Montgomery & Lafayette | Vol. 3, 2025 | Albany Academy

“Itisthroughart,andthroughartonly,thatwe canrealiseourperfection.”

-OscarWilde

Editors’Note

GoodMorning,Montgomery&Lafayettewillbe judgingwritingandarttodayduringHblock, comeifyouwanttoseesomegreatwritingand art!”iswhatI’veheardnearlyeveryweekonrepeat duringFreshmanyear.

AsaFreshman,Montgomery&Lafayettehad alwaysintriguedme,butIcouldneverattenda meetingasIalwayshadsomeotherclubor extracurriculargoingon;butduringmy sophomoreyear,thecurrentChiefEditoratthe time,ChloePascoe(‘24),convincedmethata judgingsessionforartwouldbemoreworthmy timethansciencebowl(andshewasright).My rstjudgingsessionwouldbecomeoneofmany,as afterthatpoint,Iwouldtrytoattendeveryclub meetforMontgomery&Lafayette.

Now,atthestartofmyJunioryear,Iwashonored tolearnthatIwasnominatedasoneoftheChief EditorsforMontgomery&Lafayette.Thisyearhas

deepenedmyappreciationforthemagazineand thevalueithasinhighlightingthebrilliantartists andwritersofourschool.Iwouldliketothankall oftheamazingsubmissionswehavereceived,my felloweditors,myCo-ChiefEditorIsabelle,and mostofall,Montgomery&LafayetteadvisorsMs. DiNuzzoandMs.Ianucciforeverythingtheyhave donetomakethismagazinehappen!

- Angie

Allofushaveastorythatisuniquelyourstotellor avisionofhowweseetheworldtoshare. Montgomery&Lafayetteistheplacewhereour storiesandvisionscometolife.Thankyouto everyoneforyourcollaborationandwillingnessto shareyourartisticandliterarycreations.

- Isabelle

Classof2025:

EditingBoard

IsabelleJarocki

Classof2026:

RynnBaumgartner

AngieHuynh

NiaLofton

WillMcMahon

ChristianThibeault

Classof2027:

GabriellaBalboa

KaraCorso

PriyaHartnett

ShayleyHartnett

CatieMurphy

LaurelRhoads-Goodman

FacultyAdvisors:

Ms.ElizabethDiNuzzo

Ms.NancyIannucci

Classof2025:

Contributors

KatieLamica

LeoPolsinelli

SilasStanek-Streed

JackDavis

DaliaEssery

CameronMurphy

AndrewCasellini

SoeLucas

JohnNapieralski

ZooeyHalverson

AvaOsborne

JamesMcDonald

AleksanderKacani

Classof2026:

JiaxinLian

ZhiyiZhang

AngieHuynh

LiangjiaHuang

JoyceZhang

LuciaRibeiro

JonathanSani

Contributors(continued)

Classof2027:

MelodyLiu

IsabellaBasile

MadelynMorse

LaurelRhoads-Goodman

HenryBuckner

AvaPulcher

RubyMartell

NicholasVann

Classof2028:

AnastasyaNechyporuk

PatrickVentosa

JereyZeng

SiddhiMatta

KatieLamica’25

ABurningComfort

LeoPolsinelli’25

Thewarmwavesofvibrantorange Riseintothenightsky. Wearemothstoitslight, Asweocktothewarmth, Shieldingusfromthecoldworld.

Apillarofsmokeinthenightsky Actsasawarningtoall. AsDarkcrimsonengulfseverything, Weeetowardsafety Intothecoldnight.

Potential

SilasStanek-Streed’25

Takeadayo,It’sagreatdaytoget somerest

Youdeserveit

Takeadayo,hangoutathomeandenjoy somesweets

Youdeserveit

Takeadayo,gorelaxandplayvideogameswith yourfriends

Youdeserveit

Takeadayo,leteveryoneelsegetastepaheadofyou

Youdeserveit

Takeadayo,wasteyourpotentialandletyourdreamsdie Youdeserveit

Thewoodsaregone DaliaEssery’25

Leaves

Trees

Bark

Bugs

Wood

Dirt

It’sallthere

Itjustdoesn’tsmellright

Thepineandmaplesentistoofaint,distant

EventhoughIamstandingsmackdabinthemiddle

Oftheforest

Icanstillheartheroad

Andtastethegasolineintheair

Thebirdsyawaywhen

Childrenstreakwithjoy

Someinvisiblehundredfeetaway

Oncethelastleavesfallfromthebranchesofeachtree

Iwillbeabletoseetheworldthat

Itrysohardtoescapefrom,isstillaroundme.

Grandpa’sTraps

CameronMurphy’25

Iwatchfromthehilltop

themotorrumblingsoftly

Asshallowwavesrocktheboat

Andheliftstherope

Hemakesitseemas

lightasafeather

Standingproudlyatthebow

HaulinguptheLobsters

CitesBuiltontheBacksofBeast

AndrewCasellini’25

IfIcouldgoback…

DaliaEssery’25

CONTACTHER!

youareonlyineighthgradenowandyoudon’t havethebrainspacetocare.

Youclaimyouareworkingthroughyourown shit.

Youdon’twantanyfriends

Becauseeveryoneinyournewclassislikeyou

Aselfcenteredchild

Butsheneedsyouandyoudon’tknowit. Shedoesn’thavefriendseither.

Butyoudon’tthink.

CONTACTHER!

Stoptellingyourselfthatyouaregoodnowand youdon’tneedher

Justbecauseyouareinninthgradeandyour

classhaddoubledinsize

Youhaveanewfriendgroup

You’vemadeanewbestfriend

Andyoufeellikeyourlifeistogether Doesn'tmeanthatsheisn’tthere Stillinthebackofyourmind

Asafeonetocomebacktoifneeded

CONTACTHER!

Nowthatyouareajunioryoutellyourselfyou havenotime

Butyoumakeplentyoftime tocryaboutthenewfriendgroupwhosplit Forpettypersonalreasons, Likeyouwereinmiddleschoolagain, Toponderwhyyournewbestfriendleftyou Shatteringthetwoandahalfyearsofmemories

Andhope Thathadbeencreated.

CONTACTHER

Nowthatalltheothersaregone Sheisstillthere Idon’tknowwhyshestayed

Becauseyouarestilltryingtohave conversations withthenew(nowex)bestfriend.

GOBACKTOHER

Thepersonyouplayedfoxeswith Inthegardenofyourelementaryschool Duringrecess.

Theonewhoencouragedyourlovefor costumedesign, Whoshowedyouhowtouseasewing machine, Whotriedtoteachyouhowtodraw, Therealfriend. Theonewhostuckaround Eachtimeyourpersonalitychanged Asyougrew intowhoyouarenow. Sheisworthit.

TheSingingSea

SoeLucas’25

Thekettleonthestovewhistled,an octavehigherthantheshriekingwind pummelingthecandycanestripedlighthouse. TheMaineafternoonskyswirledwiththe anxietyofatempest,forcinghimtoturnon thedimlightbulbssuspendedfromthe ceiling.Castorsearchedtheworn,wooden cabinetsfortheboxofherbaltea.Hadhe packeditalready?Castorglancedattheopen navydue,buttheteawasn’tthere.

Asmuchashehatedtheshoebox-like roomandthesaltydampnesscreepingintohis clothes,therewassomethingaboutthe lighthousethathadinspiredhim.Maybedead UncleArthurhadknownhehadwriter's block.Castorsnorted.Unlikely,considering they'dnevermet.

ThekettlescreechedasCastorpopped up,woodenteaboxinhand.Hisphoneonthe

countertoppinged“CallfromNicky.”He shouldanswerher.Excepthissisterwould laughathisattachmenttotheplace.Onsecond thought,hedidn’treallyneedtoanswerher.

