Cooglife Housing and Decor March 2022 by Cooglife

Issue 53 // March 2022 // Housing and Decor

March 2022

Horoscope and comic

6-7 Living on your own for the first time: What to know 8-11 Resolving conflicts: How to manage and diffuse roommate arguments 12-13

How not to turn your dorm into a tattoo studio

15-16

A guide to caring for plants in your dorm

17-18

Think twice about rooming with your friends

Commuting isn’t all bad: A personal essay

20-21 You will come out of your ‘pick me’ era: A personal essay 22-23

EDITORIAL

McKenzie Misiaszek Executive Editor cooglife@thedailycougar.com

COOGLIFE // March 2022

QUIZ: Which dorm should you live in next year?

COVERS

Juana Garcia, Creative Director of The Cougar

creative@thedailycougar.com

WRITING

Santiago Gaughan Cynthia Isabel Zelaya Ordoñez Katherine Galland Logan Linder Anna Baker Haya Panjwani Sydney Rose

SOCIALS cooglife @cooglifemag @cooglife

EDITOR’S LETTER Howdy y’all,

come on.

I hope

This is the second to last issue this year

everybody’s

and while that’s bittersweet, I love how

spring break

far Cooglife has come both in print and

went well! We

online.

are back with our annual

Thank you to my writers who have grown

housing issue

so much, and a special thanks to Juana

this month.

who makes the front and back covers, aka the only reason most people pick up the magazine.

From caring for dorm plants and mediating conflict with roomies, to

Enjoy the 2022 housing edition!

figuring out how to properly live on your own and finding peace with commuting,

Thanks for reading,

we have a lot of great articles in this issue!

McKenzie Misiaszek Executive Editor

As someone who has lived on campus and commuted this edition hits on a lot of great points for everyone. The story that hints about living at the Lofts hits especially close to home because why do y’all live like that? Stop burning stuff in the tiny ovens at 2 a.m. and forcing everyone to evacuate the building, like 3 COOGLIFE // March 2022 COOGLIFE // March 2022

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COOGLIFE // March 2022

COMIC PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- Too much of anything will lead to confusion. Spend less and take better care of your well-being, and you’ll achieve what you set out to do. Project kindness and love, and good things will happen. ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- Common sense is required when dealing with emotional matters. Take a step back and reassess your position and feelings before making a comment or a move. Arguing is a waste of time. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- Running from the truth or not sharing your true feelings will leave you in limbo. Search for the right words, and you will make everyone you are dealing with feel good about the outcome. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- Preparation, experience and knowledge will help you map your way and put you in an ideal position for advancement. Don’t trust someone who has let you

new hobby or educational pursuit that will be helpful with personal growth and enlightenment. An exciting partnership will enrich your life. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Slow down and keep your intentions and thoughts to yourself until you can decide what type of response you’ll receive. Focus on personal finances, property and overall health. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Pick an expert’s brain for answers that will help you use your talents. A networking function will pay off if you work the room and do more listening than talking. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- Don’t act without giving plenty of thought to what you will say and how you will follow through. Put a long-term plan in place, and don’t share too much information until you’re ready. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- You can

make a move or reposition things to be more convenient. Reach out to unique people, and the feedback you get will help you cultivate a plan that can alter your life and direction. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -Working in conjunction with someone who has similar goals will be mutually beneficial. Set up a conference, and you’ll come up with options. Get what you want in writing. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Feedback you receive will help you target the changes necessary to reach your goal. A domestic change will improve your attitude and your relationships with those who reside under the same roof. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- Sharing too much information will put you in a vulnerable position. Listen to what others have to say, and it will give you the upper hand. Don’t let a change someone springs upset your plans.

Comic by Santiago Gaughan

down in the past or is prying.

