Letter from the Editor

I’ve kept the same journal since I was 13 years old. As is the case with most writers, sometimes I’ll write every day for weeks on end, and other times, there will be months of silence. Recently, when I was in a more reflective mood, I decided to go through my journal and reread my old entries, laughing at my past rants about crushes, teachers I disliked, and the surprisingly complicated politics of high school speech and debate. But then I came upon a particularly difficult piece, written in the aftermath of the 2022 mass shooting at the University of Virginia that killed 3 students. I wrote, “I feel like the world keeps trying to gaslight me. When are we going to wake up and realize that none of this is normal?”

And while that is certainly the most angst that you will ever hear from me in this magazine (though trust me, there are entries that are far worse), it’s a sentiment that I often find myself thinking about. How do we pretend this is normal? During a time when so much is happening— the pandemic which has taken over a million lives, the consistent mass shootings and gun violence that plagues this country, the racism, the homophobia, the bigotry, the political instability— we are expected to wake up and move on with our lives. We are expected to go to work, do our jobs, and go home to our families. We are expected to work out, eat healthy, do our laundry, and take care of our mental health, all while maintaining increasingly busy schedules. We are expected to go to school, learn, and try to be normal college students in In essence, we are expected to maintain our composure, even when the world has fallen into chaos.

This issue of Counterculture, aptly titled “composed” reflects on the idea of remaining balanced and “normal” in a world that is becoming increasingly hostile. After a semester filled with tension around the world, it’s been especially difficult as students to remained focused and steadfast in the responsibilities we know we have. How are we supposed to remain focused on classes and parties when the world is falling apart? This issue is a rejection of the notion that normalcy is expected or even okay in these conditions. It’s an acknowledgement that we should not accept the world we’re living in as one that is ideal, and consistently strive for something better.

But on a more positive note, ”composed” also has an alternative standpoint in the context of this magazine. As writers and creatives, the composition of our mediums has meaning, and our compositions can be used, as we’ve seen time and time again, as a means to create change and inspire others.

This is why I’m so happy that Counterculture has now made it to our 4th issue, an accomplishment that I frankly never thought we would see when I first embarked on this journey my freshman year. From our humble beginnings as an Instagram account with a loyal group of first-year members, to now, a fully fledged organization with innovative writing, creative design, and social media teams, this magazine itself is a testament to the power of composing our thoughts and turning them into something greater.

This issue of Counterculture, featuring its most articles yet, discusses issues of incredibly relevance and importance, including immigration policy, the fractured state of American education, LGBTQ+ rights, and more. It is my utmost hope that you will find inspiration even in these trying times. Happy Reading.

Best, Christian Herald Founder and Editor in Chief