How To Find Your Inner Child

A Letter From the Editor Dear Friends, I am incredibly grateful to be writing this letter to you, as I reflect on the culmination of this term-long passion project. The journey of creating this mini magazine has been an extraordinary one, filled with countless challenges, decisions, opportunities and invaluable experiences. Sitting here now, I can’t help but feel a profound sense of joy and satisfaction with what we, as a dedicated team, have been able to achieve.

The last few day’s have been quite emotional, as I’ve watched a great deal of my friends and colleagues graduate, and move onto bigger and better things. What brings me solice is that these individuals are pursuing their own passions, and will not soon forget the incredible experiences they’ve had here in Eugene. Magazines like this stand as a testament to the indomitable spirit and unwavering dedication of University of Oregon students. It showcases the remarkable power that can sometimes arise when hardworking individuals come together, united by a common goal. The outcome of our collaborative efforts has exceeded my expectations, and I couldn’t be prouder with the final result.

First and foremost, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to each and every friend, supporter and reader of this project. Your support and enthusiasm have been the driving force behind Inner Child. It is your curiosity and open-mindedness that has propelled us forward, inspiring us to dive deeper into the realm of creativity and self-discovery. I also want to extend my deepest gratitude to everyone who has played a part in making this vision a reality. To the art directors who brought this idea to fruition, to our photographers and designers who provided powerful imagery to represent our mission, to the range of writers that I have had the honor of working with, and to the models for dedicating themselves to the vision, thank you for all your contributions.

Within the pages of this magazine, you will find a curated collection of insights, imagery, and stories dedicated to uncovering the essence of finding your inner child. We have chosen to highlight the sense of youthful wonder in order to strive for rediscovery of the innocence and joy that often eludes us in our adult day-to-day lives. With each component of this magazine, we hope to ignite a spark within each of you, inspiring a reconnection with the childlike curiosity and imagination that resides within.

Without further ado, it is with immense pride and excitement that I present to you “How To Find Your Inner Child.” May it serve as a guiding light, illuminating the path to self-discovery and embracing the joy and wonder that resides within each and every one of us.

Cheers, Jack Whayland | Editor in Chief

INNER CHILD’S MISSION WITH THIS MAGAZINE Amidst the hectic lives of college students, it is essential to dedicate time to nurture, recognize, and appreciate the person we have become. We understand the importance of reflecting on the habits, activities, and values that have shaped us from childhood to adulthood. Our mission is to observe these realms of the past and present, exploring the connections between our inner child and the individuals we have grown into.

Through viusal introspection and storytelling, we invite you to rediscover the elements that make up your unique journey. Have you maintained habits or values from your childhood that continue to guide you in adulthood? Are there friends, hobbies or a job that would make your younger self proud? Perhaps there is an item or a place that holds cherished memories of your growth.

The theme of “Inner Child” resonates deeply with us because we recognize that, even though childhood may be behind us, its influence lingers in various aspects of our lives. We aim to evoke the bittersweet realization that our inner child still plays a significant role in shaping who we are today. By embracing our inner child, we seek healing and self-discovery.

To My Sister By: Jess Mccomb

I

remember when the Dr. Seuss pink puffballs bloomed each March before they tore the sea wall down.

How cookie dough didn’t give us tummy aches because mama took the bowl away after the first scoop.

I remember being too scared to swear, and that the smell of cigarettes made the corners of our mouths go all topsy turvy.

I remember nudging chairs the size of thimbles into their rightful place beneath a tiny table crowded with muffins and tea cups.

How soft the caterpillar carpet felt around two pm when the sun glared on your window pane, and my finger nails dug beneath the threads.

I remember the sweet, clean mist of lilacs, and the ripe grainy juice of a perfect plum.

How excited we were by sundresses and sandals with white straps.

I remember daring you to put just one toe in the ocean to see how long you could last, teasing as you kicked up your legs and shrieked at water’s first kiss.

I remember seeking out sea glass and snatching jellyfish from the Sound.

I remember it didn’t hurt, or if it did, I don’t remember it quite at all.

e v i t a n i g a m I Adventurism Art Director/Photographer: Jack Whayland | Writer/Model: Jack Skidmore

Oh, The Places You’ll Go

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n integral part of my childhood and many others was the abundance of story books. Flipping through the pages or listening to stories read out loud was an activity that took up multiple hours in a usual day for much of my life. Without a doubt, many of these stories took part in shaping my identity. As an introduction to what it means to be an adventure seeker, “Oh The Places You’ll Go” by Dr. Seuss served as an early mantra to my experience focused lifestyle.

