As young adults, we are trapped in a state of purgatory for we are neither children nor yet "real" adults. We're in a transition period, a coming-of-age chapter where we must dip our toes into the real world, abandoning the comforts of our childhood home, friends, and family. These are turbulent times filled with so much uncertainty, where truths may become lies, and the lines between black and white grow blurred and gray. 

How do we navigate this in-between state of childhood and adulthood? What becomes of our identity when we grow disillusioned with the traditions and values of the previous generation? How should we reconcile the past as we move toward the future? Should we mold ourselves according to societal and cultural expectations, or should we liberate ourselves from them? In short, who should we become?

In this issue, we are exploring our inner child, revisiting past memories to inform the present state. After all, each of us must reevaluate and reconstruct the tools we have to build a personal future – including acknowledging that certain tools we’ve developed no longer serve us. As we reconcile the bridge between childhood and adulthood, we seek to create new values and live on our own terms.

This zine is a collective space for college students and young creatives alike. It is a reminder that, as we enter the professional landscape, success defined by hustle culture needn't be tied to self-worth. As we undergo our personal journeys, it is a promise that we will stay true to ourselves, no matter how uncertain and dreadful the future may be.