101 Magazine’s Spring 2023 Issue: “To Bloom or Not to Bloom”

Hi everyone! I’m Alana Matthew, junior journalism major sociology minor from Brooklyn N.Y. and it was my absolute honor to serve as 101 Magazine’s editor-in-chief for a second semester. On the heels of our Homecoming special edition, I had the pleasure of leading the construction and curation of our spring edition, “To Bloom or Not to Bloom,” from its inception.  

Spring has sprung for quite some time now, weather-wise and attitude-wise. Spring semester used to be my least favorite, but this semester has permanently changed my outlook on the second half of our school year. Inspired by the Shakespearean phrase, “To be or not to be, that is the question,” this year’s title is a play on Hamlet’s famous soliloquy. I decided ‘to bloom’ may be more fitting, for obvious connections to the blooming of flowers that often occurs in the spring, but also as a metaphor for the growth and evolution we all experience. As COVID dies down, and we come out of pandemic mode slowly but surely we’re all posed with the question, “To bloom or not to bloom?”

My role as editor-in-chief has truly forced me to bloom. My amazing staff, our advisor Professor Blount, and the administrative team Darreonna and Jada have inspired me to be a better writer, a better editor, and a better human in more ways than I can count. Lessons in patience, kindness, and even the value of switching up a lede from time to time. They’re fond memories that I will cherish long after my days at Howard and take with me into my future journalistic endeavors.

With that said, it’s my pleasure to present 101 Magazine’s longest edition to date, featuring Springfest content, our cover story, and the cover itself in collaboration with Models of the Mecca highlighting their end-of-year fashion show. Plus notable stories about the effects of AI on Black students and a beginner’s guide to weed!

Thank you for supporting student journalism, 101 Magazine, and all the dreams of every journalist, editor, graphic designer, and photographer that worked so hard to make it happen!

Editor-in-Chief Alana Matthew

Managing Editor Darreonna Davis

Designed by Creative Directors Evin Gulliford, Azaria Jackson, Autumn Coleman, LeAnne Roberts, and Hunter Nichole Stevens

Featured photo of models from Models of the Mecca (MOTM) is as follows: Kadarius McNair, Princess Onyekwelu, Anaiya Smith, Cydney Wright, and Kadijah Kargbo.

Cover photo & featured photo of MOTM by Jamaica Kalika