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Sam Dragna

@20somethingbysam

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Existential, but cathartic
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Been a while… naturally I have a lot to share. 💌 by @20somethingbysam

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15 days ago

There are very few times in my life where I have been left speechless, but I will use every last breath in my lounges to encourage you to keep faith, love your neighbor, and never let evil make you feel small.

We are capable and powerful together💌 by @20somethingbysam

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8 months ago

hey. missed you💌 by @20somethingbysam

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a year ago

Conventionality ≠ Idealization by @20somethingbysam

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a year ago

The Audacity to be Misunderstood…

(Swipe to read)💌 by @20somethingbysam

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2 years ago

WTF Is A Waiting Season?

A tale as old as time, and dry as the Sahara: the dreaded “waiting season”.

No amount of books or podcasts can prepare you for the utter lonliness induced by taking a break from dating. The exhausted mantra of “finding yourself” becomes a sick joke once you convince yourself you’ve finally got it all figured out.

I’ve hit an epiphany in these last few months, as I myself previously identified in a season of waiting. But what the hell does that even mean?

In attempts to actually define what a “waiting” season is, I realized that the concept as a whole, not gonna lie— is a crock of shit.

Although defined as an intentional pause, how is waiting for romance benefitting you in the present? If the point of the season is to work on bettering yourself, what can you honestly accomplish while simply waiting for your better half?

Don’t get me wrong, I looooove love. But in big old 2025, it feels extremely regressive to imagine an entire generation of women just sitting idol when we have the opportunity to do and be ANYTHING.

Life can benefit with productive structure, but you dont have to define every chapter of your life because it’s just not possible.

Our lives are not meant to be predictable, but in a society that’s obsessed with labels, it can feel like a social requirement to defend your singleness as “waiting”.

Sometimes, and I’ll hold your hand when I say this, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO EXPLAIN YOURSELF. Don’t put choices you’ve made for yourself on trial, because 10/10 times you will be met with rebuttal from people who are incapable of critcal thinking.

In lou of Valentines week, let’s leave the defensive press conferences in the past. There’s so much life in front of you to be lived, and how sad would it be to look back on your single years with regret?!

Furthermore, I’ll present you with the task to not stress with lableing your life in “eras”. Instead, enthrall yourself in friendships, revisit your favorite creative outlet, and be present!

See you next time, Valentine💌 by @20somethingbysam

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2 years ago

Is The Risk Really Worth the Reward?

I’ll start by saying that I am aware of my creative lapse that has reflected on my lack of content in the recent…many…months.

Life has been really chaotic for lack of better words. School, friends, my house was broken into… a lot has been going on.

That being said, I have worked very hard in my years as an undergrad to not only be resilient, but remain optimistic when the times grow trying. I have been in one of those seasons.

This poses the question: what are you really supposed to do in the face of adversity?

The answer seems simple until you think about it enough - having time to visualize it when you’re physically raveling with it.

When you are faced with two options, to either work through your struggle of throw in the towel,
What option is really the easiest?

I have never really thrived in academia. I performed so poorly my first 2 years in college that my advisor told me I was going to be a student for 6 years before getting my degree.

As I sat in my sorority house bedroom, infested with kidney stones, I decided that I was going to find any which way to see to it that I was graduating on time.

I have not had a break from classes since the winter of 2022. I have taken at least 18 hours every semester for the last 2 years. Reminder, that I do not like school. I wanted to drop out. I struggled with friends. I missed my family. I was miserable.

After all the BS- sleepless nights and summers on zoom, I am graduating in a couple of months.

Leave it to me to always make things way more difficult than they need to be.

From this exhausting experience, although the work not yet finished, I can confidently say that the risk IS worth the reward, but that doesn’t go without moments of excrutiation.

Sometimes, we have two paths, one very contorted and visibly complicated, and another clearly short and possibly unsatisfying. Setting and reaching goals is not always a 2-step process. If you are brave enough to take the path uncharted, you might see that what you gain is far more valuable than the time spent.

I’m happy to be feeling creative again. I’ve missed my hobby, I’ve missed you.

Until next time💌 by @20somethingbysam

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2 years ago

The psycholgy of “Leave the party while it’s fun”

I have and will always live by this. You know those nights where you come home and stare at the ceiling because you are so happy with the path you can see yourself taking? Maybe the night of a first kiss, a picture-perfect day with friends, or the feeling of your favorite team beating their rival in the last seconds?

Those moments impact our brains more than we can even comprehend. Feelings that are so locked into our memory that even a faint smell can bring you butterflies.

There are few moments I look back on and appreciate the complicated but special value it’s had on my life: a way less cheesy way of comemmorating the “best day ever” of it all.

I always grew up a birthday diva, so I had to learn the hard way to lower my expectations when it comes to just about anything. With that being said, having less to anticpate leaves for more to be celebrated because it’s perfectly unprecedented.

When it comes to endorphin rushes, I have caught myself trying to turn it into routine, and setting intentions to “relish in the moment” for as long as I could.

Extrordinary moments have the name for a reason. Those “my life is a movie” days aren’t meant to signify the day-to-do life we live.

There is a term called Hedonic Adaptation in psychology, which is the process of our brains becoming familiarized with either positive or negative stimulus, causing ourselves to be less affected by them over time if they are constant.

