Adeola Ade-Serrano The Advocate I didn’t grow up with vision boards. I only started using them two years ago, after moving to another country for school and noticing people creating collages of their future. I wondered whether they worked or if it was just Pinterest being Pinterest. It turns out they do work — but only when you build them with intention rather than aesthetics. If you’re ready to shape your year, stay disciplined and put in the effort, you may be surprised b

LOCAL CLIMBING GYM DOWN HILL OF MHCC Located in Gresham, Oregon, Rock Haven Climbing Gym is a vibrant hub for climbing enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels. Since opening in August 2022, the gym has become a place where passion, determination, and a strong sense of community come together. Founded by four climbing enthusiasts who sought to bring the sport to a new area, Rock Haven offers more than just a place to climb—it’s a welcoming space for anyone looking to challeng

Exploring Outdoor Sports Whether you’re a skier, snowboarder, hiker, rock climber, or a complete newbie to outdoor sports, MHCC’s Wildside Club has something for you. Photos provided by Brooklyn Noel We welcome anyone who is interested in learning new skills – or improving them – and is a bit of a thrill seeker to join our adventures. It’s the perfect way to meet amazing people who have the same passion for the outdoors and become a part of our supportive community.In the few

The Promises and Pitfalls at MHCC AI – artificial intelligence – is gradually shaping the way we interact with technology, from enhancing search engines to providing grammar suggestions in real time. Its uses are growing, especially now in education, where it offers new ways to support teaching and learning. Curious about how AI is being used at MHCC, I reached out to instructors and advisors to learn more. My aim was to discover how AI is being implemented in our Mt. Hood cl

High School Vs. Real Life The biggest lie I’ve been sold in my four years of high school is the idea that life will just fall into place. Every coming-of-age movie on Netflix shows the character walking across the graduation stage, heading straight to some Ivy League school, ready to conquer the world. Images sourced from web. But they don’t show the sleepless nights spent filling out endless scholarship forms, the constant worry about how to pay for basic expenses like car i

Finding Warmth in Faith Vietnam is a country with a longstanding religious tradition – with both nativist and more recently embraced faiths – in which Catholicism is a central part. Introduced to the country in the early years of the 20th century, Catholicism has become an indispensable part of the Vietnamese people. Photos by Thien Trieu Tran In the United States, the first Vietnamese people to arrive were mostly Catholics who left everything behind to seek a new future, a n

May you introduce yourself?My name is Ella, and my Chinese name is Zhixuan Xiang. I am currently studying in the Mental Health, Social Services, and Addiction Counseling program at MHCC. I am an international student from Sichuan, China. I am also a blogger on TikTok with 100,000 followers. The reason why I came to study in the United States is a long story about the pursuit of ideals of knowledge and freedom. Biggest adjustment so far?Every scholar who comes from a foreign c

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and you don’t have to break the bank or go far to have an awesome time. Whether you’re spending it with a partner, friends, or even enjoying a solo treat, there are some great spots right near MHCC where you can make the day memorable. I’ve got you covered with ice cream, food spots, and fun activities that are perfect for students like us. Here’s a fun and easy guide to some of the best places to check out in Gresham and Portland! F

Roller derby was never something that stuck out to me, as I knew next to nothing about it. Was it people on roller skates racing? Was it like basketball on roller skates? I clearly wasn’t in that realm. However, on Jan. 11, the opening night for the Rose City Rollers league season, I went to their Oaks Amusement Park home (The Hangar) to take pictures of the matches and left with a new favorite sport. The rules of roller derby are pretty simple. A match consists of two 30-min

Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude and tasty food, but that does not mean you have to overspend. With a bit of smart planning, you can create a delightful holiday spread without breaking the bank. So, roll up your sleeves, head to the kitchen, and create a feast that is both scrumptious and affordable. Here are a few recipes that will make your Thanksgiving both delicious and cost-effective. Good taste doesn’t need to come at a high price! Herb-infused Roast Turkey Go for a

