A personal reflection on how discovering pop artists like Britney Spears and Lady Gaga at a young age helped shape my understanding of identity and sexuality. This piece explores the role pop music plays as both self-expression and quiet refuge, and how pop culture can offer clarity, comfort, and belonging long before we have the language to name it.

A personal essay tracing the origins of my love for film, beginning with childhood movie theater trips where I was given the freedom to choose what I watched. The piece reflects on how those early experiences — from sneaking into theaters to creating informal “Karen Reviews” on a private Snapchat story — sparked a lasting passion for movies, criticism, and the communal power of the theater experience.