~ HOROSCOPES ~

CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- Start a

COOGLIFE // March 2022

GUIDE

Living on your own for the first time: What to know W

ell well well, look at you. All grown up and ready to rumble. You’re moving out of your parent’s place for college and into an on-campus dorm. Congratulations. Living in a dorm is like adulthood on training wheels. You pay for your room in one bulk sum, so you don’t have to worry about making the rent on time. The fee also includes utilities, so you don’t have to worry about budgeting your electricity or watching your water usage. However, you do need to step up and take care of your space, your meals and your relationship with your roommates. What is living with a roommate like? Every person is different, so every cohabitation experience will be different too. Here 6

COOGLIFE // March 2022

Setting off fire alarms, leaving your hair on the shower wall, blaring music from behind a lock door all day -these are all things you shouldn’t do when you’re living with a roomie for the first time. You should know this. But if you don’t, that’s what this story is for.

are some things to watch out for in each room of the apartment. These are things to look out for, nothing you need to avoid yourself. You know, because you already know how to be an amazing roommate. There’s no way you could ever be the drama. You read Cooglife. You know better. The kitchen All of my favorite cultures believe that the kitchen is the heart of the home. As it should be. If you don’t have a meal plan, you’re responsible for groceries and food prep in order to keep yourself fed. Sharing a kitchen with a roommate can be tough. There’s a huge chance you may have different dietary preferences. One of you may be an extra passionate

By Cynthia Isabel Zelaya Ordoñez pescatarian that will not allow the preparation of meat in your kitchen. Another may enjoy deep-fried fish at 2 a.m. on a Tuesday. Who knows, maybe one of you may enjoy collecting mugs in your room until the milk turns into cheese, then dumping the cursed dish into the sink so it can be someone else’s problem. Perhaps you have a soft spot for frozen meals from Trader Joe’s. But since you are certain the microwave causes cancer, you HAVE to bake every meal in the oven…even the ones with packaging that is not oven-safe. Maybe you decide it’s a nice day for a walk while your fish is already baking, then proceed to return to the oven

GUIDE only once your food (and its container) have melted through the rack and burned onto the bottom of the oven, causing the whole floor to complain. Regardless of who you are, none of this is acceptable behavior. As a matter of fact, the kitchen is a shared space where sacred, scrumptious food is prepared. Everyone’s restrictions and preferences should be respected. You can do this by cleaning up after yourself, not eating what does not belong to you and not filming your OnlyFans content on the counter. Not that I know anyone that would have ever done something so disrespectful. No, that’s never happened in the Lofts. The living room This is where the party goes down. Each room usually comes with a TV and a plasticlike couch for roommates to share. Of course, sitting on a loveseat with someone you may or may not have met before and trying to agree on a show may not be your ideal Friday night. However, you should still make an effort to make the space welcoming for everyone that lives with you. Although it’s fine to fold a basket of laundry or two when you watch TV, maybe try not to leave it piled on every surface until the end of the semester. If you invite friends

over, perhaps don’t invite seven people to try your new bong while your roommate is studying for finals. And hey, parties happen. We’ve all had too much to drink at one point or another. If you do accidentally puke in the living room, maybe clean it up before dragging yourself off to bed. Of course, nothing like this has ever happened in the Lofts, it’s just an example. The bathroom This can be a tough space to learn to share if you happen to be an only child or a prima donna or whatever. The sink can get cluttered fast, and the argument over whose turn it is to buy toilet paper is inevitable. Regardless, peace can be kept by following the same set of common courtesies I mentioned in the kitchen. Don’t touch things that don’t belong to you, especially luxury foundations. I can clearly see the drop in 10 shades at the start of your neck. Also, consider buying your own shower products, especially if you’re going to use my $54 conditioner as shampoo because you decided to shower drunk. Also, would it kill you to scrub away your skid marks, not pee on the toilet seat or floor and clean your hair out of the shower and sink? Once again, these are just fantastical examples, nothing like this has

ever happened at the Lofts. The bedroom Lastly, the room where the magic happens. Lucky for us privacy-lovers, plenty of dorms offer single rooms instead of shared, so you have a space to truly make your own. Although what happens in your room stays in your room, you still need to be courteous of the person you share your dorm with. For example, it wasn’t cool to leave your radio blasting at 7 a.m. in your locked room before running off to class, leaving me to suffer on my day off. It also really sucked when you broke up with your boyfriend and chose to express your rage by screeching and smashing everything in your room at 4 a.m. during finals week. And the worst part was when you decided to hook up with your tinder date on MY BED because your room was too messy! Are you kidding me, Dani? Sharing a room in the Lofts with you was the worst thing that ever happened to me. You’re the reason I’m in therapy! Jesus! In other words…living on campus is a stellar experience I would recommend to any young person wanting to stretch their wings. However, for your mental health, might I suggest not rooming at the Lofts? Or if you must, try to room with a friend.

