On Returning

 I’ve migrated a lot within my life. Born in Virginia, I hadn’t spent a year on this earth before my mother decided to move back down to South Florida to be in the company of friends and family. Concepts of love, friendships, and admiration have also seen me take flight in the hopes of trusting that there exists more for me out in the wild. Sometimes when I migrate, the person or thing I’m migrating from will experience a revelation of their own and start the process of their own flight. Most times though, it’s just me. 

This past summer I got the chance to read Ocean Vuong’s “On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous”. The story acts as a partial memoir, with Vuong detailing his experiences through metaphors and visceral images. When looking for inspiration to help write this piece, my mind kept flashing over a quote from the book where when discussing memories, Vuong states: “The monarchs that fly south will not make it back north. Each departure, then, is final. Only their children return; only the future revisits the past” (Vuong 8). This statement makes it clear that the person we return as upon coming back to a moment is not the same person that disembarked the first time. I’ve felt this way when I’d make my yearly visits to Virginia, the faces of my family aging after each year. There I am reminded of my own mortality and can choose to live life freely. 

The journey that's taken  always leaves me better equipped for my ride back, similar to a caterpillar going through metamorphosis. I’m able to bring a new light to what I’d once taken in blind. This process of rebuilding isn’t limited to individuals but extends toward every facet of life. The return of The FAMUAN in print highlights that fact. It’s been over four years since our words were seen on physical paper. Many students have come and gone, and many stories were shared through other mediums. Editors and staff writers didn’t spend this time leisurely, but cococooned with intent. We’ve gathered life experiences and learned how to craft better stories. We have returned from our migration, and now offer what we’ve seen back to you.