The Essayist

A student describes how getting back in touch with art felt like reclaiming a missing piece of her identity.

A student describes how performing at an open mic taught her that it’s okay to make mistakes.

A student describes how the gym taught her what it means to have a healthy body, rather than a skinny body.

A student describes her relationship with makeup, from badly overdrawn eyebrows to an art form.

A student describes how her two cats help keep her mental health in check and offer emotional support when she struggles to take care of herself.

A student describes her relationship with photography from her childhood to her most recent shoot.

A student describes how she overcame her fears of discrimination while being alone in the United States as an international student.

A student reflects on going to college with ADHD and learning how to manage it.

A student describes feeling denial and guilt about her sexuality and confidently declares her identity.

A student describes how she found belonging after discovering a community on Tumblr.