We inherit some traditions, discover others, and sometimes create our own. But what happens when the two come together?

It’s 3 AM, and I’m facing my reflection, noticing how often I’ve turned away, not out of hatred, but because every glance feels like an evaluation. I’ve spent so much time seeing myself as a project, something to fix or improve, always striving to meet expectations I didn’t ask for. But maybe love, especially self love, isn’t about becoming worthy. Maybe it’s about starting to believe we already are.

I’ve always prided myself on being the friend who shows up, ready to help and listen. But I’ve started to realize that in doing so, I’ve kept people at a distance, worried that my imperfections might burden them. The friends who truly stuck around didn’t just see the surface, they saw the messy parts too. They refused to let me push them away, teaching me that real connection isn’t about perfection, but about being seen, flaws and all.

Nightlife and I have always had a love hate relationship. Some nights, the music drowns out my thoughts, and I feel completely free; other nights, the fear of being seen or judged takes over. Studying abroad helped me realize it wasn’t just about the music or the setting. It was about the people who make me feel safe enough to be myself.

I’ve always told myself I’m okay being alone, but deep down, I know I want more. I want the kind of friends who make life brighter, who share inside jokes, join in spontaneous plans, and turn simple moments into memories. This is my attempt to face the fear of reaching out, to admit that being alone isn’t always enough, and to find the courage to let people in.

Perfection wasn’t something I aimed for, it was something I hid behind. Every achievement became a shield, every perfect score another brick in the walls I built to protect myself from doubt. But what happens when those walls start to close in, leaving you exhausted and questioning what you’re really trying to prove? This is the story of how I learned the cost of being ‘perfect’ and what it truly means to let go.

Age has a way of messing with your head, doesn’t it? One hike up Lodestone Summit, and I found myself spiraling, panicking about turning 22 while strangers around me couldn’t decide if I was too young or too old. It hit me how much pressure we put on ourselves to “keep up” with some invisible timeline. But what if it’s not about when we do things, but how those moments shape us instead?

Friendships are one of the hardest things to lose. The pain cuts especially deep when you long to rekindle a friendship but find no reciprocation from the other side. You tell yourself it's okay that you let the friend go for the sake of your mental health, but knowing you missed the chance to be lifelong friends still aches. Everyone struggles with situations differently, and how people handle them varies. Looking back, perhaps situations were handled poorly, but at the time, what was needed was more maturity, time, and emotional stability…

Do I look back at my choices and ask myself, "Why did I do that?” or “That was a terrible decision.", heck yes! While understanding where you went wrong is important for future improvement, understanding and reflecting on why my past self made those decisions can provide so much more perspective on who I am...