Aida Hashemi

Ever since I was 11 years old, my life has been defined—and drastically changed—by school. Between the strictness of exams and the constant pressure of deadlines, I fell into a sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy eating habits that lasted for years. I am beyond happy to finally close that chapter of my life; the excuses end here. I feel so grateful to be moving my body again (well in 4 days!!!), and I hope I never take that for granted. It feels especially amazing in the pool—the perfect temperature and the weightless ease of movement are unlike anything else. I am so, so happy and incredibly excited for what's next!

"Reappraisal involves framing a situation differently to decrease emotional experience and physiological response."

 I can't wait!!!

Okay, maybe I’m being dramatic, but also... I'm not. Sleep is important, and them bringing guests over and being loud at midnight woke me up. I couldn't get back to sleep for a long time. Moral of the story: choose your roommates wisely and prioritize getting enough sleep.

YOU GUYS. I just had a total "aha!" moment. (And yeah, I might have thought this before, but it’s hitting differently today.) What if we only practiced  "friend-dating"  until marriage? The rules are simple: You don’t do anything a friend wouldn't do. You keep things platonic and low-pressure, but with one major twist: you’re viewing everything through the lens of marriage and long-term commitment. The goal? To stay objective. It’s so much easier to spot major incompatibilities, red flags, or value differences when you aren't blinded by intense physical or emotional attachment. If it doesn't work out, you’re just losing a friend. It hurts, sure—but it’s not the world-shattering heartbreak that comes from soul-tie-level bonding. The "Friends-First" Philosophy of Marriage - April 16th, 2026 The philosophy is "Commitment First, Attachment Second." By keeping the boundaries of a friendship while dating for the purpose of marriage, you get...

 Good idea or nah?