Open my Apple Music, and the first thing that pops up will be two playlists: “Kristen” and “Idina.” These powerhouses of talent are the stars of my all-time favorite musical—and honestly, they make it come alive in ways that are simply unforgettable. Let’s talk about “Wicked.” It’s not just a musical; it’s a captivating backstory to one of the greatest movies ever made. I’ve always had a soft spot for backstories, prequels, and fan fiction—and “Wicked” is undoubtedly the crown jewel of fan narratives. It adds so much depth and color to the world we already love. What really gets me is the music. The songs are anthems of empowerment, reminding us to stay true to ourselves. With themes of defying stereotypes, forging meaningful friendships, and chasing after dreams, “Wicked” covers all the bases. There isn’t a message it shies away from, which is a testament to its brilliance. As a tech enthusiast, I can’t help but marvel at the groundbreaking technology and the stunning costumes that elevate the experience. I mean, Glinda’s entrance in that dazzling pink dress descending in a bubble? Talk about a show-stopping moment! And when Elphaba rises above the audience and belts out that C#5, it’s an emotional crescendo that leaves you breathless. Playing Elphaba is no small feat—it’s no wonder the role found its way to the Queen of Broadway, Idina Menzel. But the best part? The “Wicked” community. My Instagram feed is a treasure trove of “Wicked” content: Glindas sharing their warm-ups, backup Elphabas dishing on the must-have green nails, and the shared love for this magical tale that brings us all together. It’s a world where fandom thrives and creativity knows no bounds!

My name is Audrey Haile and I am 17. Living in Bethesda, MD, we have a reputation of being a bubble of upper class and white. From a young age I have acknowledged this as important to try to remedy through learning about other cultures and helping others through community service. Living so close to DC, I have had excellent opportunities to help those who are less fortunate and see how the government can do this as well. This gives me hope that big changes can happen. One place I get to do this is at my church. Every year we go on SCAP- St. Columba's Appalachian project. This is a week-long trip where youth and adult volunteers drive out to West Virginia to the town of Phillippi and spend the week helping to rebuild and repair homes through heart and hand. In order yo afford this trip, we spend weeks mixing and baking St. Columba's famous shortbread and selling it to members of the community. I volunteer for over 30 hours a year just for the fundraising part. Over the years I have placed cabinets, insulated a kitchen, built a ramp, tarpapered a roof, spread gravel, repaired a rotting hole in the floor, and even built an entire extra room in one house. This trip has given me a unique experience that I would not be able to get anywhere else. I have gotten to be a part of a totally different community and make a huge impact on families' lives. On my last SCAP, I met a seven-year-old named Zoey who lived in the home we were repairing. Everyday, she was excited to see us and always wanted to help hammer in a nail or carry 2x4s from one side of the site to the other. On Thursday, during a dollar store run, I found a small doll that looked just like her. Everyone made her a card and signed it and we gave it to her on Friday. At the end of the week, she didn't want us to leave and even started crying. This made me realize how special you could be to someone and how amazing it was that I got to come here and help Zoey. When we are walking around town in our heart and hand t-shirts, people recognize us and thank us for coming out every year to help out. It has been such an amazing experience and I hope I get to return, even when I am in college.

My experience with mental health has shaped my whole life by helping me to understand myself more and what I want out of life. My experience with mental health has been long and varied. When I was 6 I was diagnosed with anxiety and saw a therapist for a few months, but I didn't like it so I stopped going. During the therapy, I didn't think I was learning or improving, but years later, I realized how valuable that early introspection was. I learned about my brain (in simple 6-year-old terms), how to talk about what I was feeling, and how to regulate my emotions. These were skills that I would unconsciously and consciously draw on in the years to come. This anxiety shaped my childhood years. While it gave me an almost unhealthy obsession with being prepared, years later I am skilled at planning, packing for trips, researching, and making lists. All skills I learned thanks to my anxiety. During COVID, I started to develop depression. I didn't recognize it at first, so it took me a couple of years to start seeing a professional. On my own before that, while I tried to manage my sadness by myself I gained a deeper understanding of my feelings and priorities. I spent a lot of time thinking about what I wanted to do in the future and what kinds of relationships I wanted to have. The introspection I did on my own and in therapy shaped my priority in a relationship- not sacrificing any of what I like about myself to make someone else happy. This has made me more confident in who I am. The summer before 11th grade brought back my anxiety. This time I was prepared and worked on it in therapy. My anxiety has helped me achieve the right balance of being cautious and adventurous. Without my anxiety, I would jump into anything without thinking. Above all, my experience with mental health has taught me not to judge or make assumptions. You never know everything about someone, and everyone is struggling with something. My experiences with mental health are also a big factor in my wanting to pursue psychology in the future and possibly be a social worker.

If 2024 had a soundtrack, Welcome to New York would be the star song on it. The most meaningful parts to me are the second and third lines. "Everybody here wanted somethin' more Searchin' for a sound we hadn't heard before" To me, it is about looking for where you are meant to be, a feeling you've never felt. As I have started my college and career search this year, that is what I feel like every day. I am searching for the place and major that is going to make me feel that more. In the song Taylor finds New York and immediately feels at peace. Everything is all right now because you have found the things you have been waiting for. You are the missing puzzle piece to it and it is the missing puzzle piece in your life. When you first found this place you thought you had to change by pushing aside your broken heart but after a while, you feel more comfortable and you heal. I always have to stop and center myself and see, is this really something you want to do or just something you think you should do? This is about you and you need to be in touch with yourself. The lights and all the distractions and obstacles are distracting to lots of people but they don't stop me. I am going to rock this college thing and I am going to get a great start to my adult life. Sometimes it is crazy and your mind is always changing which makes it super hard but this is going to be the best time of your life. In addition to connecting the lyrics to my college and career search, I also have a connection to New York so the song is this year on two different levels. I got to go to New York with my church youth group and I learned so much. Connecting Christ with this huge city was a life-changing experience for me and changed how I see the world. I also made so many new friends as we wandered the city and got lost on the subway and bus not once, not twice, but four times within 48 hours. It was amazing to be in The City That Never Sleeps while getting close to my friends and God. And of course, we sang Welcome to New York in Times Square.

