A Morning at the Museum
Whenever I had a day off from school, or a free Saturday afternoon, my parents and I would go to the Brooklyn Children’s Museum. I would spend the day toying away in the fake grocery store or exploring the train exhibit with stars fixed in my eyes. Even then I felt the transformative nature of museums — having the chance to be whisked away for a few hours from my life waiting outside the entrance doors. Even now, there is something so beautiful and tranquil about preserving what exists to be displayed at museums. We should all take a step back from the hectic moments of life to simply watch and learn something new in the unparalleled nature of museums.
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Temporally Abating: The Little Pill Calvary
Settling out of sedation, I recall the times where I would pine for equilibrium. When I exhausted myself digging, I turned to small capsules filled with chemical dust and equanimity. At this surrender I lost my sense of self, and an arid identity stepped in as a placeholder. I have since removed the sedatives in embrace of the cool winter air, where I now live amongst the noise, the birds chirping, and the falling rain. This world is no longer temporally abating, and I am no longer fighting.
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Rejection From Friends and Lovers
One sensitive woman’s journey through heartbreak, and rebuilding confidence (the right way).
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Reclaiming My Love for My Body Through Tattoos
As Valentine’s Day nears, the holiday serves as a big reminder to lean into one’s own love and not only appreciate themselves, but their bodies. Tattoos are one of the biggest ways of strengthening one’s confidence through physical appearance. Tattoos are powerful forms of self-expression that age with us as our bodies process trauma, grief and healing. Everyone’s tattoo journeys are different, but what interlaces them all together is a form of self-love and sense of empowerment these sacred symbols hold.
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Fall in Love With Yourself This Valentine’s Day (And Beyond)
As Valentine’s nears, the holiday serves as a big reminder to lean into one’s own love and not only appreciate themselves, but their bodies. Tattoos are one of the biggest ways of strengthening one’s confidence through physical appearance. Tattoos are powerful forms of self-expression that age with us as our bodies process trauma, grief and healing. Everyone’s tattoo journeys are different, but what interlaces them all together is a form of self-love and sense of empowerment these sacred symbols hold.
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The End of My Fleabag Era
A look into the rise of dissociative feminism in the early 2020s reveals the privilege it takes to be a damaged woman. The increase of TikTok has seen a romanticization of a woman who hates herself and not the patriarchy. Rather than fighting against the painful systems in place, women instead are turning their pain inwards. But this ability to be passive and uncaring about social issues is not for every woman. Who is the Fleabag era accessible to, and why is it so damaging?
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She Just Looks Annoying: Internet Sexism, Double Standards, Grooming Discourse, and the Recent Joey King and Aaron Taylor-Johnson Cheating Rumors
A recent cheating scandal has surfaced alleging that Joey King and Aaron Taylor-Johnson had an affair after meeting on the set of the movie Bullet Train. This essay unpacks the internet’s general positive reaction to the news, which goes against the common cultural ethos surrounding cheating. The piece also explores how an unfounded rumor can gain so much traction when it involves hot social topics such as grooming and large age-gap relationships.
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The Lack of WLW Romance in Literature and Media
We are living in a time of growing representation and acceptance, but yet somehow that doesn't translate into adequate representation in books and on-screen. One day while I was working at our local bookstore, a client came in requesting a lesbian romance novel. I realized there were only two on the shelves. What's stopping bookstores from carrying a wider range of LGBTQ+ books?
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That Wasn’t Very Manic Pixie Dream Girl of Me
Sometimes, life can feel like a performance, especially if you happen to be a woman. It’s as if we are all trying to mold into a type and live for other people's enjoyment. We can’t feel or react in a genuine way because you'll be told you're “overreacting,” either by your friends, partner, or parents. No one should risk showing genuine emotion because that would not fit into the “cool girl” vibe you’re trying to give off, right? In this essay, I will explore the different 'types' we are aiming to fit into while arguing that you will be happier if you stop caring about how you are perceived.