COOGLIFE // March 2022

GUIDE

Resolving conflicts: How to manage and diffuse roommate arguments It’s almost impossible to live with roommates or suitemates without arguing at least once. Whether it be over hygiene habits, relationships or just general attitude. There are ways to prevent or simply diffuse these potential conflicts. Whether it be communication, setting expectations or letting things slide we made this guide to help you in these stressful situations. By Katherine Galland

COOGLIFE // March 2022

ven being best friends with someone sometimes isn’t enough preparation for living together. And living with someone random definitely can be a mixed bag. For instance, I have a randomly assigned roommate this semester with whom I get along well. Last semester, though, my randomly assigned roommate pooped on our bathroom floor multiple times and stole my personal belongings.

GUIDE Obviously, the best way to solve conflict with people you live with is to stop it before it even starts. The only way to do this is to ensure that you have an open line of communication between yourself and your roommates. The most common source of agitation between roommates is different ideas on how the living area should be maintained.

Another one of my roommates I have known since high school. She’s my best friend, but that doesn’t mean there haven’t been times where we have been frustrated with each other or needed to talk things out while living together. It’s difficult to live with someone, whether you’ve known them for years or they just showed up in your apartment one day, and there are plenty of things I wish I’d known before walking into my bathroom to see human feces on the floor.

Establishing Expectations If one person in the house has the expectation that the house will be hospital-level clean, and another person doesn’t mind week-old dishes in the sink, there will probably be some tension.

Those who live on campus are Regardless of how well you get familiar with the roommate along with your roommates, agreement that you have there will likely be times when to sign with your RA at the you find yourselves in conflict. beginning of the school year, Even if it’s something simple but I would suggest having a like someone is frustrated written agreement of some over dirty dishes in the sink. sort with your roommates It’s crucial to have the skills to whether you live on campus be able to diffuse and navigate or not. That way there is conflict properly in order to never a question as to whose maintain a good relationship responsibility certain chores with your roommates. are.

A written agreement could contain who is responsible for doing chores on certain days, and how you and your roommates will divide up who buys household necessities (cleaning supplies, toilet paper, etc). With written agreements, there is never a question as to who should be doing what, and you might find your living area a lot cleaner as a result. Talking It Out If a written agreement feels too formal, a simple conversation may be enough. If you feel your roommate isn’t pulling their weight around the house, start off by letting them know. It seems so simple, but sometimes people don’t know their behavior is bothering you until you tell them, and that might be all it takes for them to change their behavior. The important thing is that if you have an agreement like this–you stick to it. That way no one gets frustrated because all the work is on them, and none of the work is on someone else. And, if someone still isn’t pulling their weight, they have no excuse when you call them out for it, because they know the expectations that were laid there for them. Keeping communication open Whether it be holding someone accountable for chores, or something deeper COOGLIFE // March 2022

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GUIDE like a personal argument– it is important to keep communication open between all parties. You are much less likely to experience conflict if you have a safe space to discuss your feelings openly, and when conflict arises, open communication allows for issues to be resolved most effectively. Though this is the best way to resolve conflict, it can often be very difficult to initiate dialogue when you are having an issue with someone. My recommendation would be to take yourself out of the home, that way it doesn’t seem like such a big deal. For example, ask the roommate you’re having an issue with to get coffee, dinner, or even go to the library and study with you. Once you find yourself outside of the home, it might feel more organic and less stressful to bring up the issue at hand. While hanging out, you can more naturally bring up the issue in conversation than you could through simple confrontation. Don’t make mountains out of molehills When you’re frustrated, you may find yourself bursting to confront your roommate. In times like these, it is helpful to take a deep breath and a step back from the situation and make sure you’re reacting appropriately.

It is important to weigh the good and bad that can come from discussions with your roommates. Whatever happens, you still have to live with them. That can often be hard to remember in the heat of the moment, but it is essential to consider to be able to maintain your relationship following conflicts you experience. Constantly reminding your roommates of what you think they’re doing wrong likely isn’t the best solution. Don’t let yourself get walked all over, either. It is important to find a happy medium with yourself and those you live with in order to so that you can all be as comfortable as possible.

an impartial third party can help bring the goal of your conversations back into focus. Conflict with those you live with is inevitable. With these tools in your arsenal you should be able to minimize or successfully resolve the beef you may find yourself in with your roommates. No one should have to live in situations where they feel disrespected, uncomfortable, or frustrated. Living with roommates can be difficult at times, but it is not impossible. A little communication can go a long way.

