Running Quite Quickly Through This House of Gladness
Category: Written Work
Author(s): Stella Van Buskirk
Presenter(s): Stella Van Buskirk
Everything I write is true. The truth: that’s where the pieces in "Running Quite Quickly Through This House of Gladness" began. To fully understand how I curated these pieces, one must first understand why I write. Phoebe Waller-Bridge posits, “[It is] better to feel the pain of writing than the pain of not writing.” I share her sentiment and will go even further by suggesting that writing is a necessity. Like most artists, I am absorbed by my art. The pieces in this portfolio were created out of need and passion. My works explore the teenage experience. Specifically, I wrote about my mental health struggle with acne, unrequited feelings for a boy, desire to understand my place in society, and the choice to love myself despite these frustrations. In many ways, my portfolio is a story of self-discovery and acceptance at seventeen years old. This is what it means to be a teenager. It’s hard and complicated and you overthink a lot, but this period of growth is also a metamorphosis. It is important to note that the teenage experience is synonymous with the human experience. Though I wrote these pieces for myself, to understand my thoughts and feelings when I was otherwise unable, the beauty of literature is often attributed to its universality. If my readers can connect with any of the ideas woven throughout my writing, then I am beyond satisfied.