NOT AN iSSUE is a space made for creative exploration. Started by a team of young, passionate creators, we're a place where writers, artists, and readers can connect and feel welcome. Our goal is to make publishing accessible and to offer a platform for anyone who wants to share their story.Here, every story matters—whether it’s about love, resilience, or anything else you want to express. NOT AN iSSUE is all about building a creative community where young voices and underrepresented perspectives have a place to shine. We want to be a welcoming destination for creators who care about sharing and growing together.

In general, NAi has pretty loose rules regarding submissions, but we do ask that you read the ones listed below to avoid any extra hassle; thank you!We aim to offer publication to as many young artists as possible as long as the piece fits within the story of each issue, so please feel free to submit! Every artist will receive personalized feedback on the work they submit, regardless of acceptance status.

Theme

Our sixth issue's theme is "in bloom," which is connected to the stirring of nature, personal growth, cultural revival, or the emergence of new ideas and perspectives. Capture whatever you think it means to bloom through your art. Whether abstract or figurative, vibrant or muted, we’re excited to see where this theme leads you. Let your creativity bloom!

Eligibility

All youth ages 14-22 are welcome to submit their work. NAi reserves the right to be selective. We aim to publish creative works with meaningful intent!

Types of Work Accepted

• Submit
• Full guidelines

A Love Letter to Old Romance

By: Sneha Moudgalya

In an era of fast-paced dating apps and digital love stories, there’s something undeniably nostalgic about curling up with a 90s-style rom-com. These films, with their larger-than-life romance, grand gestures, and witty banter, continue to set the bar for love stories decades later. Whether you’re celebrating this Valentine’s Day solo or with a special someone, here are some of our must-watch rom-coms from the 1990s that are sure to make you fall in love (with love).

Before Sunrise (1995)
This beautifully crafted film follows Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Céline (Julie Delpy), two young travelers who meet on a train and spend one unforgettable night together in Vienna. With its dialogue-driven narrative and exploration of connection and fleeting moments, Before Sunrise captures the essence of romance and the magic of serendipity.

10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
A modern retelling of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, this teen rom-com is full of fiery chemistry between Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger. With a killer soundtrack, memorable high school drama, and one of the most swoon-worthy serenade scenes ever, 10 Things I Hate About You is a timeless classic that perfectly captures young love’s intensity and humor.

You’ve Got Mail (1998)
Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan redefine long-distance romance in this charming tale of online pen pals who fall in love without realizing they’re business rivals in real life. With clever dialogue, bookstore nostalgia, and a heartwarming resolution, You’ve Got Mail remains one of the best comfort-watch rom-coms ever made.

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995)
This iconic Bollywood film tells the story of Raj (Shah Rukh Khan) and Simran (Kajol), who fall in love during a trip to Europe but face challenges from their traditional families. Known for its memorable songs and heartfelt moments, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge is a celebration of love that has captivated audiences worldwide, proving that love knows no boundaries.

Notting Hill (1999)
In this charming film, bookseller William Thacker (Hugh Grant) meets and falls in love with famous actress Anna Scott (Julia Roberts). Their romance navigates the challenges of fame and the complexities of love in the public eye. With its delightful humor and heartfelt moments, Notting Hill has become a beloved classic that showcases the magic of unexpected connections.

These rom-coms from the 1990s are timeless because of their ability to capture love in its messy, comedic, and heartfelt glory. They remind us that romance isn’t just about grand declarations, but the small, everyday moments—getting through awkward situations, laughing at your own ridiculousness, and embracing love in all its unpredictability.

So this Valentine’s Day, put away your phone, grab some popcorn, and escape into the charm of these rom-com classics. Love, after all, is best enjoyed with a little laughter and a lot of heart.

