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Justin Manns, a recent high school graduate, is already making ground in his music career, which was kickstarted many years ago. Over ten years ago, a six-year-old boy penned a song for the first time, titled ”Waddle.” From that moment, his fate to be a musician was sealed. “Since I could talk, I could sing,” said Justin Manns, a freshman studying marketing and music at the University of San Francisco.  As a child, he participated in elementary school musicals and plays and would help his father, a producer, record music in their home studio. He received his first keyboard in fifth grade and has been making songs on the piano ever since.  Now as a solo artist, Justin has an instinct for performing.  “Once I get on stage, it's pretty easy from there,” Justin said. He admitted that he sometimes gets the jitters, but once he’s in the spotlight, confidence is on autopilot. His success thus far is a testament to his dedication. He writes and makes music every single day. Reggae, R&B, hip-hop, and the “oldies” inspire Justin, whose favorite artists include Frank Ocean, Daniel Cesar, the Weeknd, and Saba.  In the future, he aspires to fill a studio with many instruments and learn them one by one. Guitar, which he revealed he might like even more than piano, is one of his first goals. Brass and percussion are also on his bucket list. Eventually, he’d like to produce all the sounds for his songs. Sometimes he conceptualizes what he wants to sing or rap about first. And sometimes the lyrics will come to him. But most of the time, he starts on his keyboard or laptop with various sounds and beats. He enjoys rapping and freestyle, but singing is his vocalization of choice. “As of right now, singing is my passion,” Justin said. “I mean, just music in general. I love it all.” During his junior year of high school, he released his first work, Picture Perfect , the genre falling under the category of R&B. He described it as an experimental “love” album. He wrote the lyrics and played the keyboard, while his dad did most of the mastering and engineering.  He has since released another album called Avant Garde , an EP called NEEDLESS , and a single called “Say You Love Me,” his all-time personal favorite.  My personal favorite is “Euphoria,” which I was lucky enough to hear in person when he performed at Mr. West Allegheny , a friendly competition for male students in their senior year at West Allegheny High School. Some might describe the event as a comedic “beauty pageant,” with a mission to fundraise for various charities. Justin walked away with the title of Mr. Congeniality with a majority vote from the audience, proving that he’s not just musically inclined, but charismatic, too.  As a basketball and soccer player, he’s also athletic. Sports were his first love (yes - even before music!). His time in high school show choir provided an avenue for him to exercise his musical abilities in the company of other singers, and on his free days, he’d make music “for hours on end.” It’s safe to say Justin never rested. His passion for what he does overrode the chaos of a full schedule. He recently moved to California and has already been performing in the short time that he’s been out there. On top of it all, he’s a skilled self-proclaimed “video game enthusiast.” Clearly, Justin is a man of many talents, but more than ever now, his number one priority is music. He plans to rap more, explore alternative genres in his songwriting, and increase his strategy for releasing music. “I don't want to waste time,” he said. Like many college students, he sees himself growing a network. After graduation, he’d like to land a job in the music industry, using marketing as “a foot in the door, a way to meet people.” Look out for new performances and projects from Justin, and if you plan on attending USFCA, you might very well see him shooting hoops or hear him playing the piano down the hall. Socials: Instagram: @justin.manns YouTube:  Justin Manns Spotify:  Justin Manns (Unfortunately, “Waddle” isn’t streaming) Apple Music:  Justin Manns Twitter:  JustinManns

An unsolicited yet invaluable expos é of my college experience. In the midst of the unforeseen 2020 global pandemic, I became a college freshman at the University of Pittsburgh. Soon after, I lost my older sister to suicide, and my usual overachieving attitude began to dwindle - the most important thing for me at the time was showing up and not dropping out.  Somehow, I successfully managed to graduate one semester early, however, during the journey I made so many mistakes that just weren’t cute. If I could go back, these are the five ones I would avoid. And since time travel isn’t possible, I’m hoping this list might benefit someone college-bound who hopes to learn from other people’s blunders. 1. Binge Drinking I’d always been one of those goody-two-shoes who never thought my lips would touch a drop of alcohol. I eventually became exposed to drinking in my inner circles. At some point, it suddenly felt like my social life revolved around it, and I used it as a crutch for social anxiety.  I began to love the way alcohol would make me feel, how it took away my ever-conscious thoughts and broke me out of my shell. I later realized drinking came at a cost; it made me sad, brought out obnoxious qualities I didn’t know I had, put me in danger, jeopardized my health, and straight-up made me look like a fool on countless occasions (#yolo?).  It took me so long to realize that I, like everyone else, is susceptible to peer pressure. If I could go back, boy would I have never taken the first sip just because it was what everyone else was doing. Even more so, I wish I knew that drinking in moderation is possible, and I didn’t have to party hard just because I’m young - and that believe it or not… there will always be another night out, even after my college days come to an end. Moreover, I wish I didn’t deem my nights-in on the weekends as failures, in fact I wish I had more of them. I didn’t know at the time that many other students actually preferred staying in, focusing on their studies and their future instead of getting wasted in sticky house basements or bar dance floors. 2. Being Self-Conscious in Class Looking back, I realize how easy it actually is to make friends inside the classroom. The first step is to summon the courage to simply make eye contact and say hello on the first day, when students are taking their seats. I wish I wasn’t afraid to look over my shoulder and smile at the person who sat next to me and ask them what their name was or engage in friendly banter with them during class. I wish I realized they were just another student like me hoping to make friends, or at the very least, form a pleasant connection during class that could help them get through their semester a little easier.  