I only recently learned this, and when I tell you I had a realllllll hard time coming to terms with it. We are biologically wired to keep chasing new ways to replace things that make us feel good. Not only feel good, but alive. As humans we crave connection over anything; it’s in our nature.

Hopefully you can use this as a reminder to not just run towards the butterfly moments. Every aspect of your life, good or bad, is leading you to where you need to be. Instead of longing after what can’t be recreated, enjoy the fleeting times you have right now. The days that feel stale are preparing you to feel even better when the amazing moments come into play. Feel alive through it all.

Until next time💌 by @20somethingbysam

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2 years ago

What happened to “Senioritis”?

This week, I packed up my closet in my childhood bedroom for the last time as a college student. Returning to my county college town for my senior year, I’m feeling a completely different array of emotions compared to what I was feeling the last time around.

When I was a 17 year old senior, my state was on lockdown because of covid. My first day of school was spent in my room on my laptop. I sat in my pjs every day and was absolutely miserable.

As a 21 year old senior, I’m refelcting on how simple my life was when I was 17. Yeah, it was unconventional, but my friends were ready to do whatever, whenever, wherever.

When I was a 17 year old senior, I put my dreams of moving out of state to action. I did my research and applied to 8 different universities, not a single one in the state of California.

As a 21 year old senior, staying a steady course from the decision I made as a child has definately had its shortcomings. But at the end of the day, I’m sitting here feeling blessed beyond beleif for the opportunity to be displaced and vulnerable.

When I was a 17 year old senior, I was dating a guy I was head over heels for. I had all of the cinematic moments every little girl dreams of. I was imaging the future of long distance while skipping through my beach town with my first love.

As a 21 year old senior, I tend to get a pit in my stomach when I remember the friends I’ve lost through a fallen relationship. I have learned in these years what I want in a partner, and more importantly, who I want to be in my future relationships.

When I was a 17 year old senior, I wanted to see who I could create out of myself in a new environment and meet a world of new people.

As a 21 year old senior, I want the time to slow down. I’m both elated and terrified of the what life has in store for me. My path that has been written is unfolding in front of me. I am amazed by the things I’ve been able to overcome, the relationships I’ve built, and the stories I get to share for a lifetime.

As a college senior, I’m not so ready to move on. But bring it, senior year💌 by @20somethingbysam

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2 years ago

It happened. I am officially legal.

Life has been crazy, but I have been so grateful for all of the chaos that’s led me to where I am today: wholeheartedly fulfilled.

A year ago, I wrote down my greatest life lessons in lieu of entering a new decade of life.

Since this piece is what decisively inspired this new blog, and I am always sentimental around the time of my birthday, there’s no time like the present to share with you…

20 things I’ve learned in 20 years (so far)💌

1 you’re not as old as you think. enjoy being young and stop rushing the inevitable. youth is a virtue
2 it is OKAY TO BE WRONG. what’s not okay is to be ignorant
3 your family will become the cornerstone to your life as you get older.
4 enjoy what feels like the worst of times. they’re going to be lessons.
5 say yes to everything (in good judgement) before you regret it
6 taking time for yourself doesn’t make you boring
7 appreciate that some relationships are meant to be chapters. just because it changes, doesn’t mean it wasn’t right in the moment
8 your gut is always right. if you have a bad feeling, remove yourself
9 you learn the most from the people who have lived longer than you
10 don’t speak to deaf ears. don’t pour your heart out to people who haven’t earned it.
11 you will never be more fulfilled than in your faith. turn to God before others, he has the divine answer
12 life is about making mistakes. whether you learn from them or not is your decision
13 good always prevails, and you will have clarity. give it time. this too shall pass.
14 your family is not just blood, it’s who embraces you as such.
15 time is fleeting. live every moment like it’s your last. it may sound morbid but it makes the little moments sweeter
16 you can only allow yourself to be disappointed so many times before acknowledging that it doesn’t serve you.
17 a body that moves and supports life without struggle is a body worth loving and embracing
18 grass is not always greener on the other side. living in the what if only tarnishes the present
19 you are not measured by material expectations. living authentically is living fully.
20 it is everyone’s first time liviing. we are all learning together. by @20somethingbysam

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

a guide to spring break fomo…

dont know about you, but I’m feeling great recently. The sun is out a few times a week, the UV index is slowly rising, and once again, the days are blissfully longer.

With the rising temperatures and return of iced lattes, for a college student, spring means more than just groundhogs and midterms.
spring. mfing. break.

i know ive mentioned the unconventionality of my college experience, my spring breaks being near the top of the list. there were a few reasons why i chose to opt out of the typical drunken vacay by the beach. Up until the fall of my Junior year, college felt like a miserable summer camp. Being away from my family was hard, but watching my friends live their best new lives in their college towns, now that was torture.

Since getting older I’ve had more than enough time to force myself out of this self-sabotaging false reality i created through nothing more than my 3 by 6 inch computer sitting in my back pocket. I’ve seen this to be an unhealthily common theme throughout my first year and a half of college.

Before embarking on the biggest week in college, I wanted to share a few things I’ve learned to tell myself in case you are also trying to rid yourself of the f.o.m.o bug. (scroll lol)

Most importantly, be vigilant, aware, and prioritize your safety. it’s a scary world out there.

Until next time💌 by @20somethingbysam

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3 years ago