The year 2023 has undoubtedly been a rollercoaster ride for many. As we approach the year’s end, the Photography Department of The Granite Tower (GT) invites readers to hang in there together, united in the anticipation of a brighter tomorrow.

Dang Tran Minh Son

Society often decides what are the best things for us to do, and as youngsters, it always feels like we must do those at any price. Otherwise, we will be nugu: no one. For some, they thrive with just short guidelines, while others struggle to conform or do not have the privilege to even start. So could these outliers ever feel whole? My quirky friends, the best things might hide somewhere in your daily life, from the mountain slope on the way to school to the chubby cat that stops you for a second, to the spotlight beaming on your favorite artist’s stage. Hang in there and stay close to what speaks to you, while waiting for a day that your colors could proudly shine.

Jung Haine

There are those forgotten seasons in between the four seasons. Like when it is not really hot summer anymore, and the leaves have just started to brown but they have not fully turned into foliage. When the sky is so summer-blue that it is piercing, but there is this breeze of fresh, cool air that you can smell from the tip of your nose. The longing summer days have drifted into autumn, and autumn turns into brutal winter cold, unrelenting winds in a matter of days. At least for me, these kinds of transitory periods make my heart ache with yearning for what has already passed. Change is always hard… But I also came to believe that change is what helps us hang in there, because what we see at the end of the day is how beautiful a diverse pastiche of experiences could be nonetheless.

Son Jiho

In a world that is constantly changing and evolving, what sets us apart are our initial intentions and our character. The cultural values we have embraced since our youth, and our commitment to preserving them even in the face of external influences, stem from the inherent comfort found in the familiar. There is a certain reassurance in the old, often making us more at ease than with the new. Our recollections of past memories allow us to journey back to our younger selves, offering a glimpse into a time when we were different from the individuals we have become. These memories, though sometimes bittersweet, carry profound meaning for many. They serve as poignant markers of our personal history, reminding us of where we have been and how far we have come.