Waves: the Spring 2024 issue
From the Editor
Hello readers, and welcome to the spring 2024 issue of Waves!
The editorial team launched this journal to create a more inclusive space for both traditional and experimental undergraduate work. We’re thrilled to feature projects in this issue that tackle a wide range of topics in a variety of writing styles and genres: a photo essay, an op-ed, a medical literature review, and a memoir essay.
If you’re down here in Florida with us dreaming of the mountains, take an “Immersive Trek through the Japanese Alps” with author Hazel Gray, whose hiking trip in Kamikouchi helped her discover “the raw beauty of God in its widest form, hidden in the barely perceptible appearances of the obvious, like the reflection of wind or the shadow of fire.” Gray’s poetic and deeply reflective essay is peppered with stunning photos of Kamikouchi landscapes.
In her op-ed, “For-Who-Page?” Adaora Edeoga investigates the mysterious dynamics of TikTok’s For-You Page, highlighting the ethical questions surrounding social media algorithms and their impacts on users. Among the many strengths of Edeoga’s lively piece is its accessibility. Even if you have no idea how algorithms like the FYP work—or what all the fuss is about when it comes to data privacy—this op-ed can serve as a fascinating introduction.
The third project in this issue is a literature review by Klea Gjoka exploring the relationship between alcohol use disorder and insomnia. While researching treatments for sleep disorders, Gjoka discovered that people struggling with insomnia often self-medicate with alcohol; however, heavy drinking can also lead to sleep disturbance and insomnia. In other words, insomnia can lead to alcohol dependency and alcohol dependency can lead to insomnia, creating what’s called a “feed-forward cycle.” Gjoka’s review establishes what is understood about this cycle and investigates how physicians can best treat people struggling with both insomnia and AUD.
Our issue ends with America Cortes’s beautiful memoir essay, “Calladita Te Miras Mas Bonita.” The title refers to a popular idiom that means, “Quiet, you look prettier”—advice Cortes heard all too often as a young girl in a Machista household. “This phrase affected a young me in many ways,” Cortes recollects: “I never had my own thoughts, I only found myself silently agreeing with everyone. If only they had told me I would still be beautiful, even when I screamed.” Cortes’s essay feels more like a song than a scream—a fierce, inspiring, and often lyrical celebration of the more confident woman she has become.
As always, we hope you’ll take inspiration from the projects in this issue and submit your own work for consideration in Waves. Have a wonderful summer!
—Emily Bald, Editor-in-chief
Spiritual Awe in the Japanese Alps
Magic Hidden in Plain Sight: An Immersive Trek through the Japanese Alps, by Hazel Gray
TikTok’s For You Page Algorithm
For-Who Page?, by Adaora Edeoga
Insomnia ↔ Alcohol Use Disorder
Comorbid Insomnia and Alcohol Use: Addressing the Bi-directional Relationship through Multi-target Treatments, by Klea Gjoka
Growing Up in a Machista Household
Calladita Te Miras Mas Bonita, by America Cortes
Hazel Gray
“I certainly did not intend to write about the trip while I was actually there, but the more I contemplated my experiences at Kamikouchi, the more I realized that the family excursion was a life-changing journey that reshaped my perspective on life and reality which I yearned to share with others. I sincerely pray that this piece encourages its readers to open their eyes to the treasures concealed in the reality around them, for there is always something greater hidden beneath the surface, waiting patiently to be unleashed.”
Adaora Edeoga
“The human condition of the generations before us isn't decomposing, but it is definitely changing. . . . The instructions for this essay were fairly simple: write an op-ed about how technology affects the way we live. In classic Gen-Z fashion, I chose to focus on social media, specifically on the mystery of the TikTok algorithm coupled with the rise of influencing. The goal of this paper wasn’t to shake the fabric of our society but rather to get people thinking about not just how TikTok's For You page works but why.”
Klea Gjoka
“As someone who has struggled with insomnia for a few years now, I wanted to delve deeper into the current research and therapeutic techniques that have developed for patients with insomnia. Throughout my preliminary research, I frequently encountered papers discussing insomnia as it relates to alcohol use. Considering that the young adult population is significantly affected by both insomnia and alcohol use, I chose to do further research on this relevant topic to understand the type of relationship that exists between the two.”
America Cortes
“I knew I had to put my emotions into words and writing this worked as a sort of therapy for me. I was able to see how much I've grown not only as a person, but as a woman. When I finished reading my narrative to my younger sister, we cried together. She made me realize that this needs to be shared with the world. I hope that when other people read it, they heal with me and realize their worth.”