Whoever said life gets easier after college acceptances told a dastardly lie.

This issue was borne out of chaos –  which, like most chaos, refused to politely wait its turn. There were illnesses, abrupt moves, part-time jobs, the flu, and the unavoidable reminder that the world outside our windows was reeling from global events. Creating this issue felt like a Sisyphean battle. And yet: here it is. We made it to the summit.

This issue is a threshold. Many of our young adult readers stand at a pivotal juncture between two major chapters of their lives. The world ahead is still hazy and half-imagined — a horizon you can see but not yet touch. Some futures glimmer with salt spray and open sky; others are carved in polished wood and steel. Some journeys begin with a camera in hand, chasing a perfect frame, only to find that the chase itself becomes the picture.

Inside, you’ll find the leftover adrenaline from college applications, the ache for the uncomplicated rituals of home, and the thrill of adventure. You’ll encounter awe-inspiring landscapes, strange creatures, and questions about what it means to make art — or maybe the art makes you? You’ll see moments of private reckoning, small detonations of self-discovery, and sketches of worlds that don’t exist yet – for better or for worse.

Crossing over is rarely graceful. Whether you’re stepping through a portal, climbing into a wardrobe, or boarding a plane, the first step into the unknown is both terrifying and electric. This issue aims to capture that incongruous reality– the fear makes the leap real; the pain makes the impact matter.

So here’s your key. The door is ahead. Let’s step through together.