Although it may be her first year in the Gamut, freshman staff writer Natalie Akins isn’t necessarily embarking into unfamiliar territory. Under the guise of a freshman with a fervor for musical theater and playing the ukulele, Natalie is a fanfiction writer on Archive of Our Own (notoriously known as AO3), whose Percy Jackson novel weaving a love story between characters Percy and Annabeth has garnered over 3000+ hits on the platform. Her passion for fanfiction — and writing itself — stems from her love for reading, whether it’s timeless classics like Pride and Prejudice, or epic fantasy sagas like Keeper of the Lost Cities. Natalie also has — a self-diagnosed but glaringly obvious — obsession with musicals, having seen and religiously listened to the soundtracks of over 30 productions, including favorites Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera and Hamilton. When she’s not streaming songs from her most cherished musicals, she’s singing, typically with her ukelele in tow, and under the expert guidance of her former Broadway star-turned-vocal coach. Undoubtedly a dedicated individual, Natalie’s passion for writing, and the many layers to her eclectic personality, makes her a perfect addition to the Gamut staff this year!