The Magic of Embracing Your Inner Child
Being open to creativity
Since finishing my sophomore year of college from my childhood bedroom in St. Louis rather than in my chic, open-double dorm room at Syracuse University, I have had more than enough free time on my hands. The exhausted student in me is telling me to use this time to sleep in until noon and binge watch New Girl on Netflix until ungodly hours. While I have definitely been indulging in this opportunity for laziness, something about living in my aqua blue bedroom covered in childhood photos, art projects and books has inspired me to embrace the child in me.
As a kid, I was frightened by the Harry Potter series. I know ridiculous but mind you I had an older brother and catching a glimpse at the dark scenes and creepy face of You-Know-Who at the age of 4 turned me away from the series altogether. But as I have grown, I have felt a strong urge to see what the hype is all about. So, I took it upon myself to read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and I am hooked. The wizarding world is something, even as a young adult, I find myself curious about. The mystery and creativity that exists in the world of Harry Potter is addicting and enticing. After reading just the first book, I am inspired by the alternate world and want to be a part of it.
J.K. Rowling has a gift of creating a world that seems so distant, so unique and at the same time relatable. It inspires not only children, but adults to find the uniqueness in everyday life and imagine a world where they too are a part of the magic. Especially when the world is as grim and sad as it is during the COVID-19 pandemic, cozying up to a book so wildly different and transporting to a different world is refreshing.
Reading Harry Potter was just the beginning of my attempt to honor the kid in me. Since then, I have found myself delving deep into my creativity by collaging, tie-dying, doodling and having dance parties in my room.
The care-free attitude of childhood is something I quickly lost when middle school hit and I started comparing myself to others. When I was told, “you’re too old to be doing that,” or “that stuff is for kids.” So, this meant growing up and attempting to fit-in with the other girls my age. Unfortunately, I don’t think this experience is unique to my life.
Many people may tell you to grow-up and be realistic rather than embrace creativity, wonder and individuality. But lately, I have found that these are the exact things that propel me forward and create success. No matter your profession, the traits that make you irreplaceable are personality and passion. Anybody can learn the skills needed to perform whatever task is at hand but your creative direction is uniquely yours.
For that reason, I don’t plan to repress the creativity and curiosity in me when the world resumes to normal. Frankly, I don’t think creativity and a care-free attitude are childish at all, I think that they foster progress and growth. Although I never imagined myself taking college courses from my childhood home, reading stories about magic, dancing by myself and putting together little art projects has satisfied both my need to let loose and my desire to enjoy everything that life has to offer all the while positioning myself for success academically and in my career.
About the Creator
Sophie Baron
Just a midwestern girl making her way through life on the east coast. Often found de-stressing by aggressively typing away her feelings.
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“He Kept Going When No One Was Watching — And That Changed Everything”
No one ever noticed the days he almost gave up. There were no messages asking if he was okay. No one wondered why he became quieter. No one asked how much effort it took just to keep going. To the world, he was just another ordinary man. His name was Ayaan. Ayaan’s life didn’t collapse in one dramatic moment. It slowly faded. Missed opportunities. Rejected ideas. Silent disappointments. Every failure was small, but together they became heavy. He had dreams once. Big ones. Dreams that kept him awake at night, imagining a future where his hard work would finally matter. But over time, those dreams began to feel unrealistic—almost embarrassing. People around him seemed to move forward effortlessly. They celebrated promotions, achievements, and milestones. Ayaan watched from the side, smiling politely while feeling invisible. At work, his efforts were ignored. Among friends, his voice faded. At home, expectations weighed heavily on him. Slowly, a dangerous thought settled into his mind: “Maybe I’m not good enough.” That thought followed him everywhere. It followed him on crowded buses. It followed him into sleepless nights. It followed him every time he tried again and failed. One night, after scrolling through endless success stories online, Ayaan closed his phone and stared at the dark ceiling. His chest felt tight, not because of pain—but because of exhaustion. He whispered quietly, “How long do I keep trying?” There was no answer. But that night, Ayaan made a decision—not a loud one, not a confident one. A tired decision. He decided to keep going, even if nothing changed. The next morning felt the same. The same routine. The same doubts. The same fear of wasting his life. But Ayaan showed up anyway. He worked when no one praised him. He studied when no one guided him. He practiced when no one believed in him. Some days, motivation disappeared completely. On those days, discipline took over. He reminded himself: “I don’t need applause. I need progress.” Weeks passed. Nothing dramatic happened. No sudden success. No recognition. No miracle. But something subtle began to shift. Ayaan became calmer under pressure. He learned to sit with discomfort instead of running from it. He stopped comparing his journey to others. The silence that once scared him now became his training ground. Months later, a serious problem appeared at his workplace. It was complicated, risky, and easy to blame on someone else. Most people avoided it. Some pretended it wasn’t their responsibility. Ayaan didn’t announce himself. He didn’t seek attention. He simply started working. Late nights. Mistakes. Corrections. Learning. There were moments he wanted to quit. Moments when fear whispered, “You’re not ready.” But he answered back, “I’ll learn.” Slowly, the problem began to disappear. Not perfectly—but steadily. People noticed, quietly. One afternoon, his manager called him into the office. Ayaan expected criticism. Instead, he heard a question that stunned him: “Where did you learn all this?” Ayaan paused. How could he explain years of silent effort? How could he explain working when no one cared? He simply replied, “I kept going.” That moment didn’t change his life overnight. He didn’t become famous. He didn’t suddenly become successful. But it changed something far more important. His belief in himself. For the first time, Ayaan understood that life doesn’t always reward effort immediately. Sometimes, it watches. It watches who continues without praise. Who improves without recognition. Who grows in silence. Years later, Ayaan looked back at the version of himself who almost quit. The man who felt invisible. The man who thought no one was watching. And he smiled. Because he finally understood the truth: Life was always watching. Not to judge. Not to rush. But to see if he would keep going when it was hardest. The world doesn’t reward those who only work when they’re seen. It rewards those who build strength in silence. And sometimes, the moment that changes everything doesn’t come with applause. It comes quietly. After patience. After effort. After consistency. That is when everything finally begins to change. Final Message Keep going—even when no one is watching. Especially then.
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