Winter Book Recommendations

By: Gina Jiang

It’s that time of the year again when we all snuggle up in our cozy blankets, drink hot chocolate, and wait for the soft snowflakes to land. However, there is no true winter without books! Where are some of our favorite winter stories to snuggle up with and escape this winter, as the world grows dark.Number 1: Lovely War
Age range: young adultA beautiful historical fiction romance written by Julie Berry, the Printz award-winning author of The Passion of Dolssa, this book combines the elements of Greek mythology with the true events of the first world war. Lovely War is one of the most unique crossover books I’ve ever read.The story starts off with Hephaestus, the Greek god of craftsmanship, catches his wife Aphrodite cheating on him with Ares. In the original Greek myth, Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty, was forced into an arranged marriage with Hephaestus because Zeus, the King of Gods, feared that the other male gods would fight over her. One day, Hephaestus caught Aphrodite and Ares together with an indestructible and invisible net. He refused to let them go unless Aphrodite agreed to a divorce.In Lovely War, Hephaestus demands there to be a court case to hold Aphrodite guilty for infidelity, but Aphrodite instead wishes there to be a private case, so she can defend herself as her husband acts as the judge. She claims she is lonely and unloved, presenting her case by providing evidence of mortal love stories. I was enamored with Aphrodite’s reasoning for the love between her and Ares, and how love is basically two sides of the same coin.Lovely War is not just a warm and romantic story. It spins the tragedy of heartache and torment. It tells the story of how, with war, a gruesome, chaotic, and brutal reality can coexist with love— a tender feeling, an unbreakable bond, a neverlasting reverie.Number 2: The False Prince
Age range: 13 and aboveThe False Prince by Jennifer Nielsen is the first book of the Ascendance Series. The book takes place in an unstable kingdom fueled with civil wars. To unify the kingdom, Bevin Conner, a nobleman of the court, sets out to find a teenage boy to impersonate the long- lost prince Jaron. There, Connor meets the main character, Sage, a fourteen-year old orphan who makes a living by stealing food from others. Sage, along with two other boys named Roden and Tobias, are all brought into Connor’s grandiose mansion to begin their training, but only one will become the false prince.What I love about the book is that the situation is not what it seems like. Sage himself is not just any random orphan boy. Sage also knows the treacherous nature of Connor, and throughout the story, he vows to figure out the truth behind Connor’s intentions and history.The False Prince is one of my favorite fantasy books because the lore is very well-written and intricate. The political tensions, sword fighting, and training the boys have to go through to impersonate a prince is beyond fascinating. Overally, the book is a must read for anybody who enjoys a good medieval fantasy drama.Number 3: Red Queen
Age range: young adultRed Queen is a YA dystopian fantasy novel written by Victoria Aveyard that dives into the themes of power imbalances, oppression, and social class. In the kingdom of Norta, humans are divided and classified by their blood type: either silver or red. Those with silver blood are wealthier, god-like, and privileged, contrasting the red-blooded people, who struggle with poverty and who work as servants beneath the silver-blooded people.We get introduced to the protagonist, Mare Barrow, a red-blooded girl whose siblings were all drafted in the war due to being Reds. The Silvers use Reds as human fuel to keep their war going, and despite having enough money to treat their injuries, the silver would rather hoard their wealth than to assist the reds. Everything changes when Mare is tasked to act as a royal servant at an event called Queenstrial, where noblewomen compete for the marriage with the two princes.Throughout the story, Mare struggles with trust, for the people she meets always have another secret side to them. Although the story is obviously fictional, I like how Red Queen tackles many issues that apply to the real world today, like how those in power have the opportunity to create equality but refuse due to greed. Red Queen is an amazing book for people who want to dive into the themes of social inequality and oppression.Number 4: Narnia: The lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Age range: 10 and olderThe Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is a classic enjoyed by those of all ages. As a kid, this was my favorite Narnia book of all time. It’s filled with magical elements, such as talking animals, portals to another land, and adventures through a fantasy world.The story is about four siblings: Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy. The four siblings are sent to live with a professor whose mansion is home to a magical wardrobe. Lucy is the first sibling to discover this. As she hides in the wardrobe, she lands in a snowy biome. According to the faun she meets, Narnia has been enchanted by the evil White Witch so that there is eternal winter.I personally liked the metaphors being the plot choices. The danger of gluttony is presented in Edmund’s trust in the white witch and his cravings for Turkish delights. The simple trope of Good vs. Evil is turned into a fantasy adventure where the four children are tasked into fighting the oppressive leader of Narnia as heroes. The story is a timeless classic where all of our childish imaginations come to life.Number 5: The Nightingale and the Rose
Age range: 10 and olderThis one is a way shorter story. It’s by the famous author Oscar Wilde, and it is awfully tragic. I actually cried when reading this as a kid.Unlike most stories, which paint love in a wholesome light, The Nightingale and the Rose shows how greed, deceit, and apathy, can be mistaken as love. Love itself brings great sorrows because with love comes trust and vulnerability, and those things can be easily taken advantage of.The story surrounds a boy who wishes to go to a dance with his crush, but his crush demands red roses, which he does not have. A nightingale witnesses this and wishes to make the lover story come true. The bird flies through the garden, searching for a red rose…but can she find one on time?The story illustrates how love is not always a happily ever after;, rather, it can lead to great heartache and pain. If you’re into stories that don’t have a simple resolution, this could be your next favorite read.So, grab a blanket, make yourself a cup of hot chocolate, and let these stories transport you to places where magic and adventure runs deep. Winter may be old but with the right book in your hand, your heart will stay warm. Hopefully you like my recommendations!

