My name is Rana Darwich, and I'm a second-year student at Irvine Valley College with plans to transfer to a four-year university within the University of California System. Through my writing, I've discovered a sense of community and found my voice, particularly in publications like Lucid. For me, writing is a way to seek Truth, and I strive to be as honest as possible in my work. While I don't believe there is an objective truth to be found, I do believe that when two people find common ground in an experience, they become witnesses to a shared perspective, which is more valuable, more persuasive, and less lonely, than a single perspective.

I oppose filtering my writing just to avoid addressing taboo topics because I believe in making writing accessible to everyone, not just those who can relate to your achievement and accomplishments. My goal is to communicate effectively with readers from all walks of life. We all share common feelings and experiences, and while stoicism has its place, the trend of hiding our struggles, perpetuated by social media’s portrayal of idealism, has become the source of isolation, which I believe has no place in an educational setting. This creates the illusion that people are alone in their challenges, when in reality, many of us face the same difficulties. I believe that if we, as students, can't admit we’re struggling, we only promote isolation and a fictitious reality. Where in a community where so many of us share aspects of our sometimes, extremely imperfect lives. The truth I hope to convey is that nobody is truly alone in their struggles. There is common ground beyond idealism. 

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