Accent Student Media Zine Issue 1

Social Media Addiction

Where do you draw the line?

Fashion: Thrift or Fast?

Two trending ways consumers stay affordable.

Noble Udoh

Why He Chose ACC

The Student Voice of Austin Community College

Content

ACCENT Staff & Editor’s Letter

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Social Media Addiction

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Fashion: Fast or Thrift?

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Enneagrams

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Student Spotlight: Noble Udoh

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Culinary Cut

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Which Book Should You Read Next?

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ACCENT

sites.austincc.edu/accent

Executive Team

Contributing Staff

ACCENT Advisor

Writer/Reporter

Editor in Chief

Photographer/Writer

Halie Ramirez

Marissa Greene

Jace Puckett

McKenna Bailey

Web Content Editor Nalani Nuylan

Promotions Director Alexa Smith

Editor’s Letter

In a time where we face great adversities, the importance of standing up for justice has been more crucial than ever. Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent” and I believe this to be true. Many times our environment, people, and careers will challenge us and it is up to us to speak up for what we believe in. In a day and age where anything is possible, the power of the people is substantial.

There is power in your voice. It can comfort others. It can create change. That is why we as an organization believe it is important for your voice to be heard. Your limits only lie where you believe them to be.

I’m thankful for our advisor, Halie Ramirez, my staff’s tireless efforts, and the support of not only student life but ACC as a whole. I hope you enjoy reading our ‘zine as much as we enjoyed creating it.

Marissa Greene Editor in Chief

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Social Media Addiction: W

By: Jace

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Where Do we draw the Line?

e

Puckett

Scan the QR code to see bonus content on how much time

students spend on their phones.

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Fashion:

Fast or Thrifted?

The Pros and Cons of Two Trending Fashion Concepts Written Stroy and Photos

by McKenna Bailey

If you’ve ever fallen down an Internet rabbit hole, then you’ve probably run into the trending fashion concepts of fast fashion and/or thrifting. However, if you haven’t heard of these popular trends then here is the lowdown.

Fast fashion is a term used by clothing retailers to describe fashion designs and items that move quickly from the catwalk to stores at cheaper prices.

Thrifting is the act of visiting second-hand shops, vintage clothing stores, garage sales, or charitable organization clothing stores in the hopes of finding cheap and trendy clothing.

So why are these methods, of staying in fashion while still being afordable so trendy?

“One possible reason is that people are more environmentally and economically aware,” says Devin Heitt, an online reporter on the Ou d a i l y website.

Environmental awareness comes with thrifting, only while awareness comes with thrifting and fast fashion. The best way to save money is also by saving our planet.

According to Ou d a i l y, besides the fact that fast fashion shopping and thrifting is also a popular pastime among friends, it’s also a big hit among the Youtuber gurus.

Famous YouTube stars like Emma

Chamberlain or other YouTuber’s whose channels are devoted to thrifting and fast fashion hauls like Carrie Dayton and Alexa Sunshine83 have spread far and wide across the platform and into the eyes of the viewers.

With the heavy influence that YouTuber’s and social media influencers

Out with old, in with the new Marissa Greene models how both thrifted and fast fashion clothing are in style.

Photo by: McKenna Bailey

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have on their audience, it’s no wonder, fast fashion and thrifting are a big hit.

Before you decide which fashion method is best for you, or which method you will use, let’s examine the pros and cons of each.

According to the online news and lifestyle website T h e Go o d Tr a d e, with fast fashion, anyone can support small and local retail businesses by purchasing fast fashion items from them. You will also find the item you are looking for faster using fast fashion over thrifting.

The fast-fashion products may also be in better condition than if you were to find a used product in a thrift shop. However, T h e Go o d Tr a d e says most retailers produce fast fashion at low cost, which makes the products low-quality.

There are also ethical and economic reasons to consider when buying fast fashion. According to reserch done by

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Fashionably Fresh McKenna Bailey struts her

retailed fashion

S. Congress Photo By: Marissa Greene

on

the R u bi c o n group, a business dedicated to analyzing data, 11 million tons of fast fashion clothing is thrown out every year in America.

The R u bi c o n also stated in their findings that certain popular brands that carry fast fashion have harmful dyes, toxins, or synthetic fabrics that can affect the water supply in the country where the fashion products were produced.

According to the Od y s s e y, an online news and community lifestyle website, the benefits of thrifting include saving the environment because buying clothes from a thrifting shop prevents those clothes from going to a landfill.

Sometimes, the clothes are cheaper at thrit shops than fast fashion retailers. You will, also, help non-profit organizations and charities by shopping at thrift shops like Goodwill or Salvation Army.

