Volume 2: Reminiscence

Echolalia proudly presents our very first printed journal containing 35 unique pieces, each with their own personally designed pages.

Volume 2: Reminiscence contains 49 pieces ranging from prose, poetry, photography, and illustrations. Our printed journal showcases many of them but not all. Please visit here to read all our curated pieces.

The word “reminiscence” is an evocative word that encapsulates the profound and multifaceted nature of memories. As defined by the Oxford dictionary, the act of reminiscing involves indulging in the enjoyable memories of the past. However, we seek to challenge that: Is it only in the good that we are able to reminisce? Is it possible to reminisce upon moments of pain, discomfort and growth? What does that look like? What could that look like? The act of reminiscing goes beyond mere recollection, but asks the individual to dive into the emotional, cultural, and transformative aspects of one’s own history – be it a perceived, fragmented, borrowed or self-proclaimed history.

This year, Echolalia invited writers and artists to explore the different aspects of reminiscence:

• The emotional tapestry of one’s past — whether it’s nostalgia, joy, pain, numbness, anger, etc;
• The ways significant moments, lost opportunities, or illuminating experiences shape us today;
• The cultural threads that bind us to our heritage and one’s understanding of themselves through the richness of their diverse background;
• The impact past personal and cultural experiences have on our future: do they help guide us on the proper path ahead or act as barriers against change and growth?

While our previous volume focused more on the present and philosophical aspects of perspective, we hoped to take a more emotionally-prioritizing approach in this chapter of Echolalia and look into the past. Drawing from our unique backgrounds and experiences, we hoped to highlight the diverse community at UCI, unveiling the personal journeys that led each student to their meaningful presence here.