I see the world in darkness. It’s a blunt statement, but it’s true. Throughout my day, I don’t remember the small, good things that happened, but the big, bad ones. But why is that? What makes me seek out the sad books and songs when so many others hate to cry? Why is my comfort movie one that ends in suicide, when so many others would rather watch 10 Things I Hate About You? What makes people the way that they are? What makes me see the world a shade darker than everyone else?

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It’s our history. Our past. The path that has led us to where we stand today. This portfolio leads others down my path. It shows why I have come to see the world in darkness, but it also shows what comes from that. Each piece is a tragedy that happened to me or my characters, or the effect and the change that tragedy had. It was extremely important to me to include a wide range of types of media in this portfolio because tragedies and grief can come in so many different forms. This variety also came with its own difficulties, to ensure that all the pieces flowed and connected, no matter if it was a poem leading into a journalism piece or a short story into a personal essay.

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Everything in this portfolio came from emotions that I have felt, experiences I’ve had at one time or another, but once they are put out into the world, it’s not just about me. It’s for all the other people who see the world in darkness. I write to connect with people; to prove to them that they are not alone. This portfolio really delves into emotionally heavy topics, and whereas some people may shy away from that sadness, there are people out there who need to hear it. Who need to read these emotions and know that it’s okay to see the world in darkness.