Keeping my guard up during class also made it more difficult for me to feel fully comfortable sharing an answer or asking a question. By releasing any self-conscious thoughts about myself, I could have thrived even more while learning. 3. Avoiding Adulting If I could go back, I would have taken advantage of one of the primary purposes of getting further education: career development and networking. At my school, there were career fairs every semester, table talks with professionals, and access to job and internship opportunities.  Despite all of this, I’m not sure if I ever stepped foot in the career center. It took me three years to even start applying for an internship - and luckily I was able to complete my first one during my very last semester as a senior. I wish I had the courage to sign up for a resume-workshop or mock interview.  Maybe instead of pouring my energy into a part-time food service job that I didn’t need to have, I could’ve tried out internships during the semester or summer breaks to find out about potential career paths.  Not everyone has the privilege to choose an unpaid internship over a job that pays the bills but is unrelated to their studies, but I would encourage those who do to take advantage of it. Now that I’ve graduated, I feel as if I have to make up for lost time. 4. Not Exploring Alternative Therapy At my university, there were numerous free resources I could have explored to better my mental health. From traditional counseling to “Therapy Dog Tuesdays.” I could have signed up for “Mindful Yoga” or visited the Center for Creativity to engage in art-making for free.  There were also several group counseling opportunities - the one in particular I always wanted to try but never did was a grief support group for those who lost a loved one.  At most universities, there are avenues for students to seek mental health support, sometimes in more unconventional ways that can help heal the mind naturally. The biggest thing stopping most people is just showing up. 5. Being a Bed Potato I’d love to have another chance to spread a blanket out on the grass on campus and pretend to study, an ambience of car horns and student chatter surrounding me. I wish I dared to step inside the gym more often and venture out of my treadmill comfort-zone to the weight rack or one of the intimidating machines, where I was always too afraid to actually read the instructions in case anyone would judge me (Girl, nobody was even looking at you).  I wish I found a quiet spot in the library, instead of finding solace in the safety of my bed and my favorite TV show. I’m proud that I tried out several clubs as a freshman- like the time I woke up at 6am to join the “Sunrise Club” in their morning run as a complete beginner runner (I won’t mention the part about my legs giving out within the first five minutes) - but I wish I actually stuck with them and found a community with shared-interests.  It is there I not only could have made more human connections but fostered a sense of purpose. Instead, I let my bed be my only safe haven. *** There’s not much I can do about these mistakes now as an alum, fresh out of my grad cap and gown (actually never mind, it’s already been nine months since I graduated). I’m pretty excited to be finished with that chapter of my life, in which I faced many mental obstacles that prevented me from succeeding in the same way the old me could have.  Yet the thing is - I still gave it my all. By reflecting on my regrets, perhaps I can help guide someone who is in the same shoes I was four years ago, as I watched video after video looking for college advice on YouTube. I know that they’ll be fine. And despite all the information they’re soaking up on the internet, they, too, will make their own mistakes in time. And that’s the beauty of the human experience.

Reflection, detachment, intentionality, and human connection may be key in taking back control of your attention. Many of us are stuck in a constant cycle of spending hours on our phone, feeling guilty about it, and then doing it over again because we feel as if we have no control. Yet, I refuse to believe that we have to be ruled by our devices, which were originally intended to be useful tools. Our phones can be positive instruments for work, social connection, personal productivity, and even a little bit of free time. Yet there is a growing problem with technology addiction . It’s why I consulted my former professor, Clark Chilson, from the University of Pittsburgh to gain more insight into this problem and discover potential solutions. Chilson teaches religious studies at Pitt, yet ask any one of his students, and they’ll probably tell you they were personally impacted by his teachings, regardless of their religious affiliation or lack thereof. Every time I stepped into his classroom, I knew I’d be learning much more than what was on the syllabus. Here is some of the advice he gave me on how best to foster a healthy relationship with technology. 1. Confront your screen time  One way that we can break our technology addiction is to make ourselves uncomfortable. Go into your device’s settings, and check your screen time. How many hours are you really  spending online every day? This confrontation is similar to Naikan therapy  in Japan, a structured self-reflection practice, sometimes used to treat addictions, in which participants are faced with a series of questions. Chilson invites you to print out your screen time, or write it down somewhere that you will see every day. What are the consequences of spending that amount of time on your phone? How many hours do you want to spend on your phone today? “The answer for most of us is I'd like to spend a little less ,” Chilson says. “I'm giving a tremendous amount of my precious life to this object.” Perhaps asking yourself a series of these questions can make you more aware of the ways in which your excessive technology use could be harming you. 2. Intermittent fast from technology Have you heard of the recent trend of dopamine detoxing? It’s when you go a period of time without engaging in things that are instantly gratifying, like browsing the internet, checking social media, watching TV, playing video games, or engaging in any other kind of entertainment. Detoxes can last days, weeks, or even months. Intermittent fasting may be a less drastic, more reasonable approach to help you release your attachment to your device. It can be hard to go without some form of dopamine for a whole week. But what if, every day, you set aside a certain amount of hours in which you refrain from going on your phone? In a battle between his willpower and the internet, Chilson acknowledges that “the internet wins every time.” “The best way not to get sucked in is just not to turn it on,” he says. “And because I can't live completely without it, I just don't turn it on before noon.” Find a time frame that works for you (ie. 9am-9pm, 10am-6pm, 12pm-4pm etc.), and see if you can find the willpower to stay away from technology or a particular device during that time. You’ll likely be engaging in a lot of urge-surfing, a mindfulness technique that promotes awareness of one’s own thoughts in order to avoid acting on impulse. Urges usually take the form of waves, where intensity increases and eventually subsides. 