Interview with Mehul Chowdhary

What inspired you to create Through Dragon Gate?In elementary school, I used to be into legends. I came across the legend of the dragon, the Chinese legend and how the car jumped through the water, falling into the gate; for me at the time, it was really cool because I hadn't ever read something like this. Then, when I looked back at it in high school, I realized that I could use it to represent how people can overcome their hardships. And it was the only creative idea I had at the time, so I just decided to try it.Was there any specific moment that inspired you to create it? Did you have to do any research before you got into creating it?Yeah, I did research what Chinese Dragons looked like because I didn't know how to draw them. And, I also had to research how the fish looks like itself and the colors used to make it.Do you typically plan like your art as much as you did this one?Yeah. I spend a while sketching and then go over it again on paper. Then, I take a photo of it and retrace it again on my iPad, and then I start coloring it.How did you decide on the color? Was it just what the dragon and the fish were supposed to look like, or did you try to make them cohesive in any way?For this fish, I actually didn't know what to do at all, so I searched up a palette and then modified it a bit to make it a bit cooler. For the dragon, I tried to use the dark clone on the fish and make it that the basin said to show contrast with the white fish. For the other colors, I basically just played with them until I found something I liked.How do you usually do backgrounds? Do you put a lot of thought into it?I'm not too good at backgrounds. But if you see other digital pieces, they have these really intricate backgrounds, so I tried my best to not make it too simple. I also couldn't make it too much because I don't know how to, so I mostly just used gradients and there's just reflection tool in procreate which kind of reflects the subject and adds some noise and distortion, and I use that to make it a bit more detailed.How long did it take you to complete the work? And how long does it typically take you to, like, think that a piece is completely done?It took me six hours to make this one, and I would say that's a little a little shorter than the ones I spend a lot of time on. The longest one I did took me like 10 hours, but that's only because I redrew it again and again and again until I was satisfied with it. Around 3 hours is what I usually do. Then, if I want to put extra effort, it goes up to 10 hours.How do you know when a piece is complete?When I think that I cannot add anything else to it that will make it significantly better. For example, you know how people add these little effects once they're done? Once I realize that won't truly help it too much, it's fine as it is. I guess that's what I know when it's done.Did the meaning behind the piece change while you were drawing it?In the first sketch I drew, the fish was supposed to be small, and it was going to be more of a large dragon and a physical gate instead. I decided to change that so the fish wouldn't be as insignificant as it was in the first sketch. I also removed the physical dragon gate because I felt like drawing it symbolically made more sense in this case.What meaning do you hope that viewers take away from the piece?That they can understand that there's no specific restriction on how a person has to be in order to change for the better of course. And if this fish can do it, then I think you could do it too if you try.If you could revisit the piece and add anything to it, would you add anything to it?Yes, I think I would enhance the wispy lines a bit more so it's clear to see, and maybe make the background just a bit more detailed. Other than that, nothing else.When did you start drawing and when did you realize that it was something that you love to do? Was it a moment in time, or was it just gradual?It was more gradual. I started a long time ago, when I think it was when I was five or six, but that was just like more of, you know, young kids doodling. I started to draw more in middle school, and that's when I started to do it more consistently. But nowadays I've started to decrease my time because of homework.Do you have any like advice for artists that are starting off, or any advice for anyone who might be struggling with artist block?Don't try to force yourself to do something. A lot of times, I don't have any ideas, and if I just try to force myself to make something, it doesn't really work. If you're struggling with ideas, maybe search for inspiration online or just look at everyday things around you and draw them. You know you might find something new that you like drawing.
Mehul Chowdhary's piece Through the Dragon's Gate was a notable artwork from iSSUE V. see it here!

