Reveries turned reality

Like being stuck in a reverie, but it’s reality

On the bus ride back home from the first day of AYA, I had Phoebe Bridgers’ “I Know the End” blaring from my earbuds. Maybe because of my innate tendency to romanticize every little thing in life–preferring to live in reveries rather than reality–but it felt like a scene that would stick with me, a feeling I would wish to replicate. ”Drivin’ out into the sun, let the ultraviolet cover me up” playing into my ears while I was gazing out the window, sun rays beaming through, coming back from an experience that had excited and captivated me. Despite only having been there for one day, I was deeply enthralled with AYA already. From the moment I had gotten the acceptance letter in April, I was brimming with excitement and anticipation. It still felt like a daydream, like one of my reveries I always find myself in, not something that would be my reality for the next 4 weeks.

New knowledge, perspectives, and experiences

The first class of the day in AYA is communications. In communications class with Professor Lopez, I have been able to improve my ability to analyze texts and situations, learn about abstract and deeply interesting concepts intertwined in all of our daily lives, and engage in thought-provoking conversations by listening to what others with diverse perspectives have to say on something. We’ve learned about many fascinating topics, such as representation in media and the history of youth participation in politics. I loved learning about things we experience in everyday life without a second thought about the implications, learning the meaning and significance behind them. COMM 101 has been an invaluable learning experience, and I am immensely thankful for the knowledge and growth I have received from it.

Creating bonds and lasting impressions

I have a love-hate relationship with icebreakers. On one hand, they aim to break tension among strangers, with the intention being for people to get to know each other better–or at least be less awkward. On the other hand, the icebreakers themselves can be awkward, or I worry if my answer sounds too cheesy (which is most of the time, given the typical questions). Needless to say, when Professor Lopez announced that we would kick off the first day of Communications with an ice-breaker I began to brace myself, thinking of the answers I had planned for the usual and most common questions. When the question was revealed to be, “What is your current favorite piece of media,” I perked up because I love questions like those. Going around the room hearing everyone’s favorite piece of media was interesting. One particular answer piqued my interest, as it was one of my favorite pieces of media as well. This shared interest gave way for the development of a friendship. 

​​The friendships forged over the past 4 weeks have been sparked by simple gestures—a compliment on an outfit, a shared interest in a piece of media, or even sitting in close proximity to each other. The people I met at AYA will be among the things I will miss the most. The bonds we’ve built throughout the course of the program are beautiful, leaving me wishing we had more time together. The cacophony of our shared laughter filling the bus on our way back from field trips, the conversations held outside on the patio, and the impromptu trips to various spots on the USC campus during breaks–all these will be among my fondest memories not just at AYA but this summer. 

“Yeah, I guess, The end is here”

Endings are sentimental, yet eventual. I will miss AYA deeply and I will forever be grateful to have been given the opportunity to participate in the program. It has motivated me, not just the lessons, but the people as well. From AYA, I was able to meet people with many different and diverse perspectives, something I am grateful for. As I boarded the bus back home on my last full day at AYA, I put my playlist on shuffle–“I Know the End” came on. The scene from 4 weeks earlier had repeated itself. As I gazed out the window, instead of looking forward to my experience, I reminisced about it.