Jiya Gupta

Wellness has long been a major industry, but companies have increasingly commercialized a concept that once simply promoted a healthy lifestyle. In doing so, it often overlooks environmental, socioeconomic and systemic factors that shape health. More concerningly, it can equate being fit with moral virtue, implying that those with “unhealthy” lifestyles have committed a sin.

Economic uncertainties, financial anxieties and social media have led to an uptick of deeming anything and everything — from shopping habits to groceries to pop culture — as a recession indicator. Is a return to natural hair color, the popularity of ramen and Buldak noodles or a greater interest in lip products a recession indicator? Two particular and popular indicators in fashion — the hemline index theory and the lipstick effect — are often cited as examples of how style reflects the economy.

Pittsburgh — College is expensive. Although close to 85% of college students receive some sort of financial aid, most still struggle with paying off the hefty tuition fees. Scholarships are a great way for students to reduce fees. Some colleges host scholarship programs that incoming students can apply to. Some colleges directly offer scholarships to exceptional students in acceptance letters. But, most colleges provide limited scholarship money and some don’t offer scholarships at all.