Interview with Chainka

What inspired you to create “the portrait of a girl in the apple garden?”It's hard to pick just one thing. I was actually thinking about The Portrait of Dorian Gray, the book which I read a long time ago. This piece is kind of dedicated to my friend, but also to me in some ways, and all the girls that have been through it because, you know, we never know what will be in adulthood. And we always wait for something beautiful to happen. But I think, in the moment, it was the book and just the understanding of growing up.How does the piece reflect your own life experiences?I'm from Ukraine, so I've been through the war and, in parts, I still am. And while I was growing up, I always felt like a kid in a glass house, in that I've been always been protected, almost even overprotected by my parents because they didn't let me see anything bad. I always thought I was safe.Then the war hit, and I felt like I was on my own. And the realization that this is it, this is how adulthood looks. I think from that perspective, it was also about the dialogue between me and my younger self.How do you typically begin a new piece? Do you do any research for it, or do you just start writing?It depends on what kind of piece I'm writing, because sometimes I just have this idea of something and I start to write. But then sometimes I have a more profound piece. I remember writing, for example, a poem called “The Russian Mother,” and it was about Russia and the history of Russia. I really wanted to make it deep, with a lot of metaphors, but I didn’t want to overdo it.For this particular piece, for example, I dug, but I think writing is such a unique process for everyone. Somebody might take one minute to create something and it will be perfect. And someone else has to really think it over, and I think that's okay.How do you know when a piece is ready to be published, or if it's perfect?Honestly, I always ask myself, ‘is it really that good or do I just like this at this particular moment?’ But I think that the best part of writing is that you never have a perfect finished piece; I sometimes come back to the poems that I wrote a long time ago and wonder, ‘can I add something here?’ and ‘I like this one more now.’I think we, as writers, sometimes create fences with the idea that we should add only this and we should take this as a finished result, but it's fun to mess around to make more interesting notes to add something.So, for me, I think I never know if the piece is perfect. If it touches my soul, I like it. It could be very badly written, especially with misspellings, but if it touches my soul, I'm good with it.How long did it take you to complete “the portrait of a girl in the apple garden?” Did your vision for the piece evolve as you worked?If I'm not mistaken, it took me one evening. I was just sitting with my parents and we were watching some kind of movie, and I just had this idea of the girl standing in the garden. I was like, ‘I have to write it right now or otherwise I'll forget about this, like I always do.’ So, I just started writing on a piece of paper and I think a lot of pieces were lost in process because I just couldn't understand what I wrote.But I wrote it one evening, and then the next morning, I was rereading it to my friend, and I think that the next morning I didn't add anything. I feel like maybe I've added some things as I was submitting it, but that was kind of it.If you could revisit the piece, do you think you would change anything?I don't really want to come back to the piece because I think it was really good. I think even if it has some weird aspects, I just want to leave it like this to interpretation for everybody. I don't want to change that, at least for now, for the record.What else do you want people to know about you or about your piece?I really hope that my art touches someone deeply and heals them. I don't mean healing like making them instantly feel good, but I just want them to feel like, ‘wow, somebody knows me,’ because when I started writing at the time of the war, I just felt very depressed. I was in a new place that I didn't know, and I didn't want to explore.I just started writing, and I felt like there were pieces of me that really understood the other, smaller me. And I just want the same for everybody. I want them to read my poetry or prose and feel like there's a reason for living and to keep going.I feel like the most important thing to know about me is that I'm just a human. I don't want to put any labels on myself, like I’m an artist or whatever. I feel every person is an artist, and can learn or at least try art.Do you have any advice for people who are just starting off with art or just starting off with writing?You have to start somewhere. There's always this fear that is holding you back, but you will feel it every time. Every day in our life, there's something that we fear doing. There is alwaysfear in our life, but fear is not bad. You just have to keep going, and, even if somebody thinks your art is bad, it's okay.I don't feel like an artist should be understood. We try to understand everybody, but that doesn't mean that we will be understood. Some art is alluring, but we still can't find answers to why, for example, this writer wrote this line or why this painter made his painting like this. I think art is all about moving you. You have to start somewhere, and you will always find people who will support you; if nobody supports you, I support you. Somewhere on this earth, I’m here for you.
Chainka's piece the portrait of a girl in the apple garden was a notable poem from iSSUE V. read it here!