My ideal bookshelf inspired by #BookTok recommendations would be a vibrant tapestry of diverse voices, genres, and perspectives that have captivated readers and sparked conversations across social media platforms. From thought-provoking contemporary fiction to gripping thrillers and insightful memoirs, these titles represent the best of what #BookTok has to offer. At the center of my bookshelf would be "The Song of Achilles" by Madeline Miller, a modern retelling of the ancient Greek myth of Achilles and Patroclus. This sweeping epic of love, friendship, and heroism has garnered widespread acclaim on #BookTok for its lyrical prose, compelling characters, and poignant exploration of themes such as fate, identity, and the human condition. Through its powerful storytelling and resonant themes, "The Song of Achilles" has captured the hearts of readers around the world, inspiring countless discussions and fan theories on #BookTok. Next to it would be "A Court of Thorns and Roses" by Sarah J. Maas, the first installment in a bestselling fantasy series that has taken #BookTok by storm. With its lush world-building, intricate plot twists, and swoon-worthy romance, this novel has become a beloved favorite among young adult readers. Its strong, independent heroine and richly imagined universe have sparked passionate debates and fan theories, making it a must-have for any #BookTok enthusiast. Another essential title on my #BookTok-inspired bookshelf would be "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" by Taylor Jenkins Reid. This captivating novel follows the glamorous and enigmatic Hollywood icon Evelyn Hugo as she recounts her tumultuous life and loves to a young journalist. Through Evelyn's captivating narrative voice and the author's skillful storytelling, readers are transported to the golden age of Hollywood and immersed in a tale of ambition, betrayal, and redemption. "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" has resonated deeply with #BookTok readers, sparking discussions about love, identity, and the price of fame. Alongside these must-have titles, my #BookTok-inspired bookshelf would feature a diverse array of contemporary reads, including "The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue" by V.E. Schwab, "Such a Fun Age" by Kiley Reid, and "Where the Crawdads Sing" by Delia Owens. These novels have all garnered widespread acclaim on #BookTok for their compelling narratives, rich character development, and thought-provoking themes. In addition to fiction, my ideal bookshelf would also include a selection of nonfiction titles that have made waves on #BookTok, such as "Educated" by Tara Westover, "The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck" by Mark Manson, and "Untamed" by Glennon Doyle. These books offer readers valuable insights into topics such as resilience, personal growth, and self-discovery, sparking meaningful conversations and inspiring readers to reflect on their own lives. Overall, my #BookTok-inspired bookshelf would be a curated collection of titles that reflect the diverse interests, tastes, and perspectives of the #BookTok community. From bestselling novels to thought-provoking nonfiction, these books have captured the imagination of readers worldwide, fostering a vibrant online community centered around a shared love of reading and storytelling.

For as long as I can remember, Wednesday has been my favorite day. I mean, it's hump day of course! But it's also the day I get to go to choir. I have been singing at St. Columba's Episcopal Church in DC since I was 5. The promise of music and cookies at the end kept me coming back, but there was something else too- bells. I had always admired the bell ringers. They were confident, on the beat, and deidicated. I remember the day I joined Bells in vivid detail. It was the first rehearsal of the season, a warm September day. I had just gotten out of Choir and was walking out to find my dad when something caught my eye- the bell room! I wanted so desperately to be a part of that group, to ring the big shiny gold bells and the long silver chimes, to talk and laugh over binders filled with sheet music; but my 9-year-old self couldn't muster up the courage to ask if I could join. Glancing at the door, I slowly walked over to the water fountain and took a long drink. I looked up again and walked over to the door and peered through it. Nope. I went back to the water fountain and took another, long, slow drink. I turned back around, and standing there was Henry Beale. The man who would become my mentor, friend, and advocate. He asked, “Would you like to join bells?” A smile broke out across my face and I nodded excitedly. I followed him into the bell room and glanced up at all the ringers, excited to finally be in this haven of music. 8 years later, as I enter that same bell room, that sense of belonging washes over me. This is where I am in my element. I have grown so much from that first day. I have been through 2 music directors, dozens of ringers, and hundreds of songs. From ringing the A6 once at the end of a piece to leading the entire handbell choir, this is where I learned to be confident, bold, and most of all, how to love something with my whole heart. Now, seeing my younger sister and all the elementary school ringers grow up in the same way pulls at my heart every day. I am so unbelievably proud of how far I have come, and how far they have come. COVID was hard, we practiced outside, standing six feet apart in masks and gloves, but we hit the ground running when we came back. I will never forget what Bells has taught me, and I am going to do everything in my power to make sure this program lives on to inspire future generations of young musicians and keep this shrinking art form alive. With my choir friend of 12 years- Amelia Menefee by my side, I can conquer anything. My favorite piece to play is Flower Power composed by Carolyn Hoff- a graduate of the Genesis Ringers at St. Columba’s. It is tradition to play this song every May. The star of the piece is a repeating melody line consisting of 3 chimes, all rung by the same ringer. I remember watching Lucas Dixon playing the chimes part and looking up at him with awe. Now I have had the honor of playing that part twice, and to this day the feeling I got after completing it is one of the best things ever. Even though my fingers may be blistered, the smile on my face is more than worth it.