Today I walked through campus and noticed how the scenery had changed. The fallen leaves covered the trees and ground like a colorful flame, fading into a soft, yellowish-orange hue, almost like a flickering flame. I had always wondered what made the leaves slowly wilt, finally dying once the winter season arrived. Of course, science will explain it to you differently, but I’m going to use it as a metaphor for life.
The Seasons of Growth
We are all like trees. We start as small sprouts, and with time, we grow into something far greater than we once were. But growth never comes without challenge. In a tree’s case, the obstacles are storms, harsh winds, and changing seasons. But for us, they might be loss, heartbreak, or injury. When those challenges arise, it’s as if those leaves we spent so long growing begin to wilt. Their color fades, and one by one, they fall away. It’s a strangely beautiful process where transformation begins to look like decay.
The tree that was once lush and green becomes bare, its branches exposed to the cold. That’s what it feels like once we take on those obstacles. We feel empty, insecure, and inevitably alone. That feeling may linger, but the sun always finds its way back, and we begin to grow new leaves. That’s the cycle of life and of us. We grow, we break, we heal, and we rise again. That’s life. That’s nature. That’s us.
I Am Layna
If I were a tree, I’d be a willow. I’ve bent without breaking, adapting to live a more fulfilling life today. I’ve faced obstacles I never imagined I’d recover from, and yet here I am writing this blog, sharing my creative world, and I’m no longer afraid of being seen.
As someone who used to be awkward and quiet, I’ve grown new leaves. I’ve become bolder, louder, and more expressive than I ever thought I could be. As a sophomore in college working toward my degree in Advertising & PR, I’m learning how to transform that growth into creativity through storytelling, design, observation, and articulating the world around me.
I could tell you everything about myself right now, but I won’t. What I will say to you is this: my name is Malayna, but I go by Layna. I love my full name for its uniqueness, but high-school me decided she needed a “rebrand,” and the name just stuck.
The rest? You’ll learn as you follow along through the stories I share, the thoughts I explore, and the creative moments I release into this space.
Why I Created XOXO, Layna
I created XOXO, Layna, because I wanted a creative home — a place where my ideas, writing, and visuals could live and grow. As a creative college student, I’m constantly developing my creative skills, and I wanted a space that reflects that evolution.
This website is my digital canvas.
A place to experiment with my voice.
A place to share my perspective.
A place where creativity feels open, collaborative, and alive.
It’s also built for other creatives. It’s a space to explore, connect, and find inspiration just as I do when I create. In the coming weeks, I’ll be opening up about my creative projects, what fuels my inspiration, and reflecting on the ups and downs of my college experience. I hope you’ll join me.
Welcome to the beginning of it all.
Leave a Reply