OUR STORY

The story of RM 5.5 began in April 2023, in a 5th-grade classroom at Melrose Elementary. Like all students, I'd line up behind stars at the start of the day, each marked with a room number. But between room 5 and room 6, there was a peculiar, blank star. One friday, I entered the school, and instead of lining up behind room six's star, I lined up behind the star to its right, naming it Room 5.5. I started to tell my class to line up there instead of behind our regular star, eventually using chalk I found on the playground to write the number "5.5" on it. This name was quickly shortened to RM 5.5, and eventually, just 5.5. A significant influence on the website's identity came during its creation. While on a Zoom call with my friend, Max, I noticed his Moomin™ shirt. Max's mother is Estonian, and Estonia's proximity to Finland, the home of Moomin™, brought this charming character into our world. Moomin™ quickly became the official mascot of 5.5, inspiring background themes and much of the website's aesthetic. I even developed unique pages like MOOMIZON – a playful nod to Amazon, featuring Moomin™-related products and custom-made 5.5 merchandise, available for purchase through the page itself.