Remember back in the Dark Ages, when iPods and tablets were nonexistent? When we, as children, collected all the little knick-knacks that we came across and hoarded them like secret treasures? Back then, every child’s favorite pastime was to boast and show to each other their dog-eared books of stickers, trading cards, and stamps. After all, these treasures were as good as solid currency in elementary school. In that seemingly distant era, I held a little tin cookie box close to my heart.
Born the younger daughter of my family with a sister seven years my senior, I spent the better part of my childhood seeking individuality and ways to define myself—not as the daughter or sister of so-and-so, but rather, as just me, unadulterated and unfiltered.