3. Use technology in a particular, intentional way Chilson encourages us to leverage technology by using it intentionally. He suggests finding a podcast or video series that focuses on a hobby or skill that will lead you away from your phone. You can also use it to deepen your understanding of or connection with a particular tradition. “Pleasure is a source of pain,” he says, drawing on a main tenet in Buddhism. “That's what we're doing on the phone and the internet. We're looking for pleasure.” This access to pleasure is often constant, immediate, and well… exhausting. We then experience a sense of wasted time, and perhaps a sense of guilt for using the internet in a bad way, or a sense of unease after engaging in negative online discourse with internet strangers.    “If we want a wholesome mind, we have to put wholesome things in it,” Chilson says. The major problem is that many of the things you may stumble across on the internet are not wholesome. They certainly exist but aren't as eye-catching as negative headlines. Chilson believes it is essential that we monitor the kinds of things we put in our minds, by choosing what we watch or what we think about. 4. Have quality time with other human beings “What being human entails is the need to be loved and to love and to feel like you belong to other people and they belong to you,” Chilson says. “And that is what we are losing.” We are cultivating pleasure, not relationships, through technology. Instead, go out into the real world, find a like-minded community of people around you, and start cultivating genuine connection.  Volunteer at the local church, food bank, or pet shelter, or start a new friendship with a person from the office or the classroom. Join a gym or a book club or sign up for an art workshop or cooking class. If you work from home, maybe even spend some of your time working at the library or the coffee shop down the road. There’s so many ways in our day to day lives that we can increase our social interactions. So…what now? Breaking technology addiction requires habit building. It’s best to wean yourself off. It’s impractical to jump from constantly looking at your phone to never touching it at all.  “The formation of a habit is what is really most important,” Chilson says. “With any discipline, though, it becomes easier once you get in the habit.” Little incremental improvements are the most valuable because they are the most likely to be maintained in the long-term. We don’t need to be perfect or great - just better than we were before. Chilson encourages us to use the time that we aren’t on technology to really think about our purpose. This is a lifelong quest that takes years to solve. So he leaves us, instead, with three more specific questions we can try and answer to get just a little bit closer: What's your purpose for the next week? Are you bringing other human beings into your life? And how can we best live as a human being?

This local nonprofit has been making Christmases more special, school dances more affordable, and giving back more accessible since 2016. Gianna Zarillo and Antonella Brkich weren’t even ten years old when they started Two Giving Girls , a nonprofit organization with a mission to serve the people of Beaver County, Pennsylvania.  At the age of eight, the pair began working on their very first project; care packages for soldiers overseas.  “It all started with the idea of care packages,” Gianna said, telling me about her experience as a seven-year-old and her visits to Pittsburgh. It’s there where she witnessed the homeless crisis and, as young as she was, thought she had to do something about it. With the help of friends and family, she assembled 75 care packages and distributed them to homeless people in the city. Soon after Gianna’s debut act of kindness, she and Antonella joined forces, and the rest is history.  Nearly nine years later, the girls are both 16 and are still managing their food pantry in the Beaver County YMCA , which sits adjacent to the entrance doors. It’s their organization’s longest-running initiative which has been in operation since the beginning.  The pantry is ruled by the motto “take what you need and give what you can.” The girls also host pop-up dress sales every year, where attendees can purchase low-priced gently-used dresses.  “The dresses we sell are all donated by anybody who has homecoming or prom dresses or even bridesmaid dresses that they aren't going to use again,” Gianna said.  Money fundraised from this event helps fund other events.  This year, Two Giving Girls   hosted the dress sale on August 30th and September 1st at the Beaver Valley Mall. Dresses have been previously sold for as low as $15 or $25. Purses and jewelry go for $5, and shoes are $10.  The annual Christmas party is the second longest-running initiative (and Gianna’s favorite event) that, in partnership with Adoption Connection  and Children and Youth Services (CYS) , helps make the holidays more magical for more than 100 foster kids in downtown Beaver. The foster children first write letters to Santa, outlining their top five wishes. Thanks to generous donations, there’s lots of food, games, raffle baskets, and gifts at the party, and even Santa stops by. In previous years, a Steelers watch, iPad, and Penguin tickets were among special prizes. “They get so happy over all of it,” Gianna said. This event has been around for about seven years now and even operated throughout COVID in a “drive-by” style, where children could pick up their presents at the YMCA. I asked Gianna how she’s grown since first starting the nonprofit. She told me that she’s become a better, more confident speaker and more empathetic, although one could argue that her large capacity for empathy is what initially drove her to start this organization. She has gotten so much joy from seeing people smile and knowing that she has inspired others. In just a couple years, Two Giving Girls will get to celebrate a decade since its inception, and Gianna would like to see it go on as long as possible. She encourages others who want to start their own altruistic projects to power through the hard parts - fundraising, event planning etc. - so that they can experience the reward of seeing others happy. Simply donating to an organization, or even donating your time, can be a good feeling. “You don't even have to tell people about it for it to feel good,” she said, “You know you did it, and you feel good that you did it.” Gianna and Antonella truly prove that to make a difference, you don’t need to travel thousands of miles away.   If you would like to get involved with Two Giving Girls, you can check out their Facebook page .