AknockmadeCastorinchandhe drippedhotwaterdownhiswoolsweater. Settingthemugdown,Castorslowly approachedthedoor.Thewarpedwindow paneacrossthetopgavenoindicationwhohis visitorwas.Castoropenedthedoor,astrong gustofwindsmackinghimintheface.

“Doyouhaveanytea?I’mfreshout.”A manstrodein,hisblackrainbootsleaving muddyfootprintsontheoor.Castorwas around6’1andthismanwasatleastahead shorterthanhim,withdeeplinescreasinghis face.Castorshutthedoor,thehingescreaking inprotest.

“Yeah,Ido,”Castorsaid,takingouta teabagforhimselfandhandingtheboxtothe manwhowasalreadysettlingintoarocking

chairandproppinghisfeetonthefootrest. “Whatareyoudoingoutinthisweather?”

Themanstrokedhisthinningwhite beard,asmileglintinginhisambereyes. Somethingabouthimwasfamiliar.Maybeit wastheeyes–Castor’sweresimilar.Theman shrugged.

“Iliketolistentothesea,”headmitted, hisBostonaccentthickandrough.“Youcan hearthebeststorieswhenthewavescrashhigh againsttheclis.”

Castorfrownedatthemanhearing voices,andsatatthewhiteroundtableacross fromhim.

“Uh,okay.Anddidyouhearsomethin’ today?”heasked.

Theoldmansmiled.“Thestoryofa littleboywholovedthesea.Hisfamilywentto VirginiaBeacheveryyearandhethoughtthe seawashisfriend.Evenashegotolder,he wouldwriteletterstoher.Andonedaythesea replied.”

Castorraisedaneyebrow.“Andwhat didtheseasay?”

“Shetoldhimstoriesaboutsailorswho stolebitsoftheocean,housesthatremembered theirinhabitants,citiesunderneaththeground wheretimestoodstill.Alotaboutlighthouses too.Theyalwaysprovideshelterandrefuge. Someconsider‘emsacred.”

Castorsmiledabit.“Andtheoceantold thistosomerandomkid?”Hesnorted.

Themanshrugged.“Itmayseemhard tobelievetothesmallminded.Butyouaren’t smallminded,Castor.”

“Youaren’tsmallminded,”Castor’s motherhadsaid,oneswelteringJulymorning. TheAtlanticoceanstretchedinfrontofthem, wavescurlinglikeribboncandy.Castor squintedupather,thesunbeatingdownon his10-year-oldface.Shehadalwaysbeenhis numberonefan.Butpeopledon'tcheerfrom beyondthegrave.

“Thatwasalongtimeago,”hesaid, mostlytohimself.

Theoldmansmiled.“Notreally.” Hestood,makinghiswaybacktothe door.

“You’releaving?”Castorasked,jumping outofhisseat.

Theoldmannodded,ambereyes movingfromthecupboardstothebookshelves liningtheback,thenreturningtoCastor.

Hesmiled.“It'snevertoolatetostart again,Castor.Writesomethingtothesea.She missesyourstories.”

Themansealedthedoorbehindhim. Castorstood,mouthagape,staringatwherehe hadbeen.Howhadheknownaboutthe letters?Castorhadbeenachild,he’dnevertold anyoneaboutthat.Herushedoutside.

Nofootprintsmarredthemuddypath outsidethelighthouse.Thestormhadcleared, thewaningsunpaintingtheskyinorangeand purple.Castorwalkedtotheedgeofthejagged

clis.Wavescrashedoverthedarkrocks, echoingagainstthelighthouse.Hesmiled.For thersttimeinalongtime,Castorcouldhear theseasinging.

Kaleidoscope

ZooeyHalverson’25

Ivan,MaybeI’mTerrible AvaOsborne’25

IvantheTerribleandHisSonIvanusedto makemerecoilwithfear.

Theman’seyes,shroudedwithhorror, Thelifelesslookonhisson’sface. Ididn’tunderstandIvan’spain.

Now,Isolemnlysit, GazingatwhatInowknowismyreection. Thedevastationofalifetime.

Theembracingoftherottingcorpseofwhat oncewas.

Theendofarelationshipwithbloodstaining mypalms.

I’mLadyMacbeth,scrubbingatherhands tryingtoridherselfofthestain. I’mKafka,leftinhisroomasahelplessbug stuckupsidedown.

I’mLennie,desperatelywantingtotendtohis rabbits.

I’mJack’sbrokenheart. I’mIvantheterrible, Clingingtomyson,whosedeathwasatmy hand.

Acautionarytaletokids,warningthemofthe dangersofall-consuminglove.

Itoodecay,

Staringatthedarknessinhorror, TryingtoplugthewoundsIcaused, Feelingmorebloodseepingontomytrembling hands, AndprocessingthefactthatallI’mclingingto isthevestige, OfsomeoneIvowedtoneverharm.

Hands

AvaOsborne’25

Handsarethegreatestindicatorofsoulmates.

IfGodcreatedmaninhisperfectimage, Whyarewemeanttohold?

Eachhandinterlockingwithanother, Afacebeingperfectlycradled.

HandsweremoldedtocarryandcomfortWitheacharticulationofthejoint. Humansweremadetottogetherlikea puzzle.

Justasin“CreationofAdam”,itstartswith thehands.

Alimbforgedfromyearning. Aneedtoreachoutforoneanother.

Asymbolofcomfortandviolence, Echoinghumannature

Christ JamesMcDonald’25

Happy

LeoPolsinelli’25

Whenyou’rehappy,

You’reasunbeamdancingonaquietlake, Akitesoaringthroughtheopensky, Abird'ssongintothemorningbreeze, Agardenwithhundredsofbloomingowers. You’reastarjustwakingfromslumber, Abookunopened,itspagesthickwithstories, Thebuzzofriversrunningoverstones, Acandle’sglow,chasingawaythedark. Happinessisthesunshiningonanemptyeld, Asighofreliefaftertheclimb, Theshimmerofgoldinthepocketofadream, Aleafturningwiththeseasons,unafraidtofall.

TheMouseEmpire ZhiyiZhang’26

AnImmigrant’sLament

AngieHuynh’26

MymomsaysIworktoohard,butI don’tunderstandhownotto;becauseworkis theonlywayIknowhowtotellmymom,“I loveyou”.

Thewomeninmyhouseholdstruggle withthatphrase,anditalwaysbotheredme. Myfathersaiditlikehehadanabundanceofit, whilemymotherabstainedfromsayingit. Why?Whycouldn’tshesayit?Whywouldshe rathergotoworkthansayit?Andwhydidit takemereplicatingherownsintogureitout?

Mymomcouldn’tsayIloveyoubecause herlovewastoothicktobeputintowords. Tooall-consuming,toopowerful.Lovecan makeyouannihilateyourselfforsomeoneelse. Andthat’swhatmymomdid.Whenshechose tobeamother,shesaidgoodbyetobeingLee. Leewantedtogiveherkidseverything,andto

givesomeoneeverything,nature'sbalance demandsyoutobecomenothing.

Theysayfateonlyexistsinstories,but perhapstheoriginofourbirthsforetellsthe courseofourlives.Mymomgrewupin extremepoverty,soextremethattheonlyway toescapeitwastoensureherkidswouldn’tbe harmedbyit.Shevowedtopreventusfrom knowingstarvation,tatteredclothes,and inaccessibledreamsaschildren,andtodothat, sheworkedherselftothebone.Mymomis alwaysworking.Sheworkssomuchthatmy siblingsandIjokethatinsteadofa9-5,she worksa5-9,andeventhen,it’sclosertoa5-10.

Ifpovertycursedmymother’slife,her sacricecursedmine.Mymommighthave beencontentwithlosingLee,butIwasn’t.I wasn’tokaywithbeingthereasonagirlthe sameageasmedecidedtogiveuponherhopes anddreams.Leewantedtogethernailsdone andgotoprom,Leewantedtograduate highschool,Leewantedtobeateacher.AndI

wishIgottohearaboutLee,IwishLeegotthe chancetobereal,Iwishshegotthechanceto besixteen.Mymomfoughtformeinsteadof Lee,butIdon’tknowhowtotellherIended uplikeLee.

