Starting a website

I kept a diary for most of my elementary, middle school, and some high school years. I remember mostly writing about my friends and crushes. Upon moving to the United States, my diary took on a different tone. They weren’t about silly crushes anymore; they were about how lonely I felt, the loneliness of being in a foreign land with unfamiliar faces and a strange language.

I stopped writing when I became busy trying to balance my work and school life, which eventually led to one of my first artistic blocks. However, I believe that documenting my experiences could have allowed me to revisit my evolving feelings towards individuality in a new country and my initial doubts about my religion.

You might be wondering, what do writing, individuality, and religion have to do with starting a website? For me, it's about how these elements played a crucial role in shaping who I am today. Writing and journaling are tools for processing thoughts and emotions, but if I’m being honest (and vulnerable), sitting with my emotions is something I’ve struggled with my whole life. I do not know why I am so afraid of putting my words into something so… permanent. Challenging myself to write is an attempt to make a difference and establish connections. While individuality is essential for self-discovery, the need for a supportive community becomes paramount after periods of solitude. Being away from my family allowed me to question my beliefs, and starting a website became a challenge rooted in the fear of rejection or failure. Was I going to show the world who I am? My art revolves around emotions I struggle to express verbally. This website means vulnerability, to myself and the world.