Little Inklings 2025

Ana had always been different. While other girls in her high school were always in the latest trends, Ana wore oversized sweaters and mismatched socks, her hair often tangled in loose waves like she didn’t care. And she didn’t. Not really. Her friends used to laugh with her about it, calling her quirky, unique, different. But as the months went by, those laughs started to feel more like whispers behind her back, more like giggles at her expense. She noticed the way they subtly raised their eyebrows when she wore the same sweater for the third time in a week or when she opted for her favorite, old sneakers instead of the trendy boots they all wore. Then came Emily. Emily was everything Ana wasn’t. Perfectly polished, always in sync with the latest trends. Emily would show up with freshly manicured nails and a smile that seemed to sparkle. And when Ana and Emily started to hang out more, Ana began to hear those little comments. “You should really try wearing a little more makeup,” Emily would suggest casually, tracing her lipstick- stained finger across her lips. “Your hair would look so cute if it was straightened just once.” Ana didn’t mind at first, just brushed it off. But soon, it wasn’t just Emily. It was everyone. They told her she’d look better if she just “tried harder”. The subtle pressures piled up until one day, Ana found herself staring at the mirror, holding a straightener in her hand. THE COURAGE TO BE YOU By Marina Molina ’29 14