Sparkling Snippets

    Summer kicks off in less than two weeks! While I'm going to miss all my friends here at ONU, I can't wait for everything summer has to offer. I don’t have the entire season planned, but here are just a few things I’m looking forward to over the next few months.       On May 16, right after Freshman Showcase, I’m headed to Indiana for my oldest brother’s graduation. For those who don’t know, I have two older brothers. Thomas is the oldest, and Daniel is in the middle ( we’re each two years apart). While Daniel is at the Air Force Academy studying engineering, Thomas has been pursuing mechanical engineering at Purdue University. He chose to participate in a co- op program that allowed him to work during some semesters in different states. He finally graduates this May, and I couldn’t be more excited to celebrate him.           After Thomas’ graduation, I already have some time planned with my hometown best friends, Nate and ...

     A while back, I shared a roundup of the books I’ve read so far in 2025. If you’re new to my blog, welcome! I absolutely adore reading and the journey each story can take you on. Every year I set a reading goal—usually 80 books—but this year I’m reaching for 85. I enjoy a variety of genres, but you’ll definitely notice a strong leaning toward romance. With the stress of schoolwork, there’s nothing like a sweet love story to give me the serotonin boost I need. Here’s a look at some of my most recent reads. Cross the Line by Simone Soltani ☆☆☆☆ This romance stood out with its Formula 1 setting, offering a fresh backdrop that added excitement. I really enjoyed the tension and playful banter between the main characters. While it might not be a book I return to often, it was a fun and lighthearted read that delivered the kind of fluff I love. The Wrong Mr. Right by Stephanie Archer ☆☆☆☆ Friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes, and this book nailed it—especially wi...

     After watching The Social Dilemma in class, it became clear that the platforms we rely on to connect, inform and entertain are also harvesting our data, shaping our thoughts and selling our attention to the highest bidder. The documentary, directed by Jeff Orlowski, features interviews with former employees of tech giants like Google, Facebook and Twitter, revealing the alarming ways these platforms manipulate users. The message is clear: we are the product, not the customer.      Social media has transformed the way we live. It helps families stay in touch across continents, provides real-time news and gives voice to movements that might otherwise be silenced. But behind the convenience lies a system designed not to serve the user, but to profit from their behavior. Every like, comment and share feeds a powerful algorithm engineered to keep us scrolling longer, engaging more and, most importantly, giving away more of our personal information. ...

     A few weeks ago I shared a little bit about how I'm choreographing for the Mansfield Youth Theatre production of Mary Poppins , but a fun fact is that I also work on the costume crew. I grew up sewing for 4-H projects and originally planned on going to college to double major in fashion design and fashion merchandising. I've found a passion in getting to work on the costumes for the youth shows and using my creativity.      I handled two large costume projects for Mary Poppins . Back in December, before the show was even cast, I created the white hats for "Jolly Holiday." They were white straw hats adorned with pink ribbon and red roses. I spent time cutting ribbon and gluing it to the hats. Then I disassembled the roses and arranged them on the hats. To fill the blank space, I added small curled pieces of pink ribbon. These hats ended up being adorable and were a joy to craft.      My most recent project was making colorful bustles for ...

     TikTok is the fifth most popular social media platform and continues to grow in its number of users. There’s something intriguing about scrolling through various videos and seeing something new with each swipe. From dances to book reviews, there’s a video for everyone. As users flock to the platform, it's just as important to understand the algorithm—not just for its potential to make content go viral, but for the privacy concerns it quietly raises.      The algorithm is crafted to show videos tailored to your interests. Using data from previous videos you’ve engaged with—liked, commented on or shared—the app sends similar content to your For You page. This is why you’ll often see related videos as you scroll. If you search for something on TikTok, you’re more likely to see content related to that subject because you’ve shown interest. Beyond the subject matter of a video, using the same sounds, captions or hashtags can also help send a video to your F...

     When it comes to social media platforms, few have the global reach and influence of YouTube. Launched in 2005 and acquired by Google in 2006, YouTube has grown into the world’s second-most visited website, surpassed only by Google itself. With more than 2.5 billion monthly active users, the platform has become a cornerstone of digital marketing, entertainment and education. YouTube’s user base is both massive and highly engaged. Every day, people around the world watch more than 1 billion hours of video on the platform. That’s more viewing time than Netflix and Facebook video combined. As of 2024, YouTube boasts more than 122 million daily active users and over 500 hours of video uploaded every minute.      YouTube's demographic reach is also impressive. The platform is most popular with users aged 18 to 34, a highly sought-after age group for advertisers. However, its appeal spans across generations — from Gen Z to Baby Boomers. According to Pew Rese...