Thrown Into Time
This essay draws from the same inspiration and themes as my personal piece, “What If/Now?” As graduation approaches, I continue to grapple with how to plan for the future without becoming detached from the present. In all of this, my mother has been my greatest guide—my own Martin Heidegger—helping me navigate this transitional period and what it means to be “thrown into time.”
What If/Now?
As a sophomore two and a half years ago, I wandered through Amherst College’s campus just for fun—until a quiet fear about the future crept in. Now, in 2025, I’ve returned as an almost-graduate, sitting in the same green chair, reflecting on all that’s changed. I still don’t know what’s ahead, but I’m learning to trust the path I’m on—and to stay present as I journey it.
When a Photographer Has a Message
Photography used to be a simple hobby, but it grew into a powerful way of seeing—and advocating for— communities often overlooked. Behind the lens, I realized the responsibility I carried in how those stories were captured and shared. This writing reflects on the ways photography connected me to cultures beyond my own and helped me honor them with authenticity and care.
The Ice Is No Stranger
For years, I tried to leave figure skating behind, convinced that moving on meant forgetting. But stepping onto the ice as the president of the UMass Ice Skating Club forced me to confront the part of me I thought I had buried. When an unexpected tragedy shook the skating world, memories I had long suppressed came rushing back, making me question what skating truly meant to me.
Becoming Through Words
I used to think becoming a doctor was the only way to make a real impact—until my senior year as an English major changed everything. Through exploring race, power, and the weight of words in my English 300 class, I discovered a strength in writing that medicine could never give me. This is how I found purpose where I least expected it.