The Universities at Shady Grove (USG)

Hey guys,

Happy New Year!

As we start a new year, many of us are reflecting on the past year and thinking about our goals for the upcoming year. I’m excited to share with you some of the hobbies I’m planning to explore in 2025.

First and foremost, I’m looking forward to delving deeper into my love of baking. In 2025, I plan to experiment with more complex desserts and pastries, challenging myself to master the art of French macarons, intricate layer cakes, and delicate tarts. I find baking to be a deeply rewarding and meditative process, and I can’t wait to spend more time in the kitchen, honing my skills and creating mouthwatering treats to share with friends and family.

Image: Pinterest

Another hobby I’m eager to pick up in the new year is embroidery – I’ve always been fascinated by the intricate stitchwork and the ability to transform a simple piece of fabric into a work of art. I’m excited to learn various embroidery techniques, from delicate floral patterns to bold, geometric designs, and to apply my newfound skills to creating personalized home decor and gifts for loved ones.

Image: Pinterest

Additionally, I’m planning to reignite my passion for nail art in 2025. I find the process of designing and painting intricate nail designs to be both creative and relaxing, and I can’t wait to experiment with new techniques, colors, and textures to create truly unique and eye-catching nail art.

Image: Pinterest

Finally, I’m looking forward to exploring the great outdoors through hiking and camping. There’s nothing quite like immersing oneself in nature, breathing in the fresh air, and taking in the stunning landscapes. I’m eager to plan various hiking trips, from short day hikes to multi-day backpacking adventures, and to learn the skills necessary to camp comfortably and safely in the wilderness.

Image: Pinterest

Overall, I’m excited about the hobbies I’ve chosen to focus on in 2025 – they each offer a unique opportunity for creativity, relaxation, and personal growth. I can’t wait to see what the new year has in store and to share my progress with you along the way.

What about you? What hobbies are you planning to explore in 2025?

As we approach the end of 2024, it is a time for us to reflect on the year’s challenges, successes, and the lessons we have learned. This year has shaped us in unexpected ways, whether through personal development, the milestones we’ve reached, or even the setbacks we’ve encountered. With Christmas just less than a week away, we have the chance to celebrate how far we’ve come and set new goals for the year ahead.

This year, I’ve come to truly understand the importance of health, family, and happiness. Living on my own has taught me that independence is a necessity. Through the challenges and experiences of managing everything on my own, I’ve learned to value not only my physical well-being but also the strength that comes from being self-dependent. At the same time, I’ve come to realize that close connections with my family provide a foundation of support that allows me to carry on with life. 

Setting new goals gives us a clear sense of direction and purpose as we work toward something meaningful. With each new goal, we can create endless opportunities to shape our lives. As we approach the new year, we carry forward our new dreams and a sense of excitement for the possibilities that lie ahead. 

To close out this year, I’d like to reflect on a quote from Hamilton: “I am the one thing in life I can control.” As we look back on the good and bad moments, it’s a reminder that despite the unpredictable, the one thing we truly have power over is ourselves—our actions, our mindset, and the choices we make.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!

As a college student, staying organized can be daunting with the constant demands of coursework, extracurricular activities, and social obligations. However, with the aid of technology, students can leverage various applications to streamline their academic lives. Here are 5 must-have apps that can help you stay organized and focused in college.

1. Notion

Best for: Note-taking, project management, and task organization.

Notion is a versatile and powerful all-in-one workspace that allows you to take notes, create to-do lists, manage projects, and more. It offers a highly customizable user interface, enabling you to tailor the app to your specific needs and preferences. I personally like to use Notion to organize my class notes, schedule assignments, and track my progress on various projects.

2. Google Calendar

Best for: Scheduling and time management.

Google Calendar is a classic time management tool that helps you keep track of your schedule, set reminders, and visualize your day, week, or month at a glance. I like to use Google Calendar to block off time for classes, study sessions, extracurricular activities, and personal commitments.

3. Study Fetch

Best for: Taking notes, creating flashcards, and quizzing yourself.

Study Fetch is designed specifically for students, offering features such as note-taking, flashcard creation, and self-quizzing. I like to use Study Fetch to supplement my in-class note-taking and to prepare for exams by creating custom flashcards.

4. Ever Note

Best for: Storing and organizing research materials.

Evernote is a powerful note-taking and research management tool that allows you to clip web pages, upload documents, and store all of your research materials in one place. I find Evernote particularly useful for compiling sources for research papers.

5. Grammarly

Best for: Improving your writing.

Grammarly is a writing assistant that helps you identify and correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors in your work. As a student I find Grammarly to be an invaluable tool that helps me to refine and polish my written assignments, ensuring that my work is clear, concise, and free of errors.

These are some of the tools I like to use to stay organized and productive as a college student. They help me manage my time, and reduce the stress of keeping track of all my academic responsibilities. There are countless apps and tools out there designed for students, each catering to different needs and preferences. The key is to explore and find the ones that work best for you. Take the time to try out different options, and don’t be afraid to mix and match. After all, staying organized is not about perfection but finding a system that supports your unique goals and lifestyle.

A couple weeks ago, I had the pleasure of dining at one of Washington D.C.’s many french cuisine restaurants, Le Diplomate. Established in 2013, the establishment has garnered many great reviews and culinary awards. They offer a full menu of brunch, lunch, cafe, and dinner. I went there for brunch and I did not leave hungry.

Afterwards, we asked for the french onion soup and split it. Our server kindly split it in half, and it was the best french onion soup I’ve ever had. The cheese was melty, gooey; the onions soft and sweet; and the broth rich and piping hot. We knew we had to make the one-mile walk from Dupont Metro worth it. So, we also ordered the salmon carpaccio. Topped with capers, creme fraiche, and eggs. It was delicious, and beautifully plated.

For our entrees, we got the duck saladaise and the poached eggs basquaise. The duck saladaise was like a duck hash topped with eggs. It was very filling, with thick cut potatoes. The potatoes seemed to taste of duck confit in every bite. The poached eggs basquaise was a smaller portion, perfect for me. When I read “proscuitto” on the menu, I didn’t realize it was going to be crispy. That was a pleasant surprise. The poached eggs alonside the creamy polenta was slightly too “gooey”, but this was exactly what I ordered.

Le Diplomate also has an extensive desert menu, but we truly had no room for it. Overall, it was a really unique experience to try French cuisine in D.C. The menu itself has many classic dishes such as Escargots (snails!), Steak Tartare, and Beef Bourguignon.

As the holiday season approaches, finding the perfect gift can be both exciting and challenging. Jellycat is known for its incredibly soft and cuddly stuffed plushies. They offer a wide range of unique, high-quality plush toys that make the perfect gift for any occasion which become a favorite for both children and adults alike.

Jellycat offers a wonderful range of plush toys to choose from. With varieties ranging from animals to Amuseable objects, each Jellycat plush is made with care to provide comfort, making them perfect gifts for anyone who might need a bit of warmth and joy this season.

As a Jellycat collector myself, every time I add a new Jellycat to my collection, it feels like I’m welcoming a soft, adorable friend into my home! This holiday season, you could share this joyful experience with others by gifting a Jellycat plush to those who haven’t yet had the pleasure of having them. If you’re unsure where to begin, I highly recommend starting with the Bashful Bunny; it’s a favorite among everyone who owns one!

With so many different characters and styles, it’s easy to find one that matches the personality or interests of the recipient. If they enjoy food, you can look into the Ameusables collection; if they like mythical creatures, there are dragons and unicorns to consider. No matter which Jellycat you choose, it will bring both comfort and joy to its new owner! Or even yourself!