Vol. 2, No. 4 | April 2025

Envy

Longing. Desire. Wish.

Art by Joyce Zhou

Overthinking Yesterday, Hoping for Tomorrow

By Gabriella Yeung

In this reflective letter to my 21-year old self self, I wrestle with the weight of growing up—trading childhood simplicity for the pressures of perfection. Through envy, insecurity, and longing, I convey the quiet ache of adolescence and the hope that peace, confidence, and lasting joy lie ahead.

Emotional Laundry - A Letter to the High School Cafeteria

By Radhika Mittal

Envy lingers long after all other emotions fade. How do we deal with friendship loss months after the fact? Are some relationships worth the envy?

Security or Insecurity: The Truth of the TikTok Ban

By Sylvia Barrios Gotor

Loud cries, the rumble of conversations, desperation flooding through texts, chaos had erupted. That’s how the TikTok ban had us all. From China, to Biden, we have heard all the so-called reasons for banning our dear application. However, what’s the truth behind it? Envy drives the future of TikTok and our newest form of mobilization.

The Green Light Across the Bay: Envy in The Great Gatsby

By Devin Bush

As F. Scott Fitzgerald’s iconic novel The Great Gatsby turns 100 years old this week, the struggles and fates of its century-old characters embody the fruitless pursuits of wealth that continue to shape our society today.

The Apology We Never Got: Why “Chasing Wife to Crematorium” Dramas Hit So Hard

By Laura Chen

China’s ultra-short dramas may be melodramatic, but behind the sobs and too-late apologies lies a raw, universal craving—for recognition, closure, and the kind of emotional validation many of us have only ever seen on screen.

Envying my Kindergarden Brother

By Daniel Tong

On how I envy my brother’s carefree life, and why I know I shouldn’t.

Learn about The Spark and the people behind it!

About us

View our last issue on The Forgotten!

Issue 3

The Silence I Learned

By Minji Suk

Growing up, I learned to keep my emotions to myself, to stay composed even when I didn’t feel that way. As I prepare to leave for college, I’m beginning to reflect on the habits I’ve carried—and whether it’s time to show up in a different, more honest way.

The Durdenist Manifesto: A Fight Club Guide to Society

By Billy Park

A Supreme brick. A $2,000 boomerang. A life built on envy and dopamine hits. Fight Club isn’t just a film—it’s a mirror. This is a manifesto for the lost and the shallow, a confession from within the system and at the same time a rebellion against it. It is your choice which voice to listen to.

What Ashton Hall’s Viral Morning Routine Tells Us About Turning Comparison into Personal Growth

By Kirin Chadha

As morning routines and day-in-the-life videos stay popular, envy shapes how we see success and motivates personal growth. There’s a fine line between letting envy turn into resentment or using it as a fuel for inspiration–the key is using envy as a tool that pushes us towards our own goals.