Lifestyle: In Practice

Dear Readers, As an MFA student and New York native, my bag is my life. A Brandon Blackwood leather handbag, gifted after a hard semester, holds my Moleskine, pen, and pencil for chasing ideas. Dominicana by Angie Cruz fuels my literary escape, while Penelope keeps me company through New York’s endless tourist season. Essentials: camera for moments, lip liner for confidence, scrunchie and gel for control, and pepper spray, because safety matters. -Sofía Villafaña

After a moment that changed everything, I chose myself. I chose survival. In the quiet of my room, with fear and strength tangled inside me, I let go of a future I couldn’t hold onto. I named her Amelia—to give her a life I couldn’t offer. She’s mine alone, carried in every step forward, in every word I write. This is a story of loss, choice, and the kind of love that births resilience.