Raise your hand up if you have been mentally, emotionally, and physically drained by covid; also, raise your hand up if you have been less energised and low-key motivated to continue working, whether on a piece of art, writing or even yourself. And finally, raise your hand up, if at one point during the intermittent lockdowns and itchy mandatory face masks, you broke down into tears because you felt unsupported by the people around you.

 

Hi, and welcome to Youth Digest.

 

If you have put your hand up all three times, let me remind you that it’s okay to feel the way you have been feeling the past couple of years. You’re not alone. My anxiety and I had a hard time coping with all the sudden changes happening and my panic attacks have gotten worse.

 

We all seek inspiration; not only as artists, but as human beings. Every day we look for something that turns our heads and makes our hearts beat a little faster. We search for it in fashion, in the films we watch, the music we listen to. The books we read, the art and people we admire. Our continual quest to find inspiration encourages us to leave our comfort zone. To explore the different and unexpected, and to head towards those new horizons.

 

I, not long ago, left my comfort zone for a job interview as a Features Writer for a magazine that a) make features about growing veggies and b) writes articles on “the golden rules of stain removal.” Despite Good Housekeeping not being my cup of tea, I still went through this interview. And I don’t lie to you when I say what an awkward interview this was. Two, middle-aged white women appeared on my screen, and I kid you not, I could feel the heat of their judgements through both their starring.

 

After a long 45 minutes of pure awkwardness, I realised that I wasn’t a fit for such magazine. I don’t follow traditionalism. I like changes. I believe changes are made for better causes. I like trends, I follow them. And in such case, I trust on the power of social media (and before you judge me here, yes, I know I just sounded like a big, fat millennial, *eye-roll*)

 

Now, was this a huge mistake and a waste of my precious time? Maybe. But it all ends up becoming a learning mechanism. As you can imagine, I didn’t get the job, but instead, I got an email where it stated the same reasons, I knew why I wasn’t a fit for such magazine, along the words “we consider you a threat for change.”

 

So, Youth Digest happened. There has never been a better time to be young and set up your own voice. As a stubborn, Asian individual that I am, this “threat for change” wasn’t going to sit back with her arms crossed over her chest. Thanks to this interview, the people I met from Good Housekeeping, I got inspired into creating an art magazine aiming to discover new, generation artists.

 

Diversity and multiculturalism are a huge source of inspiration at Youth Digest. This issue showcases the work of students and graduates, ranging from designers to photographers, writers, illustrators, and everyone between, taking a step into this beautiful, exciting, and inspirational world, showing you what it really has to offer behind the scenes of the much-loved creative industry.

 

We hope that you will be inspired as we have. 🐝 kind and stay happy x