Customer Relationship Management Systems (CRMs) have helped businesses, small and large, stay afloat for decades. The global market for these technology systems has reached a massive £54 billion pounds as of 2020 , and has only become more vital in the post-pandemic years, as companies look for ways to become less reliant on the physical workspace. A CRM System consists of software designed to help integrate and store nearly all information seamlessly, from sales to data insights from customers and employees alike. It is designed to make all interactions within the company, and between company and customer, flow smoothly. As You Press continues to expand, we look out for any opportunities to help facilitate our growth. It was decided that establishing a CRM System would help take the organisation’s internal operations to the next level. Thanks to JP Morgan Chase’s ‘Force For Good’ initiative, we are working to begin a new era for You Press, one defined by vast improvements to the customer experience. ‘Force For Good’ “connects employee volunteers with hundreds of nonprofits around the world to build sustainable tech solutions to advance their missions.” You Press was fortunate enough to be selected as one of the organisations to receive aid. “Most organisations in the non-profit space can’t dedicate full time space to their technology space, but at JP Morgan that’s where we come in,” says Ali Marano, Global Head of Tech for Social Good at JP Morgan Chase. A team of ten volunteers with backgrounds in technology have spent months searching for ways to add value to You Press through technological solutions. They recently visited to present their work and seek out feedback from the You Press team. The volunteers were divided into groups, with each assigned a different CRM System to research and showcase, with the goal of one being selected as the best fit for You Press’ needs. Copper was the first CRM System presented. It had an impressive presentation, highlighting the vast amount of integrations, including MailChimp (for the newsletter), Slack (for internal communications), and the Google Workspace (for pretty much everything else), along with its workflow automation capabilities. Bigin was the next to be shown, and stood out with their strong team management capabilities and communication pipelines for a competitive price. More meetings will be held in the coming weeks to choose the system that fits You Press the most, and the JP Morgan Chase volunteers will work to optimise it for the team. The goal for the future is to have absolutely everything in one place, easily accessible at all times. Emmanuel, who works as the Clients and Services Officer at You Press, deals with tons of information daily, sifting through lists of partner organisations, freelancers, and workshop graduates to make sense of it all. He is excited about the prospects of implementing a CRM System making his job easier. “I can pretty much just type information in, and it will be there immediately,” says Emmanuel. “Before, I would have had to go on Google Drive and go through mountains and mountains of folders just to find what we need. It will make life easier for all of us.” With more than 100 projects globally and over 1000 JP Morgan technologists participating in “Force For Good”, You Press is just one of many nonprofits that are being worked with to adapt in the ever-changing technological climate. Any other nonprofits interested in the “Force For Good” program can fill out an interest form here .

While exploring the city of Bath, England, I came across a man with wavy bleached hair and a rainbow-coloured sweatshirt sitting at a piano. The instrument was painted colourfully in blues, whites, oranges and yellows that resembled stained glass. Pasted on the backside was what looked like a map of Europe, but it was hard to make out from the many sticky notes pasted on top with messages written on them. Leaning on the ground was a painted sign that read, “PIANO around EUROPE.” I then noticed the small wheels that the piano rested on. Pedestrians stopped in their tracks to admire the emotional renditions of popular tunes. There was an added layer of depth and humility with each note. Some even stopped to paste a message on the piano before resuming their exploration of the city. I soon discovered that the pianist’s name is Jonas Hirschler, and I had the pleasure of talking with him about his experience travelling through Europe with his piano. 28-year-old Hirschler is from the town of Aachen within North Rhine-Westphalia of Germany. The town is about an hour’s drive away from Cologne and lies right by the border of Belgium and the Netherlands. Hirschler first picked up playing at 12 years old when his parents got him a piano as a birthday present. Courtesy of Jonas Hirschler “Originally, I picked it up because of my parents because they wanted us to learn an instrument, and I never liked the lessons because my teacher was a very traditional way of teaching […] and I learned to read notes which is useful today. But I was always told to play this piece and play it this loud or this fast and slowly as it’s given in the scripts. And I never really liked it and I didn’t find passion in it. And when I found passion was when I started again when I was 19. I had like a more freestyle to it, like I was playing with a guitar app, which is just giving you the chords of a famous song and so I learned some basic chords and improvised the melody over it,” said Hirschler. “And this is when I started to be passionate about it and also, I could connect my feelings better through the music that I do.” Hirschler’s inspiration for the idea of travelling around playing in different cities and countries came from Dotan Negrin, a pianist who travelled around the United States and eventually the world playing his instrument. Taking a shot at street performing for the first time, Hirschler brought his piano to a small town by his hometown. He was understandably nervous to play in front of strangers for the first time as he considered himself an introverted person. “I was pushing the piano up a bridge and was shaking and thinking, ‘What the hell am I doing here?’ And when I sat down to the piano, I tried to imagine, just to be in my room and just letting my emotions flow through my fingers just like how I do for a couple of hours every day the last few weeks,” said Hirschler. “And so I just did that and it felt like it reached people. So, people came to me and said, ‘Okay, I could feel this when you play,’ and I didn’t even have to talk with them like that. And so I skip like all that talking part and reach the people on an emotional level directly so it’s also why it was possible as an introverted person to do that.” “Through playing music, I get to talk with people much more because they are interested in what you do and they want to get to know you. So you get a lot of small talk experience when doing street music. And that helps your […] extroverted person growth.” Once he got this kind of positive feedback, he went on his first month-long trip to France in 2019. Visiting places such as Paris, Lyon and Dijon, he described it as a “very magical experience” because of the amount of positive feedback he received. Since that first trip, Hirschler is on his fourth trip and has charmed 30 countries with his musical talent. Courtesy of Jonas Hirschler “I did an Italy trip. Then I did a trip through the Balkan countries and around the Baltic Sea, which was last year for three to four months. And now this trip is going since the middle of April and I went through Spain to Morocco, and then back through Portugal and France and now I’m doing a trip around the UK and Ireland with a friend. And we are ending in the middle of August.” When planning out his journey, Hirschler said that he has a rough plan of which countries he wants to perform at, but his decision of where to go within the country is decided very spontaneously. “You don’t know in advance how good the city will be for busking. For example, we went to Galway in Ireland last weekend, and we just had like two days there until we had to move on. But turns out it’s like a great city for busking and we could have spent two weeks there easily,” said Hirschler. “We go with the flow. We have more like a go with the flow travel style.” Hirschler recalled one time he stayed somewhere for a lot longer than anticipated. “I had a really great time in Montenegro last year, but I wasn’t doing much music there because it was not really densely crowded area […] But I get to know some local guy who was showing me around his village for one week and I worked in his garden, and we had a really nice week there. And I get to know the country and the people very well, so it was an intense time in another way.” So how does one travel around with an instrument as big and clunky as a piano? Driving a VW van with a high roof, Hirschler had to construct a platform for the piano to rest on for transport. He said that it took a few tries to get the platform right. There is also a small kitchen and an “upstairs” compartment where he sleeps. When asked about the idea to let passerby paste messages on his piano, he said that he came up with the idea as another way of communicating with his audience. Hirschler plays piano for about two hours at a time, and oftentimes he will blend songs together creating about 15 minute runs. “People, maybe they want to say something to you, but they don’t have 10 minutes time to listen until you make a break and then come to you and talk. A lot of people also they don’t have the courage to talk to you, but they still maybe want to say something. So I just started to put out some small letters,” said Hirschler, “So I just kept it going and it’s very nice. I collect every message and maybe make like a big poster out of it one time, and it’s also very profitable because it creates a lot of attention because it’s colourful and people read the messages in different languages.” Oftentimes too, other musicians will join Hirschler, whether it is singing, playing an instrument or even playing his own piano. “I always welcome them because I love to take a step back from my piano and see others playing there. I know that it was for me a very unique experience playing piano on the street. So if people even look like they are thinking about playing on my piano, I go to them and say, ‘Hey, do you want to play something?’ And most of the cases I’m right, and they’re like, ‘Ah, yeah.’ And then they have three friends behind them cheering […] And then they play something and it’s a good experience for them.” Reflecting on his time travelling, Hirschler noted how his experiences have given him a better impression of the world. “For example, when we went through Morocco, it was like a total culture shock and different religion, different culture, different language. Everything was so different and when you come back to Europe then, you learn to value some basic rights that you have. […] And I think this is something special that you can make this perspective switch when you travel to countries for a longer time.” Hirschler emphasised his appreciation of the immersion into different cultures that playing street music provides. “When you travel by doing street music, you are like head diving into a different culture. Because you get to connect to the people through music and you can talk with them on a personal level. And you get to know the country differently like when you travel as a standard tourist for example.” Of course, I had to ask how his family felt about him travelling around Europe for months at a time. And he said that his parents saw the positive impact it had on him and were very supportive. “My family, they maybe think that at one point I will have enough of traveling and I come back to Germany but I don’t see that coming yet.” Once this trip comes to an end, Hirschler will make his way back to Germany where he will find a job in IT and save up for another summer on the road with his piano. By Jack Underhill, You Press Intern