Beginning at a young age, flipping through a story book became a quest within itself. In my addoncent years, I have found similar outlets in the real world in relation to the words that I read at a young age. The same messages and experiences expressed through adventurous characters without a doubt have an effect on myself. Being geared towards the outdoors and enjoying activities such as camping, hiking, running, or rafting now occupy my nurtured storybook sentiments surrounding exploration.

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The writings of Dr. Seuss expresses an emphasis on a whimsical lifestyle. Prior to the writing of Seuss, most children’s books of the early twentieth century taught children conformist ideals such as behaving in school or obeying parents. It was not until the writing of Seuss which eventually progressed to “Oh the Places You’ll Go” that children were encouraged to think for themselves and explore the world beyond societal boundaries. This message was something that Seuss would adopt from his childhood. The author notes that at a young age his parents allowed him to draw and write on the walls within his bedroom and let his imagination run wild. The adventurous lifestyle within itself is a deviation from the guidelines that dominate much of our day to day life. A key occurrence within “Oh the Places You’ll Go” begins when the main character finds himself in the Slump.

Essentially this can be categorized by a loss of motivation and general joylessness. At this point, the main character did not have the same enjoyment of an adventurous lifestyle that he had previously thrived in.

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Also being in the Slump the character is evidently lost in his environment. The book states “You’ll come to a place where the streets are not marked. Some windows are lighted but mostly are dark.”This sense of slump can directly relate back to the life experiences of Seuss himself. While struggling during prohibition, Seuss’s German family supported themselves by brewing beer out of their home. Many in the community and in Seuss’s school knew about this business endeavor.

Because of this, Seuss himself was shunned by many and experienced social isolation similar to the experience of the main character in the book.

Towards the end of the book there is an optimistic charge that even tually brings the main character out of the Slump. The narrator repeats “On you will go” in respect to the notion that even when life as an adventure in itself gets difficult, resilience and the drive to push forward is integral to our human nature.

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It is not at all uncommon to frequently find ourselves in a Slump. In my eyes is something that is often inescapable. What matters is knowing how to navigate out of a Slump. For myself, getting outside to enjoy some of my favorite activities is how I go on through my often mundane life routines. Just as Seuss noted, life will in fact go on. This is something I constantly remind myself of and I find solace in the fact that I will not ever be entirely free of slumps.

My favorite part of this book comes in the concluding phrase, “[y]our mountain is waiting so get on your way.” Being from Bend, Oregon nestled in the Cascade range, the immortal wonder of a mountain has been something that constantly astonishes me.

I have countless memories of exploring through a variety of places within the mountains just a few miles from my backdoor.

Published on January 22nd 1990, “Oh

Three weeks preceding his death,

the Places You’ll Go” was the last book

Seuss requested to have his bed moved in

published by Theodor Seuss Geisel (better

his office with a view of the mountains.

known as Dr. Seuss) before his death in

As I am writing this piece I am

1991. Being the son of German immigrants

simultaneously preparing to spend the

living in Springfield Massachusetts, Seuss

summer of 2023 working at an outdoor

was encouraged to let his imagination run

recreation center just west of Denver.

wild in his youth. His parents took quick

I am excited to be leading zipline and

notice of his creativity at a young age

kayak expeditions whilst enjoying the

and allowed him to draw on bedroom

beautiful outdoors. From one mountain

walls.

including

range to the next, my personal adventure

“Oh the Places You’ll Go” focus on this

continues to push forward to new

same idea of whimsicality as a lifestyle.

heights.

Many

of

his

books

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Art Director: Jack Whayland

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Photographer: Nick Azimi

Writer/Model: Maddie Langdon

Water,

From Fear to Flow

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s a child, I had a great fear of water. Large bodies of it to be specific. The ocean, lakes, and rivers with those monstrously roaring rapids made me so uneasy that my nightmares often consisted of me drowning. Overcome by something so unknown. Something I could not understand or control.

Now, water is where I find the most comfort.

There is something so therapeutic and calming about the sounds and sights of a vast body of water. From flowing streams to unwavering stillness, the oceans, lakes, and rivers are when I feel the need to fill the void of my own soul. I still can’t quite pinpoint whether my fear was rooted in my lack of ability to swim or in the mystery of what is hiding in any given body of water, but I can say that neither of those circumstances has changed. Yet, my fear transformed into acceptance as I grew older. Water became somewhat of a constant in my most turbulent times and the unknown of it all became more comforting than worrisome. I like to sit by the water to reflect on how my life evolves just as the tides change and the water cycles through.

