Change is the only constant – the Palatinate

Author: Ayasha Nordiawan

I’ve never been good with change, and yet it doesn’t bother me. New schools, changing friendships. Over time, these changes intensified – I moved across continents, watched my siblings grow older, felt like I was growing out of the cities I once thought I belonged to. I may not handle change well, but change is the only constant, as the Greek philosopher Heraclitus reminds us. He famously said, “Everything changes and nothing stays still; You can’t step into the same stream twice.”

As much as I resist change, I like to think I’ve grown with it. I recently came across a diary I kept when I was sixteen. I cringed as I read some of the entries, but I was still struck by how important certain things were to my younger self. In a way, it’s comforting to have a window into my past and see how time transforms us. In the same way, the world around us is constantly changing.

This issue of Indigo focuses on the theme of ‘generational change’. In these pages we explore the tension between past and future, looking back and moving forward. Over the sixteen years of its existence, Indigo has undergone many transformations, and each edition shaped the magazine in a unique way. Looking through the archives recently, I was struck by the subtle changes that have taken place over time – how Indigo has come to favor illustrations over photography, or how we now imagine it rebranded as a magazine that showcases not only student life, but also art and culture in all their nuances in Durham.

Heraclitus might have said that you cannot step into the same stream twice, but I believe that traces of the past remain even as we evolve. I see it in how I repeat the words of my mother, a generation apart and yet connected, carrying her habits and values ​​with her even as times change.

As I graduate, my time as Indigo’s editor is slowly coming to an end. Soon I will hand over the magazine to new editors, and it will continue to change and develop. However, I hope that during my tenure I have left a mark, just as Indigo still bears traces of its beginnings. Its essence remains even as it evolves. Amid all this talk about change, art holds a special place – it immortalizes moments, allowing them to live on even as time moves forward. It’s like a time capsule, preserving what has been before it’s released back into the world in a new form.

As I continue my journey with Indigo, I find myself reflecting on the changes that have shaped both the magazine and me personally. It’s an honor to be part of this ongoing transformation, knowing that the magazine’s development reflects the changing dynamics of the world around us. Change is inevitable, but it is also what keeps Indigo alive and thriving.

In this release you will find a collection of songs that capture the essence of this “generational change”. Beautifully illustrated by our amazing illustration editor, Ashley Zhou, our cover shows how pop culture has changed over the years. Inside, from thoughtful reflections on bread as a form of protest and reflections on how Fowler fits into Durham’s new culture, this issue is a testament to the power of embracing the past and moving confidently into the future. I hope it inspires you to reflect on your own journey and see change not as an end, but as the beginning of something new.

Image credit: Jessica Daniels