July 2023 - Volume 07 Issue 02

Spark
The
at ASU
J u l y 2 0 2 3
V o l u m e 0 7
I s s u e 0 2
A J o u r n a l i s t i c C o l l a b o r a t i o n o f t h e
A r i z o n a S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y O n l i n e C o m m u n i t y
Hot Girl's Guide to Summer:
Catch Flights not Feelings
Written by Sydne Ware
It is officially the time of the year to book
flights, not feelings, and go on as many trips
as you can. I am a firm believer in traveling all
year around but there is something about
going on vacation in the summer that feels
different. The vibes are immaculate; the air is
warmer, your skin is glowing, and the clothes
just look better with the sun shining!
Continued on Page 14
In This Issue
The Reading Nook 03
Life's Unfair Paradox 08
Hot Girl's Guide: Catch
Flights not Feelings 14
Not You Usual Love Story:
Chapter 5 20

July 2023
SUN MON TUE WED THU
FRI
1
SAT
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9
16
10 11 12 13 14 15
17
Summer
Session
C Ends
18
19 20 21
22
23 29
24 25
26 27 28
29
30 29 31
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
- Canada Day
- National Disco Day
- International Plastic Bag Free Day
- Fourth of July
- National Graham Crackers Day
- National Fried Chicken Day
- National Koi Day
- National Blueberry Day
- Argentine Independence Day
- Summer Session C Ends
- Cow Appreciation Day
- Malala Day
- National French Fry Day
- National Be Nice to Bugs Day
- National Pet Fire Safety Day
16 - Guinea Pig Appreciation Day
17 - Coral Reef Awareness Week
18 - Nelson Mandela International Day
19 - National Football Day
20 - International Chess Day
21 - National Junk Food Day
22 - Mango Day
23 - National Parents' Day
24 - International Self Care Day
25 - Guanacaste Day
26 - World Tofu Day
27 - Ashura
28 - National Milk Chocolate Day
29 - International Tiger Day
30 - National Cheesecake Day
31 - World Ranger Day
Calendar
02

Volume 07 Issue 02
July 2023
THE
Reading
Nook
BY: NATASHA GEIGER
CURRENTLY READING:
THE CUBAN HEIRESS
BY: CHANEL CLEETON
“The Cuban Heiress” is about two women
traveling on a luxury cruise in the
1930s, but each travels for a very
different reason. They have crossed
paths before, but in what capacity?
This is one of those books that I
picked up solely based on the cover.
Crazy, right? But just diving into it I
know I’ll enjoy it!
The Reading Nook 03

Volume 07 Issue 02
July 2023
REVIEWS:
CITY ON FIRE
BY: DON WINSLOW
“City on Fire” is book one of Don Winslow’s Danny Ryan series.
This story takes place in the 1990s and is your typical east
coast mobster storyline, but with a soft side (if you can
believe that). Winslow guides you through the life of Danny Ryan
who married into a mob family and tries to not only provide for
his family, but also do the right thing. But will he?
I flew through this book, it was that intriguing. Winslow’s
writing style is down to earth and raw, like you’re truly in the
book and can relate to each character.
Do you want to know how much I loved book one of the Danny Ryan
series? Just take a look at the next book.
RATING:
CITY OF DREAMS
BY: DON WINSLOW
“City of Dreams” is book two of Don Winslow’s Danny Ryan
series, and it picks up right where book one, “City on
Fire” left off. Danny Ryan is now on the west coast (for
reasons I won’t say - read book one!) with his young son
and a few of his crew members. “City of Dreams” almost
has a lighter tone as he tries to find himself and
figure out what he wants to really do with his life…
again. This was another knock-out book by Winslow.
Similar to “City on Fire,” the writing was emotional and
raw, but in this book I really felt like it wasn’t a
story about the mob, rather just a man trying to find
his way. I read this in one day, so this entire series
deserves a place on your ‘to read next’ shelf!
RATING:
Do you ever pick up a book, read the back cover, and
have a pretty good idea of what the story is? This next
book was the opposite of what I expected and that’s the
best kind of surprise.
The Reading Nook
04

Volume 07 Issue 02
July 2023
SAINT X
BY: ALEXIS SCHAITKIN
“Saint X” follows the life of a young woman, Claire, trying to
solve the murder of her older sister during a holiday vacation to
the island of Saint X. Claire gets a taxi ride from a man that was
a suspect in her sister's murder and becomes obsessed with him and
tries to find out if he truly murdered her sister. The writing was
intriguing because you really felt like you were in Claire’s head,
becoming obsessed with this man's every move. While I give this
book 4 out of 5 stars, it is a little slower to get into because
of the writing style and jumping from one time period to another.
However, once you get past the first couple of chapters you’ll be
so curious that you won’t be able to put the book down!
This next book will probably make my book nerds out there gasp in
horror. So, let’s clear the air; no, I’ve never read an Agatha
Christie book but you better believe I’ll be obsessively reading
them now.
RATING:
MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS
BY: AGATHA CHRISTIE
RATING:
“Murder on the Orient Express” is a classic story of
just that - murder on a train. A man named Samuel
Ratchett is found murdered in his cabin and a renowned
detective, Hercule Poirot, is also on the train. He
leads the investigation by interviewing each and every
passenger that was in the car at the time of the murder
with some fun twists and turns along the way. It’s a
short book and easy read but so phenomenally written
that you feel like you’re right there. I also enjoyed
how animated each and every character was; it really
came through on paper, especially when Poirot interviews
them. If any of you are still undecided about jumping
into the Agatha Christie world, don’t be a fool like me.
Do it!
I had to take a break from historical fiction books and
this next book got me right back into the mood!
The Reading Nook
05

Volume 07 Issue 02
July 2023
THE CALL OF THE WRENS
BY: JENNI L. WALSH
“The Call of the Wrens” follows the lives of two people,
one during World War I and another during World War II.
Marion Hoxton, an orphan, serves in the Women’s Royal
Naval Service and cares for carrier pigeons that help
men on the fronts in France. Evelyn is an only child of
a well-to-do family, and also enlists in the Women’s
Royal Naval Service as a motorcycle driver delivering
messages across England. So how do their stories come
together?
RATING:
Wow, what a book! I’ll be honest, I was a few chapters
in and I had NO idea how Marion and Evelyn were
connected, and that was my favorite part of the book -
the sheer suspense and curiosity. The writing was so
well done, it was like you were right there on the
frontlines. Walsh really captured the time period well!
3RD DEGREE: A WOMEN’S MURDER
CLUB NOVEL BY JAMES PATTERSON
WHAT'S NEXT
Jumping back into this amazing series
by James Patterson with the third
installment. Following the lives of a
San Francisco Detective, a medical
examiner, reporter, and an assistant
D.A. as they try to solve the murder of
three people found in a burning home.
4TH OF JULY: A WOMEN’S MURDER
CLUB NOVEL BY JAMES PATTERSON
While dealing with a possible careerending
event, Detective Lindsay Boxer
is fighting for her life while still
trying to solve a string of murders in
a small California town.
SEE YOU NEXT MONTH FOR
MORE REVIEWS!
The Reading Nook
06

Volume 07 Issue 02
July 2023
Find Us
Online!
Find Us Online 07

Volume 07 Issue 02
July 2023
Life’s Unfair Paradox:
SUFFERING THE FATE OF
THE KIND AND SIMPLE
BY: SAYALEE CHIVATE
This is dedicated to my grandfather,
my Aajoba, Sharad Gajanan Chivate.
Life’s Unfair Paradox: Suffering the Fate Of the Kind and Simple 08

Volume 07 Issue 02
July 2023
June 18, 2023
Why is it that the people who are nice and the ones who live a
simple life, are the ones who suffer? They’ve never done
anything to cause trouble or to harm anyone; yet, they are the
ones who are punished by their health or situations around
them. Who does this? Who chooses which people are
punished and which people are happy? Whomever does
choose this, if that person is in heaven or hell right now, I
would like to have a word with them.
Losing someone is hard and unfortunately everyone goes
through that pain. The punishment I'm referring to is when
that person suffers. A short, quick death is easy. All family
members are affected by it and they mourn the loss of that
person. We say that they are free and try to move on with life,
but if it is a prolonged health issue, where the person is
hospitalized or has severe problems, then we, as the family,
can't bear to see it. After a certain amount of time, everyone
starts to feel that maybe it’s time, but who wants that fate?
How much we convince ourselves that death is inevitable or
in Hindi as they say, मौत सबको आनी है, we always hope and
pray that it never comes to any of our family members. I feel
that as an individual person, it is easy to see ourselves die.
Life’s Unfair Paradox: Suffering the Fate Of the Kind and Simple 09

Volume 07 Issue 02
July 2023
Seeing any of our family members die however, is one of the
worst things in the world- even if you expect it. A family
member can be hospitalized for months and you know that
death is coming for them, but you can never bear to hope that
death will come. You can never pray saying “Please God, let
my family member die peacefully.” Yes, they might be
suffering and dying will set them free, but us human beings
are selfish. Especially when it comes to family, we want them
to live forever. We want them to see all of our achievements
and failures. We want their smiles, their jokes, their endless
knowledge, their disappointed looks, but more importantly
we want their love. Why? Because they’re our family.
The reason behind this memoir-like article is that I’ve
personally been experiencing it for the past two months. My
grandfather had been admitted into the hospital since April
30th and today, [June 18th], marks the seventh week of him
being hospitalized. These two months have by far, been the
worst of my life. I thought last year was tough, but life sure
knows how to throw you into difficult situations. On April
30th, our lives were flipped upside down with no idea what
was coming next. We had no idea if or when this would end
or better yet, what was the cause of all of it. My grandfather
had a fever for 10 days which wasn’t going down, therefore
he was admitted to the hospital.
Life’s Unfair Paradox: Suffering the Fate Of the Kind and Simple 10

Volume 07 Issue 02
July 2023
For the first few days, the doctors performed at least 100 tests
to find the cause of the fever, but they came up empty. Then
one day, he started turning down meals, saying that he
couldn’t swallow; then he started coughing and hiccuping,
and that’s how we knew there’s something we didn’t notice.
After that scare, he had an MRI done that revealed that he had
a brain stroke, which only affected his swallowing
mechanism- basically, he suffered from Acute Left Half
Medullary Infarct. He was then moved to the ICU and a
tracheostomy was conducted and various tubes were
connected to his neck. Food was given through a peg in his
stomach and it looked like he was getting better, but we
didn’t know that this was just the tip of the iceberg.
After the tracheostomy, he was moved to the HDU and then
into a room. When we thought that he was getting better, his
fever came back and he was moved back to the ICU; then the
HDU and room again… then back to the ICU. This cycle
happened six times and throughout it, he had an infection in
his lung which wasn’t responding to the antibiotics. His body
wasn’t fighting the infection either. His oxygen levels were
dropping dangerously low and at the end, he was put on a
portable ventilator. The doctors gave us a choice, either
continue this treatment or allow nature to take its course. We
made the call on June 17th. We didn’t want him to suffer so
much so we signed the 'Allow Natural Death' document.
Life’s Unfair Paradox: Suffering the Fate Of the Kind and Simple 11

Volume 07 Issue 02
July 2023
We are just hoping that he is happy with the life he led, he is
proud of his sons and grandchildren, and that he is peaceful as
he moves on.
It’s always hard to see a loved one leave this world. My
grandfather is still here thankfully but I can’t imagine the day
when I would have to say my goodbye. I don’t want to either.
I love my grandfather more than I can express in words. Even
though I don’t have a lot of memories alone with him, I have a
lifetime of memories with him and the whole family, which I
will treasure forever. He is the smartest person I know, next to
my father. He is a great human being and I don’t want to say
goodbye yet. This is Sharad Gajanan Chivate, a fighter, a
father, a grandfather and a loving human being. He’s my
grandfather, my Aajoba and I will love him till I can. He
deserves the world.
June 20, 2023
Aajoba passed away today and while I am grateful that he is
now free from the suffering, I also have a hole inside me. A
hole which only he can fill. Even though I knew this was
coming, I still can't believe that it actually happened.
Rest in peace Aajoba. I love you and I miss you. God, please
take care of my Aajoba and please look over my Aaji.
Life’s Unfair Paradox: Suffering the Fate Of the Kind and Simple 12

Volume 07 Issue 02
July 2023
Pitch Meeting!
Third Wednesday of the month
Join the Spark Team as we
discuss next month's publication
Toss out ideas on what articles
you want to write or want to see
More info
Pitch Meeting 13

Volume 07 Issue 02
July 2023
HOT GIRL'S GUIDE
TO SUMMER:
C a t c h F l i g h t s N o t F e e l i n g s
By Sydne Ware
Pack your bags and buckle up
because we are going on vacation!
Metaphorically, at least.
Continued from
Cover Page
HOT GIRL'S GUIDE TO SUMMER: CATCH FLIGHTS NOT FEELINGS 14

