Cartoon: Small snapshots

Amelie Du Chau, Staff Writer • February 25, 2026

The word “sonder” is the sudden realization that every random person you pass has a full and complex life unfolding beyond the small moments you may experience beside them. It is the awareness that you are not the center of the world, but one character moving through billions of equally detailed stories on earth. In this cartoon, each window acts like one of those single snapshots you may see in someone else’s private universe. The silhouettes of each human represent how we only see the surface of others, while their emotions and memories are hidden behind the glass. The dark spaces between each scene emphasize how disconnected we often feel, even though every figure is just a “window” away. According to an article from Psychology Today explains that sonder reflects the psychological understanding that each person has a rich inner world shaped by their own memories, identities, and experiences, and signifies that our perception is limited, as well as an article from Holstee describes that sonder once recognized creates a empathetic sense of absorbing someone’s own thoughts, and creating space for the idea that other’s may have thoughts of their own. Lastly, The Medium describes in an article explaining that experiencing sonder can feel transformative, and creates perspective. Together, these ideas remind us that behind every window, every shadow, and every passing face is a life unfolding as vividly as our own, even if we only ever see a single frame of it. (Amelie Du Chau)

About the Contributor

Amelie Du Chau

Amelie Du Chau, Staff Writer

Amelie Du Chau (Class of 2028) is a sophomore at Carlmont and a first-year journalist for the Scot Scoop. Amelie enjoys playing tennis for the school’s tennis team and reading in her free time. Outside of school, you can find Amelie continuing to play tennis, binging TV shows, and going out with friends.