Letter from the Editor

The Issue

Intention Intention Intention

Natalie Leinbach

E d i t o r - i n - C h i e f

I first heard about Monumental Magazine before it was officially named. At that time it was simply an idea. Our founder, Erin, believed that the University of Maryland paves a path for its community to do exceptional things. It was her goal to highlight these things as they relate to fashion, beauty, and lifestyle. With this intention, Monumental Magazine was born and it will be my intention to continue to support this goal and its growth. Since it’s conception, our publication has evolved to do more. It seeks to generate a space for young creatives to express themselves, practice their skills, showcase their abilities, and most importantly to interpret, critique, and reshape the world. With that mission in mind, I am ecstatic to introduce our first issue: The Intention Issue.

It’s fitting that our first edition is dubbed The Intention Issue. During almost a year of lockdown conditions, we were forced to reflect on our behaviors, activities, and standpoints. After this period of introspection, we were granted the unique opportunity to enter into a year with new intentions unlike any before it. We chose intention as the theme of this issue to reflect this unique opportunity. The art pieces housed within these pages highlight purposeful ideas, deliberative action, and calculated thought. This issue is meant to consider where we have collectively been, where we are going, and where we could go. Intention is what we need more of in the world. Intention can create. It can define. It can change. It can inform. It can help you show up. With a unique set of challenges posed in the last year and the promise of opportunity on the horizon, we take aim. Every day, we attempt to seize purpose. We get to choose to plan or not plan, to do or not do, to try or not try. Ask yourself; What matters most to you? What direction do you want to travel? Sometimes it’s overwhelming to figure that out. But if you know you want to get somewhere, setting intentions can only help you get there. Look closely at your target, evaluate it with scrutiny, and intend to hit it.

This is, without a doubt, a monumental occasion. For you to read these words and to see these images is something that has been on my mind every day for over a year now. So from the bottom of my heart, I thank you for reading. I thank you for engaging with the writers, photographers, stylists, fashion-lovers, and designers who worked hard to make this happen. The idea for this magazine all started with the intention to create. For me, this magazine has created a place for me to grow closer towards reaching my full creative potential, a place to practice leadership, dependability, and teamwork, and a place to make time and space for creativity. I hope it can inspire other students to do the same. It’s hard for me to translate my enthusiasm about this edition into words and impossible to fully express the hard work of our staff that lives within these pages. So I think it’s time for you to turn the page and see for yourself.