, I’m looking forward to the summer holiday. As an international, I’m even more excited to visit my home country the Philippines but sometimes I go back feeling like a foreigner. Having lived abroad for more than 13 years, I’ve become a third culture kid; someone who grows up in a country other than what is listed on their passport or where their parents grew up.

IBCoM is a multi-cultural study so there’s no doubt other students feel the same way but Erasmus University takes pride in being an international campus and there are thousands of students from places other than the Netherlands. Even if you grew up in the country you are from, you can have the same experiences when you immerse yourself in new cultures you strongly relate to. I believe the experiences of third culture kids are important, and it helps understand how we construct our understanding of self and belonging.

The term was picked up by two sociology researchers in the 1950s and used it to describe what happened to their American children after they worked and lived abroad. These individuals go through changes in the way they behave and communicate, what they consider norms and values, and even their whole worldview. Someone who has spent a considerable amount of time in multiple cultures apart from their own integrates elements of those cultures into their lifestyle, creating a third entirely new one.

Sometimes I had problems after realizing I was a third culture kid; I almost never felt like I had a home culture, one culture that I truly felt part of. Either, I was too “foreign” to be part of the culture I lived in and other times I was too “different” to be part of the culture my family comes from.

Sometimes, I felt aware of the reality I lived in and sort of lost my sense of identity when I understood that I was never going to feel at home again.

So many opportunities became available to me after I lived away from my home culture and it ultimately shaped who I am now. I went to schools where most people lived away from where they were from and did extra-curricular activities all about being international. I get to travel to places that would otherwise be far and difficult to travel to and experience cultures instead of reading about it.

I had a greater understanding of the world and its people. I am appreciative of the freedom I have been given as a third culture kid and I am more than grateful to have these experience despite feelings of loneliness. It is an irreplaceable opportunity.

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Travel file

Travel destinations.

you would not normally think Written by renee

S

ometimes you need to get out of the daily stress and expectations, because you just can’t remember last time you were on a break (haha, get the reference?).

If you feel that you are ready for something new besides of Paris, Amsterdam and other ‘mainstream’ getaways, you are reading the right article.

“Here is a list of undiscovered travel destinations for a quick round of re-energising!”

Bergen, Norway Norway is a country which is known for its fjords.

Consequently, most people travel to this country with the intention to see these fjords. Often, however, the cities in Norway (besides of course Oslo) remain slightly undiscovered. Bergen is a gorgeous city in Norway – from which you can book excursions to see the beloved fjords – which you must have visited at least once in your life.

Rich historical elements still influence the state of affairs nowadays, which makes for an attractive appearance of the streets and buildings and an idyllic atmosphere.

Cochem, Germany The city of Cochem is situated close to the Moselle river and is therefore great to visit if peace and quiet is what you need. The town has a real fairy tale-vibe with its picturesque streets, alleys and market squares. A large number of the city dates back to before the middle-ages, which creates an amazing scenery. Within the streets and the courts are bistros, bars and small restaurants where it’s always busy – but not crowded – with people. From Cochem, you can also walk or take a chairlift to the ‘Pinner Kreuz’ (pin cross) to enjoy the gorgeous view of the hills and meadows.

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Travel file

Coimbra, Portugal Being situated next to the Mondego river, Coimbra is a gorgeous city with an ultimate ‘summery’ holiday-feeling. The houses that are built upon the hills create a real Mediterranean atmosphere and this just makes you want to sit on the grass or on a boat and take in the view. However, don’t underestimate its worldliness. Coimbra locates several shopping malls with all the large brands and even has its own university. So, if you’re tired of the village-vibes, you can always turn to the more metropolitan side.

k of

Summer ‘19

Douglas, Isle of Man, British Isles The city of Douglas is the capital of the British Isle called ‘Man’. It lays at the mouth of the Douglas river and is the main port for commercial and business purposes. Nevertheless, the city is also well-known for its entertainment events, shopping facilities and historically rich landmarks.

“Douglas is the place to visit if you crave an active get-away within a bustling city.”

Take a walk through the 2-miles long bay or go to the malls to just shop till you drop. There is always something to do for everyone.

Salento, Italy Ever wondered what it feels like to be walking on sunshine? Well, Salento is the place to go. This gorgeous region in Italy is described as ‘Little Greece in Italy’, pointing out the great culinary presence in the region, but with the Italian vibes of romance and summer. Gorgeous beaches and charming towns leave you with intense feelings of relaxation and peace of mind at an instance. Some people even say the beaches do justice to those at the Maldives, and that already says enough. If you want to exchange the beach for a more active setting, there are great excursions to do too, for example by bike, to explore the region of Salento

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Seeing most of your friends going back to their own country or going on a vacation abroad, experiencing adventures, living their life, it may leave you with the question, what should I do? You’re here, and perhaps that’s a good thing, perhaps it was good to stay.