Percy Jackson TV Show Review

By: Zara Azeem

Rating: 4/5The new Percy Jackson and the Olympians series on Disney+ is the newest adaptation of the beloved Percy Jackson and the Olympians book series. So far, only one season depicting the first book has been released. Will the series live up to the fans’ standards of the original series, or will it fail like the myriad of previous adaptations before it?The story follows Percy Jackson, a young 12-year-old demigod, on his journey to discover who he is while simultaneously exploring the world of Greek mythology. The son of the god Poseidon and a mortal, Sally Jackson, he joins his newfound friends, Annabeth and Grover, on a quest to solve the mystery of who stole Zeus’ lightning bolt. If he fails, war will break out.So, you know, pretty low stakes.In the TV show adaptation, Walker Scobell, Leah Jefferies, and Aryan Simhadri play Percy, Annabeth, and Grover, respectively. As some fans have labeled it, they seem to have “fallen out of the book”. This is largely due to Rick Riordan’s involvement in casting: of course, he knows who best represents the characters that he himself created.Indeed, Scobell, Jefferies, and Simhadri have truly captured the personality of their characters. However, we can’t ignore the fact that they are simply kids. Their acting, especially at the show’s beginning, wasn’t representing their full potential. At times, their bland reactions and emotions minimized the excitement of the scene. Nonetheless, they still made the show enjoyable through their accurate depiction. We can trust that they will improve and grow as the series progresses.The show portrays one book, Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief, in only 8 episodes. Despite this, many parts of the show feel dragged on longer than needed. For example, when Percy and Grover travel to Hades or when Percy and Annabeth discuss Hephaestus’ trick when entering the amusement park, the scenes are long and unimportant to the plot, adding just about zero entertainment value.Still, almost all episodes were able to create an exciting atmosphere through the action-packed scenes. But that brings up another technical issue: confusion. I had read the books beforehand, so I had a basic understanding of most of the context. However, the show might seem random for people who haven’t read them because some parts are not explained enough. On that note, I truly missed Percy’s internal dialogue and narration while watching the series. His sassy remarks and his perspective were the most entertaining parts of the book.Yet, other aspects of the show were able to get me hooked. The sets and some scenes in the series were exactly what I imagined. Camp Halfblood is exactly what I pictured when reading the first book. The natural beauty surrounding the camp and Percy’s cabin especially caught my eye. The Greek architecture is magnificent and adds to the magical aspect of the series. I found the first interaction between Annabeth and Percy during Capture the Flag so accurate, summarizing their relationship perfectly.Making film adaptations for the books has been attempted before; case in point, Logan Lerman’s infamous interpretation of them. They ultimately failed and never made it past two films. Riordan himself was not fond of the films, and neither was I. The gross inaccuracies that were presented and the over-aged cast were not something I was hoping for in the show’s adaptation. And thankfully, history did not repeat itself on these insufficiencies.The casting directors of the new Percy Jackson series decided that Logan Lerman would not play Poseidon, Percy’s father, despite anticipation from fans. They chose to keep the two adaptations separate from each other, which, in my opinion, was the better choice. The Percy Jackson TV adaptation needed to start fresh and proved to be more accurate and enjoyable for younger viewers, which is the target audience.Overall, if you are looking for a family-friendly TV show, the new series is perfect for you. If you have read Percy Jackson's books previously, watching the show will surely make you want to read the books all over again, for the loveable characters, friendships, and Greek magic and myths. But if poor pacing and acting get on your nerves, you might want to sit out this season. You’ll definitely want to stay tuned for future seasons, though, which hopefully will improve. I think I speak for most people when I say that despite the downfalls of the first season of Percy Jackson, I’m impatiently waiting to see how Riordan portrays the next books on our TV screens!

