Words by: Shabnam Sidhu
Art by: Alyssa Sandler

“You’re that girl who is a bit messy and loves to party and maybe says dumb things sometimes. She’s honest, blunt, and a little bit volatile, that’s Brat.” Charli XCX

It is the last summer before my 25th birthday and it feels like a pivotal moment in my life. As reflect on my early twenties, my life has often felt like a hot mess. have an existential crisis every other day. I worry I am not living up to my potential and that every waking moment is being wasted. I am overwhelmed and consumed by my thoughts of not being attractive or confident enough to do the things I want the most. I am tired of failing to put myself out there because I’ve concerned myself with societal expectations.