Entry #6 Unfiltered & Still Healing

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Acne might look like just a skin problem but it can feel like something much deeper. I've struggled with acne for years, visiting dermatologist, trying countless products, and even considering Accutane at one point. It's one of the most frustrating things I've ever faced because it doesn't just change how you look it changes how you feel about yourself. I admire people with clear skin and hoping for mine to get to that level. Having skin issues can be physically painful, mentally exhausting and emotionally draining.

                        

 

 

There were days when I didn't even want to look in the mirror having acne made me question my worth and compare myself to people with perfect skin. No one talks enough about how painful it is when you're doing everything right and still breaking out. The insecurity can eat you up inside and make you lose confidence in yourself.                                

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What I've learned from visiting dermatologist is that acne doesn't have one simple cause. For some people, it's hormonal. For others, it's related to diet, stress or even genetics. According to the Mayo Clinc  acne occurs when hair follicles become clogged with oil and dead skin cells, and hormonal changes can make it worse.

There are days I avoided mirror completely. I remember ghosting myself from people on social media because I was tired of pretending I was okay with it. I've cried so many nights over my skin not out of vanity but out of exhaustion. When you've tried everything and nothing seems to work it breaks something inside you. I've learned that sometimes the biggest part of healing acne is learning to be patient. There are no miracle products! it is about consistency, gentleness, and self love.                                                                                            

Acne might take time to heal, but it doesn't define who you are. It's hard to love yourself when your reflection doesn't match how you want to look, but I've learnt that healing comes inside and out, I may not have perfect skin yet but I'm learning to see progress as beauty too.

I miss that baby skin, the kind I never worried about.

My face has healed, but not completely.

 I still hide behind filters on the days I can't face my reflection.

 I've cried, I've prayed, I've waited.

 It's better now, but not where I want it to be.

Still, I thank God for progress even when I'm waiting for peace.

                                     

 

Entry #5 : Which Arizona’s Public Colleges Are Affordable?”

         Being a college student and as a resident of Arizona, this is unfortunate that students drop out of school because they're not able to further their education due to school expenses custom living. After reading the Arizona Republic article “Which of Arizona’s Public Colleges Are Affordable. I started thinking about what the word “affordable” really means for students like me. The article compares tuition prices at public colleges and universities in Arizona such as ASU, UofA, and community colleges. 

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It all points out that even though some schools claim to be affordable most students still struggle to pay for everything that comes with college like tuition, books, transportation, rents, and food. It made me realize that affordability is not just about numbers on a school's website but about how hard students have to work to survive while getting a degree. A recent study by the Education Data initiative Showed the average cost of attending a public college in Arizona including tuition, housing, and other expenses is around $14,000 a year.

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   Aa CNA and college students living in Arizona, I see this struggle every day. I work to pay my bills, buy gas, and keep up with school expenses, but it often feels like I'm constantly running just to stay in place. Even as a Community College, the cost add up fast and financial aid doesn't always cover everything. The article I read reminded me that students in Arizona are in the same position, trying to balance school and work, sometimes even skipping classes or cutting hours of sleep to manage both. According To the Arizona Board of Regents, tuition at public universities has continued to rise each year, which adds to the financial pressure for students already balancing work and school. 

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            What's also stood out to me is that while scholarships and grants exist, they don't always reach the students who need them most. For example, Scholarshipamerica.org points out that even with aid, students from low-income families still face a big affordability gap. According to IHEP students who received Pell Grants do you have average unmet need of nearly $10,000, while students from families with more resources often have almost no unmet need. 

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            I think Arizona Colleges can do more to help working students. More flexible payment options, free textbook programs, or monthly financial support for low-income students who make a big difference. A recent article from Youth Today explains how students' mental health, housing/ food security, and stress levels are deeply connected to whether college is truly affordable. Reading this article made me realize that affordability isn’t just a financial issue; it's about equality and opportunity. Arizona has done a lot to improve access to education, but for many of us, getting a degree feels like a daily fight for balance.

           Ultimately, true affordability isn’t just about lower tuition but it’s about giving students the chance to learn without carrying constant financial stress. Until schools understand the real struggles students face, “affordable” will remain just a word, not a reality.

Entry#4: Is It Easy To Be Famous In Today’s World?