Life in the Fast Lane Alexa Smith shows her top and jeans bought from retai stores such as Target and ModCloth Photo by: McKenna Bailey

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What’s Your Enneagram Number?

by

Jace Puckett

The Enneagram is a fun personality test, but how accurate is it? Students Marissa Greene, Nalani Nuylan and Nikoo Vafaee agree that no personality test can fully descide a person, though Greene sees some truth in tests, such as the Enneagram.

Nuylan says, “to say a number fully represents my character and behavior washed out the things thatmake me uniquely me.”

Depending on what environmental factors one goes through, their result may or may not change in the future.

“Right now I’m stuck being the peacemaker because I feel this is a strong way to keep friends and to show themthat I care,” says Vafaee. “But eventually I need to focus more on myself and not be so included in tother people’s lives.”

Type 1: The Reformer

Rational, Idealistic

“The minute you start caring about what other people think, is the minute you stop beliving in yourself.”

- Meryl Streep

Type 2: The Helper

Caring, Interpersonal

“This personality type is warm, nurturing and sensitive to the needs of others. I feel that in some aspects my results were accurate to how I see myself.”

- Marissa Greene, Communications major

Type 3: The Achiever

Success-oriented, pragmatic

“Two things scare me. The first is getting hurt.

But that’s nearly not as scary as the second which is losing.”

- Lance Armstrong

Type 4: The Individualist

Sensitive, Withdrawn

“There is a part of me that has to depend on fantasy, because if you can’t be somewhat of a fantasy person, then you can’t write.”

- Stevie Nicks

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Type 5: The Investigator

Intense, Cerebral

“Everything must be taken into account. If the fact will not fit into the theory, let the theory go.”

- Agatha Christie

Type 6: The Loyalist

Commited, Security-oriented

“I am who I am, and I think I have a good nature, by and large.

But if someone takes advantage of that good nature, well then, you know I’m not that nice guy .”

- Tom Hanks

Type 7: The Enthusiast

Busy, Fun-loving

“I was always the kid in school who tried to get attention, not necessarily the class clown, but I’d do little unexpected performances.”

- Leonardo DiCaprio

Type 8: The Challengr

Powerful, Dominating

“I personly don’t like being put into a box or a category. Get to know me for who I am, rather than the number I’m associated with.”

- Nalani Nuylan, Journalism major

Type 9: The Peacemaker

Easygoing, Self-effacing

“I like to listen to other people’s problems and give advice. I care a lot about my friends and they come to me for advice and help.”

- Nikoo Vafaee, Sociology major Don’t Know your number?

Scan the QR Code to take the Test!

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Student Spotlight

Noble Udoh How and Why He Stays Involved with ACC Interview by Marissa Greene and Alexa Smith

Noble Udoh is a second-year, pre-med international student at Austin Community College. When classes are not in session, you can still most likely find Noble somewhere at one of the ACC campuses.

Whether it is being president of Student Government, volunteering at the monthly food distributions, or kicking it with some friends on the field of intramural sporting events.

We caught up with Udoh to learn more about his journey as a Riverbat as well as tips on how to juggle school, work, and extracurriculars all while getting the most out of the college experience.

For the video interview of Udoh, scan the QR Code.

Noble Udoh sits with ACCENT to discuss the importance of students being motivated and engaged.

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How did you find out about ACC and why did you decide to enroll?

So I am from Nigeria, and when I finished secondary school, my mom always wanted me to come here [Texas] for school. I have been to Texas a couple of times to see my mom’s sister but I didn’t know where to go to school besides in Houston. So I was Googling stuff and I found ACC. There were three things about the college that made me want to enroll. One, it was affordable. Two, they had the pre-med track I was looking for. And three, the quality.

With work, classes, and extracurriculars, how did you find your balance between them all?

A schedule. I wake up at 5 a.m. every morning and I go to bed at 10 p.m. every night. There are four things that are very important to me: sleep, food, exercise and prayer.

Having that set schedule where I do the same thing each morning and before I go to bed; it helps me manage stress and be more focused.

What resources have been the most valuable to you?

Scholarships. Why? Because school is expensive. As an international student, I can only work 19 hours a week when school is in session. So scholarships have helped me pay for school and rent. The second resource is food distribution. I go, I volunteer, I get groceries as well. I go home and it saves me so much money.

Why do you think it is important to be connected within a school’s community?

You build connections, you make friends and you’re more likely to say “okay school isn’t that bad after all” and I may be struggling in class but I have people to give me advice, give me tips.” and, sometimes, you don’t even need advice you just need people that will listen. So you know that you have those people around you through being involved in school because they understand what you are going through. They are students, as well, so they will understand.

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So being more involved in school can help students be more involved in school and finish. I think that is the main thing for me. Sometimes I would think “what would I do if I wasn’t involved in campus?” I probably would be taking classes, going home, and going to sleep. It wouldn’t make sense, I wouldn’t feel good. I wouldn’t feel like I’m being productive.

How do you stay motivated and engaged as a student?