His mother describes him as “the coolest person ever,” and his legacy now lives on through the 1Six Foundation. One Western Pennsylvanian mother, Lynnette Kesten, has made it her mission to celebrate and honor her son, Ty, through the 1Six Foundation  which has raised thousands of dollars for charity. Her world changed forever when Ty passed away at age 17 in a fatal motocross accident, when he was in the final lap of his race. Even in the thick of her and her family’s initial grief, a desire to inspire positive change as a result of his death was nurtured to fruition. The foundation is named after Ty’s instagram account and his racing number, 16.  Despite being a small operation,1Six has raised over $130,000  for numerous charities since its inception in 2016, just months after Ty’s passing. Some of the organizations who received donations thus far include Make a Wish Foundation , Humane Animal Rescue , American Heart Association , and Brookline Teen Outreach , among many others.  The Kesten family is surrounded by a supportive group of close friends and family, who were there for them in the aftermath of the accident. On Fridays, a group of them would get together at the Kesten household, and one night their friend, Steve Hays, thought they should do a golf outing and start a foundation in Ty’s honor. Lynnette admits that they had no idea what they were doing and, in fact, they’d never even been golfing. She’s immensely grateful to Steve for all he’s done to help carry on Ty’s name ever since. 1Six has hosted events like Painting with a Twist, comedy night, a dance, and a Halloween party. They do fireworks for the 4th of July and have annual golf outings. Before the pandemic, there were about 5-6 events every year, which they are hoping to work toward again. Merchandise is available year round on their website, and each purchase funds a charity, inspired by special causes that were dear to Ty, like helping children and animals. 1Six will host the next golf outing event on September 7th. Guests can take part in Chinese auction baskets, purchase merchandise, and enjoy an epic bar on the 16th hole, organized and run by Tina Fisher. Guests also have a chance at winning golfer gifts thanks to Brad Englemore from Shenanigans Bar and Grille .  “Ty was not a golfer, but this has been our longest running event,” Lynnette says, “and it's always a good time.” There are just a few lucky humans out there on this Earth who got to personally know Ty, who was an active motocross-enthusiast and daredevil. His passion for the sport came early on in his life, and he’d always been a natural at “anything on wheels,” his mother tells me. His dirt bike was like another kid’s video games, and he’d even build his own “jumps” (hilly ramp-like formations on a track), exhibiting no fear.  His courage was a living testament to his motto, “I’m not afraid of dying, I’m afraid of not living.” Lynnette would constantly observe her son engaged in random shenanigans, enough to grab the attention of neighbors, who eventually got used to his lively spirit, just shaking their heads and laughing every time he would do something wild. She tells me about the third time Ty broke his collarbone and how she caught him doing backflips on his bike on the trampoline, his arm snug in its sling. There were tennis balls on the bottom of his bike where the wheels should have been.  “This was my life every single day,” she says. “I would wake up wondering what inventive crazy thing my son would do that day.” Ty was “always outdoors, even in the winter.” He was a protective big brother, always looking out for his little sister Tommie. “No boys were allowed to like her,” Lynnette says, and “he would always make her laugh if she was having a bad day.” He was described as “everyone’s best friend,” by one of his friends. Ty was well-liked by his peers and a joy to be around. As a mother, Lynnette finds it incredibly difficult to speak about her son in the past tense, which is something she had to do to share his story with me.  “It’s basically groundhog day, every day,” she says, emphasizing how deep and unimaginable the grief that parents who have lost their children experience. Eight years later, the anniversary of Ty’s passing doesn’t get any easier. She still thinks about where her son would be today and the man he would have become. “We are still not through our grief, and we never will be.” In 1997, Lynnette and her husband lost their first son, Tommy, who was stillborn. Having lost two boys, she remarks that people often expect her to know just what to say about loss. All she really can say is “just do the best you can with the cards you have been dealt.”  She wants others to realize “how short and precious life is.” She encourages smiles and laughter and having fun whenever possible. That will be a lifeline for difficult moments.  “I would also say stay close to the people that meant the most to your person.”  Most of Ty’s friends still keep in touch with Lynnette and her family. They don’t go so much as a week without talking or meeting.  “Each of those boys remind us of Ty in some way, or some memory of Ty, and that brings us the utmost comfort and happiness,” Lynnette says.  “I can't stress enough how thankful we are for anyone who has played a part in his beautiful life.” Even if you never knew Ty, you are now a part of his legacy, having read about his story. Let it be a reminder to love and appreciate those around you because life is short and unpredictable. Let it be a reminder to live life to the fullest, like Ty did. If you are interested in getting involved with the foundation, you can send Lynnette a message on their website .