IthinkmyfavoritePixarmovie, Elemental,saiditbest:“Theonlywaytorepay asacricesobigisbysacricingyourlife,too.” Atmycore,I’mnotanambitiousperson.It’s notwithinmynaturetostudyandworktill2 a.m.foratestorpassionproject.AndyetIstill do;Becauseit’snotaboutthegrades,money,or acclaim,it’stheknowledgethatIgettotry.My momgaveupsomuchforme;howcanInot givethislifemyall?IknowI’maworkaholic, thatIstudytoomuch,takeontoomany extracurriculars,andoveralldowaymorethan Ineedto;I’mnotoblivious.Butevery opportunityunattempted,goalabandoned, andlessonleftunlearnedfeelslikeI’m forsakingwhatmymothergaveme.Iwantto showmymomthespoilsofhersacrice:good

grades,awards,andaccomplishments.Because maybe,justmaybe,mydecoratedtrophycase wouldhealthesplintersmymomgotbuilding it.Butthosetrophieswerenevermine.Ifyou’d lookcloselyatthewinner'sname,you’dsee thatmynamewouldn’tbeonthere,and instead,I’dbelabeledasmymother'sdaughter.

Atmycore,I’mnotanambitious person.I’veneverpersonallycaredaboutgood grades,money,oracclaim I’veneverwanted tobethebestatanything.Butthere’sapartof mewholivesonbehalfofLee,who’llcrafta lifeworthtwo.

Maybeinsomedistantreality,mymom could’vebeenateacher.AndIcouldjustbe. Andwewouldbothreturnhomeandgetto bedatareasonabletime,talkaboutourday, andtradeIloveyou’sabundantlylikemydad. Butthat’snotthelifeweweregiven,andthat’s okay,too.Becausethelovewefeelisverymuch real,evenifitcan’tbegiventhroughwords. We’rebothjusttwogirlswholovetoothick

andtheonlywaywecanthinitoutisto dedicateittootherpeople.

Tomymom,Iloveyou,thankyoufor givingmeenoughlovetodefymyambitionless nature.AndIhopetheadmissionofthat phraseripplesthroughouttheuniverseuntilit reachesyoubecausejustlikeyouIdon’thave theabilitytosayitdirectly.

AbstractVibe LiangjiaHuang’26

Portrait AngieHuynh’26

Cherries J

TeaParty LuciaRibeiro’26

Aburstofmagentaamongstthebrown androt.Thereitsat.Alittlewhiteteacupwith pinkrosesandagoldrimsittingatopthe matchingsauceramongdustyjournalsand forgottenpeppershakers.Mythirteen-year-old handliftedthesettoinspectthetreasure. Perfectlyclean,notonevisiblemarkorscratch amongtheora.ItappedAuntLynny’s shoulder.“CanIbuyit?Please?”Weleftthe antiqueshopwithapiebirdandmyprized teacup.

Illedtheteacupwithhalfofacanof ArizonaArnoldPalmerLiteandplaceda Lofthousecookieonthesaucer.Ienvisioned thelifeofawealthyEnglishlady,discussingthe mattersofsocietywhileenjoyingafternoontea withherfriends.Forayear,Iatemycookieon mysaucerandmyArizonainmyteacupevery Saturday.Ididn’tknowwhy,butIdid.

EverytimeIheldtheteacupandsaucer inmyhands,Inoticedanewdetail.Thesmall pinksmudgeabovealeafdeclaredthatmy keepsakewashandpainted.Themaker’smark printedonthebottomofthesaucermentioned thatIheldEnglishbonechinainmyhands.

Myteacupismadefromchinaclay, chinastone,andboneash.Theashesofan animal,maybetwo,maybeadozen,maybe hundreds,liewithinmyteacup.Isitacow? Maybeapig?Nooneknows.Whogavemy treasuretotheantiqueshopdownthestreet? Whodrankfromthiscupbeforeme?Inever knewwhyIaskedthesequestions.MaybeIjust wantedtoknow,butwhatusewouldthe answersreallybe?

MyauntandIwouldgototheantique shopsdowntown,upstate,andhoursawayto ndtheperfect,thrown-awaytreasures.A pencilsharpenershapedlikeanantiquedesk, globeswithnationsthatnolongerexist,and teacups.EveryteacupIcollected,Irepeatedmy

ritual.ArizonaArnoldPalmerandaLofthouse cookie.AfterInished,Iinspectedthecupfor thetypeofchina,thetypeofdesign,andthe countryororigintodatethepiece.1953,1896, 1932,1879.DespiteeverythingIknew,Istill askedthequestionIcouldnotanswer.

Whogaveyouup?

Thepersonwhodrankfrommychina beforemewillneverbeinahistorybook.She willbeforgotteneventually,aswillweall. GeorgeWashingtonwillceasetobe rememberedonthedayourgalaxycollides withAndromeda.Evenwhilehumanityroams thisplanet,weforgetthelivesthatwerenot “notable."Thepersonwhogaveuptheteacup andsaucerwasjustlikeme.Shelaughed,she loved,shehadafavoriteshowandafavorite musicianandafavoritedresstowearwhenshe wentout.Thepersonwhopaintedthisteacup laughedandlovedandpaintedbecausethey lovedtopaint.Theteacupandsaucermost likelysatinaglasscupboardas“thefancy

china”thatnoonewasallowedtotouchoruse. Howmanypeoplewalkedpastthatcupboard? Whowerethey?

Allofthepeoplethatwalkedbymy teacupsandneplatters,intheshopwhen theywerebeingsoldandinthehutchesand cupboardswheretheylived,willnotbe rememberedifnoonebotherstotry.One hundredbillionpeoplehavelivedanddiedjust asIwill.MaxRosersaid,“Itisthese109billion peoplewehavetothankforthecivilizationthat welivein.Thelanguageswespeak,thefoodwe cook,themusicweenjoy,thetoolsweuse–whatweknowwelearnedfromthem.”Under thegraveovertakenbymossliesnotonlya body,butasoul.Onehundredbillionsouls havebeenforgotten,andIintendtospendmy lifeattemptingtoexcavatetheirmemoriesthat areburied,deepandforgottenintheEarth.

TheAssassinCat ZhiyiZhang’26

Doll JoyceZheng’26

Pop! AngieHuynh’26

Wuxi,China

MelodyLiu’27

Stairs

MelodyLiu’27

IwishIcouldstayatthetopofthe stairs.Ispentalotofmychildhoodthere.After anargumentwithmyparents,Iwouldsitand listentothemtalkaboutmewhileIwaitedfor themtoleavesoIcouldgodownstairsandget food.Atthetopofthestairs,itwassafe becausenooneknewIwasthere.Icouldhear everything,yetbeinvolvedwithnothing.

