Introspection
Running from Myself
My times slowed slightly and my coach accused me of not running my hardest. I pushed my body harder and my body revolted: I began to get sick before and after races.
The Word: Departure
It’s not like I have a pathological fear of high-speed travel or anything. I’m just horrifyingly bad at it.
Searching for David
As soon as I grew old enough to understand what the death of my brother meant, I became obsessed with other people’s siblings.
Endpaper: What I Mean
The truth of the matter was that his death jolted me into awareness. It made me all the more conscious of how I was always too afraid that what I’d say wouldn’t be intelligent enough, or substantive enough, or just plain enough.
Endpaper: The Overbearing 'E'
Though at school and on weekends, I thrived while constantly surrounded by people, there was something I did not realize about myself: I actually spent a lot of time alone.
Rain Drop, Drop Top, Reasons to Go to the Beanpot
If you haven’t been to the Boston Beanpot Tournament during your Harvard career, I hope your thesis is fan-freaking-tastic. You have nothing else to show for your time here.
The Word: Citizen
“Hey you — All our fevered history won’t instill insight, won’t turn a body conscious, won’t make that look in the eyes say yes, though there is nothing to solve even as each moment is an answer.” — Claudia Rankine, “Citizen: An American Lyric”
Endpaper: Boba
Before I knew it, five boba places, each with its own distinct culture, dotted my tiny city.
Don't Talk to Strangers
I would draw the literal shortest straw and my mother would ask for another one on my behalf, as long as it meant I didn’t have to risk slurring my words in front of someone who frankly couldn’t care less.
J-Term Postcard: The Headless Chicken
The headless chicken ran in circles, its wings flapping in seeming distress, its bloody neck stub gyrating up and down. The children began to pour buckets of water over the chicken for no reason I could discern.
Modern Love: Smoky Love
It was all okay, because with that car I could leave everything behind, and pick up anything that mattered along the way.
The Word: Dawn
I felt a connection to Dawn–if nothing else, we were the two quietest people in the room.