Dear Mochi readers,

If I had to narrow down the one thing in my life that influenced me the most, it would be my five summers of nerd camp. Between the ages of 12 to 17, my parents would ship me off across the Pacific (with a lovely, puke-green, airline-sanctioned “Unaccompanied Minor” button on my chest) to attend the Center for Talented Youth, better known as CTY.

Maybe it was my parents’ compulsive need to pack educational experiences into every ounce of my childhood. Or maybe it was a desperate attempt to salvage their sanity by getting my brother and I out of the house as much as possible. But as far back as when I was 10 years old, I was flying across the ocean with a bright green “Unaccompanied Minor” button on my hoodie —spending summers at my aunt’s house in Los Angeles, studying pre-calculus at nerd camp or visiting dilapidated castles in England.

I remember the college application process like it was yesterday. From applying early decision in November to finishing the rest of my applications late December (like any good procrastinator, I hit the “submit” button five minutes before heading out to ring in the new year); to the breathless refreshing of my email in the school computer labs in March. I’ll never forget the disappointment of being deferred, then rejected from my first-choice college and months later, the rush of relief that came with accepting a spot at my now alma-mater, New York University.

Dear Readers,

How do you feel about Mochi’s new look? For our winter body-themed issue, we’ve given ourselves a makeover as well. This season, with the cold weather making us sluggish and a little lazier than usual, we’ve turned our minds to all things body- and health-related. We talked to a range of celebrities to weigh in on body image—singer-songwriter Marie Digby, “So You Think You Can Dance” contestant Karla Garcia and “Fame” actress Anna Maria Perez de Tagle.

For this summer’s issue, we’ve gone with an eco-friendly theme. From makeup to food, there’s no denying that being environmentally conscious has seeped into every aspect of our lives.