My mother always told me I was beautiful. I was her perfect gift, and nothing would change that, but I never fully believed her. As long as I can remember, I have been the “bigger” one in a family of gorgeous, slim women. I was the odd one out. I remember always being aware of my size, but it finally got to me in middle school. “Jade, you would be so pretty if you were skinny.” I was told this so casually by a boy in my class, no older than 13. That was the moment I real

I get to take advantage of Horseshoe’s publication schedule for this piece. This is going to be a special one because today is my mother’s birthday. I thought due to the fate of a new edition falling on March 6, I should choose to take the time to write about the woman who is the reason why I have a passion for writing today. For holidays in the past, whether it was Mother’s Day or her birthday, I had taken it upon myself to write my mother sentimental poems to go along with

Photo Credit - University of New Haven International student enrollment has plummeted at the University of New Haven. The university experienced a 17% loss in revenue between 2024 and 2025. After a year of contentious financial restructuring, the university is going ‘all in’ on Artificial Intelligence, looking to regain student enrollment. Admission data at the university show a dramatic enrollment decline from 9,000 to 6,000. International students were often attracted by th

Photo Credit: Haley Appell There are times when a song hits so close to home that you feel as if the artist wrote it specifically for you. Maybe it goes even farther than that. It feels like the artist has a secret camera that has been following you around and has studied your interactions and emotions. And as they watch the footage, the artist writes little notes in their journal, and they use your everyday experiences as inspiration for their music. And now they released a

Photo Credit: Djemima Duvernat Photo Credit: Djemima Duvernat Photo Credit: Djemima Duvernat I have always loved riding the train. There is something about watching the world move through the windows while I sit still that makes me think about everything and nothing all at once. As houses blur past, I get a glimpse of people’s lives, and I get to decide whether it is a happy one or if I would want to be them in that specific moment. A woman hangs laundry in her backyard. Chi

Photo credit: United States Library of Congress's Prints and Photographs (public domain) Bob Dylan's 1980s work is often seen as inherently poor, yet Dylan fans far and wide treasure his high points as much as his low ones. While some great music was released by Dylan in this decade, much of it was not well-received at the time. “Blind Willie McTell,” arguably one of Bob Dylan’s greatest compositions, emerged from this period, as part of a lost demo from 1983’s Infidels studi

Photo Credit to Pavel Danilyuk When it comes to presentations in school, I like to describe them as “hit or miss” experiences. I feel like that phrase is a good descriptor for the overall feeling of giving a presentation. Some people don’t mind them; this acts as their golden moment. This moment of confidence demonstrates their knowledge of an intended topic. You can even see it in their eyes when they realize that it wasn’t so bad, and they had nothing to worry about. For o

(Photo by Anaylee Hough) With the recent Super Bowl LX and an iconic half-time performance by Bad Bunny, Puerto Rican reggaeton artist and superstar, let’s talk about the beauty of Puerto Rican culture. I've recently traveled there with two friends. A flight of less than four hours from Connecticut takes you to a tropical island with a beautiful culture, different sights to see, restaurants to try and more. In the picture above are houses with vibrant colors in Old San Juan,

Watching the news has become infuriating. I have yet to find a proper way to describe the tension between a brick, my television screen and my good throwing-arm. Our reality is not being reported on with accuracy or respect. Especially the communities of people who’ve been marginalized the most. It is impossible for me to remain stoic while faced with intentional erasure of Black and Latino lives in the national immigration narrative. Even further, as a student set to enter

Coney Island, also known as Luna Park, is not only a family friendly amusement park but a staple to New York City, especially for Brooklyn. The park has been open since 1859. As a native New Yorker, this park has definitely made its mark on me. I’d pack my bag with snacks and food beforehand since it’s an hour subway ride away from my home in The Bronx. But the ride is definitely worth it. The park has a long boardwalk and beach for people to enjoy. Photo: Anaylee Hough The

It’s January, again. And in all honesty, this one may bore you. I thought it would be a great idea to return to my column this new semester and reflect on how far I’ve come and figure out where I want to go from here.

Red Dead Redemption 2, Rockstar Games Over winter break, I interacted with a few sources of media I could not look away from. When the break first started, I was surrounded by videogames since I was finally back in my room at home. I decided to play a game I haven’t played in a while; Red Dead Redemption 2 by Rockstar Games. When I loaded up the game, I felt this rush of adrenaline and memories from the first time that I played it. It made me feel a bit old, as the game came