Find A Mediator If you find yourself in a serious or recurring issue it can be helpful to have an impartial third party to help you and your roommates through. If you live on campus, this is where your RA can be a great help to you. Having someone else there while you work through a conflict can help prevent one person from speaking over another, or from an argument getting out of hand. If you don’t want to reach out to your RA, or you don’t live on campus, you could substitute them for a friend who is not involved in the conflict.

Password:

This makes sure everyone’s opinions can be heard, and COOGLIFE // March 2022

GUIDE

How not to turn your dorm into a tattoo studio By Anonymous When you get restless in your dorm room, we can’t ever condone breaking UH Housing’s rules or policies to cure your boredom. So, here’s how to not turn your on-campus bedroom into a tattoo studio.

hen I first returned to campus housing after the coronavirus pandemic began, I quickly realized that residential life was going to be nothing like it had been in the past. There were almost no inperson classes, and the students who would normally be crowding campus hotspots were instead at home sitting in front of their computers. UH had effectively become a ghost town. With on-campus boredom setting in, I realized I would have to get creative and make my own fun, which to me sounded like turning my dorm 12

COOGLIFE // March 2022

room into a pseudo tattoo studio so I could give all my friends sub-par stick and poke tattoos and laugh about it. But no, I 100 percent absolutely did not do that. Why would I ever do the research and spend all that money on tattoo supplies to live out my tattoo artist ambitions? Yeah, I have a few tattoos, but that doesn’t mean I can just give my friends free tattoos for a whole year in my dorm room, even though it would clearly get me in trouble. After all, I’ve read the Student Housing and Residential Life policies, and I know it would

not bode well for me if I had actually started tattooing in my dorm room. That would be breaking the rules! And I can’t condone anyone breaking our beloved campus housing department’s precious rules. So, if you’re ever bored in your dorm, remember these tips on how to not start a tattoo studio in your dorm: Don’t do your research If you don’t want a stick and poke tattoo

GUIDE studio operating in your room, you should never do any research on how stick and pokes should be done. Sure, there are several online resources that are actually great at explaining the process of tattooing, such as Vice’s or sticknpoke.com’s guides. Don’t let those incredibly informational Reddit threads on r/sticknpokes lure you in! They’ll fill your brain with information on the kinds of tattoo needles and ink you’ll need, how to create a stencil and how to keep a clean space. Before you know it, you’ll know exactly what supplies you’ll need to get started.

shading needles and inks you can think of. But you better not! While you’re at it, be sure to not buy any transfer paper or stencil goop, which would make any potential tattoo much cleaner and more consistent. Or any aftercare products that would make healing a tattoo much easier and painless.

your dorm, Don’t practice remember to Let’s say you somehow end up always be safe and use your with all the supplies you need. brain. Keep things clean, It is important to not start use the right supplies and practicing. If you’re trying to make sure you are always Don’t buy any supplies avoid turning your dorm room following the proper tattooing Assuming you do peruse into your own personal shop, procedures and etiquette through the internet’s the last thing you need to be from that research you…um… expansive resources, you doing is learning how to make didn’t do earlier. should not start buying the and use stencils and properly supplies you need for your on- set up your station. Yes, tattoos are fun. They’re a campus tattooing operations. You especially don’t need great way to express yourself It’s really easy to visit one of to be getting hands-on and an avenue for you to Houston’s many tattoo supply experience with the needle, make amazing and lasting stores to whether on yourself (which memories with your friends. buy what many people recommend) But, being safe should always you or any of your volunteering be your No. 1 priority. No might friends. I wouldn’t know, but amount of fun is ever worth need learning your way around a anyone getting hurt or in any for your tattoo needle is supposedly way harmed. one of the most important hypothetical factors of having a dorm Happy not tattooing! shop, tattoo shop. including all the lining And if you choose to go and against my advice… Be safe, be smart, have fun If you do choose to open a makeshift tattoo studio in COOGLIFE // March 2022

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COOGLIFE // March 2022

A guide to caring for plants in your dorm

GUIDE

Dorms can be dull, boring and gray – especially when you have little to no decor. Making your dorm feel more warm and inviting can be as simple as adding some plants, but caring for those plants is a different story altogether. We’re here to help. By Logan Linder orms don’t always have herbs or flowers, more care to be bland and shut out is required, so be prepared to all the light. Adding plants is dedicate time to them. Before a nice way to brighten up the purchasing any plants, do your room and allow for a breath of research to know what you’re fresh air in a stuffy building. getting yourself into.