Fromayoungage,Ilearnedto dierentiatefootsteps.Mydad’swerelouder andsomehowsoundedmorestern.Hewalked downthestairsveryfastandloudlybuttook histimeclimbingup.Mymother’sweresofter andslower,andwouldsuddenlystopwhenshe sawsomethinginterestingonherphone.She draggedherfeetmoreandwassometimesso quietIwouldhavemissedthenoisehadInot beenlistening.Icouldtellfromtheirfootsteps andthewaythedoorshutifmymomwas

angrythatIstillhadn’tstartedpianopractice yet,orifmydadwasdisappointedIgota questionwrongonmytest.Atthetopofthe stairs,Icouldsitandndoutwhattheyreally thought.Ofourrelatives,politics,taxes,and me.Iwouldoftenndoutwhattheytruly thoughtofme.Itwasn’talwaysnice,especially afteranargument,butupthereIknew.IwishI couldstayatthetopofthestairsbecausethere, Iwasinformed.Icouldheartheirscreams whilearguingwithmygrandpaandtheirtears uponreceivingnewsofadeathinthefamily.I couldndoutwhattheywerecomingupto tellmeandpreparemyreactionbeforeit happened.Atthetopofthestairs,Icouldtell whentheirvoicesweregettingcloserand footstepsgotlouder,andIhadenoughtimeto actaccordingly.Whetheritwasgettinginthe showertoavoidalecturemyparentshadjust discussedgivingmeorpretendingtodomy Chineseschoolandextramathhomework,at thetopofthestairsIwasincontrol.Icould

predictexactlywhatwouldhappen,andbe ready.Soonenough,Ifoundthattherewasn’t alwaysatopofthestairs,andIwouldn’talways knowwhatwascoming.There’snotalwaysan easywaytoknowwhatpeoplethinkofyou afteraconict,orachancetolisteninontheir nextactionsbeingplanned,butratherthere’s justyou.AndastheyearspassandIgrow older,Inolongersitatthetopofthestairs. Thepaintatthebottomoftherailingisstill peeledawaytorevealaweirdshadeofwhite thatdoesn’tquitematchtherest,remnantsof themanyhoursIspenttearingatit,andthe carpetstillhasthatonestringthatlittleme couldneverquitemanagetopullout,butit’s dierentnow.Thetopofthestairsisahideout Icannolongertinto.I’vetried,butwhen yougrowbigger,sodoesyourworld.The thingsIdefendagainstarenolongerconned atthebottomofthestairs.AsmuchasIwishI could,Ican’theartheirfootstepslikeIcanmy fathers,andthevoicesthatusedtotellmethe

futurearen’tsocoherentanymore.The unexpectedoftensneakupbehindmeandstay thereuntilIthinkit’ssafeandturnaround. Andwhilethelossofthisshieldhasbeenfelt forquitesometimenow,Iknowtheworldwill onlygetbigger.

There’salwayssomethingaheadofyou, butwiththatcomesnewobstacles,new worries,andanothertopofthestairsyou’ve outgrown.Soifyouaskme,IwishIcouldhave sloweddownandstayedatthetopofthestairs justalittlewhilelonger.ThankYou.

GoldenDrift MadelynMorse’27

Speciesism

LaurelRhoads-Goodman’27

Animal.

Atermusedtodescribesomeonelackingthe humanattributesofbeingmoral,civil,and intelligent.

Anegative,insultingremark

Humanshavesetthemselvesapartfromthe restofthenaturalworld

Nolongeranimal

Insteaddeclaringthemselves

Areasonablespecies

Anintelligentspecies

Walkingahigherplaneofexistence

Wesaywearespecial

Bestatlong-distancerunning

Philosophy

Equations

Wearenotinherentlyselsh

Yetwetrysohardtobe

Weweregiventhechancetousethesetraits

Tohelpourhome

Instead,wewieldourstrength

Destroyingit

Forgettingthatthosequalitiesaresimplythe inevitableevolutionofourspecies

Notmarkingusasthechosen,central,animal

Theyareourcharacteristicsassimplyashowa possumcanhangbyitstail

Abirdy

Amonkeyswingsbranchtobranch

Whattrulysetsusapartisagreed

Forpower

Forriches

Acompletedisregardfortheworldaroundus

Takingmorethanweneed

Fromeachother

Fromtheplanet

Startingwarsoverperceivedslights

Createdoutofego

Adeephatredforothers

Thoughweareallthesame

Humanlike.

Awordusedtodescribeanentitytoosimilar, mentally,orphysicallytohumansforcomfort. Afearfulremark

Forweallknowthedangeranddestruction causedbyhumanhands.

Soclever

Sospecial

Forarchitecturalwonders

Madefromconcrete

Atoddswiththeonethingnotbyus:nature

Egodictatingthatwemustholdpoweroverthe natural

Whileweourselvesbecomeunnatural

Birdsbuildnests

Spidersintricatewebs

Antscitiesunderground

Perhapstherestoftheanimalworldrefusingto evolveintoasocietysimilartohumans,is naturelearningfromitsmistakes.

Kertész HankBuckner’27

MadetoBreak

AvaPulcher’27

AnInvitation HankBuckner’27

GlareofaBeast

PatrickVentosa’28

Ohhowdarkthycastedshadowis

Ohhowmanyformsyouarein

Thyroar,laugh,cry,creek

Yetforbadforworse,oneknowswhatyouwill speak

“Revenge,control,power,wantye?”

Temptationsofthehighestorder,beckonthose toyou

Thouarehatedbymany,despisedbymore,

Andthatmaybewhatyouwant

Butcredittothee,forbadorforworse

Yougiveussomethingtohopefor

Todefeatanddestroyyouissurelyathrill

Thatisexhilaratingbeyondwords

Totakedowntheunjustandstandtallaboveye

Awarmthintheheartosogreat,hearthe chirpingbirds

Oh…tobetoberidofyouforgood

Butwithoutyoueverwouldwehavegotten thisfar?

Surely,maybe,wewould?

Forbadorforworse,Idon'tthinkwecould

Fortherstsparksfrommanown,tofendof thecold, andprotectusfromevilsofnight

Thehumanmindevolvedtothisplane, justsowecancontinuethisght

Sowithallthishorroranddreadyoumaycause whichwillmakemeshakeinmyboots

Theprogressofusforbadorforworse, tracesyoubacktoourroots.

Boom

JereyZeng’28

SpiritualGathering

JereyZeng’28

WinningDeclamations2025

ThefollowingDeclamationswerethegrade nalistsinthe2025DeclamationCompetition andwererecitedinpersonatAlbanyAcademy onApril15,2025.

ThePigeon’sFallFromGrace PatrickVentosa’28

Ifeelbadforpigeons,Ireallydo.They hadthelife,theywerehuman’sallies,theywere deliveringmessagesandgettingfoodand shelterinreturn.Butthentelegraphs,andthe internet,andmoreadvancedpostalservices. Boom!Pigeonsareoutofthepicture. Columbidae,afamilyofbirdsinthe orderColumbiformes.Itincludestwomain sections,Pigeons,andDoves.Whenyouthink ofthedovewhatcomestomind?Perhaps peace,perhapsthesoapbrand,perhapsthe olivebranch.IntheBible,adovecomesonto Noah'sArk,andhandsonetohim;it symbolizesanendtotheood,andfreedomat last.Itsymbolisespeace.IntheAbrahamic Religions,thedoveisacherishedgure,loved andpraised.Pigeonswereoncesimilar,they wereliftedupbyus.Wealliedwiththem,and welovedthem.Thecarrierpigeon,oncevital

forlife,becameinsignicantoncemore advancedformsofcommunicationweremade. Humans,lordsovernature,thosewhohave eliminatedentirespecieshathcastthese columbiformesoutofthegarden.LikeGod sentLuciferplummetingfromtheholy kingdom.Humanityhasforsakenthepigeon.

Thehumblecarrierpigeonwasan appreciatedassistanttoahigherbeing.They wereaskilledpeople,theywerebredbecauseof theiradvancedhomingcapabilities,andcould evenmaketheirwaythroughwarzonesto deliveramessage.Theywereusedfor thousandsofyears,sinceancientEgyptand Rome.Buttheywereleftbehind,ourbeloved avians,disgracedbyhumansdueto advancementintechnology.Theynevertruly adjustedtothis,andtheystillstaywithus,they remaininourcities,attemptingtoregainsome ofwhattheirancestorshavelost,akinshipwith humans.

Butpigeonsaren'ttheonlycreatureswe haveblasphemedagainst,wehavehuntedand killedmanymore,thedodobird,extinct.The passengerPigeon,extinct.TheBlueMacaw! RememberRio?Allofthosebirdsaredead nowbecauseofus!Allofthecreatures humanityhasexploited,allofthespecies humanityhaskilledwillhavevengeance,and thepigeonsshallbetherighteoushammerof justice.Theyalreadyliewithinourworld,they littertheconcretestreetsmanhatherected uponthecrushedhomesoftheirbrethren. Theyhaveussurrounded,sowhentheydecide toattack,therewillbenothingwecando.