1. Learn solitude Your were surrounded by your friends, you were dependent on being with them. Not a bad thing of course, social connections are important for the mental mind. However, if without them you feel ‘lonely’, perhaps it’s good to learn how to be alone.

What is meant by that, is to find solitude in going to the movies alone, sitting in a coffee shop alone, go on a trip alone. Give yourself some time with the one person that will never leave your side, yourself.

However, on a staycation where the first two excuses are generally absent, it is easier to ignite a new passion. What some also may forget is what we loved in our childhood. So what did you love doing, and what passion did you forget you had? We focus too much on others, we focus too much on reaching the standards of success. No, it’s staycation time, start doing it again, just for the sake of doing it.

2. Find a summer job/internship

4. Find buddies also on staycation

It’s always good to gain some more experience. You know what they say, work hard, play hard. If money was an obstruct for you to go on vacation in the first place, this a good time to earn some extra pocket money. However, remember, to work does not always respectively mean to receive money. You can also work just for the fun of it, meaning meeting new people, helping people, talking to people, you name it. It may not work out, you may hate it, you may love it, but all is okay, because it’s vacation anyways.

As other friends may meet vacation friends, so can you do that by staying.

Learning to be alone is a good thing, but if you do not feel like that, or if you already know how to, it never hurts to reach out to other people. They can be from the sports club you attend to, a random stranger at a bus stop, that coincidentally was listening to your favourite band, or someone from the IBCoM group chat.

3. Start new/old beginnings

Along with that, here are some places to visit alone or with new friends. You can also look at issue 1, for some more hotspots in

Have you ever wanted to do something, or thought something was so cool, that you wanted to learn it? During the school year, we may say that we don’t have timewe have schoolwork to do, social activities to attend, eat, sleep and other things.

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5. That’s worth the picture

de of or go to the other si the world: Arnhem/Apeldoorn: l park Hoge Veluwe Nationa with deers Kaatsheuvel: eling Amusement park Eft based on Dutch fairytales Biddinghuizen: ibi HolAmusement park Wal best land with one of the ther Ne e roller coasters in th lands.

inhale some culture:

Assen: ulptures Big ancient stone sc

en Museum van Beuning Rijksmuseum Museum voorlinden Kunsthal Madurodam

Giethoorn: tch Described as the Du venice

by:

pleasant cafes near

The Hague: The Bookstor Cafe Sisi rdam Asian streetfood Rotte

Rotterdam: Round and round Pebbles (cat cafĂŠ) Lilith

Written by Louise Lu

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vibe

Festival guide

Summer

music

With the fourth term of IBCoM coming an end, the summer of 2019 has never fe so within reach. After months of hard wo meeting deadlines, and keeping up wi readings, us students are in for a well-de served break. Now, is there a better way celebrate the start of summer than by da cing all day long? I think not. To give yo some inspiration for which summer fest val you should be checking out this year, w have combined a list of festivals in all the b Dutch cities. The ingredients for a perfe summer festival include diversity in mus good atmosphere, originality, and locatio

festivals Written by Donya

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to elt ork, ith eto anou tiwe big ect sic, on.

Festival guide

Verknipt Festival- 22nd of June 2019, De Meern Verknipt is an Amsterdam based event organization specialized in techno and house, but their festival lineup reaches beyond just that. Situated alongside the striking Strijkviertel lake, Verknipt Festival is a stone’s throw away from the centrally located city of Utrecht.

With six stages hosting a multitude of genres, there is certainly enough choice to satisfy your entire friend group. The stages range from techno, house, disco, to urban and R&B and hosting stages include Nachtcollege, DEPOT, and Happy Feelings. In addition to plenty of stages where you can dance the day away, the sandy shoreline of the Strijkviertel lake and surrounding greenery will guarantee the perfect festival vibe. Bonus: Verknipt Festival is the weekend after term four exams.

