Those of us who are not from New England have attempted to adjust to life on the East Coast; from the changing weather to the unusual language, it has taken some time to get used to life on this side of the country. 

Growing up in Northern California (not Los Angeles), there are many elements to the East Coast that came as a shock when I first stepped onto campus back in 2017. One of the biggest differences I noticed was, of course, the weather. I vividly remember taking a Snapchat of my friend and me in full-blown parkas when it was in the 40s. Little did I know that the 40s were a luxury in comparison to the negative temperatures on bone-chilling winter days. At the time, I was a complete rookie to the harsh New England winters. 

I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area where winters consisted of occasional rainstorms and temperatures in the low 50s. Going to school across the country in New Hampshire, you can only ima...

Many of us with pets at home consider them as part of the family. They bring joy during hard times and provide a strong bond that could last a lifetime. Also, it’s nice to have a consistent cuddle buddy too. 

Animal and human interactions have been proven to increase happiness in humans as well as to reduce stress. 

According to a 2016 survey by Steven Feldman on the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 74% of pet owners reported mental health improvements from pet ownership, and 75% of pet owners discovered that pet ownership has helped a family member’s mental health. 

“Positive human-animal interaction is related to the changes in physiological variables both in humans and animals, including a reduction of subjective psychological stress (fear, anxiety) and an increase of oxytocin levels in the brain,” said Feldman. 

Everyone can agree that dogs on campus make college life a lot better. Whether visiting the a...