Anoop Judge

Life will only change when you become more committed to your dreams than you are to your comfort zone.—Billy Cox My dear subscribers, readers, and supporters, I wanted to let you know that I’m back to college again, pursuing a Masters in Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing, while finishing up the fourth round of …

Winding Down the Blog Read More »

On a wet and windy day, during her junior year at high school as Najma Khan was holed up in the library, a photo flashed on her phone. It showed a beheading by Islamic State militants along with a caption in red letters: “Go back to your own country.” Najma reported the incident but the …

9/11 and its Impact on Minorities Read More »

When she went to get her first dose of the vaccine, Anya, 27, told her parents she was going to get her Friday fix of samosas and rasmalai from Bharat Bazaar, the local Indian store. Her parents (family friends of mine) whom she was staying with, in Yuba City—while working remotely —believe that Covid 19 …

A Vaccine or My Family: Children of Anti-vaxers Caught in the Middle Read More »

In March of this year, Neelu Joseph received a flurry of text messages from her mother, who was at their local Macy’s going-out-of-business sale. She was floored—not by the deals but because her childhood mall, Metrocenter Mall in Glendale, Arizona, was losing another big box store. Sears exited a couple of years ago, and the …

The American Mall : Dead as the Dinosaur Read More »

Baby Boo is making a face that means she might soon begin to cry. Priya’s neck is sweating. Her armpits are sweating. Chef Rajiv Bhatia, Owner and Head Cook, of one of Los Angeles’ finest Indian restaurants, Bombay Grill, yells, “Pick up for Table number 6, ready!” as he swiftly ladles goat curry fragrant with …

Does No One Want To Work Anymore? Read More »

“I am 40. My first flight was when I was 18 years old. Everyone was well-mannered, and an old lady sitting next to me gave me a piece of gum. Fast forward to my last flight in 2021. Trashy people dressed like slobs acting entitled, choosing to punch a flight attendant.” Joe Munroe, a lanky, …

What is causing air-rage in the U.S. and beyond? Read More »

Sixty-three-year-old Julia walked to the edge of the campsite and yanked on the rope that held her food in a tarp off the ground. Outside her trailer, she placed folding chairs, a small camp table, and a Coleman stove, with an old-fashioned coffee pot heating on it. She measured the coffee, turned it on, and …

Surviving and flourishing during the Pandemic Read More »

When Rajesh Sharma finally became eligible to receive the Covid vaccine, he jumped into action and added three big events to his calendar: his two vaccine appointments and a request for a four-week leave of absence so that he could visit his aged mother in India, who had been hunkering alone on the seventh floor …

A Year Later: Travel Has Become an Emotional Journey Read More »

Her first reaction after receiving the email from the University announcing that commencement would be conducted online was to cry. Across Southern California, larger colleges were announcing plans for in-person graduations—so why not hers? Then, twenty-two-year-old Anya dried her tears and turned to Instagram, asking: If Vanguard University hosted an in-person graduation, would they attend? …

COVID-Complicated Graduations: In-person or Virtual? Read More »