Weplaythegodsofthisworld,wedo whatweplease-andwhy?Becausewethinkitis ourright,wethinkthatbecauseofsomefallacy withinencodingourgenesmillionsofyears ago,whichcausedustohaveopposable thumbs,andthatledustobecomethe dominantspeciesonearth,thatweshouldbe abletodestroytheworldaroundus?Forests

burnedinthenameoflivingspace,whenallwe weredoingwasannihilatingmorethanwe couldhaveknown,destroyingmorecitiesthan weevercouldhavecreated.

Don'tyousee?Thepigeonsnever neededustolovetheminordertobegreat, theyneededusnottobehere.Wegotintheir way,wegotinthewayofeverythingelsethat couldhavebeen.Aselectfewpigeonsstillstick withhumans,eitherasracingpigeons,oraslast resortsforpostalservices,andwhenthe majorityrisesup,theywillbetakendowntoo, eliminatedforstickingwiththerestof humanity.Thehumanitywhohathforsaken thepigeon.

SowhydoIfeelbadforpigeons?Becausethe sinsourkindhavecommittedagainstthemare irreparable.Sothenexttimeyouseeapigeon, theleastyoucandoissparealittlebread.

Untitled

SiddhiMatta’28

IwasbornonJanuary9th,at11:19 a.m.,amonthandahalfearly.FromthedayI wasborn,expectationswerecreatedforme rightinthemeaningofmyname.Siddhi, translated,meansaccomplishment,perfection, fulllment.Itcomesfromtheoldestlanguage inIndia,Sanskrit.Inmyhousehold,perfection hasalwaysbeenastandardforeveryoneofthe kids,butespeciallyforme,theyoungestofmy siblings,ShriyaandShivam,andtheyoungest ofthegrandchildren.Ihavealwaysbeen expectedtobethebestanddothebestbecause Ihaveavarietyofpeopletolearnfrom.

PressureandexpectationswerechallengesI struggledwithforever.AlthoughIlearnedthat youfacesomanychallengesinyourlife. Insteadofbeingscaredoravoidingthem,you havetoovercomethosechallengesandlearn fromthem.

Mychildhoodhasn’talwaysbeenfullof highexpectationsandstandards.Someofmy bestmomentsandmemoriesbelongtomy childhood.FromwatchingDocMcStuns, ChotaBheem,LittleKrishna,andDragon Talestowakingupasearlyaspossibletosneak downstairstomydadadadi’sroom,doing fashionshowswithmydadianddada,and playingrestaurantwiththem.Mygrandparents weresuchasignicantpartofmychildhood.

ResearchbythePublicPolicyInstitute ofCaliforniastatesthatin2009,immigrants' hourlywageswere12%lowerthanthehourly wagesofAmerican-bornworkers.Mybrother wasbornin2005andmysisterwasbornin 2000,whichmeansthepercentageswereeven higherduringthoseyears.Myparentshadto workdoubletotripletheamounttogethalf theopportunityofAmericanworkers.It'snot justmyfamilythatstruggledwiththis; immigrantfamiliesallaroundtheworldhave encounteredthisobstacle.Duetothis,my

grandparentsplayedasignicantroleinmy childhood.Mydadiwasthecoreofour household.Shedidallthehouseholdchores. Ofcourse,mymamawasthere,butmydadi steppedinwhenitwashardformymomto takecareofthehouseandworkatthesame time.Mygrandparentsalwaysremindedmeof GodwheneverIusedtostruggle,getupset, annoyed,orsad.Theywouldtellmestories abouthowlordHanumanatethemoonor lordKrishnabeingborninajailcelland carryingallofMountMathuraonhispinkyto savethepeople.Theywantedtoremindme, one,nomatterwhat,IalwayshavealltheGods andgoddesses,andtwo,nomatterhowtough lifegets,youwillgetthroughit.

InMarch2019,mygrandmapassed away.Ihadlostmybestfriend.Myfamilyhad losttheircore.IfeltasthoughIwasinadark roomallbymyself.Ifeltlonelyandlost.Itfelt asthoughIhadtorestartmywholelife.AllI wantedtodowasthinknegatively,be

stubborn,andmournforever.Whatkeptme goingwasknowingmygrandmawouldn’t wantmelivinginsadness.Shealwaystoldme tokeepgoingandnevergiveup.Ihadtolisten, Ihadtokeepmypromise,Ihadtoliveher words.Mygrandmasavedmefromoneofthe mostdepressingperiodsofmylife,even thoughshewasn’thereinphysicalform.I healedslowlybutsurelyandstartedseeing colorinlifeagain;itdidn’tfeelblackandwhite anymore.

Iknowwehaveallfacedhardshipsin ourchildhoodsinsomeway,shape,orform.It isimportantnottoletthosemomentsdene youbuttoteachyouinstead.Mymost challengingmomentsinlifearewhatmakeme strongtoday.IknowifIcouldgetthrough thosemoments,Icouldgetthrough everything,andsocanallofyou!LordKrishna oncesaid,“Ifyoudon’tghtforwhatyou want,don’tcryforwhatyouhavelost.”Fight

forwhatyouwantanddon’tgiveupon yourself.

Untitled

RubyMartell’27

Whenyouhearthewords“Tourettes syndrome”Icanguaranteesomeofyou automaticallythinkofswearwords,punching walls,weirdphrases,etc.Andyes,forsome peoplethisistrue,butnotalwaysthecase. These‘mannerisms’arecalledtics.T-I-C-S,not likethebugT-I-C-K-S.Ticsareessentially brainsignalmisres,forexample,whenyoudo anythingyourbrainsendssignalstothebody partyou’retryingtouse.Soforpeoplewith Tourettesyourbrainsendswrongsignals causinginvoluntarymovementsorsounds. Coprolaliaisaconditionoftendiagnosedafter aTourettesdiagnosisthatistheinvoluntary outburstsofmoreobscenewordsandphrases, whichhasbecomethemostpublic demonstrationofthedisorder,howeveronly about10%ofpeoplewithTourretteshave Coprolalia.WhyamItellingyouaboutthis,

I’mtalkingtoyouaboutthistodaybecauseI haveTourettessyndrome.

Soletustravelbackintimetomy8th gradeyearwhenIwasdiagnosedwith Tourettes.AllIcanrememberisslowlystarting todevelopwhatatthetimeseemedlikeacough orclearingofthethroat.Overtimemy‘cough’ startedtobecomedebilitating,I’dcoughso aggressivelyIwouldendupgaggingmyself.It wasstressfulandIfeltlikeanalieninmyown body.Somymomdecideditwastimeformeto seeadoctor.Iwasreferredtoaneurologistand psychiatrist.TheneurologistconrmedthatI indeedhadTourettes,andstartedmeonthe medicationcalledClonidine.Clonidine stimulatesadrenalinereceptorsinthebrain which,forTourettes,allowsthebrainto essentially‘calmdown’.Unfortunatelyforme thismedicationhasaseverefatiguesideeect.I wasnolongerhavingcrazydebilitatingtics,but Iwasfallingasleepinclass.Openingmyeyes feltlikethehardesttask,andIdidn’tfeellike

myselfanymore.Butagain,overtime,Igotused toitandfoundtheperfectbalanceofother variousmedicationsandnownooneever suspectsthatIhaveTourette’s.Butanother sneakythingaboutthisdisorderisthatsomany thingstriggerdierenttics.Anystressful situation,talkingabouttics,orbeingwith someoneelsewhohastics,canbringmeright backto8thgradeeventhoughI’mon medication.Ihaveafewdierentticsnowand allofthemareconsidered‘simpletics’somy mostprominentarecoughing/throatclearing, facetwitches,neckjolting,andhandtensing. WhereassomeoneCoprolaliawouldhave ‘complextics’.I’vealwayswonderedwhymy ticsseemto“goaway”whenI’mperforming onstage.Andafteraskingmyneurologistwhy thisis,hesaidthatit’smybrainhyper-focusing onmyperformance.Allotherthoughtsor worriesaregone.Scientically,mybrainis simplytoofocusedontheactofbeingonstage

thatitessentiallyforgetsto‘misrethesignals’ asItalkedaboutearlier.

