VC SocialA dive into the challenges, positives, and everything in between that come with being a full time student and an artist simultaneously, specifically in the lanes of music and fashion. Topics covered include time management, accomplishments and more. Special Guest appearance by TyeDye!
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Cleanser. Hydrating Serum. Moisturizer. Sunscreen.
Most people don’t have a skincare routine, but I’m here to tell you the importance and ease of starting yours today! There are four base products everyone should have, which are a cleanser, hydrating serum, moisturizer, and sunscreen. Skincare is for everyone, whether it’s for acne, preventative care, or corrective care.
Itzel Reyes, a licensed esthetician, says, “This is an effective skincare routine that incorporates all the essentials to bring your skin back to life…they are professional grade, result driven products.”
It is important to have a skincare routine not only to look good but to have healthy skin now and as we get older. Also, if you think it’s too late to start yours, it’s not as long as you start! People usually think skincare is only for people with acne, but they’re wrong. Itzel sees clients who also want to prevent their skin from getting dry during the fall season or who want to protect it from getting sun damage. She also has clients who already have sun damage and hyperpigmentation, which is caused by not using or having the right products to protect their skin.
“Would you believe me if I told you this was 80% home care…”
Step 1: start with your cleanser and make sure you fully rinse it off before applying the other products.
Step 2: After you’ll want to add a pea size amount of your hydrating serum.
Step 3: Add about a nickle size of moisturizer and make sure to wait about 20 seconds before adding your spf!
Step 4: Lastly don’t forget to put your sunscreen, which should be two finger length amount. Make sure to massage it in to not have a white cast!
Overconsumption, Shortage, and Alternatives
Today, matcha is a staple drink at any coffee place. But with it causing so much demand places today sell you a cup at $7-$10 full of cheap powder, artificial sweeteners, and cold foam. What happened?
I had first started drinking matcha 5 years ago, hearing it could help me with my stomach issues. It wasn’t until recently I came to the conclusion that what people are selling you today does not taste the same as it did before. There was once an earthier taste, way more grassy, if you will. 🤭
I want to say it was 3 years ago where I went in one day to get a matcha when the barista told me they were out of powder for the week. Later I went to another place and again I’m told they were out of powder. The times where it felt only me and Kourtney Kardashian drank it were over.
Unfortunately, throughout that time, it became a recurring situation where there was never enough supply to last coffee places the whole week. But it wasn’t until January of last year when I saw a video for the first time that there was a matcha shortage but I knew it had started way before that.
It feels like every week there’s a new coffee shop that opens and there is not enough matcha to go around.
I spoke with Veronica Sara – a matcha lover who has taken classes in Uji Japan learning about matcha and its origin. She physically got to grind matcha leaves by hand to create the powder. She shares,
“You only get 10g of matcha powder in 30 minutes of stone milling”
Getting back to what was said earlier, a lot of places will buy cheap powders and mask the drink with different flavored fruit syrups, foams, etc. And you pay upwards of $10 for a cheaply made drink.
I can name a couple of places here in the 805 that are or aren’t worth your money, but we can save that for a future segment.
What I can assure you of today though is that if you are looking for its true rich texture, flavor, and quality you are best off buying a great quality powder that originates from Uji, Nishio or Yame and making it yourself.
It’s not the easiest thing to get into, but I guarantee you once you get the hang of it, there’s really no going back. Also while a great quality powder can be pricey it’s worth the price compared to spending on a mid coffee shop.
There’s this saying I see in videos time and time again where they say depending on the color of the drink you’ll know if it’s actually good or not. The greener the better.
But it also gets complicated and confusing because it also gets to a point people overdo the powder, and it’s not only adding to the shortage, but also people are overconsuming the number of grams they should be having for a daily intake. This, in some cases, causes people to end up in the ER because of a lack of poor knowledge.
I had the privilege of watching and observing all this play out in real time. However, it saddens me that matcha became another victim to overconsumption culture. There’s not, and most likely never will be, enough to get around to truly appreciate. The plot was lost and its beautiful culture was forgotten.
