Peanut is an exchange student from the United States currently experiencing his final week in Canada before returning to his home state of Idaho. As a student of forensic chemistry, he brings a unique blend of scientific inquiry and personal advocacy to the table, particularly regarding the communities that have shaped his identity. Throughout his time abroad, he has navigated the differences between the Canadian and American cultural landscapes, reflecting on how geography influences one’s sense of safety and belonging. Today, we sit down with him to discuss the nuances of the furry fandom, the friction between scientific data and political emotion, and the real-world impact of LGBTQ2+ legislation.

The furry community is often misunderstood by those on the outside, but it is essentially a gathering of enthusiasts for anthropomorphic animals—characters with human characteristics similar to those found in films like Zootopia. Much like the Marvel or DC fandoms, what truly draws people in is a welcoming, friendly atmosphere that prioritizes acceptance for LGBTQ+ individuals and other minority groups who may feel marginalized elsewhere. For many members, the community serves as a vital sanctuary where they can shed the restrictive personas they are forced to wear in the public eye and simply be themselves. In a world that can often feel hostile or scary, this group provides a necessary social anchor, proving Aristotle’s sentiment that humans are social animals who crave a community where their fears and identities are met with empathy rather than judgment.

When it comes to the intersection of science and politics, the perspective of a forensic chemistry student reveals a troubling trend where factual data is often secondary to emotional narrative. Science is frequently brought to the forefront of political debate, yet it is often twisted by both sides to fit pre-existing viewpoints, or ignored entirely when it conflicts with what people want to believe. This tension is rooted in the "backfire effect," where individuals double down on their beliefs when presented with contradictory evidence, leading to a climate where ideology frequently overshadows objective truth. Watching scientific facts get buried by fear or political maneuvering is a source of constant frustration, leaving those in the field with few options other than to focus on self-protection and personal distractions while the public debate continues to struggle with the societal impact of scientific discovery.

The political climate regarding social issues and LGBTQ+ rights is not just a matter of debate for Peanut; it is a lived experience that has shaped his journey from Idaho to Canada. Coming from a deeply conservative area, he describes the heavy weight of a culture that forced him to hide his identity as both a furry and a gay man to avoid harassment, even receiving advice from family to not "draw attention" to himself. This environment creates a profound sense of being unwanted by one's own state and country, a stark contrast to the relative acceptance he has felt during his time in Canada. The human consequence of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation is that it targets people who are simply existing and doing no harm, forcing them to navigate a world where those in power actively use their energy to restrict lives that have no negative impact on the general public.

In reflecting on these diverse topics, it becomes clear that the common thread is a search for authenticity and objective truth in an increasingly polarized world. Whether through the supportive network of the furry fandom or the rigorous standards of forensic chemistry, Peanut’s experiences highlight the ongoing struggle to align personal identity with societal expectations. As he prepares to head back to Idaho, his insights serve as a reminder that politics and science are never just abstract concepts; they translate into real human consequences for those caught in the middle.

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Today I asked University students on what they would say to their childhood-selves

There were many heartfelt answers. It seems that many would talk kindly to their childhood-selves and tell them everything is gonna be okay.

When we are kids. It seems that everything just happens to us. That is why we must try our best to be there for the kids because they are the next generation.

Let us spread love.

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Eunju Park is a visionary Hanji artist from Korea who transforms the traditional craft of paper-making into a profound medium for emotional restoration. Hanji, a resilient and beautiful traditional Korean paper, serves as the foundation for her unique creative process where she meticulously tears and assembles the material to form intricate Korean letters. These characters are not merely linguistic symbols but are vessels for deeply held positive messages intended to resonate with the viewer’s soul. Through her art, Eunju bridges the gap between ancient heritage and contemporary healing, inviting us into a world where the act of creation is a deliberate step toward light and resilience.

The genesis of Eunju’s artistic journey is rooted in a profound personal tragedy: the loss of her father to suicide nine years ago. At the time, she was a young mother of two, and the weight of unresolved grief eventually manifested as a deep depression that began to fracture her personal relationships. It was during this period of darkness that she discovered the music of BTS, whose themes of self-love and hope reignited her creative spark. Choosing Hanji allowed her to reconnect with her Korean identity while finding a tactile way to process her sorrow. By tearing the paper, she found she could deconstruct her pain, and by assembling it into uplifting words, she began to reconstruct her own life, turning a legacy of loss into a vibrant practice of cultural preservation and personal survival.

Eunju’s experience with depression and mental health was marked by a painful realization of how her internal struggle affected her family, creating a household atmosphere of tension and guilt. In a culture where mental health often carries a heavy stigma and her father's death was shrouded in silence, she had to find the courage to take responsibility for her own healing. She discovered that while grief must be felt, one cannot remain in it forever; art became the vehicle that allowed her to move from self-pity to self-love. By sharing her story openly, she breaks the traditional silence surrounding mental illness, offering her journey as a testament to the fact that finding a passion, something that "lights you up" is a vital tool for sustaining long-term mental well-being.

Through this intersection of tragedy and craft, Eunju’s understanding of the purpose of life has evolved into a mission of radical acceptance and the spreading of hope. She no longer sees life as a series of events to be controlled, but as a journey to be accepted, a perspective further solidified by her recent diagnosis of leukemia. Her art serves as a visual reminder that even when we cannot change our circumstances, we can change our internal response to them. When people encounter her work, Eunju hopes they feel the same profound sense of comfort that she felt during her recovery, realizing through the delicate textures of Hanji that hope is not just a feeling, but a choice that can be beautifully and tangibly expressed.

In conclusion, Eunju Park’s work stands as a powerful bridge between the fragility of the human experience and the enduring strength of the spirit. By weaving her father’s memory, her battle with depression, and her cultural heritage into every fiber of her Hanji pieces, she offers the world a roadmap for turning vulnerability into a source of universal inspiration. Her story reminds us that while we may be torn by life’s hardships, we have the power to reassemble ourselves into something even more meaningful. Eunju’s art is a gift of "radical acceptance," proving that within the characters of a language and the texture of a paper, one can find the courage to live a life fueled by purpose and unyielding hope.

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