Last week, the Royal Docks Internship Programme participants celebrated their graduation. These young people have spent the last 12 months working for various organisations around the Royal Docks area. The ceremony, held at the Good Growth Hub within the Hackney borough, brought together all of the interns to reflect back on all they have achieved, and look forward towards the future. Those interns being celebrated included two of our own here at You Press, Emmanuel and Maxime! Launched in 2021 as a means to help the area bounce back economically and creatively from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Royal Docks Internship Programme was designed to “invest in the talent of local people and create more youth employment opportunities.” The programme was part of a joint initiative by the Mayor of London and the Mayor of Newham, and helped support the interns working full-time through providing them with a liveable wage (London Living Wage salary is £11.05 an hour). After some opening words from a few of the interns who worked to organise the event, everybody had an opportunity to showcase a video project they have been working on focused on the Royal Docks themselves. The video styles varied, with some using spoken word poetry, and others doing a walking tour of the docks. They did share a common theme throughout all the videos, that being they were all able to find their own form of beauty and inspiration from the area, and capture it in their own unique way. As an American intern with You Press this summer, I thoroughly enjoyed these videos, and found them to be quite relatable. Every day I work in the office, I use my lunch break to walk down the docks, past the city hall and across the tall footbridge. It serves as a refreshing break from writing my articles, and helps rejuvenate me creatively. I was happy to see so many others feel the same way, and able to derive the same joy I do every time I make that relaxing trip. Throughout the entire experience, each of the interns also received mentoring support and career coaching, with Farah Mohammoud, founder and director at You Press, helping to lead the way. His contributions and dedication to the interns did not go unnoticed, as he was honoured with a round of applause and a gift of his favourite chocolate banana bread. Farah still had some more to give though, sharing some final thoughts with the interns he has helped work with over the last year. “You worked hard, you committed, you delivered, you pushed yourself.” For those interns who helped to organise the graduation, the event felt like a satisfying culmination of all they have learned throughout the entire process. Maxime, who was one of those interns, said “my favourite part was seeing everyone we interviewed together in the same space,” and “it has helped me develop my event planning skills the most.” While the graduation certainly may have felt like the end of the road, it’s only the beginning for these promising youths, who leave with valuable skills and lessons under their belts. “We helped you to find your voice. We told your story. We created something special,” said Farah. Congratulations to all of the graduates, and we wish you all the best of luck wherever your exciting futures take you! By Joe Brady, You Press Intern

Earlier this month, the Anti-Tribalism Movement (ATM), in collaboration with You Press, began with the first of eight workshops dedicated to empowering our youth to find their identity and sense of self. The ‘Lead & Be Led Workshop’ was facilitated by Farah Mohammoud, founder and director at You Press, and held in the Shepherd’s Bush neighborhood of London. As an American intern, I had the opportunity to sit in for the workshop, which I found to be an incredibly engaging and informative experience. We began with an icebreaker, splitting up into pairs to get to know one another, then introducing our partner to the rest of the group, which surely helped everyone feel more comfortable with each other. What followed were various activities meant to make you think deeply about who you really were inside, with discussion on the tail end breaking everything down. Two of the activities stood out to me, with one being the group splitting into two and creating a list of five core values most important to them. Afterwards, the two groups each shared their five, and worked together to deduce the five most important to everyone in the room. The final result included respect, commitment, honesty, community, and confidence. The second, and final activity, involved writing a text to our future selves, a personal message about how I feel in the moment, to serve as a reminder in case I ever lose my way. My text finished with “hold on to the same drive you have always had.” I hope that one day, myself and the others with me can find solace in the words of our past self. I began the night not really knowing what to expect from the ATM event, but left feeling a bit more understanding of my own feelings than I had before. I returned last week for the final session of the ATM workshops. The progress I had seen from the other participants was extraordinary. The group had managed to take what they had learned about leadership and identity and channel it into something tangible. They had worked diligently over the weekend on developing a social action plan together. They had decided on creating a podcast together to discuss the many issues Londoners from all different backgrounds face. Farah had walked them through all the necessary steps to build their plan, which the group quickly carried out with great attention to detail. The group’s vision, mission, and desired outcomes were decided first, followed by more logistical steps, including team roles, risks, and budgeting. Everyone seemed legitimately excited and passionate about their plan, and their vision to “help set a foundation for the younger generation.” Growth seemed to be the central theme of the ATM workshops. The transition from trying to find growth within one’s self to helping to grow the community through initiative was beautiful. If more youth were able to take these same steps, it would have a transformative impact on our society. Overall, the ‘Lead & Be Led Workshop’ proved to be a rousing success, and showed firsthand how YouPress’ goal of giving young people a voice is coming to fruition. The group’s finished podcast, ‘Life of a Londoner’, will be available to stream starting August 12th. By Joe Brady, You Press Intern

Earlier this month, You Press had the honor of attending Compass Wellbeing ’s summer conference, ‘Enhancing Delivery Leaders for Tomorrow’. Held at the historic Stratford Town Hall, the conference drew over 300 community organizations representing 13 different boroughs across London, with most hailing from Northeast London, including Newham, Hackney, and Tower Hamlets. The all-day event proved to be a great opportunity for local voluntary and community organizations to collaborate and network, learning best practices from each other through a mix of open-ended discussions and various scheduled workshops. “I’ve always wondered, if God was looking for a job, where would he want to work?” began Mohit Venkataram, CEO of Compass Wellbeing, alluding to the importance of their professions. “If he wanted a job that is full of passion, a job that is challenging, but incredibly rewarding and satisfying, there is no richer sector he would want to work in than volunteering and community service.” Compass Wellbeing’s venture into the community service sector has been incredibly rewarding thus far, with £11.7 million commissioned to 224 different VCSEs (Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprises) in just their first three years. However, the health-based community interest company felt they had more to offer than just money, organizing this conference with the goal of dispersing the knowledge they’ve acquired in their short lifespan with the hope that other organizations can use it to reach similar heights. Two keynote speakers followed Venkataram, discussing building thematic alliances for health resistance and population health, respectively. What followed was a choice of two sessions, with breaks in between each for food and beverage, as well as time to visit the various booths lining the ballroom set up by different organizations and foundations, dubbed the ‘Market Place.’ You Press chose to attend the sessions titled ‘Submitting an effective bid application’ and ‘Children and Young People: Alliance building and model development.” The first session was designed to assist organizations in applying for funding, providing valuable advice on how to go through the process smoothly and stand out. With the sheer number of organizations in the greater London area vying for limited funds, it can get competitive trying to stay afloat. The speech was delivered by Amit Dixit, the Director of Business Development at Marie Curie , an organization providing care and support to those with terminal illnesses and the ones closest to them. Their past experience, and success, in acquiring funding shone through, having lots to offer on the subject. The second provided support in connecting to a younger demographic, led by Elaine Thomas from The Mentoring Lab , a group dedicated to youth mentoring, training, and development. Her story, outlining her journey towards learning how to build relationships with younger people, served as a reminder to make sure that we listen to our youth, as it goes a long way in understanding their feelings and perspective. Overall, the event was a huge success, largely in part to the collaboration at work from all sides, from Compass Wellbeing to all of the organizations in attendance. “We wouldn’t be able to do any of our work in isolation,” said Dixit. “Only by working effectively with our partners will we get the rich picture.” These events are quite important in establishing a sense of togetherness in the community. They can also be quite enjoyable. At the end of his talk, Dixit, with a grin on his face, declared ‘Enhancing Delivery Leaders for Tomorrow’ “One of the sickest conferences I’ve ever been to.” By Joe Brady, You Press Intern

Our 5th annual community dinner was held in April 2023. Watch the video to see how the day went!

Studying abroad is an adjustment for anyone who chooses to do it. It doesn’t matter if you are very independent, live far from home already, or aren’t close to your family, when you study abroad, you are leaving familiarity and comfort and have to adjust to a new environment. Studying abroad can seem even scarier if you are close to your family and find comfort in being in a familiar environment. I identify with the latter, but I chose to study abroad. Now that my trip is coming to an end, I have some pieces of advice I would like to share with others. Take The Leap I am an only child and I am very close with my family and friends. I value quality time with my loved ones and don’t often travel far away from them for long periods of time like this. I have only been out of the country once and it was on a trip with my friends and family. In addition, my college is only two and a half hours away from my house. Whether it was on purpose or on accident, I have remained close to home throughout my life thus far. However, when the time came, I wanted to study abroad. I strategically chose London because of the classes offered, the internship component, and the location. Taking this leap and being away from my family and friends for four months was one of the best decisions I made. While it was scary at some points, I learned so much about myself through this experience. Even though I am close to my family and enjoy being home, I am an independent person in many ways but, going abroad showed me just how strong I am as a person. I shocked myself with how well I adjusted to London and being away from home. I was able to fully immerse myself in the experience and enjoy my time here. If you are hesitant, know that everyone has fears or worries about the abroad experience. However, it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. If you are unsure about going abroad, learn from my example. You