Taking care of plants, on the other hand, isn’t as easy. This short guide should help point you in the right direction if wanting to add new, live friends to your room. When deciding to add plants to your dorm, it’s important to choose ones you have the time and resources to take care of. If you’re trying to grow herbs or vegetables, they take more effort and care, whereas simple air plants or succulents require attention only every so often. Other low-maintenance plant options include bird’s nest fern and parlor palms. If you’re wanting to grow

Low light plants Snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata) This plant is a common indoor, low light plant that’s easy to take care of. When taking care of snake plants, it’s best to place them in indirect sunlight

and water them no more than every two weeks in warmer months. In the winter, months can pass by before needing to water them again. Dwarf umbrella tree (Schefflera arboricola) If you’re susceptible to forgetting to water your plants, the dwarf umbrella tree is a great option. It’s able to survive missed days of watering, but it still needs to be watered to prevent the leaves from wilting. Water when the soil begins to wilt and keep the soil well-drained. For light, these plants prefer indirect lighting and are able to survive in dark corners, the width will just be hindered. Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii) With its green foliage and colored blooms, the Christmas cactus can survive in multiple kinds of sunlight. COOGLIFE // March 2022

GUIDE The cactus can adapt to lowlight conditions and blooms the most in direct sunlight, however, the leaves can easily burn if in too much sunlight. Frequent and thorough watering is required, but allow the soil to dry partially before re-watering.

Medium light plants African violet (Saintpaulia) African violets are tricker to take care of, but with proper care they can bloom and lighten up your bland dorms with their purple flowers. Bright to medium intensity light is best, and it’s recommended that you rotate the pot once a week so the light is evenly distributed over all of the leaves. As for watering the violets, it’s best to use lukewarm water and keep the soil moist, but never fully dry. Coffee plant (Coffea) For coffee lovers, try investing in growing your own coffee plant. These require the soil to constantly be moist and surrounded by high humidity. It’s best to place these plants near a window, but not directly by one. While it may 16

COOGLIFE // March 2022

take three to five years before the plant actually flowers, you’ll have a nice coffee scent in your dorm to tide you over.

maintenance than regular succulents. They can grow up to at least three feet over the years and have a tendency to become top heavy. Jade Jasmine (Jasminum) plants need bright, indirect If you’re wanting a plant with sunlight and it’s best to water more than just leaves and a them when the soil is dry to slight scent, I’d recommended the touch, but water them a jasmine. The lighting for these little more frequently in hotter is tricky, as they need to be in months, keeping the soil a well-lit environment, but also moist. can only tolerate up to four hours of direct sunlight. When Basil (Ocimum basilicum) watering, keep the soil moist For a nice aroma, and a way and well-drained. to add some freshness into your dining hall meals, begin growing a basil plant. Keep the soil moist and well-drained and water on a regular basis. Basil plants need around six hours of sunlight each day.

High light plants Hibiscus (Hibiscus) For a tropical touch to your room, hibiscus’ are a great option, especially during the summer. Giving these plants as much direct light as possible during the winter is ideal, placing them outside in the summer and slowly acclimating them to more light. These can be watered freely during the summer. Jade (Crassula arborescens) While this plant is a kind of succulent, they require more

And if all of your plants die… We’ve all been there. If you’ve done everything you can possibly think of and your plants still manage to die, your room or dorm may simply not be habitable for plant life. If you want to brighten it up, maybe look into fake plants.