The truth is that I don’t stay motivated. There are definitely times that I don’t feel like doing things. I don’t feel like studying. I don’t feel like volunteering, but I just do it. I just do it. It’s not necessarily a thing of motivation because it’s not always there. I mean, you know that there are times that there are things you just don’t want to do. I try to make sure that even if I don’t feel like doing it, at least start small.

Why did you choose your major?

When I was ten, my teacher suggested that I read the book “Gifted Hands”. I was fascinated with the story of the successful operation that separated conjoined twins. So I thought “Huh this seems good. This seems like something I’d like to do,” but I wasn’t quite sure because I was ten.

When I was 13 my dad passed away from an illness. It was tough at the time and it still is. It didn’t make sense why it happened. I felt like it shouldn’t happen to other people.

That is actually what made me decide to stick with the whole thing [medicine]. I always loved biology as well. It seems like something I would love to do long-term. Those were the two main things. Plus, the health care in Nigeria isn’t the best as well. I mean it’s good, but it isn’t the best.

I feel like it could be improved. Those are the factors that made me choose medicine.

Do you feel that ACC has prepared you to transfer? Why or why not?

Yes. If you were to apply directly to a university for the first year you are required to live on campus for most schools.

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Noble Udoh by Alexa Smith

“Sometimes, you have to fail at something to know that you need to step up.”

- Noble Udoh

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Here at ACC, you can’t live on campus. So I feel like I’ve been able to get used to studying without having to live on campus. I was talking to someone about staying on campus when I transfer [to a university]. He was like “I mean, you’ve gone to ACC for two years you don’t need to stay on campus because you have already developed those habits that you need,” the study habits, learning how to ask questions in class, going to office hours.

How have you learned self-discipline as a student?

When I first joined ACC I was a good student but I wasn’t really that disciplined. So there was a class that I didn’t do too well in and I said “this isn’t me, I need to put my head down and even if I don’t feel like doing it I need to just do it,” I used to think that self discipline is “if I feel like doing it, I will do it,” but it’s more like “I don’t feel like doing it but I need to so I have to”. Living on my own, away from my family, and going to school almost everyday, not having anyone to push me, it helped me understand that selfdiscipline is extremely essential.

Where do you see yourself in the future?

My goal ultimately with medicine is to establish health care facilities in different places, especially in developing countries.

To teach and empower people to make advances in medicine.

But also so that the people in that region that can’t afford those services would be able to have access to them. That’s my long term goal.

“If you just come to school, go to class, and go home, I think you are more likely not to enjoy your environment.”

- Noble Udoh

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Culinary Cut Recipies by Marissa Greene

1 cup of spinach 1 cup of kale 1 cup of frozen pineapple 1 cup of frozen mango 1 whole banana 1 cup of coconut water 2 teaspoons of agave

1 whole banana 1/4 cup of peanut butter 1/2 cup of oats 1/2 cup of chocolate plant-based protein 1 cup of plain oat milk 2 teaspoons of agave

1 whole banana 1/2 cup of mixed berries 1/2 cup of strawberries 1/2 Avocado 1/2 cup of plain oat milk 2 tablespoons of agave Scan the QR Code Recipies in Action!

Video by: Marissa Greene to see the

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Which Book Should You Read Next?

In honor of National Library Shelfie Day, ACCENT developed an activity to give you reading recommendations. Stop by your ACC Campus Library to participate.

Directions: 1. Start in the center of the graphic.

2. Pick the rectangle that best describes your current reading needs.

3. Go to your ACC Campus Library.

4. Ask a Librarian or follow the shelf signs to locate the call number range indicated in the rectangle. For example, for politics, start with the call number range JK. 5. Browse the shelves for a book that meets your needs. A few suggested titles and themes are listed.

6. Check out your desired book. Note: make sure you have your ACC ID card to check out library materials!

7. Take a selfie with your book! Tag us @accent.media and @ACCLibraries with #libraryshelfieday in your post.

8. Happy Reading!

Expert librarians are available to provide assistance with research, citations, assignment needs, and leisure reading requests.

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Welcome to ACCENT, Austin Community College’s student media organization. We provide entertaining avenues to find resources and opportunities available to you. We create videos, articles, columns, and reviews for past, current, and future students of ACC. Don’t forget to follow/ subscribe to our social media channels!

Vision To be the first reference source that current, future or past students of Austin Community College utilize for campus news and entertainment.

Mission To engage Austin Community College through the stories and information provided on our ACCENT website and zine.

We support this student media outlet by creating diverse and fair content to inform and entertain the students of ACC. These publications are supplied for the college and the Austin area to encourage student participation.

Please feel free to visit ACCENT at ACC Round Rock Campus, Building 2000, Rm. 2107 *ACCENT is a student-run news organization at Austin Community College.

Views and opinions displayed here do not represent the views of ACC.*

ACCENT Student Media