Momo's Writ 340 Blog

There are so many things that trouble our world–climate change, hunger, homelessness, nuclear weapons, and so on–that it can be difficult to determine where to “start.” I’m very fortunate to have had amazing teachers and professors that shed light on local and global crises, but sometimes I can’t help but feel helpless. I’ve come to understand that knowledge is power, and through our education and network at USC, the opportunities are almost limitless when it comes to supporting our neighboring communities and advocating for change.  I wish more schools like Vox had the opportunity to collaborate with us and other colleges to promote mental health, social connection, and other pressing matters. I often think about how the “big kids” from my neighborhood high school would visit my elementary school for Dr. Seuss day to read to us and everyone thought that they were so cool. They were older, in a fun club or sport, and were getting ready to go off to college and live a life of their ...

  How to Make an Iced Chai Latte At Home The Best Starbucks-Inspired Recipe for a Fraction of the In-Store Cost I’m not afraid to admit I have a caffeine addiction, but I am embarrassed to share how much of my monthly budget is dedicated to costly cafe excursions. Matcha lattes have always been a top pick of mine when cafe-hopping around SoCal from LA to Fullerton to San Diego. Recently, chai lattes have been my go-to fall drink–yes, I prefer them iced–for their comforting cinnamon flavor. Although I love a good iced chai when I’m out and about, those $6 lattes add up quickly , especially since I go to Dulce and other cafes multiple times a week. I’m doing my best to budget leading up to the holiday shopping season so I wanted to share my simple two-ingredient chai latte recipe for anyone who’s also looking to save money while satisfying their caffeine cravings.  For my at-home chai latte recipe, all you need is the Tazo Classic Chai Tea Concentrate and a milk of your choice–I...

          Although I didn’t finish the entire book, I highly recommend Wade Davis's The Wayfinders: Why Ancient Wisdom Matters in the Modern World. If you’re wondering, I wasn’t able to finish reading The Wayfinders because its tricky academic language was challenging for me to read. I also read this book digitally via desktop which I now realize was not an optimal choice for my comfort–paperback would’ve been a much better choice to reduce the eye strain from rereading the same passage multiple times. Nonetheless, I found this book deeply interesting and an amazing choice for anyone with an interest in anthropology and global civilization.           The introduction to The Wayfinders touches on the history of anthropology, evolutionary theory, language, and other common themes. I deeply appreciated this introduction for its thoroughness in explaining and arguing against troubling beliefs like eugenics and old notions of differ...

For our second reading assignment, I chose to read The Wayfinders: Why Ancient Wisdom Matters in the Modern World by Wade Davis. As I mentioned in my previous blogs, I’m super busy juggling two jobs plus school, so I wanted to find a shorter book option that was still engaging. The Wayfinders was a compelling option for me due to its length and alluring topics. Ancient history was one of my favorite subjects growing up so the overarching theme of ancient wisdom and cultures immediately hooked me. I also found the more essay-compilation style of this book to be interesting since, although they’re connected, each chapter introduces a new culture of people and intriguing ideologies. Picking The Wayfinders was a complete no-brainer for me, and although the language can be a bit tricky, I’m glad I chose Wade Davis’s work.  Wade Davis is a Canadian anthropologist who studies Indigenous cultures worldwide. In The Wayfinders , Davis delves into the mindsets and cultures of various gro...

MEMO Date: October 18, 2024 To: Clark Hansen, CEO, AMDP From: Momo Messerschmidt, Director of R&D, AMDP Re: Glow Recipe Investment Opportunity __________________________________________________________________________ INTRODUCTION After careful consideration, the research and development team and I have decided to propose Glow Recipe as a top candidate for our organization’s investment. Glow Recipe is more than just a profitable company—it is setting new standards for social responsibility and environmental consciousness in the global beauty industry, all of which align with AMDP's core values. Glow Recipe creates clean, fruit-forward, clinically-effective skincare designed for radiant, healthy skin. Inspired by Korean skincare philosophies, its innovative formulas combine antioxidant-rich fruits with gentle yet powerful actives, delivering real results. As a 100% vegan and cruelty-free brand, Glow Recipe exemplifies the future of ethical skincare. In this memo, you will find t...

How to Beat the Frat Flu My Tried and True Regiment to Overcome a Pesky Cold/Flu It’s October which means the weather is cooling down while parties are heating up. With Hallo-weekend approaching, don’t get spooked by the looming Frat Flu on the Row. You may already have caught the Frat Flu from a few fun nights out or even from a friend. I’ve never been to a frat party before but I always seem to catch the bug one way or another, especially in our packed Marshall classes and other common spaces on campus. DayQuil, Emergen-C, and chugging water can only do so much to heal your weakened immune system, but don’t fear–I have the perfect cost-effective, Asian mom-approved home remedy that will bring you comfort and relief! How to Make a “Medicine Ball” at Home You may be familiar with “Medicine Balls” from Starbucks, which are super popular during flu season and colder months. If not, “Medicine Balls” are hot beverages packed with ingredients targeting your sniffles like Jade Citrus Mint Gr...