are probably stronger than you think. Don’t let your fear consume you and convince you not to embark on this adventure. Do Your Research Research all the locations your school offers for study abroad. You want to make an informed decision before choosing to study abroad. In addition, plan a meeting with your academic advisor. This will allow you to ensure that you will stay on track in terms of academic credit while abroad. Researching the specific classes that a program offers as well as their course equivalents is very helpful in preparing your academics for a semester abroad and can have an effect on your decision. In addition, your advisor can provide insight into whether or not your progamme offers special experiences like doing an internship. Remember to be organised and comprehensive when applying to study abroad. No matter what school you attend, this will help ensure that you are accepted into the programme. Each university’s process is different. For instance, my college Elon University does not require an interview as a part of the process but it might be different for you. To gain as much knowledge on studying abroad and the process, make sure to visit the study abroad office on your college campus.  Once you have picked a location, do your research on the place before departing. This will help you gauge the expenses needed, travel in the area, what to pack, etc. It will also help you to be aware of the cultural differences between the United States and your chosen destination. If you know what to expect before going abroad, the transition will be smoother. In addition, it shows that you are committed to getting to know another culture. Save Money Now that I have convinced you to go abroad, let’s discuss logistics. You should start saving months in advance of your trip. You will most likely need more money than you expect, especially if you are studying abroad for an entire semester. You will have to pay for groceries, possibly laundry, weekend travel, dinner out, souvenirs, and more. It is never too early to start saving for studying abroad, trust me. Moreover, apply for scholarships well in advance. The deadline for submission will pass before you know it. In addition, if you don’t have a credit card, get one. Most debit cards will charge an international fee for all transactions abroad. To avoid spending unnecessary money, apply for a credit card that does not charge international fees. Once you are abroad, remain conscious of your money. Yes, money will come back, but remember that the money you saved has to last the entire trip. The first couple of weeks is the worst. You are adjusting and excited. In my first three weeks in London, I ran through more money than I realised. So, pay attention from day one. One thing that helped me was paying off my credit card every week. Even though the bill was due every month, doing this allowed me to keep track of how much money I had left over. Even though you want to keep track of your money, don’t worry about saving while abroad. Most likely, you will never have an experience like this again. You do not want to leave with any regrets. Take weekend trips, go out to dinner, and buy gifts, but, just be conscious while doing it.  Packing Don’t overpack for abroad but I suggest taking three suitcases if you can. I brought three suitcases to London and I do not regret it. At first, I was hesitant because most people only take two. However, I have bought a lot of stuff while abroad. Many of my friends are having to purchase another bag abroad, donate some of their items, or both, to get all of their belongings back to the United States. In addition, pack enough toiletries for the entire trip. Half of one of my suitcases was filled with toiletries to last me the entire trip. It was nice to not have to buy toiletries while abroad. In addition, I am particular about my products. Furthermore, all the space I took up with toiletries when departing is now free space for the items I bought while abroad.  Conclusion Other quick tips before going abroad are to have your family visit if you can, coordinate trips to see friends who are studying abroad in another country than you, don’t forget to explore where you are studying abroad, and the list goes on and on. Overall, have fun while studying abroad and soak up all you can. After graduation, you will probably not have the opportunity to study abroad like this. Take advantage of the opportunities at your disposal before they are gone. By: Chloe Franklin

Queen Victoria Seaman’s Rest has been serving service men, the homeless, and more for approximately 180 years. Salem Abdelkader of Queen Victoria Seasman’s Rest said, “It’s not just a hostel, it’s not just a place, it’s a home.” Members of the community and residents at Queen Victoria Seaman’s Rest gathered last week for food and fellowship at the 5th annual You Press community dinner. A resident named Shek attended the event and has been staying at Queen Victoria Seasman’s Rest for a short period of time. This was his first time attending the community dinner. He said his favorite part of the event was seeing his fellow residents, some of which he only sees at meals. He said he was impressed with the event but also with Salem. Shek said, “I’m even more impressed with our man Salim because when I came, he was the first to receive me. Amongst all the people here, he stands out. It doesn’t surprise me that he’s done this for you guys for five years.” Several other people played a major part in the success of the event. Ayesha Tariq works with the Clothworkers Foundation. The foundation donates approximately 10 to 15 thousand pounds to various organisations, many of which aim to help the disadvantaged or those in need. “For myself. It’s not just about giving cash or giving money and saying, hey, go away and just do your thing. It’s actually following it up and understanding how far it’s going, how empowering is it for that organisation,” Tariq said. The Clothworkers Foundation donated the digital equipment for the community dinner event. Tariq said that You Press and its mission to help young people find and broadcast their voice impressed them. “We never get the chance to visit projects. So this is like one of the very rare moments where you get to see it in action,” Tariq said.  