Like most children, I was completely obsessed with Disney movies. Oftentimes, my parents had an extremely difficult time getting my eyes off the TV. But my favorite part of these movies wasn’t the songs or the princesses, but the happy endings. As a child, I took comfort in knowing how the story would end: with a happily ever after. My love for Disney resurfaced during the height of the pandemic. During that time, I was struggling to get through Zoom middle school. Every night, My brother, my dad and I would binge-watch Disney cartoons as if my mom would cut Disney Plus the next morning. We watched in awe as the Pine family defeated the nefarious Bill Cipher. We cheered as Star Butterfly rewrote her own ballad. We cracked up as Candance continuously failed to bust her two little brothers. Disney provided me with both an escape from the monotony of Zoom school and a way to bond with my family. Naturally, after watching all of these cartoons, it soon became time for me to begin to write my own stories. My stories took heavy inspiration from these cartoons. I wrote about lost kids stuck in space causing chaos for aliens. I wrote about dads annoying their kids with dad jokes. I wrote about superheroes grappling with their identities. And out of all the Disney cartoons I watched, the one that inspired me the most was undoubtedly “The Owl House”. “The Owl House” inspired me through its beautiful characterization, the fantastical worldbuilding, and the intricate relationships between the characters. From Eda’s charismatic personality to Amity’s relationship with her family, these characters, despite being part of a whole different world, felt like people I could know. But the character I resonated the most with was Luz, the quirky and adventurous protagonist. From being alienated from her peers to her craving for adventure, I wanted nothing more than to see her become the hero she always wanted to be. So imagine my shock when I learned that the Owl House would be canceled. Then, imagine my relief when it was un-canceled. Then, imagine my confusion when it would be renewed for 45-minute specials. At the end of the last episode, Luz got her happy ending. However, Disney’s treatment of the Owl House corresponds to how the real world treats people like Luz. From POC to the LGBT community to neurodivergent people, we are thrown out, alienated, and ignored. But through all the suffering and struggles, we will continue to tell our stories. We will continue to inspire those who are like us. And nothing is going to stop us. We are going to look at the cruel, uncaring, and unforgiving world and cry out “NOW EAT THIS SUCKA!”, just like Luz Noceda.

The first time I went to New York City alone, I witnessed a fight in a subway. Allow me to backtrack. At age 14, I was ecstatic to be able to experience independence in the real world at a pre-college summer program at Columbia University. However, I quickly began to doubt myself. Was I ready to strike out on my own? Could I survive the transition into adulthood? Should I stay close to my hometown instead of venturing into the wild? Before I could answer any of those questions, I had to first make it through my first three weeks in New York City. With my head up high, my shoulders squared and my headphones on, I began my perilous quest. The first song that played was ‘Welcome to New York’ by Taylor Swift. As unlikely as that sounds, it happened. With the song’s upbeat tune, synth-pop aesthetics, and uplifting lyrics, I felt my fears quickly fade away into nothing. No one captured my feelings better than Taylor Swift herself. She had said that "I was so intimidated by this city for so long ... I thought I would never be able to make it here because I wasn't something enough — bold enough, brave enough to take on this huge city in all of its blaring honesty. And then at a certain point, I just thought, 'I'm ready.'" And I was ready! I put my best foot forward and did everything possible to meet as many new people as I could. But at the program, I didn’t meet the best and the brightest, I didn’t meet any effortlessly confident aces, and I certainly didn’t meet anyone who looked like they could shake the world with a wave of their hand. I met other kids who were just like me. Unsure of themselves, but brave enough to throw themselves into a new, frightening situation to teach themselves more about themselves and the world. That was when I swore to myself that I would do everything I could to create that type of environment wherever I go. I could help shine the brightest spotlights. I could help create a place where everyone could “want who you want”. I could bring both New York City’s and Taylor’s magic wherever I go. Taylor’s song allowed me to introduce a new soundtrack to my life. She gave me a new beat to dance to, new lights to see the world through, and a new perspective on my own life.