Hello, Everyone!

Just a quick update from me—life has been a bit hectic lately. I’m incredibly grateful for the many highs this year has brought so far, but I also want to be honest and acknowledge that there have been a few lows recently, too.

Most notably, I’ve had some unexpected personal expenses come up, and I’ve realized that attending Anime Expo this year just isn’t financially feasible. Honestly, I was crushed when I first came to terms with that.

I’ve known for a couple of months that this might be the case, but I delayed sharing the news because I was still hoping to find a way to make it work even though I had already withdrawn my presentation applications. Between teaching a new class on an accelerated summer schedule, moving, and life’s general unpredictability, I’ve had to accept that it just isn’t going to happen this year.

What’s especially hard is that it’s not just about missing the convention. Not being able to go back to California to see my family, friends, and attend what I consider my “home” con has been an emotional blow—a final hit in a series of small setbacks that have been wearing me down for a while now.

This year, I was truly honored to be accepted onto the JAMS@AX planning committee and into the academic symposium. I was excited beyond words to contribute to the journal in a more direct way beyond reviews and edits, and the opportunity to contribute to a community I care deeply about. However, as life often does, it threw a few wrenches in the way.

That said, things are looking up now. It’s been a little while since I officially withdrew, and I’m actually really happy with my summer schedule. While it was still a difficult decision, I feel more at peace with it. I’m more “bummed” than crushed these days—especially since I was really looking forward to meeting people in person and participating in the academia-themed programming at AX. Still, I’ve made new plans with family and friends for around Thanksgiving, which is giving me something meaningful to look forward to.

Sometimes, being an adult means stepping back when you need to—and recognizing that doing so is the best choice, even if it’s not the easiest.

In any case, this won’t affect my usual Saturday posting schedule, nor will it impact anyone else on our small team. Everything online will continue as planned!

Thank you all so much for your support and understanding. I hope to see you at another convention soon 💖

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Copyedited by: Katherine Cañeba | @kcserinlee