Articles by Tram

Unpaid internships aren’t always worth it

Internships are great. You get to put real work experience on your resume, have a resource when you need a recommendation letter, and sometimes even earn some cash to help pay off your student loans. Being honest, the most important point is that extra cash. But what about the much more common unpaid internship? Is […]

The pros and cons of living with a bestie

As the posts searching for roommates and suitemates flood social media, housing season descends upon us. For many students, our first instinct is to room together with people we know. After all, since we already have a close relationship, living with them should be a breeze. Rooming with friends often comes with the added benefit […]

I’d rather be authentic than perfect

Growing up Asian, nothing short of perfection was expected from mom. “Perfection” here means being the stereotypical Asian: a smart doctor with straight A’s that brings glory to the bloodline. “Perfection” also meant being a good wife: a master of cooking, cleaning, sewing, and some form of the arts, such as drawing or piano. To […]

Economics is in STEM, where it belongs

Recently, UR moved Economics from a social science to a STEM major.  At first glance, I can see how economics could be classified as a social science — economics is the study of human behavioral responses to incentives. But if we take a closer look into economics, we can see that it’s actually much more […]

The hidden dangers of microplastics

Many of the negative impacts humans have on the environment are visible to the naked eye. Trash washes up on our beaches, the ice caps are visibly shrinking, and smog darkens our skies. But some environmental menaces, such as microplastics, are nearly invisible. The U.S. National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration classifies microplastics as any piece […]

What’s in a name? A lot, actually

A name is more than just a word. It carries the weight of a person’s whole identity. A name can embody a person’s ethnicity and culture, or pay tribute to their ancestral roots. A self-given name may embody a person’s beliefs or chosen identity. Everyone has the right to have their name pronounced correctly. It […]