October Newsletter

September 2024 Submissions:

Read both submissions here

Solitude - Karina Yuan [Princeton Day School, 11th Grade]

It is through "Solitude" that feelings of loneliness and acceptance have been well portrayed with simple yet powerful imagery such as the deserted cabin, the bare table, frailty of a man-all point to his loneliness and struggle. But the serenity of peace and awesomeness come when he looks up to the stars and smiles. I enjoyed the gradual shift from despair to quiet wonder, almost as if the piece felt touching and alive, showing how even in isolation, beauty and contentment can be derived. For some reason, this short piece of writing was comforting in a way that it overshadowed all the surrounding noise of the world around me and really just centered all of my focus into that one man.  His hollowness placed in the expanse of nothingness to infinity shows a great deal of emotional contrast and something that I think we can all be working on.

Digital Connection - Karina Yuan [Princeton Day School, 11th Grade]

This is quite a relatable piece, enjoyable even, in the sense that it reflects disconnection wrought by technology, but at the same time points toward small meaningful reconnections. The vivid description of this sunk device family parallels exactly how often we find ourselves disconnected from those physically around us. I can admit to being a victim of this “device,” but this writing showed me the endless relationships I am ruining by gluing my eyes on it. What had initially been the narrator's judgment on the family quickly becomes internal-a reflection on their very own reassessment of their habits, ones that ring all too familiar to most readers. The mere adjustment in the text message to make it sound more personal and the thoughtful gesture of surprising the sibling with boba make this message about reconnecting with loved ones genuinely conveyed. That's a haunting reminder that, in these times dominated by digital media, little gestures bring us closer to each other.