Volume 07 Issue 02
July 2023
Plus, you feel lighter and all your problems slip away once you
pass airport security- at least for me they do. My brain gets
turned off and Do Not Disturb gets turned on. Whether traveling
solo or with a group, there is something about being away from
the stresses of life that can't be beat.
“Hop on a flight and don’t look back" has been a motto I’ve tried
to incorporate into my life these past months. There are places I
want to go, and I don't want to wait for anyone to take me. There
have been bumps along the way, but I’ve learned so much and it
has made me a better traveler. Take these lessons from me as a
guide to see if traveling is something you want to try for yourself
or, if you already do, maybe we can compare notes.
1st lesson- This may sound controversial, but packing light is not
your best friend. You're in a place you've never been before; it's
not your house or your closet. You only brought half your skin
care routine and now you don't feel like the best version of
yourself because you left the things you like at home. So, if you
can, pack the extra outfit and the two alternative pairs of shoes.
HOT GIRL'S GUIDE TO SUMMER: CATCH FLIGHTS NOT FEELINGS
15

Volume 07 Issue 02
July 2023
Pack as much as your suitcase holds so that you’re prepared for
anything. Of course, take this with a grain of salt because
sometimes over-packing can lead to problems too; but packing
efficiently so you are prepared without taking everything or
sacrificing half your routine is a happy balance.
Trust me, I have been the over-packer.
Stressing about my suitcase being too heavy and having to lug a
super heavy suitcase everywhere is no fun. I have been forced to
throw stuff away just to make sure I wouldn’t go over the weight
limit, and that is the worst way to end a trip. But I have also been
the under-packer who is not prepared because I tried to keep it
light. I have forgotten toothbrushes, combs, and entire outfits in
the name of packing light, and not being prepared leads to much
more stress. Either one ruins your experience, especially in the
airport, which brings me to my next lesson.
2nd lesson- Airports are the best and worst place you will ever
be. If you are going to an unfamiliar one, look up the layout
beforehand. See if it gets busy, check for places to eat and how far
those places are from your gate; the bigger the airport the worse
off you are because finding your way around becomes a
nightmare. Getting there early has always been a big help too.
HOT GIRL'S GUIDE TO SUMMER: CATCH FLIGHTS NOT FEELINGS
16

Volume 07 Issue 02
July 2023
I turn into an “airport dad” because I need to be two hours early
with all my flight information ready. One thing I recommend is
getting CLEAR or TSA PreCheck. Using CLEAR has made my life
so much easier and hassle-free. If you are worried about cost, they
always have free trials and sales going on, and using it has helped
significantly with getting through travel days. The transportation
to and from the airport is important too. This is how I learned my
next lesson.
3rd Lesson- Keep Uber and Lyft updated, ready to use. Having
your rideshare apps available and updated is a lifesaver. There is
nothing worse than being stranded somewhere because your
account isn't working, or a card is not updated. I suggest using
UberOne because you can earn perks and rewards, and get
discounts just for using Uber. Even connecting points from
airlines like Delta can earn you rewards for both. There are so
many things that can happen, so having reliable transportation is
key when traveling.
Even having multiple apps can be a life saver. With varying wait
imes and fares, multiple options are helpful. Some places even have
a rideshare app called Alto that can be so nice depending on where
you are. It even has more safety precautions than Lyft and Uber.
Regardless, having multiple options will get you out of any situation
you find yourself in.
HOT GIRL'S GUIDE TO SUMMER: CATCH FLIGHTS NOT FEELINGS
17

Volume 07 Issue 02
July 2023
1.
2.
3.
Honorable Mentions:
While I think the lessons above are the most important, some
other things I learned from travel are:
Keep track of your spending- This might be self-explanatory,
but the last thing you want is to be broke in another city, state,
or country. Have a budget and give yourself some wiggle room
because anything can happen.
Never let anyone you don't know have information on where
you're going or where you're staying- stranger danger is a thing
for a reason, use your best judgment if you get creepy vibes and
always trust your gut.
Always ask questions- Closed mouths don’t get fed! Ask for
what you want, even if you are not sure it’s possible. Asking
questions can get you to try new things, have once in a lifetime
experiences, and can help you in the future, so just ask.
These are just a few of the things that helped me, but I really
think they are the key to making traveling smooth when starting
out on your own. Packing, airport hacks, and methods of
transportation are so vital to your travel experience. Trial and
error are normal, but having smart decision-making skills and
having an open mind will get you far. Getting into your own
groove and figuring out how to travel your way makes it even
more enjoyable. Happy traveling hot girls!
HOT GIRL'S GUIDE TO SUMMER: CATCH FLIGHTS NOT FEELINGS
18

