Science and Technology Editor
As students, we often become accidental archivists: Whether it be old class notes or miscellaneous campus merch, our lives are often full of these collections. Sometimes, our collections of what initially appears as trash become treasured. Students also move a lot, resulting in an annual cycle of packing and unboxing, which makes it difficult to sustain one’s collections. Getting rid of belongings should be easy, but sometimes parting with the things one spent time and money collecting seems impossible.
I have been collecting books ever since I first learned to read, and it was not until I moved away for university that I even considered giving them away. Moving halfway around the world to attend university sounded like an adventure, until I realized that I had to fit my whole life into two 23-kilogram suitcases. I had not reread many of the books in my collection in years—being too busy with academics, life, and discovering new books—and they were certainly too heavy to transport to a new continent, just for them to collect dust. When I was younger, I defined myself through my books, as they offered me much needed company and adventure. While it was daunting to say goodbye to something I had treasured for years, moving away and travelling gave me a new perspective.