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The Good and the Bad of BookTok Recommendations
t’s hard to deny that BookTok has influenced what books we pick up at Barnes and Noble. Some recommendations are worthwhile, and others are mere experimentations. Here are a few I have read.
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Me Time
Submerged in a time where self-care is all the rage, Izzy Ster explores exactly what this entails for an introvert and how she has discovered new corners of her identity.
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The Comfort of Female Friendships
Throughout life, one often hears of people choosing to be friends with boys rather than girls because they "don't want drama" or have never had a good experience with a female friendship. However, I would argue that female friendships are one of the most supportive, beautiful, and powerful things you'll ever experience. In this essay, I will discuss the beauty of female friendships, and how we can learn to be better friends to those around us.
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Why I Create Playlists for Every Thought That Crosses My Mind
I am an avid Spotify listener and playlist creator. As someone who is terrible at expressing their emotions, having someone else speak the words that your heart is feeling has been the most amazing thing ever. It gives me an outlet to express exactly how I’m feeling in a certain situation without having to utter a word. Every time I feel an emotion I make an immensely specific Spotify playlist for that exact mood. This means that I have around a hundred playlists because I create them at every minor inconvenience. In this essay, I will explain how playlist making has made it easier for me to gain an understanding of my emotions and given me an outlet for my every thought.
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The Reality of Young Illness
Dealing with an illness when you’re old is hard, but being diagnosed as a young adult who has yet to experience the world often feels even more devastating. Without having discovered the world, roads and doors that would otherwise be open for exploration suddenly singe shut in an instant. A diagnosis can change our world forever, so what happens after we learn that we’ll be “sick” for the rest of our lives?
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Starting Over: The Trials of Transferring Colleges
As everyone spent their freshman year of college enjoying their first taste of freedom, I was left behind contemplating if I was even at the right institution. Eventually, everyone became acclimated to their new environment, found their niche, and began enjoying the college experience. However, no matter how hard I tried to shake this feeling of discomfort, I couldn’t escape a daunting yet recurring thought: maybe this college isn’t the correct fit for me. Therefore, I made the difficult decision to transfer colleges: a decision full of challenges, heartache, and life lessons.
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Love, Chloé: An Interview With Writer and Creator of Popular Newsletter Chloé in Letters
A freelance writer and creator of the popular newsletter Chloé in Letters, Chloé Williams is an authority on love and tenderness. Her popular newsletter — which boasts over 3,000 subscribers — and subsequent social media presence have created a community of tenderhearted individuals. During a muggy summer night in Washington Square Park, I chatted with Chloé about her inspirations, writing life, and views on love in all its forms.
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Your Ultimate Guide to Summer Romance
The time we’ve all been longing for is finally here. Summer is filled with sunny days, spending time at the beach, and wonderful relaxation. In order to make this summer complete, I have compiled a list of books and movies that will give you the ultimate summer feeling. Whether you’re lying on the beach or sitting in your apartment, these recommendations will make you feel as if you are on a spectacular vacation with the love of your life.
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There's No Place Like Home
In this article, I discuss how the definition of home evolves as we grow up. With the help of a Salman Rushdie quote about the Wizard of Oz, I’ve come to understand it’s not about leaving home behind, but taking home with you, wherever you go. This point of view gives us the freedom to fully embrace and adapt to new places.
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Turning the Fight from My Social Media Feed to Myself: My Year Following “Fighting Back against the Exclusionary Social Media Feed”
In the year following my debut article “Fighting Back Against The Exclusionary Social Media Feed,” my life has changed in ways I never expected. Looking back upon the year, I find out just how little I knew myself then and just how much room I still have to grow.
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Outgrowing Your Friends
This essay talks about the moment you realize that you and your friends are not the same people you were when you met, and the fear of wanting to move along but still loving them. It's realizing that you are finding yourself and your friends have other aspirations and life plans that don’t fit with yours. You are not the same person you used to be, and neither are they.
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