Ray Gipson

After a largely unfulfilling freshman year of college at Mercer University, I opted to take advantage of one of their study abroad programs, and move to/ study in Ayr Scotland for a year. Macon Georgia is very different from my hometown of Tucker in general vibe, architecture, etc., but not in ways I ever found particularly endearing. So, I naturally leapt at the idea of total escape. Through this experience, I discovered a principle I intend to let guide the trajectory of my life moving forward: The particular country or town I live in matters significantly less than my agency in seeking out the fringes, and diving into my particular interests. Even on another continent, the spaces I gravitated towards, and the relationships with people I found most fulfilling, were those outside of the mainstream. Of course, there’s a catch here. As a fairly introverted person, probably the biggest struggle I regularly deal with is managing my interpersonal drive. However much I love metal concerts and card gaming events, I must admit they drain me. My desires often feel almost directly at odds with each other, I need other people for emotional support, but extensive interactions leave me wrung out. I think this struggle is quite emblematic of me as a writer as well. I love writing, but I find the process exhausting a lot of the time, and end up submitting work I could be prouder of.