When the event started five years ago, it was small however, it has grown immensely. Set up for the event started at 4:30 PM, including setting up tables and chairs and preparing the food. As an intern, I helped with the setup, primarily helping in the kitchen with the food preparation. The doors opened at six and people filled the room. People began to talk and eat. At 7:00 PM the official program started and several people came to the stage to address the room. Director and founder of You Press, Farah Mohammoud gave the welcome address. He even shared a spoken word piece he recently wrote. He said that he writes when he is inspired and this event inspired him. Following Farrah, two poets from You Press shared their spoken words. Nomadic Libaax is an alumnus of The Collective Programme and shared words like “for in pain we find peace, in pleasure, we find release, with hard times comes ease, same words on repeat.” Tasneim Zyada, an alumnus of the Aspire program, was the second performer. She has been writing for 15 years and performing for a total of seven years. She shared three poems: “Swing,” “A Dedication to My First Flame,” and “The Beginning.” Two current participants of the Aspire Training Programme also attended the event. Furthermore, Amina Mohammad, a donor, and supporter of the event shared the ABCs of community with the group. She instructed everyone to stand and shout, accept, believe, and commit. At this time in the night, it was also brought to everyone’s attention that five residents at Queen Victoria Seaman’s Rest who attended the community dinner event in the past have passed away. A moment was taken to address and honor them, to honor those in attendance, and to show the importance of an event like this. After the welcome and various speakers/performers, people had a few more minutes to fellowship together before additional food would be served. The warm food was served at approximately 8:00 PM and those fasting for Ramadan would break their fast together at that time. Several people who attended appreciated the event and noticed its value and impact. Olivia Reid attended the event for the first time with her son and said, “The creation of spaces like this is so important”, especially in these times of isolation, loneliness, and division (religious, racial, etc). In addition, she mentioned how she appreciated that the event took place during significant events like Ramadan and Passover because it also allowed people to share that with others and support their peers. Olivia said she plans to continue to attend this event in the future. “Incredible.” “Humbling.” “Inspiring.” “Amazing.” “Blessed.” These are a few words people used to describe the community dinner and I would like to add one more… “Impactful.” By: Chloe Franklin

My study abroad journey began over four months ago when I boarded the plane on January 4th, 2023, to fly to London. Before departure, I had a list of places I wanted to travel to outside the United Kingdom. Thankfully, I was able to make it to a lot of cool places like Barcelona, Lisbon, Amsterdam, and more. Of course, these trips cost a lot of money. However, near the end of the trip, we had a four-day weekend for the Easter holiday. My friends and I wanted to take advantage of the long weekend and travel, but we didn’t want to spend a lot of money. Therefore, we decided to do two day trips to the United Kingdom. We settled on going to Brighton on Friday and White Cliffs of Dover and Canterbury on Saturday. Traveling on both trips was different than any other trip I had been on since being here. Throughout the entire experience, I have been flying to all my weekend trips. However, my friends and I took the train for our Easter weekend travels. I have taken the national rail and the tube in London, but never the train for a trip. Thankfully, the commute was simple. It was easier than flying. Since they were day trips there was no packing or TSA.   Brighton was not what I expected but in a good way. We took an early morning train. When we arrived, I was worried. There weren’t many people on the street, and I didn’t see a lot to do. Our first stop was to get breakfast. I had amazing blueberry gluten-free pancakes. We ended up staying at the restaurant for a couple of hours. Then we headed to the beach. Once we got to the beach area, I felt a lot better. There were tons of people and the sun was shining. My friends and I stood by the water, soaked up the sun, and attempted to skip rocks in the ocean. I was unsuccessful. At one point, I stood and just listened. Since Brighton is a pebble beach, there was a relaxing sound when the tide would flow back and forth over the pebbles. Afterward, we headed to the pier we could see in the distance. To my surprise, there was an arcade. I hadn’t been to an arcade since I was a small child. Of course, my friends and I decided to play 20 pounds worth of games. I even won a stuffed animal in the claw machine game. When we ran out of coins, we walked around the rest of the pier, which resembled a carnival. There were rides, music, food, and drinks. Before coming to Brighton, my friends and I bought tickets to zipline over the beach. So, after walking around we headed to the Brighton Zip . We were given instructions, fitted with our gear, and sent up to go ziplining. It was a cool experience, and I received a video of myself doing it at the end of the ride. After ziplining, we spent the rest of the day walking around and eating food before heading home.  