Think twice about rooming with your friends

OPINION

Rooming with your besties may seem like a fun idea at first, but if you aren’t compatible roommates you could ruin a friendship. Before you decide to room together read this article arguing against it. By Anna Baker uring college, or to live with someone. Friends along with them as a friend. even after, a big may be super fun to hang out You may be thinking that you decision we will have with, but some of their fun know your friend is great, but to make is who our habits may be annoying to live you often don’t really know roommates will be. with. someone until you live with them. What you think you can This is an important decision For example, your friend who tolerate from your friends because we will be sharing you like to party with may be right now may be harder to a lot with this person. Often fun to hang out with once in a tolerate when you live with you’ll share food, fridge space, while, but staying up late and them. a couch and in general spend stumbling in at 4 a.m. can be a long time in each other’s annoying, particularly if you Again, hanging out with a presence. Many people think share a room with them. If you person weekly or even daily the obvious choice would be have a friend who has a super is a completely different to room with your friends, but loud voice, you may not want experience than sharing a that isn’t always the best idea. to room with them in case space with them 24/7. they have guests over or talk Rooming with your friends on the phone. Another big reason to not sounds fun of course. It live with your friends is that sounds like it could be a When you room with someone roommates can sometimes never-ending sleepover. But you likely want to have similar have conflicts with each other. there are a few things to lifestyles. If you both go to When it comes to things consider before deciding to do bed around the same time like taking out the trash, this. that can be especially useful. dirty dishes in the sink, and If you’re a neat freak, you cleanliness in general, it’s not One reason you may want may not want to room with uncommon for tensions to to room with your friends is someone who is a slob, even if rise. that you know them so well they are your friend. and you get along super well. Often, these issues can be However, this isn’t always the There is more to finding a cleared with communication case when you actually start roommate than just getting but it can be hard to have

COOGLIFE // March 2022

OPINION confrontations, even if it’s something as little as wanting them to clean the shower a little better. Confrontation is already difficult but it can be even more difficult with friends. If you and your friend get along well, you may feel uncomfortable bringing something up and tensions will continue to rise and possibly damage your friendship. You may think that with a friend, it’s easier to talk to them about these things, and that may be true depending on the friendship. But many friends may not be used to genuinely criticizing each other, and it can be hard to

tell your friends that the way they do the dishes stinks. Again, when rooming with your friends, you risk tension and conflict. You risk hurting a friendship. One may say that conflict and tension exist in situations where you aren’t friends with your roommates, and that is true! But the good part about that is if you aren’t friends with the person, there is no risk of losing that friendship. There is that risk with a friend. Additionally, there may be an obligation you feel to hang out or talk to your friends all the time if you live with them. Sometimes you may just not feel like hanging out and it can be nice to get an escape from

friends, especially if you’re an introvert. Additionally, you may want to hang out with friends all the time, but rooming with them may not be the best idea even still. If you’re constantly hanging out with friends it can be hard to focus on things like homework. So even if you are a social person, rooming with your friends may not be a good idea. While it may sound fun, choosing to room with your friends next year may not be the best idea. Think through whether you guys are really fit to be roommates or just friends. Sometimes living with someone you don’t know may be the best option.

ONLINE: WWW.THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM TWITTER: @THEDAILYCOUGAR FACEBOOK: @THEDAILYCOUGAR INSTAGRAM: @THEDAILYCOUGAR 18

COOGLIFE // March 2022

ESSAY

Commuting isn’t all bad: A personal essay

While UH is well known as a commuter school, when all your friends live on campus it can be hard to reconcile that you have to drive an hour home every day. But, if you’re like Haya, it can actually bring you closer to your family and connect with the city. By Haya Panjwani

rowing up in Sugar Land, Texas, almost everyone I personally knew graduating from high school and going to UH, chose to commute. So naturally, when I decided I was going to commute to this campus, I thought I was making the right decision. Sugar Land is about 40 to 50 minutes away from the University – without traffic. With traffic, it’s about an hour and a half on a good day. I didn’t know this when I decided to be a commuter, and it was a harsh reality coming to terms with it. My first semester freshman year, I would come home crying to my mom after sitting in my car, who I named Ruksana, for 45 minutes on I-610. I’d scream, “THAT’S IT, I’M MOVING ONTO THIS CAMPUS, EVEN IF IT’S IN MOODY TOWERS.” Staying on campus till 7 or 8 p.m. waiting for traffic to die down felt daunting. On occasion, I would forgo sitting in traffic for sitting in the library’s little study carrels to watch bad reality TV.