WhyamItellingyouthis?I’mtelling youthisinhopestochangethestereotypethat hasbeenengravedinpeople’sbrainsabout Tourette’s.SometimeswhenItellpeopleIhave Tourette’s,theyimmediatelyjumpto conclusionsthatI’mlyingjustbecausemy symptomsdon’tmatchtheirpreconceived imageofTourette’s.Whichisn’ttheirfault, mediahasmadethisstereotypesowidespreadI don’tblameanyoneforthinkingthisway. WhatIwantyoualltogetoutofthisisthat notjustTourette’s,butanyneurological disorderorconditiondoesn’talwayshavetobe seen,manyneurologicaldisordersaresilent battlesorinmycasesimplygounnoticed.

HowOurConnectionsCanLeadto

NicholasVann’27

Imagineaworldofinterconnectedness, whereeveryone,opinionsaside,isapartofthe samecommunity.Whilethismayseem utopian,wehavealteredtheoriginalworldjust likepaintingawall-coveringupthelastidea. Andsothisworldexiststodaybeneaththe layersofpaintthatsuocateit.Istandhere todaytosharewordsthatshouldbe remembered,especiallyduringuncertaintimes. Theworldhasbecomedividedintosocieties withdierentvaluesandbeliefs,butaswe separatefurtherfromeachother,wecan’t forgetwhatkeepsustogether-ourhistory. Humansenteredthisworldasonespecies.

NowthatEarthisdividedintomanycountries withborders,politics,andsuch,let'spauseand reconsiderourtacticsbeforemakingfurther divisions.I’mheretoconvinceyouthatweare

allsomehowconnected,andtheseconnections canunlockthedoortoglobalpeaceandunity.

Forexample,whatifIsaidyouand someoneyou ’venevermetcouldbecloserthan youwouldthink?Crazy,right?Well,notif you ’veheardoftheSixDegreesofSeparation. Thistheorywasdevelopedin1929byFrigyes Karinthy,whorealizedthatPersonAcouldbe connectedtoPersonBthroughavastwebof relationswithotherpeople.Sohowdoesthis work?Let’ssayIdon'tknowwhoJohnis,but myfriendJaneknowsafriendnamedBob, whoknowsafriendnamedSam,whomay knowJohn,andsoon.Thischainof connectionscanplaceJohnandIcloserthan weeverthought.Imaynothaveeverknown Johnorseenhisfacebefore,butthelinkcomes fromotherpeoplewhoknowotherswhoknow John.Thistheoryadvocatesfortheconnection oftoday’ssocietiesonEarth.TheSixDegrees ofSeparationisapsychologicalwayof discussingconnections,sohere’sadierent

approach:TheOlympics.TheOlympicGames showcaseathletesfromalmosteverycountry thatcompeteinvarioussports.Ihadthe privilegetowitnessthesecompetitions rsthand,anditistrulybreathtakingtoseethe workethicandrespecttheseathleteshavefor eachother.WhiletheOlympicsarefun,they alsosupporteortstocontinueaworldof peacethroughsports,whereathletesplaywith fairnessandequalopportunities.The Olympicsserveasaplatformforinternational unity,bringingpeacetotheplayingeld.The advancementswehavemadeinallaspectsof lifearestunningandwerepossibleduetothe cooperationandteamworkbetweensocietiesto achievegoals.Thisteamworkgivesuswhatwe havetoday-abettershotatworldpeace,solet’s continuethetraditionandfurtherunitethe worldforthenextgenerationsofhumansto enjoy.

We’veseenafewexamplesofhowunity ispossibleworldwide,sowhyisitsodicultto

fullyembrace?Onereasonisthateveryonehas dierentopinionsandbeliefs,makingitnearly impossibleforeverysocietytoagreeonthe sameideals,morals,andothertopics.Themore connectionswecanformwithothers,themore likelywewillbeabletoexchangeculturesand beliefsystems.TheoriesliketheSixDegreesof Separationcanhelpusidentifymore connectionsinourlives,andeventslikethe Olympicsutilizethoseconnectionstoseek unitybetweencountriesthroughrespectand kindness.Livinginaworldlledwithsocial mediacanconnectusevenfaster,allthrougha phonescreen.Onesocietypaintsasingle-sided story,butthecollaborationofideasacross severalsocietiescreatesanexceptionally integratedandeducatedgroupofindividuals. Aswecontinuetomakeadvancements,takea momenttothinkaboutourconnectionsand howvitalteamworkistoachievingunity.I’ll leaveyouwiththisquotebyHelenKeller:

“Alonewecandosolittle;togetherwecando somuch.”

LuciaRibeiro’26

TherstsongIeversanginmyrst musicalwasaboutafancydress.Myfancy dress.Now,Mrs.Tottendalewasnottheonly onewholovesherfancydress,Idotoo.Iwent toHollistertheotherdaytoexploretheirnew SpringCollection–whichisabsolutelyadorable andyoushouldtotallycheckitout–andI foundawhitedresswithblueorals.It’s ankle-lengthandhasaslitthat’sjusttheright height.It’snotthemostbeautifuldressI’ve everseenorworn,butit'sthedressthatmakes mefeelbeautiful.

Thinkaboutwhenyouwalkintoadress shop,yourthirdafterlookingforhoursand hoursanddaysanddaysfortheperfectprom dress.Thinkaboutthesixgownsyou’re allowedtotakeintothedressingroom.What dotheylooklike?Aretheysatin?Arethey coveredfrombodicetobacktobuttinglitter,

maybesequins?Aretheskirtspoofy?Youcrave thefeelingofslippingtheperfectdressonto yournot-so-perfectbody.Why?Becausewe liketofeelbeautifulinthisnot-so-beautiful worldthatourperfectlyselshandexpertly greedyspecieshascreated.Youlookinthe mirror.Thisoneistoo“big”it’stoo“out there.”Thisoneistoosmall,thisonemakes youlookboxy,andthisonemakesyoulookfat. Afterafewhoursandadozendresses,your perfectdressisstilljustoutofyourreach,so youcontinuetothenextshop.Eachdressyou nd,youonlyfeelthatthere’ssomething wrongwithyou,becausehowcoulditeverbe thebeautifuldress?Thebeautiful,sparkling dressthatlookssoperfectonsomeoneelse doesn'tlookevenclosetothatonyou.So you ’retheproblem.Youtthedress,thedress doesn’ttyou.

Fromthemomentyouarebornand wrappedinalittlepinkblanket,youcravethe feelingofbeauty.Youaresixyearsold,inapink

tutuandfairywingswithalittleplastictiara toppingoyourmessypigtails.Youareinyour perfectdress.Youfeelbeautiful.Youare gorgeouswithyourmissingteethandmuddied princessdress.Youareeight,shoppingwith yourmomforyourFirstCommuniongown. Youfeellikeyou’restarringonSayYestothe Dressbecausethisisthersttimeyoureally lookfortheperfectdress.You’resurrounded bylittlewhitenumbersthatfalltoyourankles madeoftulleandadornedwithpearls.You’re soexcitedtobesoprettyasyouplacethelittle bitofavorlessbreadintoyourmouthandsip fromthesilverchalicethatabunchofother eight-year-oldsjustdrankfrom.Itkindof grossesyouout,butit’sne.You’resopretty, there’snoothercareintheworld.Formaybe anhourandahalf,youfeelsobeautiful.

