Unnecessary jokes about mental illness dramatize the real conditions and should not be a habitual tendency. Labeling the response to a tough day as a psychological illness not only disrespects patients who actually have the condition, but also takes away from the gravity of the situation.

As of 2019, there are 7,111 languages across the globe, and about 2,776 of span between vulnerable and critically endangered. The main cause for endangerment is when younger speakers stop practicing the unique dialects, so that once the older generation dies, it is on track for extinction. The historical knowledge and cultural benefits of knowing any ethnic language, however, outweigh the disadvantage of time spent learning it.

Moving from Sri Lanka meant adapting culturally and finding my place in America, but also meant I would lose parts of my Sri Lankan heritage from lack of exposure to Sri Lankan customs. After struggling to find the balance between cultures, I soon realized that I am a citizen of the world, just as much as I am Sri Lankan and American.

The greatest amount of snow I experienced in Ohio never surpassed one and a half feet, whether from the temperature increase or simply bad luck, and paled in comparison to the frosty winters I got on the east coast.

I doubt I’ll be the first to admit that Columbia’s weather is quite frightening at times. I have yet to find another city where the sun will filter through from the north side of the sky while blackened...