An Introduction

I wasn’t going to do this yet. 

Last time I tried to run a blog, I posted sporadically at best. I’ve got a lot on my plate right now. It’s senior year of high school, I’ve got rehearsals and homework and writing and college applications, but...

As of today, we’re just past the one-year mark. A year since I stayed up until midnight, eyes glued to the screen of a TV. A year since my mom made me go to bed because I was on the verge of an anxiety attack. A year since that morning when I woke up to the terrible news– Trump had won the election. 

It’s been a long year. There have been too many scandals to count. At times we seem to be on the verge of a nuclear war. And I’ve realized I want to put my voice out there.

I speak out at school. I’m part of debate. I fight where I can for what I believe in. But my school only has around six hundred students from three tiny towns. I live in a deeply conservative area. There’s only so much I can do. 

This year, my school put on the musical Thoroughly Modern Millie. One line has stuck with me. “[There’s] gotta be more than a one-light town where the light is always red,” And I relate for two reasons– one, my town has one of two stoplights in the entire county, and two, I feel stifled. There’s more out there. So I create this blog in the hopes that I can reach those places. Maybe no one will read this blog but my parents, sisters, and salty feminist friends. But maybe one person will find this. Maybe one person will learn something from me. Maybe I will influence one person. And, to quote another excellent musical, Hamilton– “That would be enough.”

I’m going to take this moment to introduce myself. My name is Katelyn. I'm seventeen years old as of writing this. I love musical theatre, choir, reading, and writing. And I care deeply about politics. I consider myself a liberal with strong leanings towards the Democratic Party, a democratic socialist, and a feminist. I believe in intersectionality, and while I may not fully understand what women of color experience, I will stand with you. I stand with LGBT+ women, including trans women. I stand with disabled women and immigrants and every other woman. In standing with you, I recognize that I may make mistakes. I ask for your patience and feedback. I will do my best to be an ally, but there is always more to learn.

I will also do my utmost best to give only facts. When I can, I’ll include sources and links for further reading. I will try not to contribute to the plague of misinformation spread across the internet. That said, I am not perfect. I will do my best, but I will make mistakes. I’m not going to claim to be any sort of journalist or even a reliable source, but I will try to use reliable sources. 

I’ll be the first to admit that this project may be largely self-indulgent. I will write a lot about myself and my experiences. I hope to offer my honest perspective on the issues that face us today. Not everyone will agree with me. That’s all right. I may face opposition, and if we’re being completely honest, that scares me, but I’ll be all right. One of my absolute favorite musical quotes is from the musical Finding Neverland: “You have to use your pen for something other than satisfying them.” Regardless of any challenge I may face, I hope that I can write something here that will mean something to you. As the next line from Finding Neverland says, “Let us embark on this journey...”