Thunderous, double-time drumming that shakes the floor beneath my feet like a ship caught in a storm at sea; deep bass that resonates in my chest like an extra heartbeat; guitar solos that ricochet off the walls around me; and guttural vocals that depict the intensity of the human emotional spectrum: Those are just a few things that come to mind when I reminisce on the metal concerts I’ve been to. Deathcore is one of those sub-genres in rock music that’s certainly an acquired

Climate anxiety, or Eco-anxiety, is a reality that we now live with. It’s a state of heightened anxiousness over the impending consequences of climate change, and it’s hard to find hope in the face of what feels like an oppressive doom tainting our vision of the future.It’s easy to look at the news around climate change and think that it’s too late to do something – that there isn’t much an individual can do. But I argue that the most important thing we can do as individuals

Closing out the month of May, this a final piece on Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, honoring those who paved the way for all of us to have a better life than we would’ve had in our countries of origin. We are no longer Asian Americans; due to our ancestors’ sacrifices over the centuries, we are now known simply as Americans. Aloha means hello, goodbye, and “I love you.” Taste of Aloha is translated into “taste of love” – and today our journey takes us to t

Eid al-Fitr is an Islamic holiday on the first day of the month of Shawwal, which marks the end of Ramadan. It is one of the Muslim holidays, and the other is called Eid al-Adha, which is one of the days of Hajj, the tenth day of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah. Muslims celebrated the first Eid al-Fitr in Islam in the second year of the Hijrah, after fasting the first Ramadan in that year (the Hijrah being the year prophet Muhammad migrated from Mecca to Medina, to escape persecut

As of today, April 7, 2022, I have started on my journey for Hormone Replacement Therapy. I have thought long and hard about this decision for months now, and to overcome my body dysphoria I have decided that this is the best choice for me, personally. That said, there is no right or wrong way to be transgender. You don’t need surgery or HRT to feel happy as you are, and anyone who thinks different has a problem. Trans people do not need politicians, peers, or family speaking

America amazes us with its unique cultural diversity that combines innovation and originality. Many local and international cultural and entertainment events are held that attract tourists from around the world, trying to get to know American society closely. The hobby of motorcycle riding is highly popular and finds many audiences for it, part of the culture of American society that is emerging today and that attracts lovers of this vehicle from all over the world. A motorcy

There are millions of hairstyles in the world and each has its own story. The history fascinating, because each is a unique story. Our hair helps make us stand out, it makes us unique, but if we let certain styles fade out over time, not only are we losing out on a killer look, we are letting a part of history die along with it. So, let us take a look at the history behind the dreadlocks style. Dreadlocks are more than just a fashion statement. From Egyptians to Ethiopians, a

On my 21st birthday in 2019, I bought a sativa joint with the strain name of Bruce Banner. Being 21, this gave me a whole range of possibilities for where my experience with marijuana would lead me. Since then, I feel like marijuana has been a great addition to my life, even though it is not something I would recommend to everyone. In these two years, I went from only doing marijuana once in a while, to doing it every day for a while, then to doing it no more than three time

Web Photo With television and movie streaming being commonplace in our everyday life and the wealthy lifestyle that some Hollywood stars sport, it would be easy to assume that Hollywood is one of the big moneymaking businesses in the field of entertainment. After all, “Avengers: Endgame” made about $2.8 billion in box office revenue, just shy of the approximately $2.85 billion record set by “Avatar.” Yet over the past decade, the video game industry has seen several titles ea

Web Photo Autumn has finally arrived, and with it, the smell of pumpkin spice and apple cider. Many of us look forward to autumn with eager anticipation – the comfortable sweaters, warm mugs of tea and soup, decorations, the crisp air, and crunchy leaves. The weather is not too warm but not too cold, and many of us want to go out and experience what autumn has to offer before we are forced back inside by the bitter cold of winter. However, with so much to do on top of our nor