Writer: Hannah Larson Introduction These are the stories of nine Biolans from three continents — Asia, Africa and South America — who left their home countries to study here in La Mirada, CA. The international students I interviewed explored a variety of themes, including culture shock, the struggle of a language barrier and the challenges of navigating cultural differences between their home countries and Biola. Some shared stories of arrogance, cultural insensitivity and racism they encountered at Biola. Many also discussed the beauty of their home cultures, described positive experiences at this university and reflected on God’s goodness throughout difficult seasons of adjustment. These stories are not representative of all…
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The Controversial Enneagram
Writer: Kayla Cha I Photo Courtesy of Unsplash Personality tests have taken modern culture by storm. In today’s society, we love to use personality typing to define ourselves. We use these tests to plan our future careers, anticipate our behaviors in relationships, and discover our strengths and weaknesses. We like to be given a code of conduct to live by, a set of rules on how to act and behave. Personality tests include the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), the Love Languages test, the Clifton Strengths Analysis, the Apology test, and many, many more. There is one test, however, that has sparked controversy in Christian circles: the Enneagram. What is the…
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Diversity in Children’s Media
Writer: Kayla Cha | Photo courtesy of Unsplash Representing people of color in children’s realistic fiction, “Diversity means including real people throughout all levels of fiction (and nonfiction), representing real struggles and challenges—and the complete mundane ordinariness of life, too!” —Kate Sullivan There is something special about seeing ourselves represented in media. Through fiction, for a moment, we are able to step into a different world in which we can be a warrior, a princess, a lawyer, an artist, in love, a prodigy—we can be anything we want to be. As children, whether it be Hermione Granger or Peter Pan or Iron Man, we admire these characters, dress…
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The Cult Craze
Writer: Joan Schueller | Photographer: Dania Lopez Humanity’s grotesque obsession with the unique and macabre is a tale as old as time. The American media responds to the call of consumers by saturating movies, TV shows and podcasts with bloody violence, psychological horror, explicit sexual scenes and plots bordering on psychotic. One significant topic that the media has extrapolated on in recent years are cults. The media employs both retrospective and realistic fiction to create the narratives of popular shows such as “Keep Sweet, Pray, and Obey,” “Under the Banner of Heaven,” “Midsommar” and much more. Common reactions to this topic include fear, confusion, but most of all interest due…
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Adaptability in the Face of COVID: Student Organizations Amidst Constant Change
Writer: Karly Pridmore Photographer: Natalia Hernandez After over a year of navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, adaptability became the top priority of student organizations within the Biola community. As many students experienced months ago and continue to today, COVID-19 altered the ways in which students experience school and extracurriculars. From the way the Student Government Association leaders hosted events to the publication of the student-run newspaper, Biola’s leaders had to adapt to preserve their organizations. Biola’s student-run newspaper The Chimes experienced this first-hand. The Chimes seeks to not only report on happenings within the Biola community itself, but to connect global events to the student body. THE CHIMES Current editor-in-chief Lacey…
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Same Day, Every Day: Students Fight To Stay Motivated Despite a Monotonous Semester
Writer: Charlotte Snyder Photographer: Natalia Hernandez Spring of 2021 was another semester spent entirely online for most Biola students. Students across the country have been struggling with online learning according to studies done by Harvard and Brown on the adverse effects of such education. Harvard’s study found that the average letter grade earned in class dropped from a B- to a C when students switched to virtual learning. “Taking a course online, instead of in-person, reduces student success and progress in college,” said Harvard University’s Eric Taylor. Biola University’s students have also found that remote learning has its challenges, especially the resulting lack of community and motivation. FEELING ISOLATED Not…
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The Role of Media: The International Student’s Journey of Adapting in the U.S.
Writer: Aspen Haw Photographer: Jalin Cerrillo Given its global spotlight, the United States claims a unique position of influence. Movies and news coverage can stir up positive or negative excitement, especially for international students with their sights set on an American education. But is this country’s self-portrayal accurate to their experience? While media is informative, it can create discrepancies between perceived reality and actual life in the U.S. For international students, these gaps lead to culture shock, resulting in a rocky start to their life in America. FILM: DISTORTION OF SOCIETY Sophomore business administration major Dena Rahel was born and raised in Indonesia. Her family had high praise for the…
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Systemic Racism in Human Trafficking in the United States
Written by Karly Pridmore, photographed by Natalia Hernandez STATISTICS A recent study completed by Liberate Children estimated 550,000 people are trafficked into the United States each year. Of these 550,000 people, those targeted demographics are people within the welfare program as well as LGBTQ communities, and enslaved forms of labor. Another report states that black children make up 40.4% of the estimated 50,000 people who are trafficked each year. These statistics note the ways in which race causes higher susceptibility within the United States. Dressember notes the important signs of those who are vulnerable targets of trafficking are those who have instability in their family or community, as well as…
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Was I Born in the Wrong Generation?
Written by Lily Johnson, photographed by Jalin Cerillo The phrase “I was born in the wrong generation” is commonly heard amongst people today. Many wish they were growing up in past decades when times were simpler and their daily lives were less influenced by technology. A survey from the U.K. magazine the Sun found that 2,000 adults said children wish they had grown up in the same era as their parents and 15% would prefer to grow up in today’s world. Surprisingly the Gen Z group, born between 1997-2009, longs to see old-time favorite classic bands such as the Ramones or the Beatles perform live, or dream of dressing in…
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A Glimpse Into On-campus life for Biola Athletes
Written by Jenna Wirtz, photographed by Natalia Hernandez With about a week to get their bearings, Biola University athletes were invited to live on campus before school began this fall. Since the invitation/announcement came after Biola decided to close campus for the semester to the general student body, many athletes jumped at the special opportunity as they longed for a somewhat normal college experience. But with social-distancing protocols in full-swing, including wearing a mask during practices, students have begun to feel the strain. The closest one can get to another student is sharing a meal together. “It still feels like we’re quarantined,” said freshman track athlete and psychology major Sophia…
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From Behind the Screen
Written by Charlotte Snyder, photographed by Jalin Cerillo Eight out of 10 students report experiencing increased stress due to the switch to online schooling, and they are not alone. Professors face a multitude of challenges as they adjust their class content to an online format. The American Council of Education found that professors across the country are struggling in many of the same ways that students are. “Many [professors] are trying to keep a sense of normalcy despite experiencing their own uncertainties, fears, and anxieties,” ACE wrote. “[Professors] are quickly adapting to new ways to do business, juggling work-life balance, and addressing the new and varying academic and student life…
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The New Freshman Experience: Beginning College During a Pandemic
Written and edited by Lily Journey and Hannah Dilanchyan, photographed by Kate Bomar, designed by Tabby Bernardus (Contributions by: Gretchen Ferguson) Less than a year ago Biola University’s sunny campus buzzed with the constant activity of students living and learning in community. Daily traditions like studying with friends at Common Grounds, passing the well-known Jesus mural or grabbing breakfast before attending a chapel service were normal parts of the Biola experience. But now the ringing of the Biola bells is just a faint memory replaced by the chime of a computer notification. COLLEGE COMMITMENTS: A LEAP OF FAITH Because COVID-19 swept through our nation during the peak of college tours…