Confetti Fest – 29th of June 2019, Rotterdam Feeling like partying a little closer to home? Confetti Fest in Rotterdam is the place to be. You might know the organizers of this festival by the name of Confetti Club, a Rotterdam based event organization which often has you dancing the night away in Annabel. For Confetti Fest, they have teamed up with Yardbird and Keilecafé for the very first edition of this outdoor festival. The lineup includes what Confetti Club is best known for, a mix of the very best hip hop, house, afro, disco, and R&B. The location is in the Keile District, right in the middle of Rotterdam’s industrial port and therefore promises to be the perfect background for a successful festival day out. Bonus: still got some first or second term resits? Fret Dekmantel Festival – July 31st – August 4th, Amsterdam Now, if you’ve still got to take on those very last resits or if you’ve already booked your post-exams vacation but still want to take advantage of the few sunny festival days the Netherlands sees, Dekmantel is the place to be. Hidden in the Amsterdamse Bos, Dekmantel Festival is one of the most diverse and original festivals of the summer. The surrounding greenery sets the stage for the most creative electronic music acts around the world. With six stages, acts range from primarily house and techno to other EDM based genres you have probably never heard of before. Take a chance and discover some new artists, genres, and friends in the middle of the summer.

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SUNFLOWERS.

You feel like pure sun, irradiating, filling me.

I feel you closer than my own skin.

The warmth of blood itself, rushing because my heart is beating faster.

You’re commanding my smile, the tense muscles, the slow breathing, the heat from within.

And all my sunflowers are pointing at you.

Is it the summer, that makes love stories be greater? Warm nights calling for lovers to run to each other?

Written by Cece Arroya

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and all my sunflowers are pointing at you.

@alexgowon

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Glass skin?

I’ll have one, please.

Written by Diana

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Caring for your skin is a form of art; the perfect strokes of applying and patting in your moisturizer, choosing the right type of products that the canvas — your very own countenance – will only benefit from is no walk in the park. Mix vitamin C with an exfoliating acid, and you’ll look like a tomato until you realize you’re doing something wrong; apply a moisturizer before a mask, and you’ll wake up in the morning with what feels like a plastic film draped around your face. It can get especially tricky with the hot weather we’re (hopefully) expecting this summer of ’19, and here are some tips on what to do to avoid looking like a flakey and simultaneously glistening donut.

1

Use water-based moisturizers The most important thing to keep in mind for the summer makeup’n’skincare mix is: do anything you can to not clog your pores. You can even stop wearing makeup completely – the tan will do its job, but regardless of your daily makeup routine, always apply moisturizer — day and night. This way you skin will always feel supple and fresh, and no nasty UVA/B rays will dare to dry it. A water based moisturizer in the morning will help your skin feel more lightweight and won’t mix up with sebum, clogging your pores, and better yet — a little goes a long way with gel moisturizers! Incorporate them into your daily skin care routine, and your skin will be grateful for a long time with no pimples and whiteheads.

2 Sunscreens are an absolute must You’ve probably heard about this one a lot. Premature aging, skin cancer, micro-tears… Some of these remain myths while the others pose a real problem. No need to go crazy with sunscreens, though. Recent research has found that the chemicals protecting your skin against UV-rays might actually have a negative impact on your mental activity. So don’t go lathering your face in 50+++ SPF sunscreen, thinking it’ll grant you eternal youth — use a mild sun block underneath a cream and a foundation/BB with 25-35 SPF, and you can walk around in the midday European sun without a worry.

3 Exfoliating acids are a no-go No one really wants their skin to look like a crepe. While crepes indeed look delicious on a plate, their texture and overall look are not exactly a perfect image for your skin. Rough patches, dark and bright spots, micro-tears — this is what we are trying to avoid. When you use exfoliating acids — whether AHAs or BHAs — the sun’s effect on them is magnified. When under direct sunlight, your skin’s barrier, weakened by chemical exfoliants, is much more susceptible to sunburn, since the UVrays penetrate it much more easily.

Make sure you don’t go absolute ham on physical exfoliators either — your face is not packed with as many dead skin cells as beauty blogs tell you.

Photosensitive skin sounds great in theory (#MajorInstaVibes), but once you get to know the term, things can get nasty real quick.

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WRITTEN BY SALEM ASGHDOM

CASTER SEMENYA

A STORY IN WHICH BLACK EXCELLENCE IS OPPRESSED TO IMPRESS WHITE AVERAGENESS.

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A

ruling by the Court Arbitration for Sport to prohibit Caster Semenya from racing against women in IAAF Diamond Doha unless she reduces the level of natural testosterone in her body. Semenya responds- in the most empowering way- by hauling a victory over an elite field in the 800 meter race.

The ruling and her response encapsulates Semenya and her determination, hard work and charisma. A black homosexual women from a South African town has, due to her physical appearance, dealt with the most unimaginable online and offline abuse. “She- male, transgender, a man, not woman- like” are descriptive words that still rank on the ‘nice comments’ side of the spectrum.