In many other aspects of my life, this pattern of fear and acceptance has repeated itself. I have learned to just be. To let the waves bring me to shore or take me out to sea whenever it gets rocky. I can float now, so I am not afraid to jump in. That is how I heal my inner child. By fully jumping into the water and letting it bring me back to the time when I felt incapable. I let the unknown of it all comfort me in that no one has all the answers, not even the sea.

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water is where I find the most comfort

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Art Director: Beatrice McDonnel

Writer: Jordyn Centerwall

STUFFED MEMORIES W/GUNTHER

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y childhood room has been three different colors in the 20-plus years I’ve called it home, each transformation being reflective of my age, interests and aspirations at the time.

First, it was yellow. My parents didn’t believe in painting it blue or pink because my gender was meant to be a surprise. Yellow brought playing football with the boys at recess and Littlest Pet Shops with my sister after school. It was balanced, and not confining myself to any one thing.

Next it was a bright turquoise blue; the color I chose when I turned 10 and wanted a “roommakeover” for my gift. This room was Hannah Montana’s reruns and scream-singing One Direction songs.

Finally, it was a light lilac, a more adult color. It was AP tests, first jobs, and getting ready for homecoming.

The colors of my walls weren’t the only elements of my room that changed. Sports trophies replaced each other over the years. First soccer, then gymnastics and ballet, basketball and swim team, and finally cross country.

My competing interests warred against each other until they were all inevitably benched. Books

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Illustrator: Izzy Shilakes

purchased from Scholastic book fairs and checked out in pursuit of AR points, are amassed in greater quantities each year.

That is until I decided I had no room for a bookcase, and they were tucked into a corner and utterly forgotten during my high school years. These things may have changed, but some things remained constant.

For one, I’ve always had stuffed animals on my bed. First, it was Lambie, a hybrid lamb blanket and stuffed animal (original I know) that was given to me by a family friend when I was born. Later on, it was a bear named Bella. And finally, a Build-ABear I made with my first boyfriend. I thought I’d grow out of my cuddly companions at some point, but freshman year I found myself in the Target toy aisle, drawn to a blue dragon that would come to be named Gunther.

Gunther’s been with me ever since. He rode the wave of freshman year heartbreak and homesickness, soaking up the tears I finally let out when I had the room to myself. It was Gunther who helped me through the eerie nights of sophomore year spent in my sorority sleeping porch, and who quarantined with me when Covid struck, separating me from the few lifelines I had away from home. He’s even become quite the frequent flier, venturing on every trip as my predetermined travel buddy.

In a time where it feels like I change and grow with every hour—every minute even, Gunther has been a comfortable constant. But I’ve also been with myself every step of the way. And it’s through him that I’m able to realize this at times. Gunther’s met all my visitors, but I’ve also found a host of people that have become my family away from home, and who have supported me through the ups and downs of balancing school, work, love, and finding my way. He’s traveled with me, but I’ve also stepped out of my comfort zone and have had the courage to explore somewhere new. He’s dried my tears, but I’m the one who has let myself feel those emotions and hurt instead of suppressing them.

Looking back at the other stuffed animals I’ve had too, I’ve realized there is a joy that comeswith letting myself lean into the moments of creativity and softness. I feel proud looking back on the picture days and tea parties I’ve had with other plushies in my childhood, knowing that I haven’t lost the make-believe spirit that has sparked many passions and interests in my life.

A decade and a half later, I’m still strapping in my stuffed animal as my road trip co-pilot and coloring outside the lines. Gunther, and every memory he embodies, gives me hope for the future. His impact on my college experience reminds me that growth doesn’t always mean letting go of my childhood. There are many elements and lessons, similar to my stuffed animals, that I am likely to hold onto for the rest of my life. Perhaps Gunther will end up like the trophies and books of my childhood, but the connection I felt to him and the playful outlook that he inspired will still live inside of me. Who knows though, maybe he’ll still be watching endless streams of Netflix, soaking up my drool, and inhaling cat hair for many years down the road. Come what may, I know I’ll always be able to find a little piece of childhood to hold on to no matter where I land.

