Ever since high school, I have been drafting my personal INs and OUTs list for the new year, an eclectic arrangement of how I want to approach my year. In a way, it vaguely resembles a vision board, with each component reflecting the overall energy rung in on January 1.
Without further ado, I present to you my official predictions...
INS
Comedians: There’s something about a good comedian that just oozes sex appeal. The overt confidence, and charismatic wit- think Andy Samberg circa the 2000’s.
The 80s: Chappell Roan. Big blowouts. Cigarette resurgence. Questionable morals. 2024 introduced us to an 80’s resurgence, and we’re just getting started.
Puppets as an art form: I unironically LOVE the Muppets. There’s a whole untapped market of using puppets in the media (in the literal sense, not the metaphorical one) and I need to see more.
Never deleting pictures/notes app entries: If I intentionally took a picture/wrote something down, it’s there for a reason.
Origami: Origami is awesome, and crocheting is hard.
Watching objectively bad movies: We can be silly and watch a movie just because it’s stupid! It doesn’t have to be riveting cinematography or a life-altering storyline. It can be a bad movie, with bad acting and a bad plot, and that’s okay.
OUTS
Using the word "dichotomy" or "juxtaposition": As college students, we need to move past tenth-grade English class. Half of the time I hear or see those words used, they’re out of context. “The juxtaposition of the dichotomy-” No. No thank you. Alllll done.
Pomegranate Poetry: I love symbolism as much as the next person, but it’s gone too far. Even as a humanities major, it needs to end. Just because you can post a slideshow poem on TikTok doesn’t mean you should.
Gut health: Only referring to the diet culture aspect of this, not the medically necessary side. But seriously, isn’t this just the latest installment of placebo pills and drinks marketed towards insecurities? C’mon now…
TRADER JOES PAPER BAGS: As an avid Trader Joes' enthusiast, why am I publicly humiliated and shamed in the parking lot when my bag handle breaks halfway to my car? Does the 5’8” cashier with Carhartts and patchwork tattoos get off on watching me scramble to pick up frozen gnocchi? Is he sneering and laughing at my expense?
Prius hatred: They’re better for the environment and get GREAT mileage. Why does everyone have to be so mean…
Diet Coke: Hot take.
And just for fun, here are some other INs & OUTs from .WAV. As usual, we are right, the list is final, and if you disagree, you're probably wrong.
Ava Acuesta, Photo/Video
Vibe for 2025: Patience
INS:
Red boots
Colored sunglasses
Sooooooo much layering
Concerts in the rain (Shabang 2025!)
OUTS:
Demure
The hills being brown
Every other TikTok being a product ad
Phone addiction!
Grace Gillio, Content
Vibe for 2025: Effervescent
INS:
Funky tights
Noise-cancelling headphones in the grocery store
Keeping a dream journal
OUTS:
Hating milk
Electric scooters
Funko pops
Julia White & Lizzy Velthoen, Content Manager & Playlisting/Content
Vibe for 2025: Godspeed
INS:
Stripes
Natural hair color
Reading pornography
Red wine
Sweet potatoes
Freebleeding
OUTS:
Groupthink
Patchwork tattoos
Zyns
Coachella
Digicam photos
Athleisure
Edie Blanke, Photo
Vibe for 2025: Awesome
INS:
Bangs
Aperol Spritzes
Glitter
Beyoncé
Roller Blading
OUTS:
Shoes
Speed bumps
Bras
Snapchat
The Big Light
Sarah Jagielski, Content
Vibe for 2025: wavvy
INS:
Insects as pets!!!
Physical media, writing letters
Reckless dancing, flailing about
Long walks with friends
Overcoming fear of embarrassment
OUTS:
Beer boxes as decor (cmon boys, you can do better)
The color orange
Minimalism
Men with a stock market widget on their phones (Who do you think you are? Really?)
Talking during the opening set at a show
Abbott Swanson, Art Director
Vibe for 2025: Freaky-deaky!
INS:
Figurines (especially if they are collectibles)
Bringing a deck of cards to the function
Asking the magic eight ball
Having "your craft”
OUTS:
Binaries
Being "too nervous"
Not using your blinker
Stealing lighters
Makena Locsin is a member of our Content Team. She wrote the article. Abbott Swanson is a manager of our Art Team. They made the graphic.