Asyougetalittlebitolder,andtheboys ontheplaygroundstartpointingoutyourlittle pinkdressesandtellingyouthatyoucan’tplay withthem,youwonderwhybeinggirlyisso

bad.Butyoucan’tbeatarget,soyouwear T-shirtsandshorts,andletthelittlepinkskirt thatmadeyoufeelsoprettycollectdustinyour closet.It’sjustthewaythingsare.Youdon’t playwithBarbiesatrecessanymoreortalkto yourfriendsundertheslide.Youplaytagand foursquareandbasketball,eventhoughyou’ve neverbeengoodatanyofthem.Like, completelyatrociousatallofthem.Butit's betterthan“girlstu,”right?Pinkisugly, princessesareweird,andgirlymeanschildish andnaive.I’mten,I’mnotthat.I’mnotlike them.

Youarenowthirteen,searchingfora dressforyoureighth-gradeformal.Bynow,you arequiteawareofwhat“beautiful”means.It’s nolongerpinktutusandtiaras,buttight dressesandpainfulheels.Youcryinthe dressingroomasyouandyourmomscream backandforthbecauseshejustdoesn’tgetit. Howcouldshe?Shedoesgetit.Shegetsit becauseshewasyou,asmallpartoftheendless

cycleofmodernwomenwhocannotbelieve thattheyarebeautiful.Sheremembershowit feels.Sheremembersthedisgustatherown reection.Thatsamefeelingwe’veall experienced.Youndadressthattsnicely withsomeshapewearunderneath,someheels thatwon’tgiveyoublistersifyoucoveryour feetinbandaids.Youarebeautiful.Finally,for thersttime,you’rebeautifulnotjusttoyou, buttotheoglingeyesoftheworld.

Fortherestofyourlifeit’slikethis.You tthedress.Nottheotherwayaround.You cravebeautyinthisworldthat’sbeingdepleted ofitsown.Whyarewehumanifnotfor beauty?Youcravethebeautifuldressfor homecoming,forprom,foryourwedding, becauseyouwanttoemulatethebeautyofour world,thestrengthoftheCalifornian redwoods,thegraceofcherryblossomsthatfall fromtrees.Wehavethecapabilityto comprehendthesethingsasbeautifulandso desperatelywanttobelikethem.Theperfect

dressmightletyoube.Thedressmaybe beautiful,butsoareyou,andthatcreates somethingevenmorestunningthananyone couldimagine:Awomanfeelingtruly beautiful.

Sondadressthattsyou.Oneinyour favoritecolorthathugsallyourcurvesand makesyoufeelprettyontheoutside,butinside too.ThedressfromHollisterremindsmeof myvintageteacupcollection.Ittsjustright andIcanwearitforanyoccasion.Ittookmea longtimetorealizethatbeing“girly”isn’t childishornaive.It’sstrong.It’sstrongbecause itmeansyouovercamewhateveryonetoldyou, youovercamethelaughter.Beingateenagegirl isquitetheexperience,sodon’tthrowitaway tryingtotintoclothesthatdon’ttyou.

IkeaFurniture

JonathanSani’26

NowIknowwhatyouguysmaybe thinking,IkeaFurniture,Icouldn’ttalkabout anythinglessboring.Honestly,Idon’tknow whyI’mtalkingaboutIkeaeither,but hopefullybytheendofthisI’llhaveameaning forit.Ifyou’veevernoticedwhenyouwalkin yourfriendshouse,orevenyourownhouse yousitdownonthatfurnitureintheliving room,kitchen,orthethingsinthebedroom. It'snotlikethatfurniturejustspawnedinthe house,someonehadtochooseitout,and there'sagoodchancethethingschosenwere somethingfromIkeaorsomethingbasedo Ikeafurniture.Okay,whocaresaboutthe furnitureinhouses?Well,Ikeashapedthe wholemarketanddesignsforthefurniture industry,likeadressercalledthe“Storklinta”. Hydro-FlasksandStanleys,something extremelypopularrightnow.TheStorklintais

likethatbutformiddleagedmenwhoare buyingahouse,likeMr.Fitz.WhatI’mtrying togetacrossisthatbybeingdierent,itsenta messagetobuyersandothercompaniesthat thisdesignwasthenewlook,thebestlook.

Ikea'sfurnitureinrealityisn’tthemost luxuriousthingever,butisastepupwithout anextremepricehike.Forexample,youcan buyanightstandoAmazon,whichwill probablybreak,butyouboughttheStorklinta andthereforehavenoproblems,theonly dierenceisthepriceincrease.It’skindoflike whenWillSamybuysthese“real”soccerjerseys onlinefor20dollars.Ikeatakesprideinmaking theircustomershappy,whilethoseAmazon sellersareonlyfocusedonmakingmoney, whichmakesIkeasopopularglobally.We’re notMr.FitzsoIwon’tboreyouwiththe reliability,I’lltalkabouttheinterestingpart.If you ’veeverbeentoanIkea,youknowitfeels impossibletoleave,andthat'showthe locationsaredesigned.Thedesigner

purposefullydesigneditlikealabyrinth.By doingthis,itcantakethecustomerona smoothridethroughtheirproductsections. Forexampleifyou’relookingfortheexitof course,you ’regoingtopassthroughevery section,probablypasstheStorklinta,andmost likelythefoodcourt.Whenyoupassbythe foodcourt,you’regonnasmelltheIkeastaple, theSwedishMeatball.Andyouknowwhat you ’regoingtoprobablydo?Buyan overpricedmeatball.Whocaresaboutbuyinga meatballthatshoulddenitelynotbethat muchmoney,it'sjustfood,butitreallyisn’t. ThemeatballisoneofIkeasmostimportant products.Byhavingfoodinhouse,itwillkeep customersinthestorelongertobrowsethe storerooms,andprobablyconvince price-consciouscustomerstoactuallybuythe productbymakingthemthinktheproducts arecheaperthantheyactuallyare.Sales Executiveswouldactuallysayitwasthebest sellerforSofas.Althoughitwouldbeagood

endingifitweremeatballsthatcarriedsaleson itsback,itunfortunatelyisn’t.Ifyou’velooked attheirproductsbefore,you’dnoticeit'sallin Swedishwithoutanytranslation.WhatifItold youthetranslationdidn’tmatteratall,because itdoesn’tchangeanything.Forabitof background,thefounderofIkeawasdyslexic, sohefoundithardtonameandunderstand thenamesforhisproducts.Thisledhimto comeupwiththissystemwherehewould namehisproductsafterplacesacrossNorthern Europeorjustrandomthings.Thisactually madeiteasierforeveryoneelsewhenherst startedsellingbecauseeveryonewhohesoldto spokeandreadthelanguage,andithookedthe buyers.Thereasonitstillworkstothisdayis thefactit'saforeignname,whichmakesitlook morebougie,butalsowhenpeopletranslateit andlet’ssayforexampleitjusttranslatesto “TheFlint”,itwouldbeprettyconfusingbut amusingatthesametime.Byhavingthisit wouldprobablyinuencetheirmiddleaged

audienceabitmorebecausetheyhavea dierent,possiblyworsesenseofhumor.I’m talkingaboutMr.Fitzofcourse.

IfyoubecometheIkeaofyourworld, theIngvarKamprad,essentiallytheWarren Buetifyoudon’tknowwhatI’msaying, you’llbecomepopularandsuccessfulbecause you ’redierent.TaketheStorklintafor example,althoughitlooksextremelybasic,this wasinatimeofcomplexityineverything,it startedtheshifttomoremodern,sleekand simpledesigns.

Youcanlookateveryproductnow,cars areallscreens,phonesremovingtheheadphone jackandhomebuttons.Andtothinkthat somethingsosmall,wellnotsmallliterally,but adresser/nightstandcalledtheStorklinta,hada roleinchange,itreallyshowsthatbybeing dierent,evenifyourproductseemslikeit doesn’tmatter,it’llstillhaveaneect.Iguess wefoundthemeaning?Ikindofjustwandered aroundtheideaofwhatthisshouldbeabout.

