Being diagnosed with ADHD myself, I can attest that learning disabilities can and do play a significant part in what your personality is like. One of the things I struggled with most as a child is trying to figure out which part of my personality was ‘me’ and which part was the ADHD. How different would I be if I was “normal”? How different would my friendships be, or my artwork be if my learning disabilities didn’t “hinder” me from reaching my full potential? Do I need to take medication just so that I can be “regulated” or “normal” like everyone else?

It’s official. A CGI Raccoon is the most relatable character I’ve ever seen… and suddenly my favorite superhero. But what makes this Rocket Raccoon so relatable? Why is Guardians of the Galaxy volume 3 being hailed as the greatest Marvel Movie since Endgame? And why in the hell did I plurge over $40 on movie tickets to watch this movie 3 times in theaters over the course of 3 days? Let’s discuss it together.

Minecraft. A game that millions of people in their early-to-mid ’20s will call a classic. Created by a man named Markus (AKA Notch), Minecraft began as a small indie game but quickly grew to become one of the most popular games ever made. In January 2023, according to Aakrit Sharma, 176 million players logged into Minecraft. My question is this: What makes Minecraft different from every other game? Why is it that I, along with hundreds of millions of other players around the world, hold a special place in our hearts for this silly block game?

I realize how toxic it is to have this kind of mindset, but the truth is that this feeling that I’m not good enough has been lurking in the shadows like cancer throughout my entire life. It’s shifted and changed and morphed over the years, but it’s always, at some level, been present. However, I think I might have finally discovered where this toxicity stirring within me may be originating from. Like the water forever flowing down over the edge of Niagra Falls, I have a never-ending fear of failure, and it’s been with me since I was just a child. Allow me to set the scene…

When I was 16 years old, I experienced a lot of firsts: My first job, my first car, my first time being in a club, etc. The first time I bought my own gas was among that long list of firsts. Although I didn’t realize it at the time, looking back at that moment now, with the rising gas prices of the two-and-a-half years, has taught me a new perspective on how to look at the world.

What do you think about when you hear the word “love”? I know. It’s a tough question to answer because it’s a really big word. It can have so many different connotations and meanings for different people. For some, this word may be associated with “trapped,” “isolated” or perhaps even “enslaved.” For others, it may be linked to words like “secure” or “protected.” When I think of love, I think of “companionship” and “freedom.”