Their “pizza in a bag” is just one of many things that makes this place so unique. I’ve driven past Don’s Pizza  in Imperial for years, not ever knowing about the backstory behind this quiet little shop on Steubenville Pike.  In 1963, it began as a franchise of Campiti’s Pizzeria in Dormont, which is no longer there. The very next year, they became Don’s Pizza Inc. Ever since, it has been a family business that has spanned four generations. I spoke to Shaylee, whose great grandfather bought the shop and whose great uncle ran it for the first 20 years or so. Shaylee’s dad and uncle have now been running the shop since the 80s, and she has been here on and off for 15 years.  I asked Shaylee what their secret is as a local family business that’s been around for more than 60 years.  Owning the property has allowed them to steer clear of rent costs. Additionally, due to their lack of indoor seating and delivery services, the pandemic actually did really well for them. “We’ve seen a lot of pizza shops come and go, and we were blessed luckily,” she said. “We weren’t affected by it at all.” However a large part of their success and timelessness is due to their adherence to simplicity and consistency. They rarely change anything. There was a time when the usual cheese they use for the pizza was discontinued when the company that produced it went out of business. They were scrambling to find another cheese that was similar, but during their trial-and-error phase in search for the best alternative, their regular customers were savvy detectives and immediately knew something was different. Don’s is perhaps most famous for their “pizza in a bag,” concept, which is something I had never heard about before.  Yet, apparently, the idea that pizza boxes aren’t an ideal method of transportation isn’t a new one, having been featured in the Atlantic , the New York Times , and countless other online publications .  “When you put the pizza in the cardboard box, all that steam soaks into the cardboard,” Shaylee told me,”so it takes all the crunch out of the crust.”  With pizza in a bag, however, the airflow prevents steam from getting trapped, ensuring that the pizza won’t arrive soggy by the time you get home. At Don’s, you can only get your pizza in a bag if it’s a large, I learned, and if you order two large pies, one of them will come in a box so it’s easier to carry. Although you used to be able to get a pizza of any size in a bag, the bags are harder to find nowadays, and not every bag is equal. They must be a certain size and weight, so Don’s gets them from a specific supply company out of Chicago. Now, enough about bags already, let’s get to the good stuff. This unconventional pizza shop makes fresh sauce and dough every day. Their sausage is ground in house, and they’re also known for their curled pepperoni.   Their most popular toppings are pepperoni and sausage, but Shaylee’s favorite combination is the sausage, green pepper, and onion. They also do two different kinds of hoagies (Italian and steak), cheesy bread (made with their pizza dough), and garlic balls (pizza dough that’s cut up and tossed in garlic butter).  “We keep it simple,” Shaylee said. “And that way you know everything's fresh all the time.” Customers can also get a “take n’ bake” pizza, where you can freeze the pizza or bake it later, and during Valentine’s Day, Shaylee will make sure you get a heart-shaped pizza (it was her idea to start doing them a couple years ago).  Don’s loyal customers come from all over, and some have been regulars for decades. Several Facebook users on their old page  expressed sentiment over their pizza. One Facebook user commented on his desire to fly to Pittsburgh and book a hotel simply to visit Don’s Pizza, as he hadn’t been there in over 34 years at the time. Several other now out-of-state customers also revealed that they always make sure to stop by Don’s whenever they visit home. Some users even joked that Don’s should deliver or ship pizza as far as New Jersey, Virginia, and even South Carolina.  Shaylee said it’s not like any other pizza in the area, and countless other customers confirmed on their page that Don’s pizza is the “best” around. As I sat outside the little shop on one of the benches interviewing Shaylee, a customer sat nearby, at one point even offering me a slice of his pizza. He was stopping by Don’s right before his flight home to Florida and, like so many other steadfast customers, just had to get a taste before leaving town. I find it so endearing that for so many people, even years after they’ve moved away, something calls them back to this place. Despite Don’s being a small business that relies primarily on word of mouth, they seem to have made a big impact. If you enter the store as a first time customer who’s been living in the area your whole life, they just might ask you, “Well, where have you been?”

