Writing well is an essential skill that UCI social sciences majors must master early on in their academic pursuits; courses are essay heavy and the topics are not light. For Belinda Espinoza ’05, the extra time spent honing her craft in class carried over to a side hustle as a #LatinaBlogger. Working days as an AVID middle school tutor in the Tustin Unified School District, her nights were spent writing about Latina lifestyle topics on her self-started “A Cup of Bely.” Her prose caught the eye of Pattie Cordova, the owner of “Living Mi Vida Loca Southern California,” a lifestyle blog that boasts “a healthy dose of cultura” with features on family focused events and local hot spots. As one of seven writers, Espinoza now covers events, attractions and experiences in Southern California. Some of her favorite assignments have included pieces on Universal Studios, a private Prince Royce concert at the Conga Room, and a tour of the SkySpace ride in LA. Espinoza also values the therapeutic nature of writing and is an outspoken advocate on the benefits of journaling to improve mental health.