The next day we took a train to the White Cliffs of Dover . I wanted to go here before I got to London. I was very excited, but finding a taxi in Dover was very difficult. Dover is very different than London in that way. In London, taxis are driving past constantly. In Dover, they were a rare sight. After an hour of walking around, we finally were able to pre-book a taxi to the cliffs. The experience was well worth the wait. My friends and I turned on music and walked the path, took pictures, and took in the sites. We even walked down to the bottom of the cliffs. This involved walking down a narrow path and climbing down a rusted and old latter, but the view was great. After finishing at the cliffs, we took a taxi to Canterbury, where we spent the latter part of our day. Canterbury was a very chill visit. We simply walked around the streets, taking in the sites, and eating food. After a couple of hours, we headed home.   Overall, both trips were great and budget-friendly. It was nice to travel outside of London to other parts of the United Kingdom. Although sometimes uncomfortable, the train ride was simple. It was a pleasant break from the many trips to the airport and flights taken over the past four months. If you have the time, I highly recommend traveling to the White Cliffs of Dover and Brighton one weekend. By: Chloe Franklin

Studying abroad is an incredibly unique experience. With it, comes many unforgettable opportunities that can be truly life-changing. Months spent in another country away from your loved ones, cultural norms, and what you’ve known your entire life inevitably leads you to grow as a person and test your limits. Honing in on your independence while you’re abroad can lead you to become a more capable person and can equip you with skills that you can use for the rest of your life. This exciting chapter of your life has countless plus sides to it. However, one thing to be aware of about studying abroad is that it can also be quite trying on your mental health. There can seemingly be so many different things to do all at once, and so much to juggle. Looking back on my experience, there have definitely been times when my mental health has waxed and waned. If you feel the same way during your own experience, you’re not alone. It’s only natural to experience this. Here are some tips to help preserve your mental health while studying abroad. Prepare yourself mentally beforehand When about to undergo such an intense lifestyle change, it’s critical to mentally prepare yourself. One thing that made the move to London a bit smoother for me was that I did some research on the country you’ll be studying in and what to expect. It helped me a lot to talk to other students I know that did the same program as me or just people that have studied abroad in London. Gaining a basic understanding through conversations with those that have been through it already can help you anticipate what to expect and can help you mentally prepare for your study abroad experience. Prioritise staying connected A lot of what can add to poor mental health abroad is when you don’t feel as connected to your loved ones across the world. These people have been there for you your entire life, and it’s hard to come to terms with the fact that they’re so far away. One thing that has helped me is staying connected with family and friends back home. Maintaining these relationships has helped me feel less isolated and has provided a support system while I’m in London. Engage in outside activities I had the pleasure of living across the street from Hyde Park in South Kensington. A walk outside in the fresh air was sometimes all I needed for a mental health reset. It allowed me to connect with and take in the beauty of the city. It doesn’t necessarily have to even be a walk through a park, though. Exploring the streets of a new area of the city you study abroad in or taking up a recreational sport with locals can help you detach from the sometimes highly-stressful reality of being a study abroad student. The benefits of engaging with nature are endless and can ease the pressure of life abroad. Studying abroad has undoubtedly been some of the best months of my life. I’ve had the privilege to be able to experience things I never thought possible. Despite the many–and I mean many–highlights of my time abroad, there have been parts of my experience that have been difficult for me mentally. Hopefully, these tips for those that are looking to study abroad are helpful. Although there will be both ups and downs, just remember that everything passes. And, make sure to take it all in while you can. By: Maddy Adler

There’s nothing quite like music. Sure, it’s fun to get into watching movies, TV shows, or sports, but nothing has caught my attention more than music has. It’s stayed so consistently present in my life, and has become a dependency for me–but a healthy one at that. I’m sure many can relate, but I listen to music when doing almost anything: there is rarely a time when I’m not wearing my AirPods. Because it is ever-present in my life, I wanted to look into why I have such a strong attachment to it and the impact it can have on the human mind. Influence on mood Music is a truly powerful thing. Studies have shown that music can actively boost the brain’s production of the hormone dopamine. This increased dopamine production helps relieve feelings of anxiety and depression. It also has the ability to evoke some of the rawest emotions and can dictate your mood whether it be in a positive or negative way. I think that’s why so many people resonate with music: it makes them feel something more than just surface level. It can also influence the way you feel about yourself and others, and allow you to take on perspectives not considered before. Perhaps one of the best things about music, though, is it can flood you with so many senses of nostalgia. Some of those senses may hurt, some of those senses may make you smile, and some may leave you feeling empty. However, that’s what makes music so addicting. It has the power to make you really feel. Influence on memory The way in which music can transport you back to one single moment in time is something that has always intrigued me. Two recent studies –one in the United States and the other in Japan–conducted by Harvard Medical School found that music doesn’t just help us retrieve stored memories, it also helps us