The free platforms we have all come to know and love have been buying our attention this whole time. Has anyone else noticed technology’s unsettling grip on our present-day world? Every so often, you might find yourself at a get-together where one or most of the guests fiddle with their phone in the middle of a conversation like it's a kind of fix.  Every so often, you might find that you are, indeed, one of these guests. It’s reminiscent of the way smokers step outside for a puff or sugar addicts reach for a pint of ice cream at midnight (I will admit that the latter is me). Why is it that phone addictions aren’t taken as seriously as other kinds? Alcohol kills livers. Smoking kills lungs. Sugar rots teeth. Don’t phones rot our brains  and  kill our time? Excessive phone use is sweeping the world. In the United States alone, 31% of adults  and 46% of teenagers  report being online “almost constantly,” according to recent research. Children are being exposed to substantial screen time younger and younger. Young adults are finding it increasingly difficult to break digital habits that have been instilled in them for years. So, why does it matter? Well, my natural human instinct is to be revolted at the thought of living most of my life behind a phone screen. There’s something about “ iPad kids ,” “ doomscrolling ,” and being “ chronically online ” that feels so incompatible with living a fulfilling life. Although the research is still young, there have been several studies drawing a correlation between increased social media  and technology  use and depression.  One 2020 study  identified several potential harmful effects of technology use, including reduced attention span, impaired emotional and social intelligence, social isolation, impaired cognitive and brain development, and disrupted sleep.  Anecdotally, I have witnessed the ways phone addiction has contributed to unhappiness in my own life and the lives of people around me. I spoke with my former professor, Clark Chilson , at the University of Pittsburgh to get a diverse perspective on the technological epidemic happening right under our fingertips. He specializes in religion in Asia, having taught courses at Pitt, such as Buddhism and Psychology  and Popular   Religion in a Changing Japan, since 2006.  From a young age, he has always been interested in figuring out how we should live our lives. He knew that delving into religious studies was one way to address such a question.  “We have to deal with the world that we’re placed in,” Chilson says. “The world did not look like this 30 years ago…It will not look like this 30 years from now.” Let’s face it - technology exists. We use our phones as alarms, as navigation systems, as a way to communicate. It would be pretty impossible to live without them in this day and age. While our phones can be useful tools, most of the time we use it to watch Netflix, shop online, scroll social media, or play games. According to Chilson (and let’s be real - common sense), our phones are 90% a waste of our time. “The algorithm is designed to suck you in,” he says, seeing phones as neither evil nor neutral. Perhaps we can call it chaotic neutral.  Despite the constant pull of the algorithm, many of us are aware of our phone addictions, but let it happen, not caring about or giving thought to the way it could harm us. Chilson defines an addiction as knowing you would be better off not  doing something, and continuing to do it anyway. Of course, this is a loose definition, but we can use it to assess the habits in our lives that may not be very good for us. The “ attention economy ” is designed to keep us scrolling, tapping, or watching, all the while companies make a hefty profit. The way I see it, it’s like a giant industrial dairy farm but our brains are the ones being milked… no wonder our collective mental health is plummeting. What’s even scarier is that the possible long-term negative consequences of prolonged technology use are going unnoticed, or worse: ignored .  It’s imperative that we all start questioning the world around us, the way it functions, and the way we function in it. Next time you think about picking up your phone, letting 10 minutes turn into a few hours, think about how it was designed and how those free apps may actually come with a silent cost (aka your precious time, potential, and peace of mind). Rather than ask ourselves “How can I stop using technology?”  Chilson proposes a different question: “How can I have a healthy relationship with technology?” Finding this balance can be incredibly challenging, but the quality of our lives depend on it.

You just might fall in love with this little town called Wellsboro. Somewhere in the Pennsylvania outback, along U.S. Route 6, lies an inconspicuous town neighboring rolling fields of farmland and humbling mountains. When you reach it, you'll feel as if you’ve discovered a beautiful secret place in the middle of nowhere. It’s a slower-paced life that quiets the mind, comforts the eyes, and itches the soul in all the right places. And come nighttime, the skies nearby are the darkest you’ll find on the east coast.  Wellsboro  is a borough in Tioga county home to just about 3,500 residents. Black gas lamps dot the grassy median dissecting Main Street. Sophora japonica, a type of deciduous tree whose leaves look like paint-spatters, hug the quaint businesses lining the road that’s the focal point of town.  Taking a stroll down this road is its very own attraction. Karen’s Country Store  is an endearing shop. Throughout the year you might find various antiques, jewelry, seasonal items, home decor, souvenirs, maple syrup, honey, and, of course, jam (frog-, bear-, and toe-flavored). Right next door is the Main Street Creamery , a homey ice cream shop that smells absolutely delicious. The bees nearby always seem to buzz with delight when customers sit down at the outdoor tables. Don’t worry, they’re friendly and just want a taste.  