Literature’s been one of my greatest passions since elementary school. Whenever I pick up a book, I recall my toddler days when my father read to me every time I prepared to enter the world of slumber. He read numerous stories to me, such as The Cat in the Hat and Toy Story. Sometimes, I read along to hone my reading skills.
Every time my father read to me, my interest in literature expanded like a balloon. In fifth grade, I began reading literature nonstop, picking up as many books as I could from local bookstores and libraries. In middle school, I read a lot of young adult novels. A few I remember are The Giver, Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, Twilight, Divergent, and The Maze Runner. In high school, I expanded my book pile by reading historical fiction classics, action and adventure stories, books comprised of fantasy worlds, essay collections, and memoirs. As a college student, I now read books that span a wide variety of genres, including romance, science fiction, historical fiction, action and adventure, memoir, nonfiction, and LGBTQIA+ literature.
Although my current literature collection is incredibly diverse, there are a few genres I haven’t touched on until recently. One is graphic novels.
About a week ago, I interviewed Connor Szrejna, a University of Connecticut student who recently published the fifth book of “What’s Going Andre,” an ongoing graphic novel series. The interview inspired me to read the entire sequence, and let me tell you, if there’s any story collection that vividly paints my personality, the “What’s Going Andre” series really hits home.
To give you some background, “What’s Going Andre” follows the story of Andre Bernard, a young man who’s Jenny and the Animal Farm’s percussionist. Throughout the series, Bernard is confronted with challenges that impact him and his relationship with his friends, Jenny and Reggie.
There are many ways the series relates to me. From characters to plot, “What’s Going Andre” is a mirror of my life. The more I read it, the more I realize I’m not alone, that there are people whose experiences echo mine.
Bernard’s Nature Manifests My Mental Health
Of all characters in the “What’s Going Andre” series, Bernard is who I relate to the most. I remember reading the series for the first time, and I thought, wow, Bernard is a spitting image of my psyche! There were occasions when I read something that Bernard felt or did, and I immediately connected it to one of my own experiences.
Bernard is a very anxious character; there are many times when he’s paranoid about upsetting someone or not completing something on time. As someone who has anxiety, I can recall the million times when I was worried about many things, including people, money, and maintaining a healthy diet.
Before reading the “What’s Going Andre” series, I’ve never read stories that feature characters with anxiety. Therefore, reading it was a precious moment.
Jenny and the Animal Farm Speaks To My Music Passion
One thing I love about the series is Jenny and the Animal Farm. Not only does it contribute to Bernard’s personality, but it makes the series revolve around music, one of my favorite life elements.
Jenny and the Animal Farm consists of Bernard, Jenny, and Reggie. As I mentioned, Bernard’s the percussionist. Meanwhile, Jenny is the lead singer, while Reggie is the guitarist. They perform in many of the series’ books, including “What’s Going Andre: On the Farm.”
I’ve relished music since infancy. Throughout my life, I’ve listened to countless artists, including Taylor Swift, Shakira, Enimen, DMX, and so many more. I’ve also listened to various bands, such as Imagine Dragons and Indigo Girls. One of my all-time favorite artists is Sui Generis, an Argentine band from the 1970s.
Music isn’t just an interest; it’s etched in my soul. Because of that, I love it whenever I read a story that has a band or musician in it. Therefore, Jenny and the Animal Farm makes the “What’s Going Andre” series an even more delightful read.
“What’s Going Andre: On The Move” Relates To My Time Struggles
Not only do characters like Bernard illustrate my personality, but some of the series’ topics represent me as well. A major part of the series that speaks to me is “What’s Going Andre: On the Move’s” plot. What the book’s all about is Bernard trying to make it to rehearsal on time while dealing with setbacks that hinder his journey.
As someone who’s constantly balancing half a dozen extracurriculars with 18 credits of coursework, I know what it’s like to have setbacks when trying to accomplish a task on time. I’ve had days where I was on the way to class, and I realized an assignment was due in a few hours, leaving me with no other choice but to rush through it. There were other moments where my Honors Council meeting ended 20 minutes before my Creative Writing Club meeting, forcing me to rush halfway across UConn’s campus to make it on time. Because of my frequent fights with time, I can relate a lot to Bernard’s experiences in “What’s Going Andre: On the Move.”
The Series’ People Pleasing Depiction Reminds Me To Be Myself
One of the critical themes of “What’s Going Andre: On the Spot (Part 1)” and “What’s Going Andre: On the Spot (Part 2)” is people-pleasing, where you do something just to appease someone. In both of the graphic novels, Christie, one of Jenny and the Animal Farm’s former members, convinces Bernard to perform one of her songs at a school event called the Winter Formal. Despite not wanting to do it, Bernard does so because of peer pressure. However, when his time to perform comes, Bernard panics, preventing him from performing the song.
People-pleasing is one of the worst things I’ve confronted. In high school, I always worried about aggravating someone whenever I said no to one of their requests. Because of that, I’ve done things that satisfied them but made me miserable.
“What’s Going Andre: On the Spot (Part 1)” and “What’s Going Andre: On the Spot (Part 2)” remind me to defy people-pleasing. After reading the graphic novels for the first time, I remembered that when it comes to decisions, you do what makes you happy, not what brings everyone else joy. While some might become agitated if you refuse to do something for them, it’s better to do that than appease them but degrade your own emotions or life.
“What’s Going Andre: On The Spot (Part 2)’s” Ending Showcases All the Support I Have
Before meeting Szrejna, I read “What’s Going Andre: On the Spot (Part 2)” to prepare for my interview with him. When I scrolled through the final page, I finished the book with a huge impression of the ending. One of my first thoughts about it was that it’s one of the most heartwarming ways to end a story, especially one with a main character who suffers from anxiety and peer pressure.
As I mentioned, Bernard gets forced to perform one of Christie’s songs at the Winter Formal. At the event, he never performs the song because of a massive panic attack. Christie becomes infuriated and humiliates Bernard in front of everyone. Security eventually drags Christie off the stage, leaving Bernard in anguish. Despite Bernard ditching them, Jenny and Reggie console him, demonstrating friendship’s powerful impact on a person’s feelings.
There were times when I had a breakdown or felt unmotivated. Those who are close to me remind me that I’m amazing and have a lot of potential. The comfort that Jenny and Reggie give Bernard at the end of “What’s Going Andre: On the Spot (Part 2)” mirrors the support I have from all my friends and peers.
Not only do I have companions and friends to look up to, but I receive a ton of love from my family as well. Like my friends and colleagues, my family is here for me every single day. Whenever I feel down, they remind me of my strength and ability to succeed.
Final Thoughts
Until recently, graphic novels didn’t have a huge place on my literature shelf. However, thanks to the “What’s Going Andre” series, I now have a colossal interest in them. As I continue my second year at UConn, I look forward to reading more graphic novels and finding ways they tie into my life.
One last thing I’d like to say is thank you, Szrejna, for crafting a remarkable story collection. You have such incredible writing and art skills that I can never imitate. Interviewing you was an honor, and so was reading the “What’s Going Andre” series. Keep writing fascinating stories, and I look forward to reading future “What’s Going Andre” issues!