Author Archives: Larena Tannert

Larena Tannert is an opinion columnist and third year journalism major, with a concentration in PR. In her free time she loves to journal, go to the beach and play volleyball with friends!
Posted inManure Satire

Five reasons you need to keep buying more clothes 

by Larena Tannert

Get in girls, we’re going shopping. Why? Because I have nothing to wear. My closet, which is full, actually contains nothing. It is stocked with beautiful yet horrible clothes that nobody should ever buy, but also that I will never ever get rid of.  

I can feel your judgment from here. Yes, I own five pairs of black leggings, but they are completely, fundamentally, legally distinct clothing items. One is high-waisted, one is flared, one has pockets. You would not ask someone why they own both a fork and a spoon. I am asking for that same basic human respect.

Posted inOpinion

Re-adjusting after study abroad: The challenge nobody warns you about

by Larena Tannert

Everyone warns you about culture shock before you go abroad. They tell you about language barriers, homesickness and the confusion of navigating a foreign country. What nobody prepares you for is the reverse culture shock of returning back home.
When I returned to Cal Poly after a semester in Spain, I expected a seamless transition back into my old life. Instead, I found myself struggling with something I never anticipated: the amount of time school demands here in comparison to abroad.

Posted inOpinion

Girl Talk: The ‘girls’ girl’ label needs to go

by Larena Tannert

The first time someone called me a “girls’ girl,” I took it as the ultimate compliment. It meant I was doing something right in the complicated landscape of female friendship. But lately, I’ve been wondering: when did supporting other women become a title we have to earn instead of just something we are expected to do?

Somewhere between the third wave of feminism and TikTok, we decided that supporting other women needed a rebrand. Enter: the “girls girl.”

Posted inOpinion

Overwhelmed and understimulated: The TikTok paradox

by Larena Tannert

It’s 2 a.m. and my eyes hurt. My brain feels like static. I’m exhausted and wired and bored all at once–which shouldn’t be possible, but here we are. I’ve been scrolling TikTok for three hours and couldn’t name a single video I watched. I close the app, feel a wave of relief yet immediately open it again.
Something is very wrong here.

Posted inOpinion

Girl Talk: The unspoken rules of female friendship

by Larena Tannert

There’s an invisible handbook that exists among women, a sacred text that was never written down, never formally taught, yet somehow universally understood. It’s the girl code, and if you know, you know.

But here’s what’s fascinating: why do we know? How did this intricate system of unspoken rules become so deeply embedded that it feels instinctive? No one ever sat us down with a manual. There was no orientation, no formal induction. Yet somehow, this knowledge gets passed down, mother to daughter, friend to friend, in moments so subtle we barely notice them happening.

This isn’t a coincidence. It’s a collective adaptation.

Posted inOpinion

Girl Talk: Clean girl makeup

by Larena Tannert

The “clean girl” aesthetic is having a moment, and honestly? I’m obsessed. It’s all about enhancing what you already have rather than covering it up. Think dewy skin, flushed cheeks and that effortless glow that looks like you just came back from a walk (even if you just rolled out of bed). It’s empowering to feel confident in your own skin without hiding behind layers of makeup.

Posted inOpinion

What studying abroad in Madrid is teaching me about finding my voice

by Larena Tannert

There’s a particular kind of bravery that doesn’t make headlines or win awards. It’s choosing to exist in a constant state of uncertainty, where even the simplest tasks require you to risk looking foolish. But with each small risk, I’m building a confidence I never knew I needed, one that doesn’t depend on getting everything right. It’s the willingness to exist in a constant state of uncertainty, where even the simplest tasks require unbelievable courage.
This is my reality as a student who speaks minimal Spanish studying abroad in Madrid. And I’m beginning to realize that courage isn’t the absence of fear—it’s trying anyway, putting yourself out there even when every interaction feels like jumping off a cliff.

Posted inOpinion

The myth of the ‘summer body’: why your fitness journey deserves better

by Larena Tannert

Every year like clockwork, as soon as the weather starts warming up, my social media feeds explode with “get beach body ready” workouts and “slim for summer” meal plans. And every year, I feel that familiar knot in my stomach tightening. Will I be “beach ready” this year? Will my body be “good enough” for summer?

Let me tell you a secret: I’m so over needing my perfect summer body. And you should be too.

Posted inOpinion

Rest for success: The science behind sleep and why students need it

by Larena Tannert

Towards the end of my freshman year, after a week straight of surviving on less than five hours of sleep each night, I found myself blankly staring at my computer in my common room, trying to complete a simple assignment that should have taken 30 minutes.
This night became my breaking point. I quickly realized that sleep was much more important than I ever recognized. Once I learned to prioritize it, my physical, social and emotional health all improved significantly. I wish I knew then what I know now: making sleep a priority isn’t just good for your health, it actually improves your grades.

Posted inOpinion

The perfect illusion: why we spend hours on makeup to look like we spent minutes

by Larena Tannert

Every morning, I spend 45 minutes in front of my mirror achieving the perfect I just rolled out of bed looking this pretty face. The goal? To have someone say, “You look so good without makeup!” while I’m secretly wearing at least ten different products.

It’s like we are all participating in a collective delusion. The beauty standard isn’t just to look perfect, it’s to look perfect without trying. Not a chance someone catches you putting effort into your appearance! That would be embarrassing. Better to pretend you just happened to wake up with poreless skin, a smooth complexion and naturally flushed cheeks.

Posted inOpinion

The benefits of being single in college: a love story with myself

by Larena Tannert

One month ago, I was crying into my pillow and scarfing down a pint of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. Today, I’m still alone but experiencing a revelation that feels almost scandalous to admit: this breakup might be the best thing that’s happened to me in a long time.
After two stressful and exhausting relationships, I’ve stumbled into a truth nobody warned me about: being single in college is actually… amazing?

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