There’s so much to eat in this little town. From local caf és and bars to pizza places and steakhouse restaurants. There’s Chinese, Italian, Mexican, and All-American cuisine up for grabs in the span of a few blocks. And before you think that this town really is in the middle of nowhere, never fear - for there’s a CVS, Rite Aid, Dunkin’ Donuts, McDonald’s, and UPMC hospital all within walking distance. There are department stores stocked with all the gear anyone might need and plenty of bed and breakfasts, inns, and hotels in the area. You’d never have to leave if you didn’t want to.  On the corner of East Avenue sits Pop’s Culture Shoppe , an unimposing store with large windows displaying books, toys, and games. They’re open daily except on Sundays, and on Fridays, their store hours are “10-late” according to the sign on their entrance. Tucked in the back of the store is Pop’s playroom, where you’ll find stacks upon stacks of board games of all kinds, packed like tetris blocks on long brown bookshelves.  You can sit down at one of the tables and play games free of charge. It’s where my family and I sat and played a game I’ll never forget: Ghost Blitz . It’s not the game, necessarily, that made it unforgettable. It was just the nature of sitting down with them in that little game shop, in that little town, in a part of the state I’d never known existed. It was the laughter and spontaneity of the moment. The Wellsboro Diner across the street was built in 1939 and is almost like a time machine, with its red and white checkered floors, cream-white booths, stools at the countertop, and a retro red sign on its exterior. It’s noted to be among some of the best classic diners  in the U.S. Down the street you’ll find the over-a-century-old Arcadia Theatre . Beware, the seats don’t recline like the ones in some modern theatres, but the experience is surely more memorable. Its original one-screen room used to seat nearly a thousand people (I can only imagine the view from the last row), and tickets from its first-ever showing cost as little as 15 cents. What a time to be alive.  One of the strangest, most beautiful sights I saw in town was St. Paul’s Episcopol Church  on Pearl Street, a historic building with Romanesque architecture. At first glance, it looks like a tiny medieval stone castle smack dab in the middle of the neighborhood. Or maybe I’m just being dramatic. It’s eye-catching, nonetheless. The church’s first services began back in 1838. It continues to be a place of worship and even has a neat thrift store in the basement where you’ll find used items like clothing, shoes, and books. Each odd find seems to contain its own little personality. It’s there where I was able to stock up on some Lisa Gardner mysteries. The Pine Creek Gorge, most famously known as the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon , takes second place in the most fascinating sights I saw outside  the town’s limits. This 47-mile-long and about a thousand-foot-deep valley (1,450 feet at its deepest point) is carved through the Tioga State Forest. The magic of Wellsboro became that much more real once I laid my eyes on the natural wonders just a stone’s throw away. Leonard Harrison State Park  and Colton Point State Park   surround the canyon on both sides. Leonard Harrison State Park, located on the East Rim, tends to attract more tourists as it is more developed. Colton Point State Park, located on the West Rim, has been described as more primitive… but I mean, what else can you expect from a national forest and canyon? Both parks offer opportunities for rafting, kayaking, horse-riding, wagon rides, hiking, biking, birding, hunting, and fishing (wow I’m out of breath). There are numerous trails and overlooks to explore, some of which cater to families with young children and others that can satisfy experienced hikers.  I’d like to think of myself as a person who likes to hike, but I’m sort of a fake fan. The two times I’ve been to the canyon with my family, we took the easiest trail and stopped by the most convenient overlook on the roadside. Let’s just say that looking at nature is rewarding in and of itself, so not having to climb a steep cliff and sacrifice my life didn’t make the view any less breathtaking. If you drive further out, about 45 minutes west, you’ll stumble upon my first place pick: Cherry Springs State Park , an 82-acre international dark sky park in Coudersport, PA. It’s a sad fact that I’ve never seen the sky darker in my life than when I visited the park at age 21. I’d never seen the Milky Way with my own eyes, and I almost thought that the spread of stars overhead were fog. Then I realized, nope, that’s just the universe! Light pollution is such a bummer. The park has a place for casual star-gazers, overnight campers, or even more serious sky-watchers and astronomers. Although white light isn’t prohibited in the Night Sky Public Viewing Area, the use of red filters are encouraged to preserve the night sky. Basically, don’t be that jerk after dark in the parking lot with your headlights on for an extended period.  My only complaint with the park was the outhouse, which I can confirm was very  spooky. But it was  so  worth every second of star-gazing. When it was time to leave for the 45-minute drive back to town, I couldn’t peel my eyes from the incredible view before me. After our trip to Cherry Springs, returning to Wellsboro felt like home. Every time we visit, we even make sure to book the same hotel room. So I can confidently say that although people frequently flock to beaches or big cities for vacation, there’s something extraordinary about the countryside.  Next time you’re planning a getaway, consider Wellsboro as your destination. And see what other secrets you can find. Where the heck is Wellsboro, anyway? 5 hours east of Cleveland, OH 3.5 hours southeast of Erie, PA 2.5 hours south of Rochester, NY 4 hours northeast of Pittsburgh, PA  4 hours northwest of Philadelphia, PA Top Picks in Wellsboro: Lodging: Penn Well’s Lodge Grocery Store: Top’s market Park: The Green Restaurant: The Roost Ice Cream: The Main Street Creamery Theatre: Arcadia Theatre Games: Pop’s Culture Shoppe Top Picks near Wellsboro: Trail & Overlook: Barbour Rock Trail  (1.3 miles out-and-back. Leads to the popular Barbour Rock Overlook) Horse-riding: Triple D Farms Star-gazing: Cherry Springs State Park, Night Sky Public Viewing Area