Last season, Ventura College men’s basketball didn’t have the record it wanted. The pieces were there, but something was missing. Fast forward to this year, and the Pirates are league champions and a serious playoff contender. So what changed?
According to assistant coach Kane Daniels, it started with one thing: culture.
“The focus was the culture,” he said. “Conditioning is something they took pride in.”
Practices were intense. Players were pushed to embrace hard work and stop avoiding uncomfortable situations.
At the start of the season there was an adjustment period with a new system, and it took some time for everyone to get comfortable with it. But little by little, the players bought in and started to fully embrace the change.
Now, he describes them as mentally tougher and ready for challenges. The goal became clear. Coach Kane said, “Get comfortable being uncomfortable.”
That mindset showed up in their playoff opener.
In the second round of the 3C2A Southern California Regional Playoffs, the Pirates were in a close game at halftime against East Los Angeles. But in the second half, everything clicked. VC dominated the final 20 minutes, pulling away for a 91–73 win at home. Sophomore Kam’Ron Cigar led the way with 33 points, and the team outscored the Huskies 53–35 after the break. It wasn’t just talent it was discipline and energy.
The turnaround didn’t happen overnight. According to Coach Kane, it came down to daily habits: staying focused, keeping a positive mindset, learning from each other, and embracing hard work every single day.
What this season taught the team was simple but powerful: stay consistent and stay mentally tough.
From a season that didn’t meet expectations to a league championship and playoff run, VC men’s basketball proved that changing the culture can change everything. And if their first playoff game is any sign, they’re not done yet.
With quarterback standout April Luna having 5 passing touchdowns in their 45-6 win on the road, Ventura College’s new flag football team is on a 3-game winning streak with a 5-2 overall record. Ventura College’s flag football team is making history by adding a new women’s sport to their athletic program, bringing their total to 20 sports. Ventura is now one of 9 community colleges in California to have a flag football program. This flag football program gives female athletes more opportunities to play at the collegiate level and offers scholarship opportunities.
Women’s flag football has been around for more than 60 years, but it wasn’t until recently that they formed the WFA (Women’s Flag Football Alliance). With women’s flag teams growing, they partner with organizations like the NFL and Nike to help raise money and awareness for this 40-team organization.
The NCAA now has 40+ schools sponsoring varsity teams, with the NAIA allowing programs up to 12 scholarships per team. This allows more opportunities for female athletes to earn their degree with a scholarship while playing a sport they love. VC’s flag football program does the same. This widens opportunities for female athletes to continue playing at a four-year university while also getting their bachelor’s degree.
Now the question is: how do female flag football players get noticed at a DI level? The answer is visibility! Visibility is important because you can be the best person on the team, but if nobody is noticing you or talking about you, scouts cannot find you. Although flag football is growing, colleges like VC are struggling with visibility. I created a survey for VC students about the new flag football team. With 34 responses, 73.5% of people did not know that VC had a flag football team, but 70.6% of people would attend a game if they knew about it. When asked what they think about VC adding this new sport, one student states, “It’s very nice to see more variety in the sports at VC,” and another student says, “I think it’s cool; just make it more known because I haven’t heard of it.” This survey shows the importance of visibility. People are interested in going and supporting the team, but they did not know that we had this sport. To increase visibility, VC could promote the games more, hang up flyers for games, post it more on social media, and add activities to get the students involved at halftime during the games.
This program has all the potential to succeed in the future with the team currently having a breakout season blowing out the competition. With the future of flag football growing VC is breaking the stereotypes of female sports, making a more inclusive campus. When asked what kind of effect do you think this program will have not only for female athletes but also the female student body? One student answered, “I think this creates a lot of opportunities for female athletes. For the longest time it was seen as a “boys” sport, so this will shift culture. It will challenge stereotypes and normalize strength, aggression, and athleticism in the female body” whereas another student answered, “I think it is a great gesture and unfortunately will underperform expectations on a broader scale. Female flag football just doesn’t have the same effect on the campus as mens college football does.” This is the stereotype this campus is trying to solve. Women’s sports can be just as entertaining as men’s sports if people take the time to watch it. Like the student pointed out, this creates more opportunities for female athletes whether that be for health reasons or for scholarships reasons. This program strengthens the inclusivity on campus and promotes new opportunities for women and the female student population. The best way this program can succeed is to build visibility. The season ends early May so there are many more games! Come and support your fellow students and who knows you might fall in love with the sport yourself. Come and find out March 23 when VC plays Irvine Valley college at VC at 5pm! This is just the beginning of a great season!!
We all enjoy spending time with our friends and family but sometimes it can be hard to figure out what to do and where to go. Sure, going out for coffee or lunch is always nice but sometimes you don’t always want to spend tons of money just to hang out. That’s where the idea of a third space comes in — the place you go that’s not home or work. Third spaces help build community, allow for quality time to be spent with your people or yourself, and can even help you meet new people that have similar interests. Discovering a niche spot to spend time in that costs little to no money can seem pretty difficult sometimes. That’s why I’d like to highlight some pretty cool local spots that you may not even know about.
For all the music lovers out there I’d like to introduce The Grape. The Grape is a jazz club/bar in Ventura that has a warm and inviting atmosphere, where you can enjoy live music, bring in outside food, grab a drink, and dance with little to no entrance fee.
My dad frequently goes to The Grape and I love joining him whenever I get the chance. I decided to interview him about his experiences here and what keeps him coming. He talked a lot about the cool atmosphere and vibe that The Grape offers but also states, “what really keeps me coming here is all the local bands and artists that they frequently host.” Following that thought saying. “I love how they’re conveniently right down the street.” So the next time you’re bored and not sure what to do maybe listening to some live music at The Grape is a good option for you.
Another place I wanted to put some spotlight on is Night Owl Ciderworks in downtown Ventura. This is a really cool family owned cider tasting room. They often host various pop up events, like local artists, karaoke, drag bingo, etc. However even if there isn’t an event going on this is still a super cool place to spend some time. They invite you to come hang out, bring outside food, play games, and if you’re really feeling it crack open your laptop and get some work done. So if you’re looking for an inexpensive change in scenery to hang out perhaps check out Night Owl.
Or perhaps your niche is board games. If this is the case then maybe Punchboard Cathedral game room is for you. This is a new spot that just opened up in downtown Ventura that offers a wide variety of board games to play, anything from simple games to highly strategic games. You can come in with friends or by yourself and meet new people. With an inviting, comfortable atmosphere this could just be your new third space.
My main objective with this article was to highlight some local niche third space options that might be new to some people. Third spaces are all around us whether this be your local park, local hiking trails, the beach, local libraries, the list goes on. But if you’re feeling like you might want to expand your options and find something more specific to your personal niches then maybe one of the options I’ve listed above might be a good fun option for you to check out!
Balancing an academic schedule with being a track athlete is no small job. This is Caleb Stremcha, a junior college student who is also a mechanical engineering major and a track athlete. Every day he is careful and dedicated. When asked to describe a typical day, he said, “A typical day for me is very structured because I balance school, work, and track throughout the week. I attend classes four days a week and am currently taking 28 credits as a mechanical engineering major, so my time management is essential.”
Track practice is central to his routine. “Fortunately, three of my classes are online, and another one of my classes is track & field, which allows me to dedicate more of my time to my STEM courses,” he said. “On Mondays and Wednesdays, after finishing classes, I have a few hours of break for lunch and then head to track practice. On Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, I work for six hours before school, so on those days, I spend time recovering at home.” His days run from 8am to 6pm, so planning is a struggle. “I try to stay organized and plan ahead to keep everything on track.” Time management is his biggest challenge. “The biggest challenge is definitely managing time and maintaining energy throughout the day,” he admitted.
With mechanical engineering courses, he faces frequent overlap of assignments and exams. “At the same time, I still want to maintain a strong commitment to my training and internship.” And because his classes don’t always align with practice, he has to stay motivated. “Staying organized and using the flexibility of my online classes has been key.” The mental toll can also be heavy. “Balancing both roles can be mentally taxing at times,” he shared. “Having most of my day filled with classes, work, and training can feel overwhelming.”
Yet he leans on his support network. “I have friends in several of my classes, which helps the academic side feel more manageable,” he said. “And my girlfriend is very supportive and flexible with her schedule, so we can still spend time together.” These connections keep him grounded even in the busiest weeks. Support systems are crucial for his balance. “I have been fortunate to have strong support from several areas of my life,” he noted. “My professors are understanding of the commitments that come with being a student-athlete, and they’re often accommodating.”
His coaches also understand his dual dedication. “My coaches recognize the academic demands and support my efforts.” Even his work environment plays a huge role, “My workplace and internship have been very flexible with my schedule, which has made a huge difference.” Knowing people have his back helps reduce stress. “Having people who understand the balance I’m trying to maintain has helped reduce a lot of stress.”
Recovery of both mental and physical is a priority. “Recovery is something I’ve learned to take seriously because my schedule is so packed,” he said. “Physically, I manage my training load carefully, especially since some of my workouts are done independently.” Track practice spread throughout the week also helps him avoid burnout. “Mentally, I use my evenings to reset whether that’s resting, sleeping or self care”. Overall this shows how a junior college athlete lives and the amount of time he dedicates to both athletics and academics.
Many community college students have other responsibilities they have to balance on top of school. This could be working full-time jobs, parenting, managing mental health, and other major responsibilities that could interfere or hinder education. Balancing these roles can feel overwhelming and exhausting. For this article, I talked with students from different backgrounds about how they balance school and life. It looks at the challenges they face and shares tips that might help others dealing with similar struggles.
Heather Ornelas, a student parent attending Ventura College, has experienced times in her life where she was caring for her mother, raising her teenage son, and attending school full-time all at once. She admitted that,
“It can feel overwhelming trying to give your best in every area of your life at once.”
Heather shares a feeling that many student parents experience, which is the pressure to do well in school while still caring for family. This stressful situation can have a big impact on mental health if not managed. That’s why having a strong plan is so important when life gets busy. Staying organized is how Heather balances hers.
“I rely a lot on planning ahead. I check Canvas daily, write down all my deadlines, and break bigger assignments into smaller steps so they don’t pile up. I also try to work ahead when I know I have a busy week coming up.”
These tips reduce a lot of stress and make time for other responsibilities. Having a structured schedule and planning ahead can really make a difference for students. When mapping out your week, setting aside time for classes, work shifts, and family, everything will start to feel more manageable.
On stressful days, prioritizing mental health is really important. For Heather, she uses campus resources and focuses on her personal wellness to help manage stress.
“I’ve used counseling resources on campus, which helped me talk through things instead of holding everything in. I’ve also started going to the gym regularly, which has made a huge difference in managing stress and anxiety.”
It’s important to use school resources when you need assistance or guidance. A lot of students try to handle stress, problems with academics, or financial challenges on their own, but colleges provide many helpful resources that they could be using for help. Many colleges offer counseling, tutoring, advising, and other support systems specifically to help students navigate difficult situations.
Every students situation is difference, so the way they manage their responsibilities will be different too. While some, like Heather, juggle parenting and caregiving, others, like Eddie, that have to manage the physical and mental strain of full-time employment.
A full-time mechanic and student, Eddie has days that are often long and exhausting. His biggest challenge, he explained, has been:
“Getting a full 8 hours of sleep, squeezing in time for homework, and balancing my personal life.”
After spending most of his day at work, he has found that he has little energy to focus on assignments. This can easily lead to missing assignments, grade drops, or added stress if not managed carefully. To prevent this, Eddie has found some solutions that has helped him:
“I plan ahead and map out deadlines on a calendar to stay on top of homework. I like to set reminders a few days before assignments are due to help prevent stress. I also think it’s important to create a consistent weekly routine, such as dedicating certain times of the day for homework.”
