Expanding My Mind, One Awkward Step at a Time

Expansion. It sounds grand, doesn’t it? Like something galaxies do or billionaires discuss over overpriced lattes. But let’s be real—expansion is messy. It’s tripping over your own feet while trying to level up. It’s realizing halfway through an argument that you’re wrong but committing anyway. It’s growing pains—just without the luxury of a growth spurt.

I used to think expansion meant big, dramatic breakthroughs—like mastering a new language overnight or suddenly becoming a deep philosophical thinker. Turns out, it’s more like accidentally signing up for a gym membership and convincing yourself you’ll go (spoiler: you won’t). Expansion isn’t always loud and obvious; sometimes, it’s as simple as choosing to learn instead of staying comfortable.

For me, books have always been my personal expansion toolkit—cheaper than therapy and more effective than staring at the ceiling at 2 a.m. Beloved by Toni Morrison, for example, didn’t just introduce me to breathtaking prose—it dragged me through an emotional rollercoaster, made me rethink history, love, and identity, and left me staring at the wall in existential dread. That’s the kind of expansion I signed up for. But personal growth? Oh, that’s where it gets tricky. Because real expansion involves stepping outside your comfort zone—which, let’s be honest, is an uncomfortable place to be. It means trying new things, like public speaking (where my voice mysteriously develops a tremor) or socializing at networking events (where I inevitably end up by the snack table, questioning life choices).

As a writer, expansion means writing badly before writing well,experimenting with different styles, and sometimes looking back at old work and wondering, *Who let me publish this?. It’s realizing that perfection is a myth and that growth comes from the willingness to try, fail, and occasionally embarrass yourself in the process.

On a larger scale, expansion is what drives change. It’s why society evolves, why ideas shift, and why we (thankfully) no longer wear powdered wigs. Every revolution, every cultural movement, every moment of human progress has been fueled by people willing to unlearn, rethink, and challenge the status quo.

So, what is growth to me? It is answering yes to things that terrify me, welcoming the cringe- worthy learning curve, and accepting that I most likely will trip over my own feet in the process.

It’s embracing the getting-used-to-being-uncomfortable and understanding that the only path forward is to continue expanding—even if it means being a little ridiculous in the process.

This internship? Another expansion moment. A chance to stretch my writing muscles, connect with like-minded creatives, and probably make a few mistakes along the way (which I will, of course, play off as “artistic choices”). But that’s the fun of it.

Because expansion isn’t just about how far we go—it’s about how many times we get up, dust ourselves off, and keep moving forward. Preferably, without tripping.

Mari Priyadharshini

Meet the Author:

I'm Mari Priyadharshini, a Master's graduate in English Literature. Passionate about the power of words, I believe writing can inspire, educate, and connect people across time. Literature is my gateway to shaping perspectives, and I aspire to craft meaningful narratives that leave a lasting impact and make a difference.