At just 9 years old, she suddenly lost her health, mobility, and hair, but she refused to lose her smile. When Alexia Graham, known as Lexi, was diagnosed with a rare type of brain cancer just a few weeks after her ninth birthday, the first thing she asked was, “Am I going to die?” “That’s what happens to people when they have cancer,” Lexi said to her mother, Alana. “They die.” The fear of her diagnosis came from a place of uncertainty. Even Alana admitted she didn’t quite understand what the diagnosis meant, and it took a while for her to process. “She was scared,” Alana told me. Their journey began in early 2023 in South London, UK, where Lexi, her parents, and her two younger siblings live.  As I spoke with them over Zoom, just as casually as Lexi talked about her hobbies, she told me about the central line doctors placed in her body during surgery. It ran through her jugular vein, providing access to her heart, where they could give her treatment and withdraw blood. The line not only left her with a scar, but she became very weak, losing her strength and mobility.  Lexi went from being a very active, sporty child to not being able to move her arms or brush her teeth. She had to relearn how to walk and was in a wheelchair for some time. She frequently picked up infections between cycles of chemotherapy, where she’d be hooked up for a full week to an IV.  After each cycle, Lexi would ordinarily have two weeks of rest, but it was almost always interrupted by a sudden infection and another hospital stay, which meant Lexi had no time to go home. During long hospital stays, she would look forward to weekly therapy dog visits. Her type of cancer is rare. Under most circumstances, cancer cells  multiply by duplicating, producing the same cell, meaning a single cancerous cell can produce a tumor consisting of billions of its carbon copies. In Lexi’s case, her cancer was multiplying but producing a different cell each time. This meant that no singular treatment would be effective.  During the call, I learned about Beads of Courage , an international nonprofit organization that caters to children with serious illnesses in countries like the UK, the U.S., Australia, and Japan. Their programs provide beads to children, each representing a difficult part of their treatment journey. Different colored beads represent different treatments. “Lexi has been collecting all her beads,” Alana said, informing me that black beads represent blood draws, yellow beads represent hospital stays, and white beads with hearts represent intensive care stays. There are many other beads, too; whites, greens, blues, reds, browns, and star-shaped. Lexi’s beads loop around nearly 5 times as long as she is tall. She enthusiastically laid them out on the floor for me to see. “This is probably the longest yellow.” she said pointing to one portion, which her mom confirmed was a three-month hospital stay.  Lexi’s cancer treatment also caused her to lose her hair, which used to fall to her waist. She dreaded returning to school, fearing that kids would make fun of her, and she didn’t like to take off her knitted hat. Given all the days she had to miss school, she experienced a bit of a learning gap, but through it all, her friends have been very supportive. Her journey with cancer also took a mental toll on her entire family.  “As a parent when you see your child going through something like that,” Alana said. “you suffer in the same way.” The ordeal sent Alana and her husband into practical mode, and they wrestled with emotions while remaining strong for their children.  Alana characterized the experience as “out of body,” a parent’s “worst nightmare,” and as constantly “thinking ahead,” on the next difficulty to prepare for whether it is the next surgery or chemotherapy. Fortunately, Lexi’s treatment concluded at the end of November 2023, but her life will never be the same. There are still hospital visits and tests. Despite everything, Alana feels thankful. Last year, they met other children going through similar situations, many of whom had worse treatments and cancers. Some of those children didn’t make it. “We do believe that she was healed,” Alana said. “Anything to do with cancer where you got out the other end, I think is a miracle.” Faith, prayer, and the support of family and friends have guided Lexi and her family through the entire ordeal.  “God has been our anchor in this storm,” Alana said. Throughout Lexi’s time in the hospital, she even felt the presence of God around her, which gave her peace and reassurance. Lexi said her biggest hero has been her mom, who she calls brave. She also wants other kids like her to know that despite our differences, “we’re all the same on the inside, and we’re all kind.” Alana wants other parents going through this to know that they shouldn’t isolate themselves, and they shouldn’t be ashamed to accept help, whether it’s a home-cooked meal from a neighbor or emotional support from a friend. Lexi, now 10, often spends her weekends at the local Girls Club playing soccer with friends or making art at home. She looks forward to her last year of primary (elementary) school, and her hair has grown back in beautiful brown curls. Throughout the entire ordeal, she has never stopped smiling.  Her beads of courage now hang in their living room on a wooden sign engraved with the Bob Marley quote, “You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.” To follow Lexi’s story, check out her Instagram  page. The following is a list of resources Alana found helpful during their journey: “Anna loses her hair,”  - A children’s guide to hair loss as a result of cancer treatment “My brother or sister has cancer,”  - A children’s guide to coping with cancer “When your brother or sister has cancer,” - An information guide for teenagers and young adults whose sibling is diagnosed with cancer “Supporting brothers and sisters”  - A practical information guide for parents and other adults who are caring for siblings of a child with cancer “Olly the Brave for Brothers and Sisters; Ben’s Big Stuff,” - Diane Maybey “Olly the Brave and the Wigglys” - Diane Maybey “Olly being Brave and Chemotherapy”  - Diane Maybey