MorganMcCarraher The Advocate Comparison has always existed. People have long measured themselves against neighbors, coworkers and peers. But in recent years, comparison has shifted from an occasional habit into a constant background condition of modern life. It is no longer something people do from time to time; it is something many people live inside. And in some cases, it becomes a need. Everywhere we turn, we are presented with curated versions of others’ lives. Achieveme

Morgan McCarraher The Advocate When it comes to problems and disagreements—whether something small, like deciding what colour a living room should be, or something as consequential as geopolitical tensions—there was once an approach that felt both ordinary and essential: the art of compromise. It was understood as a skill, even a virtue. To compromise required the ability to see the full picture, to acknowledge multiple perspectives, and to approach disagreement with a measu

AdamElwell The Advocate I’m tired. I’m taking 19 credits this term. I bartend on the weekends, and I work on the student newspaper, time permitting. I would like to see my family and my dog and clean my house and keep up with my friends, and not have to bump every doctor’s appointment because I double-booked it, time permitting. In just a little while, though, I’ll be expected to put in more than 40 hours of labor every week. Is it paid? No. I’m actually paying for it. I’m ta

JenniferChilders The Advocate It’s easy to get discouraged, angry or downright terrified when watching the news or scrolling our feeds these days. It’s a legitimately scary time, and there are so many things to feel worried, angry or discouraged by that it can be difficult to find a thread of hope and possibility to grasp. I think we sometimes forget just how powerful we are. I know I do.  The past few weeks have been particularly challenging as I’ve found myself not only adj

I’ve really loved the work the team has been doing. I’m always excited to pick up the latest edition and see what wonderful works, drawings, and articles are waiting inside. Unfortunately this recent edition has made me feel very conflicted. In the advice column, there’s an image generated by Chat GPT. (Thank you for being transparent about that, I do appreciate that.)As an artist, images generated by AI are the bane of my existence. If you feel I should elaborate on why that

Clear Advice for Real Problems Student engagement is something we believe the Advocate can help strengthen — and that’s why we’re launching a brand-new advice column!This space is for YOU. Whether you’re facing a challenge, looking for guidance, or just want to share your story, we’re here to listen and respond. How it works:Use this link to submit your questions or stories. Everything is completely anonymous — your identity will not be shared, and responses will remain anony

One of the best things the 20th century had to offer was space exploration. I find it incredibly lucky today to live in an age where space exploration is even possible – especially as someone who wants to make astronomy my career.However, I have always felt that going to space needs to have a purpose. What purpose does sending six people into space for only 11 minutes have? I’ll answer that, none!Blue Origin is a spacecraft company owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. On April

A school with ample facilities and a community of passionate, high-quality students, Mt. Hood Community College carries with it an appearance that is truly weird, feeling like it’s not what it’s supposed to be.As an MHCC student, you might have the same feeling as I that this place is missing something, right? Perhaps you’re also puzzled, not quite sure what I’m referring to here, because maybe we haven’t spent enough time lingering around the college after each class to trul

What is the “Let Them” Theory? It’s a mindset or approach to life that says: If people want to do something – talk behind your back, exclude you, not support you, act unfairly – let them.Instead of wasting your energy trying to change others, prove yourself, or control how people act, you just let them act out and focus on what you can control: your peace, your goals, and your values. Right now, I’m going through a difficult situation, a messy, uncomfortable one. There’s a gr

Understanding Digital Distraction It took 22 million years for humans to develop their brains in order to think more wisely and respond to their environment for survival. And guess what? Within just a decade, with the remarkable development of social media platforms, humans have succeeded in reversing the above process to get closer to their ancestors from millions of years ago. Sounds stupid, right? And that is exactly what’s happening with this generation: We call it “brain

Path to College Dreams Strewn With Stones Entering college is often seen as an exciting chapter in life – a time for independence, new friendships, and self-discovery. But for many students, it can also be when mental health struggles, especially depression, begin to surface. Growing up, movies and people at school made college seem for me like the ultimate dream: moving away, being independent, living in dorms, going to parties, the whole deal. But as I got older, I started

Avoiding Collisions in Idealisms Everyone in this world has some idea of what an ideal society should look like, and we often place our impossible concepts of perfection into competition with the impossible conceptions of others. Because of this, we divide ourselves, pushing us into narrow paths of thinking. By learning about the perspectives of others, however, we are able to enrich both ourselves and the communities around us. Yet, if you think about one person’s ideal soci

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

Always double-check information coming from Mt. Hood’s High School Services – don’t be afraid to ask for clarification. Sadly, I’ve learned the hard way to always double-check any information provided by the high school services at MHCC. This started when I asked if I could get employed at MHCC and was told, “You can’t do that because you’re under 18 and don’t have a diploma.” Always take the time to ask those actually in charge of, or people higher up within, the program or

As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, the number of international students pursuing higher education in the United States continues to grow. Mt. Hood Community College is one such institution that welcomes students from diverse cultural backgrounds – and here’s a closer look at the journey of an international student at MHCC and the challenges, opportunities, and experiences that shape their academic and personal growth. THE DECISION The decision to study abroad c

One vet’s perspective on the college experience at Mt. Hood and the cultural differences It is almost hard to write a point-of-view article as a military veteran. Every veteran has their own unique experience, just like every person. I have had hardships and trauma. I am sure there are students here that have gone through their own individual events and analogous parallels. Someone’s worst day is their worst day. Some of us couldn’t name a worst day, because we have had a few

MHCC has had asbestos since the ’60s; waiting to receive funds to remove it Often, when people hear the word “asbestos,” panic soon ensues. The same can be said for words such as lead, mold and other serious concerns regarding public health and safety. As it turns out, the MHCC campus carries some of these risks.Substances like these were commonly used a lot between the 1940s and 1970s. Cheap, easily accessible, flame-retardant, and good at insulating sound and temperature, a

When you celebrate thanksgiving, the fascists win. Abandon tradition – Observe First Christmas instead. Fuck Thanksgiving! What a stupid holiday. Y’all have access to the internet. By now I’m sure you’re aware of what a smug twisting of history it is to celebrate genocide; if not, you probably got other stuff to unpack so I’ll save my breath on that topic. Putting all that aside, it’s still such a mediocre holiday. Turkey sucks. It’s never cooked right and it’s always so dry.

MHCC’S RECENT FAIR LEFT OUR COLUMNIST WONDERING: WERE STUDENTS THERE FOR THE CAREER OPPORTUNITIES OR THE FREE VEGETABLE TRAYS? I went to the MHCC Career Fair on Oct. 30. I have to say, the community was nice, and the stands themselves were very inviting. I saw the employer representatives answering many questions from people who seemed genuinely interested. But I wondered if some attendees were just there for the goodies and snacks, rather than actually seeking a job. It made

You know when your younger sibling wanted to play a video game with you, but you didn’t want to teach them how, so instead you hand them an unplugged controller and gaslight them into thinking they’re the NPC? That’s basically how voting in America works. If you care at all about your country, don’t vote. I’m not just a cynic, either. It’s been illegal to vote for the Communist Party in America since 1953, and even if you ain’t no filthy pinko rat-bastard, I think you can see