Dear Readers,

Some ideas do not arrive all at once. They begin with a single action, a single image, a single feeling; something set into motion that continues long after the first moment has passed. What follows is not mere repetition, but a return shaped by time: a gesture answered, a thought revisited, a feeling resurfacing in a new form. Meaning, in this way, is not fixed to one instant. It unfolds gradually, through reflection, memory, and recurrence, each return carrying both the trace of what came before and the possibility of something new.

​This has always been present in every issue of Uprising. Across them all, certain questions, aesthetics, and emotions have continued to reappear, not as exact copies, but as evolving impressions. Each issue carries remnants of the ones before while shaping its own distinct perspective, creating a sense of continuity that ties every issue together.

Issue 21 especially brought this idea into focus. It made us realize that in every moment of our lives, we are leaving a lasting effect; not only on the things we see and interact with, but also on the people around us, the spaces we move through, the memories we attach ourselves to, and the objects we touch along the way. Even the smallest actions can extend beyond their original moment, creating impressions that continue to ripple outward in ways we may not immediately recognize. A conversation, a gesture, a passing encounter, or even a feeling can stay present long after it seems to have ended.

At the same time, those same people, places, and experiences leave their own marks on us. We are constantly being shaped by the relationships we build, the environments we inhabit, and the moments we carry forward with us. What we encounter does not simply pass through us without consequences; it stays, settles, and becomes part of how we see, feel, and move through that world. In that way, influence is never one-sided. We are always leaving something behind, while also becoming something new through what has been left with us. 

As you read Issue 21, we hope you can recognize not only the echoes of others, but more importantly, your own, and the lasting ways they shape the life you live.

Nathan Kasal & Lily Munnik; 2025-2026 Co-Editors-in-Chief
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