But come my second semester of freshman year, when I was offered an internship at a non-profit, I started to see the value of this commuter lifestyle. Instead of braving the traffic during the morning and evening rush hours, I would make my way to my internship in the morning, and then take my classes in the evening. I was able to pack my schedule in a way that I didn’t have to sit through traffic for 25 percent of my day, and I loved it. I would use the extra time on hand between my morning internship and evening classes to explore what Houston had to offer. I got to stop by museums on student discount days, and check out coffee shops or restaurants I wouldn’t have been able to otherwise. Houston is not a walkable city, it’s a city made for drivers, and going about my college experience in this way has helped me learn how to make the most of that. Being a commuter has also helped me build my

relationship with my mom. My mother and I had our differences in high school, constantly fighting about my attitude and stubbornness. Commuting meant that I was gone for most of the day either working or in class. But when I came home from school, my mom would likely be watching some sort of Pakistani show and I would sit there with her, watching along and telling her about my day. That’s an experience I can’t exchange for the world. It’s made us closer than ever before, making us more honest, open and vulnerable with each other. Ruksana is beautiful, but she’s a beat up Toyota Camry that needs an oil change ASAP. But she’s gotten me around Houston, been the location of some of my most dramatic traffic meltdowns and is the reason I can come home to my mom every day. I’m very thankful to be a commuter now, I wouldn’t change it for the world.

COOGLIFE // March 2022

ESSAY

You will come out of your ‘pick me’ era: A personal essay

hen I was a senior in High School, my parents moved from the small Texas town I was born and raised in, to an even smaller town in Mississippi. I was getting ready to go to college, and I made 20 COOGLIFE

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the decision to stay in Texas. My parents were 10 hours away from me, and for the first time, I felt totally alone.

Everyone who identified as a woman at one point has likely gone through a “pick me” phase. A “pick me” is defined by Urban Dictionary as “a woman that is willing to do anything for male approval. She will embarrass or throw other women under the bus to achieve this goal.” But don’t worry. The phase is there to build character. You will come out the other side a better person. By Katherine Galland

making their best attempt to have the summer of a lifetime before college inevitably changed everything, I felt like a lifetime had passed me by. That summer was spent alone. With no family to go home Where a lot of my friends were to, ever-changing ideas about

ESSAY my future, and just a general feeling of loneliness–I was forced to examine the person I was, and the person I wanted to be. For the first time, I really had to take a look in the mirror and think deeply about who I was. There was no one around me to impress and no one to judge me. And I began to realize that I had spent my life contorting who I was in order to be the most consumable. At various times in my life, I had pretended to care about video games, about heavy metal, about skateboarding. I decided pop music was lame, and I tended to have negative opinions on female pop stars. I had been picking traits that I thought would make me cooler, or more palatable, to those around me. I edited myself whenever something wasn’t giving me enough attention. I had totally detached myself from myself, and most notably, my femininity, in a desperate attempt to prove I was worthy of something to those around me. This realization has taken almost the entire three years since my parents have moved, and I still am not done unlearning all I had etched in my brain. But slowly I began to try to take the pressure off of myself. I tried to detach myself from the ideas of what others wanted from me that had

been haunting me for so long. Slowly, I returned to the things I enjoyed before I lost sight of myself in my teenage years. I began to read and write for pleasure again, and to play guitar. I watched trashy movies and let myself like them. I listened to Taylor Swift. I bought my first dress in years. As time went on, it occurred to me that it really didn’t matter to anyone except me whether my favorite movie was “Pulp Fiction,” or “Brother Bear.” And for the first time in years, I let myself say that “Brother Bear” was my favorite movie without feeling guilty, childish, or like I needed to explain myself. I was allowed to just be.

that time wouldn’t have made me any less feminine. I am not made feminine by the fact that I love a good late-night watch of “The Devil Wears Prada,” or the fact that there is at least one dress in my closet. Nor am I made feminine by the fact that I have a shaved head and know how to rig a fishing rod. The only accurate definition of femininity is the one I constructed for myself, and I am not made more or less worthy of anyone’s attention based on the things that I like or that I dislike. I don’t need anyone’s permission to like something.

