Involvement January 2025 Cooglife

Issue No. 73 • January 2025 • Involvement Issue

YES

Say “ ” to unforgettable college experiences this semester!

Why aren’t Coogs wearing more

RED?

Building a HIGH VIBRATIONAL COMMUNITY, one Coog at a time

behind the cover

interested in featuring your photos or articles in a future issue? email us at cooglife@thedailycougar.com

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Arrie Porras

BFA Senior, majoring in Studio Arts: Painting at UH Although my primary focus has been painting, my involvement with the UH student organization, UHFSA, has significantly shaped my journey into photography.

Since transferring to UH, being part of the Mukha Media Team has allowed me to fully immerse myself in the art of photography, and it has also inspired many of my paintings. The connections I’ve made with fellow creatives in this organization have been instrumental in refining my photographic style.

From spontaneous photo shoots, like the “Museo” image (back cover), where we decided to go to a random location on a random day with no plans beyond bringing our cameras, to documenting impactful community service events such as the “Kapwa” image (front cover) from our annual beach clean-up, these experiences have fueled my passion for photography.

These projects have taught me the value of capturing precious moments, and they continue to inspire me to share the beauty and significance of such events through my lens. I’m always grateful to have been part of this wonderful organization.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 03 04 04 05 08 11 12 17 18 20 22

Behind The Cover Table Of Content Letter From The Editor Establishing A High Vibrational Community Finding Community at UH/HTX Spring Semester Mantra Wear More Red Spring Semester Bingo A Little Motivation To My Old Self Reccipe For Self Confidence

EDITORIAL Larsha Flowers Cooglife Executive Editor cooglife@thedailycougar.com

COVER Arrie Porras Photographer IG • @violeta_arrie

WRITERS Alveena Rehman Delia Grantham Gauraangi Gupta

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Kinley Jaegar Mahdiya Bhiwandiwala Melissa Unlu

Welcome Back Coogs, It’s 2025–The Year We’ll Strive!

ARTISTS

To those of you who are new, my name

Abigail Sapp

is Larsha Flowers, and I am the Executive

Abdulhusain Bootwala Alfred Rivera

Editor for Cooglife Magazine.

Arrie Porras

To the loyal readers, are you ready to

Robert Bribiesca

continue building your coffee table collection of Cooglife?

This issue marks the beginning of the new year and new semester, an opportuninity for new beginnings for each and every one of us. Don’t take for granted the pieces in this involvement edition. Read them. Apply them!

Besides, if you haven’t started working on your vision board, this issue may serve as inspiration for it. But, let me not hold you back from reading. You’ll see for yourself.

Until the next issue, Good vibes & best wishes, Larsha Flowers | Executive Editor 4

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Cali Adams Zoe Crooks Zubia Zahid

photo_Arrie Porras | article_Melissa Unlu COOGLIFE // January 2025 5

In 19th century America, social life was defined by close-knit communities, strict gender roles, a strong emphasis on family, hard work and a growing divide between the wealthy elite and the working class.

Community and social connection are integral to human existence. Ever since we were hunter-gatherers, we relied on the people around us. Our need to belong to a group has always been crucial, not only for happiness but also for survival.

To ensure our communities are worthwhile, we need to spend more time intentionally choosing the people we surround ourselves with–high vibrational people in high vibrational environments! Doing this takes introspection, though.

Studying the self requires a deep understanding of our own likes, dislikes, wants and needs.

This undertaking calls for diving deeper into who we are, why we react to the way we do to the world around us and what truly makes us happy.

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The Japanese believe in ‘Hansei’, embracing self-reflection and acknowledging one’s mistakes as a catalyst for growth.

Solitude is also an important aspect of this process.

Arthur Schopenhauer, a German Philosopher, saw solitude as the ultimate lifestyle, insisting a person can only be themselves when alone. Frierdrich Nietzsche, German Classical scholar, philosopher and critic, believed solitude is necessary to maintain individuality and to strengthen one’s path of individual expression.

It is only after checking in with ourselves that we are able to best discern which communities align with our passions and are the best environments for us to exist in. Cutting others out who bring constant negativity and anxiety is also a great starting point.