lay down new ones. In both studies, healthy elderly people scored better on tests of memory and reasoning after they had completed several weekly classes in which they did moderate physical exercise to musical accompaniment. Music taps into a part of your brain you didn’t realise you had. One strike of a chord and you can remember the very moment–or moments–in your life that you listened to that song. That is why I choose to organise my music by monthly playlists, and why you should too. The other day, I was a bit bored with my usual rotation. For some reason, I had an urge to scroll all the way back to some of my first playlists, just to see what I was listening to back then. The first monthly playlist I created dates back to April of 2018, which was made during the spring of my sophomore year of high school. I couldn’t believe the number of songs I had completely forgotten about but remember absolutely loving at the time. Listening to these tunes that once blasted throughout my car as I drove to high school was all a rush of nostalgia. Listening back to those times made me reflect on my past self and assess how much–and in what ways–I’ve changed. It also actively reminds me of the great times I’d be listening to that exact chorus with people I may not even talk to anymore or in places I no longer frequent. Although it may seem like it stings, it’s only a reminder of how much I’ve grown. Music has become my favourite outlet for reflection and will be in my life forever. Although you may not realise it, music’s impact on the mind is significant. It can go as far as to alter the chemicals in your brain, manifesting itself in the way your mood can fluctuate or the things you can remember. Don’t underestimate the power of music: it can undoubtedly change your life. By: Maddy Adler

Self-care is a term that has gained popularity in recent years and for good reason. Taking care of oneself is essential for maintaining good mental health. Self-care involves engaging in activities and practices that promote physical, emotional, and mental well-being. It’s very easy to get caught up in the demands of work, school, and life in general. Because of this, it’s essential to carve out time for things that add to your happiness. However, despite the good that self-care can do for a person, there are many misconceptions that can get in the way of following through with it. One is the hesitance to prioritise your own needs over others. The desire to please others and always show up for them despite needing time for yourself can hinder practicing self-care. It’s critical to understand that implementing self-care will improve many aspects of your life and your well-being as a whole. The guilt that many feel about self-care is incredibly unfortunate because it’s not a selfish act in any capacity. Reduces stress and anxiety In a study examining the effects of self-care practice on stress levels of medical students, it was scientifically proven that the more self-care a student engaged in, the higher the quality of life was experienced. Stress and anxiety are common mental health problems that can have a significant impact on one’s quality of life. Self-care practices such as exercise, meditation, and spending time in nature can help reduce stress and anxiety levels. When stress and anxiety are reduced, it becomes easier to manage daily life and cope with challenging situations. Improves self-esteem Self-care involves doing things that make you feel good about yourself . Whether it’s taking a relaxing night in or practicing yoga, engaging in self-care practices can aid in boosting self-esteem. When you feel good about yourself, you are more likely to take care of yourself, both physically and mentally. Enhances relationships Many times when my head is not in the right place, I find my relationships are the first to suffer. Taking care of oneself is not only beneficial for personal well-being but can also improve relationships . When you are happy and healthy, you are more likely to have positive interactions with others. Additionally, engaging in self-care practices such as spending time with loved ones or practicing gratitude can improve relationships and increase feelings of social support. Boosts energy levels Self-care practices such as exercise, eating a healthy diet, and getting enough sleep can improve energy levels. When you have more energy, you are better equipped to handle the demands of daily life. Additionally, increased energy levels can improve mood and overall well-being. Promotes self-awareness Self-care practices such as journaling or therapy can promote self-awareness. When you take the time to reflect on your thoughts and emotions, you gain a better understanding of yourself. Journaling as a self-care activity actively helps to decrease stress, cope with depression, and manage anxiety. Self-awareness is essential for personal growth and can help you identify areas of your life that may need attention. Prevents burnout When you are constantly working or caring for others without taking time for yourself, it can lead to burnout. Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion that can have serious consequences on one’s well-being. Engaging in self-care practices can prevent burnout and promote a healthy work-life balance. Overall, self-care is essential for mental health. From my experience being abroad as a student and intern, I’ve come to realise how necessary practicing self-care is. Between my travels and classes, nothing has grounded me more than self-care and taking time to do things that improve my mindset. Engaging in activities that promote physical, emotional, and mental well-being has reduced my stress and anxiety, improved my self-esteem, boosted my energy levels, promoted self-awareness, enhanced my relationships, and prevented burnout. Prioritising your own self-care is not selfish, but rather necessary for maintaining good mental health. It’s important to remember that self-care looks different for everyone and it’s essential to find what works best for you. By: Maddy Adler