IfyouthinkaboutitwewentthroughIkea, wanderedaroundeverythingandpickedthings uptryingtondtheexit.Thelesson,oridea wepickedupcouldbethatbybeingdierent fromyourcompetitors,it’llmakeyoumore successfulbecauseyoustandout.

“JustaPick-MeGirl”

AvaOsborne’25

OnMarch17th,1995,thebandNo Doubtreleasedasongtitled“JustaGirl”where theyhighlightedourmale-dominatedsociety andthewaythepatriarchydegradeswomen andmakesthemconformtothemale-gaze.The songpokesfunatthestereotypethatgirlsare weakandneedtobeprotectedandcontrolled bymen.GwenStefani(theband’sleadvocalist) pushedthepatriarchysomuchthatshewould tellthemenatherconcertstosingtheline“I’m justagirl”tochallengestereotypesand celebratefemininity.Butinanever-evolving world,itwasrepurposedtodotheoppositeof itsintendedgoal.Witheverystepforwardin equality,there’salwaysthreestepsback.

Aftersometime,thesonglostits popularity,untilrecenttimes.Now,aTikTok trendforcestheterm“I’mjustagirl”intoour dailyvocabulary.Atrst,thetermwasusedto

normalizemore“feminine”hobbiesand interestssuchaspink,sparkles,bows,and shopping.Initially,thetrendwasakickinthe facetotheshamewomenhadfeltforyears aboutexpressingtheirfemininitythroughgirly interests.Othertrendsgrowingwiththephrase werealso“girldinner”inwhichawoman showsanunconventionaldishthattheylove and“girlmath”inwhichwomenjustied thingslikespending$40onat-shirtbut dividingitinto$2perwearfor20days. Eventuallytheselightheartedtrendsstartedto havehintsofinternalizedmisogynybehind them.

Thephrase“I’mjustagirl”morphed into“I’mliterallyjustagirl”andwomen startedusingitinvideosabouttheirterrible drivingorblatantincompetence.This snowballed,leadingtoatrendwherewomen wouldpostvideosofthemcoloringordoing anotherchildlikeactivitywiththecaption “coloringwhilemybfdoeshisbigboyjob.”

Thesevideoscontributetothedumband helplessgirlstereotypethatNoDoubtwas ghtingagainst.The“girldinner”videos quicklymorphedintovideosofgirlsholdinga packofcigarettes,lipstick,andastickofgum withthecaption“girldinner.”

Asthesevideosroseinpopularity, fatphobiaalsobegantorise.Womenwere startingtobecriticizedbyeachotherandthe trendoftakingOzempic(aninsulininjection) skyrocketedascelebritiesendorsedpumping unnecessarydrugsintoyourbodytolookas thinaspossible.ThisagainechoesthepastNo Doubtwasarguingwith.Inthemidtolate90’s “heroinchic”wasalltherageandthegoalwas tolookasthinaspossibleandeataslittleas possible.

Butforeveryculture,there’sa counterculture.Andthecounterculturetothis hyper-feminizationwastheriseofpick-me girls.ThetermwaspopularizedfromtheTV showGrey’sAnatomyinwhichMeredithGrey

saystheline“pickme,chooseme,loveme.” UrbanDictionarydenesapick-megirlasa girlwhotriestoappeardierentthanor degradesotherwomeninanattemptto impressmen.Thesewomenareoftenvery misogynisticthemselves,puttingdownother womenforwearingtoomuchmakeup, shopping,likingpink,andotherfeminine things.Theirbehavioraddstotheanimosity betweenwomenandonlyfurtherdrivesa wedgeintothegirlhoodwedesperatelyneed.

Attheendoftheday,theproblem comesbacktothewayoursocietyissetup.In whichmisogynyandthehelplesslittlegirl stereotypeissoingrainedinusthatweendup sabotaginganyattemptattruefeminism throughequalityandembracingboththe feminineandmasculinesidesofwomanhood. We’restuckinasystemsetupbymenand fueledbyinternalizedmisogynythatmakesus turnoneachother.I'vehadituptohere,amI

makingmyselfclear?I’mjustagirl.I’mjusta girlintheworld.That'sallthatyou’llletmebe.

Untitled

AleksanderKacani’25

Let’sstartsimple.

Howdoyoufeel rightnow?

Hungry?

Tired? Burntout?

Okaynowzoomoutalittle. Howdoyourclothesfeelonyourskin? Whataboutthechairunderneathyou? Theairintheroom?

Thephosphorescentlighting? AnySmells?Sounds? Zoomoutalittlemore.

Thinkaboutthelastfewdays. Thelastfewmonths.

Thelastfewyears.

Howhavetheychangedyou? Howhaveyouchangedthem?

NowifIaskedyoutozoomoutevenfurther you’dprobablyslapmerstofall.

Butsecondofall,you’dprobablysay,“You can’t.”

Andyou’dberight.

See,somepeople throughmeditationor introspection candevelopadeeperawareness oftheworldaroundthem.

Butnotasingleoneofuscantrulygraspthe wholepicture.

Somethingsarejusttoobigforourtinylittle brains.

Thesekindsofthoughtsthey’re uncomfortable,taboo,nottobegivenany attention.

Likewalkingpastacoupleghtingina restaurant.

Youglance,youwince,andyouquicklywalk by.

Weleavethoughtsliketheseto“thesmart people.”

Philosophers,scientists,anyonewhocanshake adegreeatyou.

ButcanItellyouasecret?

Comeclose. Nobodyknowsanything.

We’vebeenlivingonthisplanetforabout 300,000years… andwestilldon’tknowhowitworks.

Inthegrandschemeofthings,weknow bainglylittle.

Andifyoureallythinkaboutit,nothingmeans anything.

Thisphilosophyiscallednihilism.

Nihilismsays: “Idon’tmatter.”

“Nothingmatters.” “Igiveup.”

It’sthebeliefthattheuniverseissobig,sovast, soindierentthatcaringispointless. Tryingismeaningless. Existenceiswhatever.

Andhonestly?Igetit. Didyouknow,ifweputtheentirehistoryof theuniverseontoasinglecalendaryearstarting withthebigbang,

humanswouldn’tappearuntilDecember31st, 11:59,59seconds.

Noteven1secondtomidnight. Inthetimelineofthecosmos,we’rebarelya passingmoment. Thatsmallness? Thatinsignicance? It’shorrifying.

Humanswanttomatter. Wewanttobethecenter.

Sowhensomethingcomesalongand challengesthat, werejectit. Wetwistit.

Wewateritdownuntilitdoesn’tscareus anymore. Butthetruthisstillsittingthere. Wearesingular. Innitesimal.

So,youmightthinkI’manihilisttoo. ThatI’veacceptedmysmallness. Ihavegivenup.

Justgonnagetthroughcollege,geta9-5,and worktillIdie.

Butyoucouldn’tbemorewrong. Rememberhowwezoomedoutearlier? Let’strytheopposite. Let'szoomin. Feeltheroomaroundyou. Nowclothesonyourbody. Nowthewayyoufeel. Gofurther.

Whydoyoufeelthatway?

Whatcausedit?

Whatexperiencesledyouhere?

Whatdominoeshadtofalltomakeyou? See,wearenotjustsmallintheuniverse— weareenormouswithinourselves. Inniteinbothdirections. Andnomatterhowmeaninglesssomething mayseeminthegrandschemeofthings itstillexists.

Sohere’stherealquestion: Ifnothingmatters

Whyshouldyoubelimited?

Ifthereisnosetmeaning

Thenyou’refreetomakeyourown. Andthat’snotdepressing. That’sincredible.

Theworldwillkeepspinning. Thesunsgonnakeepshining. Thenwhatdoyouhavetolose? Youareyourownmeaning.

AndinthewordsofAlbertCamus: “Inthedepthofwinter,Inallylearnedthat therewasinmeaninvinciblesummer.”