Semenya was born with both sexual organs and has both XX and XY chromosomes, but was and still identifies as a woman. Her physical appearance is, when comparing her to her sport colleagues, more toned, strong with a larger presence of muscles. She stands out. Where it is taught that standing out and being unique is a strong and good trait to have in sports, she is scrutinized and abused for it.

While there is a huge underlying debate about who should and shouldn’t belong in women’s sports, and who shouldn’t and should debate about this (spoiler alert: men shouldn’t), it seems and is unfair for Semenya to endure a toxic combination of racism, sexism and homophobia. A black woman winning races, trying to do what she does best whilst being exposed and used as a debate topic in all sport channels and online news, must to some extent create damage on one’s confidence and happiness.

Unless you’re Semenya. Because where toxic abuse is hurled, racial slurs are yelled and sickening comparisons are made, Semenya keeps quiet. She races, does her job, wins and shakes her opponents hands. A rule follower. Because if she would do anything else, it is only a matter of time before the pile of racism, sexism and homophobia stacks up.

“

Her ability, strength and determination should be celebrated, not oppressed.

Her fight is just like others. Her runs are just like others. Her ability to do the best she can is just as others. She is just as others...only better. In the days where she is told she can’t become a female athlete, she has become one of the world’s most visible. In a world where she is told to be less strong and fight less, she has shown an athlete’s greatest fight and strength. In a world where the sport system creates a ruling to oppress her black excellence, she overcomes and dominates above white averageness.

Forcing her to take drugs to lower her testosterone levels, just so she can be ‘just as strong’ as her other athletes is an insult and degradation to her legacy. It is not her responsibility to lower her standards just so she can stoop down to others’ level. Make the others work harder, in order to even adhere the tiniest bit to her standards. Black excellence is present and Semenya is the physical embodiment- don’t punish her for moving the body.

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THE EVOLUTION OF INSTAGRAM _

‘Sharing is caring’. It could easily be another cheesy Instagram caption, yet it is also exactly what seems to be inspiring society these days. Especially during the summertime the influence of the fourth most-downloaded app ever becomes noticeable when everyone’s timeline gets spammed with slick poses and picture perfect holiday destinations.

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HOW DID WE GET TO THIS POINT?

FROM NOT TO HOT It might be hard to imagine, but now-beloved Instagram was almost called Burbn.

In 2010 founders Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger had the idea to create an app that allowed people to see events near them, check in, and share the experience with other potential attendees through photos. Yet since this app was not the successful life changer that Systrom and Krieger had hoped it would be all sorts of data analytics tests were run, that eventually pointed out the one thing that people did use the app for: sharing photos. The idea of Instagram, instant camera and telegram combined, was born. Pictures of innocent living rooms, pets and duckfaces were soon all over the internet. Little did the creators know that only a few years later they could sell their app to Facebook for a rough 1 billion dollars.

BUT FIRST, LET ME TAKE A SELFIE With the takeover by Facebook, a huge commercialisation of the app was inevitable. Sponsored posts started popping up from every corner, and the idea of social influencers was immediately on the rise. A post on the app was no longer just a post, a post become an entire (staged) production. This became especially evident in vacation pictures, where the awkward vacation group photos made room for the perfectly placed cocktails in front of some heavily-edited blue sea. This Instagram 2.0, as one might call it, divided the app in two groups of people: those that were or wanted to become influencers, and those that watched and imitated influencers. A change that founders Mike Krieger and Kevin Systrom themselves were clearly not so keen on, the duo left the company soon after Facebook took over.

NOW WHAT? Over the years much research has been done on the topic of Instagram. It has indicated that all of the checking on Instagram definitely has downsides. Loneliness amongst teenagers for one is claimed to have increased significantly ever since the app started gaining popularity, and also people’s general mood and body image seem to be deteriorating. Serious charges. Still a quick look through history also tells us that people are always afraid of the latest inventions. That leaves Instagram in a dark spot.

Staying in touch with your friends can be obviously a good thing, especially during the summertime when some people don’t see each other as much. Just be a little more careful about the effects the app might have on you the next time you care to share.

Written by Tessa Peterse

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Friendship file

“

Do you remember what it was like when you first walked in your freshman year? It was the beginning of the year, we all had a blank slate as we looked at hundreds of strangers all at once. It felt confusing and even overwhelming because there was no definite conclusion of who we were going to associate with. We fell into random groups because whether we want to admit it or not, it felt more comfortable being with people we weren’t sure of rather than being alone. But as time went on, it became obvious that certain people didn’t align. But it’s okay”.

At the beginning of the year a lot of people I know, including myself, attended the Eurekaweek as well as the IBCoM introduction days. During both events, everyone, like myself, was randomly assigned to a group. Personally, I do not shy away from any social contact and tend to be more extroverted and talk to people in order to get to know them.

However, like with many other situations like these in my life before, I either felt this automatic bond with someone and just “clicked” or there was no spark, no connection which made it hard to find a common ground on which a relationship could be built onto. Although it might not feel very pleasant and polite to acknowledge that some people are just not your type of people, let me tell you one thing, it is okay.

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Fr so

I used to be a girl who would enjoy being friends with everyone, however, over the years I gained new experiences and learned to understand the various impressions I had of people. Now, that I have decided to only befriend the people where I do not feel as if the friendship is forced, I feel more content with both myself and my social environment. The essence I want you to take away from this anecdote, is that it is totally acceptable to not be friends with everyone, do not force yourself to be surrounded by negativity or even hatred, but purely with the people that make you feel good and happy. Embrace such friendships and invest your time in the people you truly love, because time is too precious to waste.

riendship oulsucker.

Written by Crystal & Antonia

We’ve all run into people we love, and others that aren’t our cup of tea. But of course, it’s inevitable. Just because a person’s personality doesn’t necessarily align with yours, does not mean there’s anything wrong with their of you—it’s just about understanding those differences and allowing yourself to move on. It’s a skill of life to be more self-aware of your needs in these moments. Obviously it’s important to not to be rude to those who aren’t your ride or die friends, but it’s definitely okay and respectable to draw certain boundaries. At the end of the day, you ultimately choose who you give your energy to, and time is precious so who are you going to give it to?

Friendship file

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Whe was How who and was was

Rya cha I jus He outg relis emb hold hate

SPECIALSPECIAL SPECIALSPEACIKEALSPLAISPCIPA LSISPLKWEOR23OP3ÑKLW

.

Greeting fellow reader and welcome to my friendly little corner of this beautiful publication.

By now, you probably think of me as the how to guy which has been relatively true for the majority of my run on IBcOM Magazine.

However, in the spirt of this issues theme, I decided to do something a little different and talk to you guys about triggers.

Anonymous

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In r due in m did to whe beli me to b

en I first heard of special, I was ecstatic. was the first time I would ever see myself curately portrayed on TV a gay man with ebral palsy played by an actual gay man h cerebral palsy actor Ryan O’Connell d it’s based off of his autobiography so legit right? Wrong. I made the mistake of nking that the portray would be strong and anced reflection of what it truly means to gay and disabled. However, what I got s disappointing to say the least.

en I first started watching the show, I s hoping that this was just a growth story. w a man went from being shy and hiding o he is to being strong, confident, out d proud. As I kept watching though, there s this growing pain in my stomach and I s honestly and most completely shook.

an was by far the most disappointing aracter I had ever seen on television and st couldn’t see anything of myself in him. was quite reserved while I am naturally going. He hid his disability while I shed in its uniqueness. He struggled with bracing who he was while I could literally d a sign that says gay and proud TM. He ed his life while I genuinely adored mine.

hink the biggest issue is that I felt like I s tokenized. I felt like my existence was dered down to a conformist tragedy her than a story of bravery and struggle. oughout the show, all Ryan wanted to was normal and the storyline centered und him coming to terms with reaching normalization while I always strived to be erent and special.

retrospect, I realized that maybe this is e to the fact that confidence was placed me from a young age by my mother who everything in her power make sure I felt loved and accepted erever I went which lead to me not ieving that there’s anything wrong with rather I was unique and had a chance be heard.

I WATCHED SPECIAL AND I #CAN’T RELATE

.

I’m not gonna lie, I kind of feel sorry for Ryan if he truly believes that he should try to be normal because so much of this world lies beyond the limitations of racist, heteronormative, able bodied ideals of this world and they will just never understand him nor should his strive for them to.

That being said, I applaud Jim Parsons and Ryan O’Connell for fighting for this story to be told. While its far from perfect, it’s a step in the right direction. I think it’s finally time for ableism to die and for disabled people to finally take the place they’ve always deserved in the world’s spotlight.

To end this, I just want to say that it has been an honor to write for you this year and I hope to see you back next year whether I’m still a writer or even something else.

TO BE CONTINUED 31

Summer is approaching step by step and our thoughts wander off to the beachy nights, bonfires with friends and crazy parties 24/7. With this in mind, here are ten songs that always remind me of summer!

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