Volume 07 Issue 02
July 2023
WANT TO SHARE
A STUDENT
OPPORTUNITY?
YOUR AD HERE
ADVERTISE
WITH US!
REACH OUT
LINKTR.EE/THESPARKATASU
Advertise With Us! 19

Volume 07 Issue 02
July 2023
N o t y o u r u s u a l
Love
Story
By: Sayalee Chivate
C h a p t e r
It was the morning of October 9th, my birthday. I
was excited for this birthday because it was the
first one with Oliver. At that thought, I woke up
and turned my alarm off. I checked my phone and I
saw Oliver’s message wishing me a happy birthday.
I typed out a quick thank you, played my favorite
songs, and got ready for the day.
5
I am out of the door by 8 am and have a coffee in
my hand when my phone buzzes. It’s Oliver again.
Not Your Usual Love Story: Chapter 5 20

Volume 07 Issue 02
July 2023
O: Hey birthday girl! Do you
have time for dinner today?
S: I don’t know, I have to check my
schedule. But if I can’t, then we
will video call and have dinner.
O: Sure

Volume 07 Issue 02
July 2023
He read my message but didn’t reply to it which was strange, but
instead of fretting over it, I got back to work. It was around 8 pm
when I heard a knock at my door. Most of the people had already
left so I didn’t know who it was.
“Come in,” I said without looking up.
“Hey beautiful!” the guest said.
I whipped my head so fast that I was sure I broke my neck. But
that didn’t matter because standing in my office was my boyfriend
with a cake in one hand and a bag of takeout food in the other.
“Oliver!” I screamed/squeaked.
I quickly got up from my desk and ran to him. He had the same
idea so he kept the cake and food on the table, and gathered me in
his arms.
“Hi! What are you doing here? I thought we were video calling.”
“Yeah but I couldn’t leave you alone on your birthday.” he said. I
gave him a quick peck and he said...
Happy Birthday
Sara!
Not Your Usual Love Story: Chapter 5
22

Volume 07 Issue 02
July 2023
I said “Thank you” while laughing.
Shortly after, we sat down and opened up the food and
started talking.
“So how was your day?”
“Boring and hectic. I had to juggle birthday phone calls and
work phone calls. What about yours? Speaking of, how are you
free right now?”
“I told the director that I needed to leave by 7:30 for my
girlfriend’s birthday. He was more than happy to comply.”
“Well I am glad he did because otherwise
this birthday would have been really sad.”
I said that and gave him a quick peck. We continued with our
conversation and finished our dinner. He took out the cake
and sang happy birthday as I cut it. I cut a small piece and fed
it to him. He then cut one more piece and fed it to me. After
eating it, I noticed that he had a mischievous look on his face.
I scooched away from him.
Not Your Usual Love Story: Chapter 5
23

Volume 07 Issue 02
July 2023
I have learned that when he gets that look, and if it is aimed at you, run away. Nothing
good can come out of that. He seemed to recognize my thought process as he grabbed
my arm with his one hand and kept me in place. He took the second hand, dipped it in
the cake and smeared cream on my face. I laughed and got away from him. I took off
running- not that it did anything good for me. The office was not a huge space to be
running around. He caught up to me and pulled me back using my waist. Both of us
were laughing hysterically as I turned to face him. He gently wiped the cream off my
face while I stared into his eyes.
“I love you.” he said.
I was shocked. And for a whole 10 seconds I was
completely speechless. “Hey, you okay?” he asked me.
I shook my head and said
“Yes, and…… I love you too Oliver.”
That’s when he gave me one of his swoon worthy smiles, lifted me up and spun me
around, again making me laugh. We stayed like that for some time and then started
cleaning everything.
It was one of the sweetest and simple birthdays I have ever had. It was like everything
was falling into place and I was finally happy. I never wanted this to change but fate
had other plans.
Not Your Usual Love Story: Chapter 5
24

Volume 06 Issue 04
April 2023
Meet the Team
Writers
Natasha Geiger
Sydne Ware
Sayalee Chivate
Editors
Virginia Dunn
Brittany Thomas
Nada Shamsi
Designers
April Fan
Terri Wilson
Workshop Team
Sayalee Chivate
Leslie Madrid
Advisory Team
Brianne Frazier
Roxanne Wilcox
Board of Directors
Leslie Madrid
Editor in Chief
Director of Editing
Sayalee Chivate
Director of Writing
April Fan
Director of Graphic Design
Delaney Crocker
Director of Operations
The Spark Team
The End