By Janette, a senior at CLU.

Mental health is something I’ve learned to prioritize over the years, and I’ve found that talking about my feelings is one of the most helpful ways to cope. When I’m struggling, opening up to trusted friends or family members helps me feel less alone and more understood. Sometimes, just saying things out loud relieves the weight I’m carrying. I also believe profession...

"Building strong communication takes time and effort, but fostering open dialogue strengthens relationships and enables families to navigate tough issues together."

Written by a Ventura County college student.

Effective communication between parents and youth is essential for fostering strong relationships and navigating the complexities of growing up. However, discussing difficult topics ...

Content warning: This post contains brief mentions of self-harm.

Written by Brianna Gutierrez, a 21 year old senior and Health Science Major at CSUCI.

There are many internal battles that individuals go through alone. While it is okay to try and figure out our way through the hardships that life throws at us on our own, we may subconsciously be creating harmful coping mechanisms. I would like to...

By Vivian Blancarte, a CSUCI student.

A couple of years ago, a friend of mine was training for a marathon and would always post his run stats, sometimes running anywhere from 10-18 miles. I remember one day asking, “Why do you do that to yourself?” He simply replied, “Because I love it.” But what is there to love about putting your body through all that discomfort, I thought to myself.

I am not...

Ditch the booze and grab some chalk!

Written by Tristan Miler, a CSUCI student.  

Dehydrated. Nauseous. Regretful. Defeated.

Those words can be used to describe a morning wake-up following a night of alcohol consumption. Alcohol is toxic to your body and requires detoxification via your liver. This stress encumbers not only your liver but also your entire body. Some common hangover symptoms inc...

This post was written by Sofia Noriega, a Ventura County high school student.

Buying my new books makes me feel

so happy as if I was watching a beautiful

sunset. Nothing compares to how you feel

while being so excited to read a new world

in the palm of your hands. Exploring new

worlds almost as if you're traveling without

leaving. The weight of all those feelings

and experiences all in a ...

Written by David Zecua, a CSU Channel Islands Service Learning student.

Solitude. What comes to mind when you hear that word? Do you picture yourself being alone in a particular setting or do you picture solitude as an internal sensation? I imagine that we all have heard about or have experienced loneliness at some point in our lives. Loneliness can happen when hanging out with friends or hanging...

While the summer months bring sunshine and freedom for teens, it can be challenging for parents to find healthy activities to keep their teens engaged and away from parties and risky behaviors. Summer means more freedom, and many homes with little or no supervision. This can create situations where drug and alcohol experimentation take place. 

During the summer months, car accidents spike for tee...

Written by David Zecua, a CSU Channel Islands Service Learning student.

Can you remember the last time you were working on an assignment or a task at the last minute before it needed to be completed? Can you recall the stress that was going through your body as you were trying to complete the task in time? Procrastination is very much a malicious trap. It's a habit that people realize is horrible...

This post was written by a CSU Channel Islands Service Learning student, featuring art from Pacific High School students.

It almost always feels like everyone around you has something they are very passionate about. Whether your peers are amazing athletes, or musically gifted, to other random hobbies, it can be very easy to feel lost if you do not believe you have a passion. In getting lost it is...

This post was written by Aiden Choi, a senior at the Davidson Academy in Reno, Nevada.

For the past few decades, American obesity rates have been rising at an alarming rate and noncommunicable diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes, have long since overtaken contagious diseases as the primary cause of death. Time and time again, studies have shown that sugar in the diet is a huge contributo...

While at home together, take time to talk with your children about healthy choices. Now that children are back in school it is even more important to start the conversations. Here are some tips for talking with your kids about vaping, drugs and alcohol:

• Remember: Parents are the #1 reason that kids choose not to use drugs.

• Start young and make talking about it a regular habit.

• Find ...