 

In today’s world, becoming famous looks effortless and feels like it is just one post away. With apps like TikTok, Instagram and YouTube anyone can grab attention overnight. Year’s ago, people needed agents, Tv shows, or record labels to become famous. Now, you can go viral sitting in your bedroom with nothing but a phone and an internet connection. But does that mean fame has become easy, or does it just look that way?

            It is true that getting noticed is much simpler than it used to be, social media has given everyone a platform to share their talents, stories, or even random moments. We have seen people become famous from dance videos, funny skits, or just being themselves online. The internet rewards creativity, confidence, and right timing because sometimes all it takes is one post at the right moment. In that sense, yes, fame seems easier now because the tools are available to everyone. The Forbes article explains how social media redefines fame by enabling more people to become content creators and how fame is now more accessible. 

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However, people often forget that fame today can be short-lived. Going viral once doesn't guarantee you will stay popular. Millions of people are posting everyday, so it's easy to be forgotten just as fast as you appeared. Staying relevant takes hard work, creativity, and constant engagement. You also need your signature content or something unique that you should be known for in order to keep up with the fame.

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Many influencers face pressure to post daily, deal with hate comments, and always look perfect which isn't easy at all.  Behind the smiles and filters, fame can be stressful and exhausting. A 2024 study found that influencers constantly manage their image and feel pressure to maintain engagement. researchgate    

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          Another thing that makes fame tricky is luck. Two people can post the same kind of video, and only one of them might go viral. Algorithm, timing, and chance play a huge role That's why so many people are trying to blow up online but only a few actually make it. So even though fame looks easy, there's still a lot that happens behind the scenes. People put in efforts, go through stress, even have haters and sometimes disappointments. Studies show that visibility of a post often depend on social media algorithms, not just creativity or talent

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           In the end, I think becoming famous might be easier than before, but staying famous is still the real challenge. The Internet has opened doors for everyone, but it also made the competition endless. So maybe fame today isn't really easier it's just faster.

Slanted Reporting on Africa (Using Nigerian as an example)

 Entry #3

 

            Many Western media outlets only show the negative side of Africa like poverty, hunger, huts, sickness while ignoring the beautiful, modern and successful parts like developed cities, hotels, schools, and people living good lives. Many people believe Africa is poor, has no clean water, or that everyone lives in huts. This idea mostly comes from how the media shows Africa, only focusing on the bad side. Countries like Nigeria have big cities, wealthy people, fine houses, hotels, universities, and technology. This kind of negative reporting bias because it makes Africa look worse than she is. africa.com

            On Tv, social media and news outlets, many people post pictures of poor villages or slums in Africa to get views of pity. But they never show Banana Island in Lagos or the skyscrapers in Abuja. They do not show how Nigerians use iPhones, drive luxury cars and go to private schools. Naija  This is a slanted report because it gives people one side of the story. Western media mis-portray Africa even though 70% of what is shown is true does not mean everyone is suffering. Of course, there are people suffering and there are also people living a successful life. Naija

                                What we see

 There is no part of the world today that does not balance the states of livelihood. The Wilson Center even noticed that “Mainstream American media often projected a biased and damaging depiction of Africa through a near constant flow of crisis centric coverage and stereotypes.” These shows how media uses words and images that make Africa look like she is always suffering, even though there are many successful and modern parts of the continent. Another instance “The Continuous Negative Framing of Africa in the Media” talks about how most Western media reports focus only on the bad sides of Africa. It says, “out of the 154 stories the newspaper sourced from the BBC, only 52 stories focused on the positive happenings in Africa while 94 stories painted a catastrophic image about Africa.” noyam.org This shows that the media often reports Africa’s problems more than its progress. That is unfair because it makes people believe Africa is only poor or violent. Countries like Nigeria have modern cities, beautiful hotels, and strong cultures that deserve attention too. If the media shows both sides, the world will have a fairer view of Africa. Lagos

                           

                                                                                                        What actually exist

            In conclusion, the media should stop focusing only on Africa’s struggles and start showing its progress and success stories too. Africa is more than the poverty and crisis that people see on TV. There  are strong hardworking people, rich cultures, and beautiful cities that deserve balanced reports will help the world see Africa for what it truly is a continent full of hope talent and potential. Naija