I do not lose anything by liking things that some may say are cringey, and I certainly do not Though I look back at the gain anything by pretending “pick-me” years of my life to like things that I don’t. I am and cringe, I can’t help but much happier constructing my feel grateful for all they have own home for myself than I taught me. At this point, I feel ever was trying to put myself much more connected to in places where I simply did myself than I ever have before. not fit. Much of that is because I have let go of that part of my life, Though at the time I felt but I know that if I never had that my family moving away those experiences I would and my friends going off to not have anywhere near the college would be the end of understanding of myself as I the world–it was really the do now. beginning of everything. I am so grateful that I had a time Going through that period when there was no choice but graced me with the to find out who I really am, understanding that femininity and I am pretty happy with the is what I make it. person that I found. My interest in skating, metal music and whatever else I pretended I was into during COOGLIFE // March 2022

QUIZ

Which dorm should you live in next year? By Sydney Rose 1: Going into next semester, what will your classification be? A. It’s my first year/I am a transfer student B. I’m about sophomore/junior status regarding age C. It depends, but by credits, I am sophomore/ junior level D. I’m going to be a senior E. It’s going to be my last year at UH/I am going into graduate school here 2: Do you plan to room with anyone next year? A. I would be okay with having a roommate or living by myself B. I like having my own room, but I’m okay with shared living spaces if there is enough space for everyone C. I’m okay with being in a suite with my friends, or living in a townhome with other people I can relate to D. I’m okay with sharing a suite as long as I get my own space and bathroom area E. I’m comfortable sharing living space with 22

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one other person, but I would prefer a living space all to myself 3: What amenities are you looking for in your residence hall? A. I just need a room to sleep in, I don’t care about a communal bathroom B. I like having my own room and separate rooms to shower and use the restroom, as long as the living room has a lot of space C. Nice furniture and fairly new amenities would be nice in the bed space and living areas D. I would like my own kitchen space with a stove and fridge to share if I am going to have multiple roommates E. I would like pretty much everything of my own; room, living space, bathroom and a full kitchen unit 4: Which fun little add-on would you like for the dorm you lived in? A. A really nice view of the city or the skyline would be nice to wake up to each day or a piano practicing space

QUIZ

Answers: B. A 24/7 vending machine that serves sandwiches and medicine if I need something really late at night would be nice C. Access to hammocks to relax outside in some green area would be the height of luxury for me D. A gated parking lot connected to the dorm would be helpful and make me feel comfortable parking my car E. A really nice study place or just a place to hang out and watch the skyline from would be something unique to have 5: Where would you prefer to be located on campus? A. I want to be the closest I can be to the 24/7 dining hall, I think that’s a prime spot on campus B. I would like to be close to all the athletics happening on campus and somewhat close to some dining options and class buildings C. I want to be close to the fun places to hang out on campus and not have too far of a walk to a dining hall D. I don’t mind being a little further away from campus, especially if there is a shuttle bus to take me where I need to go E. I want to be close to the classroom buildings and student centers the most, as well as have a short walk to the campus recreation center 6: What is your price range per semester for living on campus in a residence hall? A. I want to spend as little as possible in order to live on campus B. I think a decent amount would be under $4,000 plus getting a meal plan C. Maybe somewhere between $4,000 and $4,500 D. Just about $4,000 and not having to purchase a meal plan too would be good for me E. I’m okay with paying over $5,000 for everything I need to accommodate my living preferences

Mostly As) Moody Towers would be perfect for you if you want to be at a central spot on campus, are looking for the cheapest option to live and are okay with the communal bathroom aspects. Moody Towers is open to all classifications, so it is a chance to mingle with everyone and gives you a short walk to the dining commons. Mostly Bs) Cougar Place would fit what you seem to be looking for, if you are OK with sharing living spaces, as long as those spaces are spacious and provide community kitchens and laundry rooms just down the hall. Cougar Place is a short walk from the athletic facilities on campus and to off-campus restaurants. Mostly Cs) The Quad might be right up your alley if you want a dorm that has the latest furniture, features and amenities as it is currently the newest dorm on campus. The Quad works for those who want their own bed space, but are fine being in close quarters for the living space. There is also a townhouse option at The Quads that opens up the floor for living with people you identify with and building new connections. Mostly Ds) Bayou Oaks could apply well to anyone who does not mind being right off the main area of campus and enjoys the environment of having Greek life houses right next door. Bayou Oaks apartments are a fit if you want the feel of a regular apartment with separate bathrooms and a kitchen unit. Mostly Es) University Lofts is the building for you if you are willing to pay the price for, basically, a loft-style apartment, whether that be with one other roommate or by yourself. The Lofts is a 21+ or junior standing dorm, so those finishing up undergrad or in graduate school are a perfect fit in this community.

COOGLIFE // March 2022

STAMP CARD

COOGLIFE // March 2022