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Jan 17, 2025 | 
observer.case.edu | Catherine J. Choi
As we get older, our lives become more complex. As toddlers, our primary setting is our home, and the people we deal with are limited to family and siblings who care about us, wish us the best and are forgiving and generous. The consequences of misbehavior are also limited, such as getting yelled at by our parents. As we start attending school, the people that we deal with expand to our friends, fellow students and teachers, who are typically not as understanding and generous as our family.
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Dec 6, 2024 | 
observer.case.edu | Catherine J. Choi
As 2024 is coming to an end, people are beginning to have mixed feelings about the upcoming new year. Some are apprehensive about getting a year older and some are upset that they did not keep to their new year resolutions. On the other hand, some people are excited about what the next year will bring while getting ready to start the new year strong. Regardless, many people hope that next year is better than the current one.
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Nov 22, 2024 | 
observer.case.edu | Catherine J. Choi
Throughout my childhood, I struggled with low self-esteem—as people constantly found ways to put me down. Over time, however, I came to realize that although how others treat you does matter, it’s ultimately more important to focus on how you treat and perceive yourself. In the end, those who don’t like me or who bring negativity into my life should simply distance themselves.
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Nov 15, 2024 | 
observer.case.edu | Catherine J. Choi
As a student who was homeschooled and attended school in South Korea for ten years, I was surprised by how dramatically different public school experiences could be depending on where you live and what choices you make upon moving to the United States.
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Nov 1, 2024 | 
observer.case.edu | Catherine J. Choi
The U.S. education system has a unique structure. In order to pursue a career in certain fields—such as medicine, law or teaching—students have to go through a pre-professional program that prepares them for entrance into professional schools while they pursue an undergraduate degree.
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Oct 11, 2024 | 
observer.case.edu | Catherine J. Choi
In the U.S. Constitution, the First Amendment states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” This has allowed the press to deliver news without censorship. However, it does have restrictions.
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Oct 4, 2024 | 
observer.case.edu | Catherine J. Choi
We are naturally prone to comparing and being compared to the people we live alongside. As children, our parents often viewed us in relation to our peers and cousins who were smarter, more hardworking, more athletic and more precocious. In school, we compare ourselves to our peers who are more popular, good-looking, have a higher GPA or are more athletic.
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Sep 27, 2024 | 
observer.case.edu | Catherine J. Choi
Although most people tell us not to judge a book by its cover, it is nearly impossible when we first see someone or something. Appearance is the first dataset handed to us, and it takes time to genuinely get to know someone. Until then, a person’s appearance serves as the sole source of information for others to base their opinion on. For this reason, many people pay a lot of attention to how they look.
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Sep 20, 2024 | 
observer.case.edu | Catherine J. Choi
As we enter college, we are faced with numerous surprises. The major that we chose may turn out to be nothing like we thought it would be and the career path that we dreamt of since first grade might have an ugly side that we weren’t expecting. For this reason, a lot of college freshmen struggle with choosing a career path, choosing what classes to take and making their four-year plan. However, this is extremely normal.
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Sep 13, 2024 | 
observer.case.edu | Catherine J. Choi
Every day we are faced with multiple forms of advertisements. Some are as obvious as billboards in Times Square or mailed catalogs, and some are sneaky as influencers promoting items as “viral products” or logos on designer clothes. The availability of credit cards and payday loans have also facilitated consumption beyond our means. However, passively absorbing all this content and mindlessly swiping our credit cards can lead to financial ruin.