Planning a schedule you can consistently follow that fits your daily responsibilities can make a significant difference in staying organized and productive. Building a steady routine will also improve discipline and make you feel in control of a busy life.
Heather and Eddie’s experiences show that balance isn’t about having fewer responsibilities but more about managing them correctly. Their stories show the importance of planning, using available resources, protecting mental health, and staying on top of assignments.
Hopefully, these tips and experiences from community college students can give guidance and encouragement as you manage your own busy schedule.
This is Mothcage. The first notes cut through the noise, and the energy immediately shifts. For the audience, it looks effortless. But for the members of Mothcage, especially one VC student who dreamed of this for years, the journey to that stage was anything but easy.
Itzel, a student at Ventura College, was surrounded by music growing up, fueling her desire to start a band. “I always had the dream of having a band when I was older ever since I was a kid,” she said. Growing up surrounded by music made that dream feel possible. Her dad had been in a band in his twenties and would tell her stories about his experiences as a musician. “Naturally, I was inspired.”
She faced many challenges. One of the hardest was trying to find people who had the same passion. “I hadn’t come across musicians that were motivated enough.” This made it hard to start the band she hoped to build. But it wouldn’t stop her from making it happen. Itzel kept trying until she finally found her bandmates. The people she connected with, people who shared that same passion.
Mothcage has taught the members to stay emotionally connected with each other, which Itzel says is “the most important thing of all.” Even with challenges like losing two of their guitarists, they stayed connected with each other. It showed their strength as a band because they kept moving forward no matter what happened. As Itzel said, “Music is always worth fighting for.”
Balancing personal life, school, and being in a band can be hard to manage, but they make time to balance it all. Getting through assignments throughout the week, using the weekends for writing music, personal practice, and rehearsals. This makes it easier to balance everything by setting aside time for each responsibility.
The band is devoted to continuing to push forward and sticking together. The moment it finally felt real is something she still remembers clearly. “It was when me and my other bandmates finished running through our first original song. We all looked at each other with pure excitement and accomplishment after hearing our first song together.” That shared excitement marked the true beginning of Mothcage. And they aren’t slowing down. They are already planning shows outside of the local scene, including venues in Los Angeles. Their goal is simple but meaningful: “to share a piece of our soul and passion through our music.”
Follow them on their Socials!
Ragamuffin Coffee Roasters, located at The Collection in The Annex in Oxnard, is known for its popular and high quality drinks. The top five best selling drinks are the Cloudy Day Matcha, The VCB , Iced Shaken Expresso, Horchata Cold Brew and Bourbon Caramel Latte. The Bourbon latte ranks first because it has a smooth, sweet flavor that you can’t ever go wrong with. The iced Shaken Expresso latte ranks second and is also very popular, especially on warm days, strong with a refreshing taste. The matcha latte stands out as a unique option, not the biggest fan of matcha I rank it third and the VCB wasn’t personally a favorite of mine, it has a very bidder taste with a not so good after taste, as for the Horchata Cold Brew I was rank that last place it taste like watered down cinnamon water. Overall, these drinks represent the shop’s most popular and customer favorite choices!
The spot is a welcoming spot that makes a great study place for students. The cozy inside area and the outdoor seating give people plenty of space to sit, focus, and relax while working on homework or meeting with friends. The atmosphere feels calm and comfortable, which helps students stay productive. The pricing is also reasonable, with most drinks ranging from about $8 to $9. They offer a wide variety of drink options along with pastries, so there’s something for everyone to enjoy while studying.
The service was excellent there, they all seemed friendly to one another as well as to the customers they made conversation asking how are days went as well as other small talk.
The local barista from Ragamuffin Coffee Roasters Alexis says, “Not only do we serve fresh coffee everyday we also have a great connection with our loyal customers and that’s something that I can say why we’re the best coffee spot in town.”
Once again, here’s the Top 5 coffee beverages at Ragamuffin:
VC Social 