personal essay
What Does Being 'Too Much' Really Mean?
In an extract from her new book "Poor Little Sick Girls", Ione Gamble explains how the fear of being "too much" actually shrinks our horizons.
Growing Up as a ‘Gifted Child’ and the Rude Awakening of Adulthood
I was a child genius. Now I’m an average adult.
I Tried (and Failed) to Pull Off a Romantic Mexican Vacation During COVID-19
I recently travelled from Toronto to L.A. to Baja, taking advantage of some confusing travel bans. It eventually caught up to me.
COVID-19 Has Stolen My 20s
This was supposed to be a time to try new things and find out where I’m supposed to be.
Here’s What It’s Like to Get Tested for Coronavirus in Singapore
I remember hearing sounds of grown men crying, shrieking, and screaming.
A Eulogy for the Mix CD, the Best Way to Tell Someone 'I Like You'
Mix CDs have been innovated out of existence—but nothing has managed to replace how meaningful it was to make and receive them.
'Rocko's Modern Life' Nails the Dystopian Roller Coaster of Being Australian in America
The show's portrayal of an anxious Australian protagonist in a world of perverse caricature and logo hysteria is, uh, me.
Biking in New York Traffic Forced Me to Learn to Take Up Space
I'm not “getting in people’s way,” because I have a right to be here, too.
Finding Asian Identity in a Black and White America
"For years, I didn’t use chopsticks, refused to speak Chinese, tried to wear shoes in my home, never brought leftovers to school, and even claimed to dislike boba."
The Pain and Sorrow of Learning Your Beloved Childhood Pizza Is Trash
Quad Cities-style pizza rises to the level of legendarily terrible—like 'The Room' or the 'Troll 2' of bad pizza.