Irene Qiao

I’ll always remember my grandmother’s stories from times of famine. But I also recognize that I inherited behaviors formed in response to trauma. Once necessary for survival, behaviors such as hoarding or consuming spoiled food now cause more harm than good. Likewise, living in a state of constant preparation for disaster can prevent us from fully embracing the present.Survival is not a passive act. In order to survive, our ancestors have made ingenious adaptations, finding ways to wring nourishment from a parched earth. These adaptations are gifts that we must hold close as we face an uncertain future.