As another September begins at UMass, I’m reminded of my own start in Room 324—now only a memory, since I’ve left.

Throughout school, I got good grades, but the unseen process was often tolling. I thought I wasn’t trying hard enough, but it was really ADHD. This wasn’t an easy essay to write, and I didn’t think I’d share it—but I kept thinking about how much it’s helped me when other people share their own stories.

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.

Sometimes, things slowly stop feeling right with someone—and moving forward in life means leaving something behind and learning how to be alone again.

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.”

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.