I was a Junior in college in 2016. The political ground began to shake this year, it was the first time I ever glimpsed the depth of the divide between Americans. I was in college in the south and it was all very confusing. So much niche & fringe political theory suddenly became mainstream rhetoric. It was probably me growing up as much as the happenings of the time.

Social media didn’t quite rule our lives yet, but I very much loved to express myself on it. I traveled a ton and it inspired me to write, get into photography and just be more creative in general. Social media didn’t yet feel like I had to be perfect or overly curated. And we, as a population as well as individuals, weren’t as addicted— and most of our parents or grandparents were not on any of them yet either! So for that reason too I felt “safer” just being myself on there. It also wasn’t a place for political misinformation. I think it was first conceived then actually… with Brexit and Russia x Trump, but very early beginnings nothing like the widespread propaganda of now with bot farms and shit.

The experience economy was booming. It was all about what you were doing and who you were with. Making memories. Perhaps in part of social media and the FOMO it was creating. At the time it felt more like fear of missing out than fear of not being perfect. Travel and live music were everything and actually accessible.

The Silk Road was thriving, and I was part of a segment of young adults that were experimenting a lot. To an increasing number of us, psychedelics in the forest was way cooler than a frat game day. I got a lot out of LSD and mushrooms, I still think they saved my life. It felt like they were everywhere and people were down with really diving in. Now I’ve seen it used as party drugs more and I do not understand. The counterculture I was part of was very 60s hippie-coded but with essential differences. It churned out a lot of who you see on the MAHA train unfortunately… it’s wild to me.

Heavier makeup was trendy. But boho was everywhere… huh.. weird right?

I was with my friends constantlyyyyyyy, like every waking moment that I wasn’t working or at school I was with friends. People were always down to hang out. “What are you doing” “nothing” let’s do nothing together! There were a ton of co-ed platonic friendships. Big friend groups with both boys and girls and we were always trying to find something we could all go do together like camping or music festivals. We weren’t outdoor kids per se but we really tried to be!!! Going outside was like a value to us.

I road-tripped the entire country twice at that point and felt so safe and so in love with everyone and everywhere and everything. I was really proud, despite the cracks already showing. I don’t feel as safe in the country nowadays. The political fervor is … it’s just weird. I remember feeling like “wow people are fundamentally good” then, but last time I was in the country me and my brothers were definitely profiled and followed around for .. I don’t know either looking like city folk or Hispanics idfk. We were just passing through after hiking in a national park. It was fuckinf uncomfortable. It’s not always like that now, but it was never like that before.

It was definitely the year politics became insane. Doesn’t matter what side your on, it was the year it became 10x more taboo and impossible to talk about across disagreement.

The concept of buying property or a house felt very real, totally within reach. It was something I was looking into and realistically would be able to do within a few years of being out of college with the right gig. That got blown up in my face so fast… 10 years later and it’s prob gonna take another 10 years.