[Shelby’s super quick editor’s note: We’re no longer doing a final Gilmore Girls collaboration on Monday, July 31st, but instead all writing about the movie of the year, Barbie. If you’d like to share your thoughts on the movie alongside us—looking at you, Tina!—please check out our collab form. See you on Friday! Now onto Sydney…]
It feels so weird to write this, but this is my last piece for Our Trust Fund. It has been such a wild and wonderful ride over the last several years and I am so grateful to Shelby for bringing this group of women together on this project. Our Trust Fund was created as a space for us to share our truths, give some hot takes, and talk about things that are important to us. During a time that was filled with fear, distrust, and uncertainty, Shelby created a unique space for her friends to take cover in.
When brainstorming what I would write about for this last piece I wanted to make sure whatever I wrote embodied the experience I had while being part of OTF. As a group we came together and planned out what our last few collab pieces would be, but I wanted my piece to be special too. It truly took up such a big part of my life for the last few years and I wanted to honor that.
When I think back on the last 3 years, the thing that sticks out to me is how much more comfortable I am being myself and embracing things I love. I think that has been reflected in a lot of my writing for OTF. I have talked extensively about Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, and fanfiction. Some of these are things I have loved somewhat privately throughout my life out of fear of being judged or teased. Through OTF and the pandemic I have become more unabashedly proud of the things I like. I’ve become louder and taken up more space with these things and it has made me more confident.
Since the advent of OTF Taylor Swift has released 6 albums and embarked on the Eras Tour (which I attended), Harry Styles has released 1 album and toured for 2 years on Love On Tour (which I attended 4 times), and I went viral on TikTok for a video about Harry Styles fanfiction. All of these experiences I had in connection to these pop culture moments were made possible in part by OTF. I felt comfortable and supported in my pursuit of Fangirl Sydney™.
I am sad to say goodbye to OTF, but know that the growth I have experienced and the friendships I made along the way will remain. Every story has an end. But in life, every ending is just a new beginning.
Shit We’re Loving: WATCH
Sydney’s Pick: BARBIE
Last weekend the Barbie movie was released in theaters and was met with critical acclaim (duh).
“It’s a riotously entertaining candy-coloured feminist fable that manages simultaneously to celebrate, satirise and deconstruct its happy-plastic subject.” - The Guardian
“‘Barbie’ May Be the Most Subversive Blockbuster of the 21st Century.” - Rolling Stone
“In any case, Barbie is officially and unequivocally The Moment™, The Vibe™, The Toy™.” - NPR
“Gerwig’s satirical comedy-adventure … rips into sexist societal shortcomings by flipping them on their polypropylene-molded head.” - NME
Go see it if you haven’t. Come on Barbie, let’s go party!
Show Your Support: Global Girl Media
For our final OTF Show Your Support, I’ve chosen Global Girl Media (GGM), which develops the voice and media literacy of teenage girls and young women, ages 14-25, in under-served communities by teaching them to create and share digital journalism designed to improve scholastic achievement, ignite community activism and spark social change.
We change the storytellers so they can change the world.
Global Girl Media empowers young women to bring their often-overlooked perspectives onto the global media stage. By turning up the volume of girls’ voices globally, GGM promotes freedom of expression and strengthens substantive journalism that addresses historically marginalized voices. We do this while also building self-esteem, leadership capacity, and 21st-century skills. Founded in 2010, we are currently active in South Africa, Kosovo, Chicago, Los Angeles, Greece, London, and the Bay Area.
You can’t be what you can’t see. Our media tells us a lot about who we are and the stories we believe about ourselves. Yet, a female POV is under-published, under-broadcast, and under-streamed compared to a male POV. Now more than ever, women and girls of color need a place at the table to change the narrative. That’s where GGM comes in.
In the OTF fashion, we have already donated $200 to Global Girl Media and we encourage you to give and/or promote what you can.
Daily Intention:
Today I choose…
to be grateful.
Here’s some nifty buttons for you to press, enjoy: