Lauren Brill
theunsealed's Letters
Dear 2022,
When the clock struck midnight on January 1st, 2022, I had high hopes for you – the upcoming year. I planned to build a new feature on The Unsealed – a pen pal system allowing users to post their content and write to each other. I was hopeful that this would be the “it” factor that would take my company to the next level. I thought I…read more
Dear Gabrielle Union,
When I was a teenager, you starred in the most popular movies of my generation, such as She’s All That and Bring It On. Your career has stood the test of time, but for me (and the world), your relevance extends well beyond your movie credits.
At a young age, you helped lay the foundation for a life I didn’t even yet…read more
Dear Unsealed Community,
When I was 19 years old, I knew exactly what I wanted. I wanted to chase my dream as a sportscaster. In pursuit of that dream, I started working at the NBA. I commuted two hours from Columbia University to New Jersey, three days a week, because I was committed. I wanted to network with people who worked in sports. I…read more
Dear Mom,
You once told me that you don’t worry about me because you know no matter what, I will always be OK. You said to me that throughout my life, whatever challenges I faced, I somehow always managed to persevere. You told me you know me better than anyone else. After all, you’re not only my mother but also my best friend.
You know eve…read more
To The Unsealed Community,
When I graduated high school, I honestly didn’t know what to expect from myself.
After getting waitlisted, I got accepted to Columbia in mid-June of my senior year of high school. At the time, Columbia ranked top five in the nation. And while I was thrilled to be accepted, there was a part of me that was unsure i…read more
To The Unsealed Community,
When I was ten years old, I was in love.
I grew up in the 1990s, and like most other girls in my generation, I thought Jonathan Taylor Thomas, aka JTT, was my future husband. He played Randy on Tim Allen’s Home Improvement. I had posters of him in my room, and I listened to love songs imagining the two of us on l…read more
To The Unsealed Community,
There was a period when I was 24 years old when I was drowning in guilt, stress, and confusion. I was engaged to an incredible person. But, sadly, my beautiful ring felt more like a handcuff than a gift, as it chained me to a life I was not yet ready to live. How was I supposed to tell someone who loved me, encouraged…read more
To The Unsealed Community,
Typically, I am not someone who visibly shows the world how I feel. Whether it was a big loss in sports as a teenager or in fourth grade when a boy pretended to throw up when he found out I liked him, I have often, without even trying, kept a poker face.
But how I look doesn’t always reflect how I feel.
During m…read more
Dear Mom and Dad,
When I was a child, we went on trips to Disney World, Aruba, California, and Vermont. We went to zoos and parks and all sorts of places. I played soccer worldwide, as we traveled as far as Italy to compete. While each of those memories is special, one of my favorite memories growing up is a bit simpler.
Every day from first…read more