Ultimately, by balancing selfreflection with meaningful interactions, we can cultivate a life rooted in authenticity, purpose and genuine human connection. In other words, discerning who you are is the ultimate play for discerning what relationships and environments will best fill your cup.

article_Melissa Unlu | photo_Arrie Porras

Establishing A High Vibrational Community

Aristotle, the Greek philosopher and polymath, believed people who love themselves are more motivated to pursue virtuous lifestyles benefiting society as a whole.

In 19th century America, social life was defined by close-knit communities, strict gender roles, a strong emphasis on family, hard work and a growing divide between the wealthy elite and the working class.

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Houston is known for its diversity.

In 2023, WalletHub ranked Houston 4th overall and 1st among large cities for its diverse nature.

Naturally, this makes UH diverse as well.

The university has about 10% international students, 34% Hispanic students, 22% Asian Americans and 11% African American students among others, according to the UH website.

This makes UH a wonderful networking hub for its students. article_ Gauraangi Gupta | photos_Abigail Sapp

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FINDING COMMUNITY @UH Community is essential not just for building a career but also for finding people who feel like home away from home. It helps to make college life easier and more bearable.

The University is known to have over 500 registered student organizations open to all enrolled students. To find organizations which align with your passions and interests, as a

UH student, you may utilize UH’s GetInvolved. Students can even start their own organizations too!

and Math aims to empower LGBTQ+ students in STEM to succeed both academically and professionally.

If students are interested in photography, they can join the Photography Student Association.

Organizations like these hold weekly or monthly meetings where other students can meet and get to know each other better. This helps develop more interpersonal relationships where students can bond on common hobbies and interests.

For people interested in coding, Code Coogs is the organization to join. Out in Science, Technology, Engineering

FINDING COMMUNITY IN HTOWN Getting involved and becoming a part of the community is not just limited to UH but extends further to the city of Houston as well.

Volunteering is one of the most common ways to stay connected and involved in a community. It is also a great way to give back to society and leave a positive impact on other people’s lives.

Supporting a local business is also a great way to build a community and

stay involved. You can donate and help local business owners become successful.

Participating in local events and socializing with other community members is also another great option.

This can help bond residents and foster a sense of pride in the city.

DIFFICULTIES Finding communities and maintaining such relationships isn’t as easy as it sounds. It takes effort and sometimes things don’t work out.

One of the most common problems people face is time constraints. It can be difficult for students to take out time and find a schedule that works for everyone. This results in not being able to attend meetings or events.

Financial restrictions can also play a role when it comes to things like these. Communication and language barriers can also cause a drift and gap between communities.

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MAINTAINING A COMMUNITY

Different organizations should also make an effort to collaborate with one another. This would enable students to mingle with people from different backgrounds. Students will adapt the concept of diversity and you never know, maybe even find a new friend or hobby!

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photos_Abigail Sapp | article_ Gauraangi Gupta

Maintaining relationships in a community is as important as building relationships in the first place. This helps maintain sociability and ensure connectivity. Actively engaging and communicating with other members helps to foster that sense of belonging within communities.

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graphic_Cali Adams | photo_Arrie Porras | article_Alveena Rehman

WEAR MORE RED

The University of Houston is filled with school spirit…at least, in their hearts. This ‘spirit’ is not so obvious on the average day when students are dressed in any color but red. In fact, it’s quite different from the red sea of students on game days. But, who cares? Why is school pride important anyway? Well, showing off school pride can bring the UH student body closer together.

School spirit forgoes differences in background, interests and studies. A personal sense of school pride also encourages participation. This higher level of participation also usually motivates students to perform better academically. And more so, increasing school spirit can make students’ time at UH much more enjoyable! By coming out to more events, they can make friends and create new memories, overall making their time at UH so much more worthwhile.

So, why is it students don’t wear more red? Perhaps, it is because it is not a common color in most people’s closest. In fact, I only had two red shirts coming into UH myself. One was a t-shirt I slept in–not at all suitable for campus.

Red is such a bright color, which can disinterest people, making them less inclined to buy red items. Even with colors such as black, it could be difficult for students to coordinate it well with such a bright color as red. All these excuses are made to avoid the color. Yet, a high percentage of UT Austin students wear their signature orange, despite it being much more difficult than red to pull off.