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[BFFS]

Best Friends Forever

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Art Director and Writer: Beatrice McDonnel / Photographer: Jack Whayland Models: Bella Marzicol, Ellie Ingraham, Lauren Sneifer, Mia Brofferio

hildhood is devoured like candy. Each lick sweet with hope because we have been told, the center is the best part.

My childhood was a lollipop. I consumed delicately, scared to see it all disappear with haste. I savored all of it. I savored my pb&j packed lunches. I savored sleeping on teeth and tickled tummies. I savored straining my midnight eyes on long drives. My childhood was sweet but I have reached the transfixing presence of the center.

Adulthood has made its way into my life through heartbreaks, financial recklessness, hard conversations at work, the responsibility of being a cat owner, and friendships. I would have said this realization was my worst fear for the past 21 years. But, because of the friendships, I have been able to full heartedly embrace the center.

Between shots of plandle vodka, I laugh-cry with a little girl from Berkley over our smelly farts. She has brown eyes, bows in her brown hair, and a shared love for Ponyo. At night she sleeps down the hall from me and in the morning we steal eachothers clothes.

Before jobs and meetings, I make coffee concoctions with a little girl from Grand Rapids. We use the little ingredients we have in our fridge, blissfully ignoring expressions to taste something homemade. She loves cheese and going to the ocean, and so do I.

During a sleepless night in a different city, I share love poems and music with a little girl from Santa Barbra. We draw pictures in the sun from daydreams, and wish them into our dreams at moonlight. We appreciate the small things like ladybugs and the big things like our ability to love.

When minds are racing of moral righteousness and statistics, a little girl from Seattle is setting the table for pasta night. We like to lay and talk about our top three favorite things in life. We hold each other when our legs and arms are tired from dancing.

There are days with these girls to remember and forget, but never the dancing, we will always remember the dancing. Our bodies constantly twirl and pose and strain. Twenty years will go by and our bodies will remember the twirling, posing, and straining. Our hands will remember the walls that hold our hearts. While we enter and leave, the wall will always hold us five. We sometimes cry about old vodka and old boys, who can never love us like we love us. And as little girls, we don’t have arms big enough to portray how much love we have for us.

I realize the center may not be as sweet, but it is the best part. These are the friends that make it the best part. These are the friends that keep my childhood intact and alive. We reignite the beauty that often goes forgotten at the center. I promise, if you have friends like mine, adulthood can be devoured like candy as well.

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NOSTALGIC THREADS C H I L D H O O D

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P E R S O N A L

Models: Calliope Meadows, Lucas Vasquez, Sophie Sebastian, Lanie Reece IC 21

F A S H I O N

Girl in the Garden By: Jess Mccomb

R

ainbow striped tights prance in the garden, green faded to teal, purple now maroon.

The soles of her mary janes are mud stained as she stomps on clovers and moss.

Bleached curls tangle and leap from glitter pink barrettes, and a wilted daisy hides behind one ear.

A blackberry’s thorn snags the silken hem of her ballet skirt and colors it violet, but she wouldn’t have known, grasping bleeding hearts in pudgy fingers as she stuffs foxgloves into leopard print pockets.

The wind bites cooler in the shade of the hydrangea, and mama calls her home from behind billowed drapes.

Shoes are exchanged for fuzzy socks, a napkin is donned at the collar of her waffle sleeved shirt, and still, a stain blemishes her shoulder, mustard, or perhaps something else.

How it got there she swears she couldn’t tell.

Art Director: Kelsey Mackle / Photographer: Nick Azimi

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Lucas’s Playful Spirit: His thrifted hoodie, a delightful throwback to the joys of childhood.

Embracing his love for Eeyore, he proudly wears a jacket decorated with an embroidered image of the beloved character, capturing the senimentality of his inner child.

Lanie’s Vibrant Expression: Embracing the timeless charm of childhood fashion with her choice of overalls. Her outgoing spirit shines through as she playfully decorates her hair with colorful bows, adding to the collective spirit of her childhood.

Calliope’s Sweet Nostalgia: Embodying the spirit of her cherished childhood friend, Strawberry Shortcake. Donning shades of pink, she radiates feminine charm. Her fuzzy hat adds to the eclectic nature of her inner child with delightful flair.

Celebrating Sophie’s Inner Child: Embracing the innocence of white, rejecting the darkness of black. Adorned in delicate lace, a reminder of the frilly and intricate patterns that captivated her youthful spirit.

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Embracing Friendship Nostalgia and the spirited innocence within.

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