"Find Your Thing" Anonymous

“Your order #30114391 has arrived!”

I examine the envelope. It’s bright red and covered with small, white doodles surrounding the words “Find Your Thing.” It looks chaotic and somewhat outlandish. Slowly, I open the envelope, revealing a purple sticker of Minnesota inside. I meticulously peel away the backing of the sticker and stick it onto my water bottle. With that sticker begins a journey.

Since eighth grade, I have covered my blue Nalgene water bottle with various stickers. Initially, I simply collected stickers that I thought looked cool but over time, collecting stickers has transcended its face value and become an important catalyst for self-discovery. I have not only learned more about myself, but I’ve also learned invaluable lessons about the world around me.

I’ve learned that the world is ruled by stickers. From bumper stickers to water bottle stickers, stickers serve as a means for self-expression and give valuable insight about a person’s passions and interests. And I am certainly no exception. Every sticker on my Nalgene reveals a unique aspect of my personality. There’s the Colorado sticker representing my wanderlust, the ABBA sticker for my love of all things music, and the Bob Ross sticker for my dynamic...