It’s a new year, though, so let’s change our mindset and style habits for 2025.

photo_Arrie Porras | article_Alveena Rehman

Check out these tips to incorporate red in your everyday outfits to show off UH pride!

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Neutrals Even the most subtle touches of red stand out. For those who want to wear just a little bit of red can do more with less by simply pairing it with neutrals.

Accessorize A good accessory or two can really pull an outfit together too. Using red jewelry, bags and scarves would add those necessary finishing touches. Tote bags and clutches are popular, so a red one would make a fun statement. Scarves are so versatile. Use a red one as a headwrap, necktie or even a belt. You can also try switching from your ‘iced out’ look to sporting pendants, earrings or bracelets with red stones.

Makeup There are endless lip combos, eyeshadows and blush shades to highlight your outfit. Be as bold or subtle as you want, but add some red to the look! Pro Tip: nail color or design is another easy way to include red in your daily looks.

School Shirts Events such as Cat’s Back, Weeks of Welcome and Frontier Fiesta all give away shirts with cute designs. It’s a free way to bring red into your closets and an opportunity to come out to more events!

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photo_Arrie Porras | article_Alveena Rehman

photo_Arrie Porras

GET INVOLVED THIS SEMESTER.

Stay Connected Stay connected with what’s happening on campus and in your new city by following The Cougar on social media & our newsletter!

@thedailycougar

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@TheDailyCougar

@TheDailyCougar

The Cougar Newsletter

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photo_Zoe Crooks | article_ Kinley Jaeger

You don’t have to have it all figured out right now. College is a journey to be taken one step at a time. After the first step, every other step becomes a little bit easier!

a little motivation for the coogs who may need it, xx.

photo_Zoe Crooks | article_ Kinley Jaeger

It’s easy to get wrapped up in the constant hustle of college life. In the midst of studying, assignments and classes, we sometimes forget to take full advantage of the incredible opportunities right in front of us.

If you’re anything like me, it can also be tough to step out of your comfort zone and try something new. In reality, most of us get stuck in comfortable routines which limits us from experiencing college life fully.

You may often find yourself thinking, “Should I do this?

Am I ready for this?” I know I do, but if you’re waiting for the perfect answer to these questions, you may miss out. Every opportunity you say “yes” to can shape your college experience in unpredictable ways.

Joining a club, attending an event on campus or just trying something different opens doors for personal and professional growth. So, if you were looking for a sign – this is it! Trust yourself and know you’re capable of handling every and anything you put

your mind to.

You don’t have to have it all figured out right now. College is a journey to be taken one step at a time. After taking the first step, every other step you take becomes a little bit easier.

The best part of stepping out of your comfort zone, though, is you won’t regret trying it out. The people you meet along the way make all the difference.

UH is full of welcoming people eager to support you in your journey. Take full advantage of the resources available to you!

If you are unsure where to start, UH’s website is a goldmine of information and resources at your fingertips. You can also check out Instagram profiles of organizations you are interested in.

Also, don’t be afraid to see a tutor or go to your professor’s office hours. It might feel intimidating at first, but they are there to support you in your growth as a student.

Building strong relationships

with your professors can make a huge difference in your academic journey.

As you move forward, try to focus on the big picture.

What do you ultimately want to achieve– your overall goal?

Keep this in mind when you are setting smaller goals for yourself to get there.

One of the best ways to push yourself is to set one small goal a month, it can be as simple as attending a new event or something bigger such as applying for a leadership position in an organization you joined.

The most important thing to remember is not to let your college years pass by in a blur of classes and assignments without truly experiencing what UH has to offer.

When graduation day comes, you don’t want to be left wondering if you made the most of your time here. Don’t wait for the so-called perfect moment. Try new things, meet new people and really embrace every opportunity college has to offer. The time to get started is now.

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top-photo_Robert Bribiesca, middle-photo_Abdulhusain Bootwala, bottom-photo_ Alfred Rivera | article_ Delia Grantham

Despite all the growth I experienced during the Fall Semester, there are still things I wish I could go back and tell myself to do differently.

For example, utilizing on campus tutoring services. The university provides so many different tutorial services– CASA, LAUNCH or Knack. Additionally, the various colleges have tutoring for specific majors and classes.

Personally, I wish I could’ve attended some of the study sessions held by the Economics Society.

Microeconomics was the course I struggled with the most last semester, but I was hesitant to ask for help.

Attending these sessions would have

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served as a benefit and allowed me to land a higher grade.

Making solid study groups for each class would’ve been great too. In the past semesters, I only kept to myself and studied alone.

While my grades have been great by doing this, having a study group would have been more helpful, especially for advanced classes.

Having the opportunity to be in a class with so many like minded individuals is rewarding. I wish I took more advantage of the opportunity– at least I realize it now, though.

Another set of missed opportunities were networking events.

Networking events serve as a huge

opportunity for landing internships, co-ops and full time jobs.

Unfortunately, I barely attended networking events.

Actually, even when I did, I found myself getting nervous and not making the most out of them.

I now understand though, despite how intimidating they may seem, the more you attend, the more confident you become!

And, as if passing on these opportunities wasn’t enough, I found myself spending more money. If I had the option to go back and tell myself any one thing, it would be to be more mindful of my spending habits.

Nevertheless, while there were some areas where I fell short in my professional and academic journey, embracing the lessons I’ve learned can help me to continue growing into the person I aspire to become.

–Delia

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Recipe for Self-confidence

INSTRUCTIONS 1. Prepare your base by first adding in two cups of determination. This will serve as the foundation to build your self-confidence. Being determined and having the drive to achieve your goals will force you to adopt a confident mindset.

To feel the need to accomplish something is what gets you to take further steps to fulfill those goals.

Besides courage, it’s also very important to be kind to yourself.

We are often overly critical of ourselves, harming our own selfesteem. Allow yourself to make mistakes but don’t punish yourself for them because it’ll give you the chance to become a better person which can do wonders for your self-confidence.

2. Next, add in one cup of resilience. Your journey is going to be filled with obstacles and hurdles. However, you can’t let it discourage you from trying again.

Being resilient will therefore allow you to get back up after a setback which will help maintain your selfconfidence.

And finally, showing gratitude for everything you’ve managed to accomplish so far can help solidify your optimistic mindset because you choose to focus on the positive aspects of life. This can also help strengthen your selfconfidence.

3. Once the determination and resilience is mixed well, add in the hope. Even when difficult situations arise, you need to hold on to hope and believe things will get better. It’s easy to spiral into negative thoughts when something doesn’t go our way.

This reaction only tarnishes our self-esteem, though. Adopting an optimistic mindset will therefore help us be more hopeful of the future.

4. After the mixture is nicely combined, throw in a touch of courage, kindness and gratitude.

Having courage is so important because it pushes us outside of our comfort zones.

Start by taking baby steps, whether it be building your LinkedIn profile and connecting with other students, joining an organization or attending club meetings.

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5. Finally, season the mixture with a dash of humility to keep you grounded. This ensures your selfconfidence remains genuine and approachable. Note: Motivational and cheerful support from your loved ones is an optional bonus ingredient to enhance the flavors of this recipe.

6. Allow your final mixture to cook through experiences and interactions. The more you engage in clubs, groups or activities, the richer your self-confidence will become.

The best part of this recipe is it is customizable. You can adjust the proportions as needed and add your own touch of ingredients as well. Over time, you’re bound to figure out the perfect recipe for your own self-confidence, but for now, this is a great starter.

Yes, chef!

Self-confidence is essential to our daily lives. The importance of believing in our own self becomes more and more apparent as we transition into adulthood and are presented with opportunities.

Research shows“people with high self-esteem generally have more success at school and work, better social relationships, improved mental and physical health and less antisocial behavior.”

However, everyone’s journey to being self-confident is unique and requires constant practice. But what if we tried to simplify things and tried following a recipe for self-confidence?

Similar to cooking, self-confidence can be developed by blending in a mix of ingredients in measured portions.

Save this recipe for when you’re ready to whip some up!

INGREDIENTS SERVING SIZE: ONE UNSTOPPABLE INDIVIDUAL 2 cups of determination 1 cup of resilience 1/2 cup of hope 3 tablespoons of courage 3 teaspoons of kindness 2 teaspoons of gratitude A sprinkle of humility Optional: Support from loved ones for garnish

photo_Zubia Zahid | recipe_Mahdiya Bhiwandiwala

UNSTOPPABLE ALL 2025.

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photo_Arrie Porras

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