Book Review: Addie Larue

By: Sneha Moudgalya

4.5 stars.For someone who’s been alive for over two centuries, Addie LaRue doesn’t have many friends.
In fact, there isn’t anyone who remembers her, really. Addie has stumbled through almost 300 years of life with no one to talk to, or rely on, with her biggest goal being to leave a mark on the world; but it never really works. That is, until a boy recognizes her at a tiny bookstore, opening a whole new chapter in her dazzling adventure.The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab (or just Addie LaRue for short) is a book of mystery, romance, and adventure, shifting back and forth through historical and present narrative to slowly bring Addie’s situation to life. It’s exactly the type of slow-burning mystery that mesmerizes me; but in particular, the book stuck with me for two main reasons.
First, the writer’s style, which can really make or break a book. I’ve read some reviews heavily criticizing Schwab’s dynamic structure throughout the novel, but the choice made sense to me with the plot that she was crafting. To be less vague about it, her style is a mixture between prose and poetry, the latter of which only appears at the most crucial points in the story. It helps to foreshadow what’s to come, and establishes the poetic passages as turning points in the book. It was also an interesting artistic choice, making the book a lot more memorable.
Now, let’s talk pacing. Like I mentioned above, the story switches regularly from historical to modern time periods, giving the novel a puzzle-like feel. Throughout the book, we follow Addie’s adventures, both in the past and present, which Schwab deliberately links to eventually reveal the events that placed her into her situation. The unhurried exposition was the main thing which kept me hooked, from cover to cover.The second choice I liked in Addie LaRue was the ending. Everything Schwab mentions in the book seems to serve a larger purpose, and there are probably numerous easter eggs I missed in my first read-through which hint towards the story’s resolution. I promise you, no matter how much of a book detective you take yourself for, you will not see the end coming; but it all makes sense.If there’s one thing about me, it’s that I love when an ending circles back to the beginning, wrapping everything like a present—I mean, who doesn’t? Well, this book does exactly that. I could go on and on and on about the end because as soon as I finished the book, I knew how hard it would be to find another ending to top it; but, I digress. Read the book, and you’ll see what I mean.Now that I’ve talked about all the things I love about Addie LaRue, there is one small detail that holds it back from five stars: the romance. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a sucker for a good romance. In fact, I might even say it’s my favorite genre. But the romance in this book just felt a bit forced. Like, there’s only one person who remembers her, so she falls in love with him? If it was a different guy with a completely different personality, would she fall in love with him too? The progression was just a little too quick for my liking. Then again, the love story is just a side note to Addie’s greater adventure, so it’s not the biggest critique – just a picky detail, more of personal preference. It would take a lot to overshadow the effect the ending had on me, though.
For anyone looking for the perfect mystery adventure, this one’s for you. It’ll be pretty hard to put down, I promise you that. It has a bit of mythology and romance mixed into it, enhancing the magic the book makes you feel, but mainly follows one girl through centuries of trying to make her mark on the world who can’t seem to remember her; and somehow, in the end, she manages to do just that.

Internships for Students

10 activities. All 10 of them should be related to your ”intended major” while at the same time showing you have “passions.” College applications have been getting more competitive by the year.Several activities, like internships, can help you fill those 10 spaces. However, can they fulfill you and provide an enjoyable and worthwhile experience? Now, that’s something to ask yourself.You might struggle with finding unique extracurriculars that you enjoy doing and, at the same time, provide you with proper work experience. For example, you could be a prospective journalist who interns with a local newspaper office, but if your only job is filling out paperwork, that doesn’t fulfill your desire to write and share your voice with the public.NAi, a student-led lit magazine, is a platform for student creativity. We publish a wide range of student work, from paintings and photography to poems and stories. Recently, NAi has evolved into an independent organization, and we're expanding our team. This is your chance to lead, propose new ideas, and actively participate in the new and improved NAi. Internship applications are now open, allowing you to make a real impact as a student.NAi has something for everyone, with departments for social media, finance management, editing, writing, and website design.Our social media team advertises our issues and creates short-form content to expand our reach and recruit more members. Reaching a larger audience requires extensive strategic planning.One wildcard position we have is financial management. As a part of this team, you have the chance to manage our new non-profit structure, fundraising, and budgeting. If you want to explore a career in business management, this position is perfect for you!Editors view our submissions and explain to the editorial board whether to reject or accept submissions. They also provide feedback to contributors.Our graphic design team leads the creation of the issue's spreads. If you enjoy art and design, this is something to consider.Website designers play a large part in maintaining our brand and visibility. As a part of this department, you would help create and update our website and ensure high SEO stats. This is an excellent opportunity if you’re considering a career in Computer Science or Web Development.An exciting part of NAi is our blog about media, books, movies, and more! If you’d love to contribute, apply to be a writer. You'll have a significant role in choosing how we connect with other youth on our website.NAi is a place of growth and opportunity. We have internships available for all students, offering the chance to boost your college applications and gain valuable experience. More than that, being part of our team can provide a sense of fulfillment and enjoyment as you pursue your passions.Apply now to be a part of our team and grow with NAi! Your future career starts here.

Young Writers – an interview with Apuroopa Kavikondala

By: Catherine Xue

Learn more about this exciting young writer and her work!I. IntroductionRecently, I’ve had the honor of interviewing Apuroopa Kavikondala, a published teen author and a passionate advocate for mental health.For those unfamiliar with Apuroopa, she is a junior in high school that has published four books, one of her most recent releases being Us AF, a story which follows three main protagonists as they navigate the final years of their high school life. Outside of being a published author, she’s a dancer, martial artist and a social animal that aspires to make an impact and highlight the gravity of mental health.In this interview, I was able to ask her a few questions about her general publishing/writing process, as well as more focused questions on Us AF. Read more here.