i'm new to arduino and this is my first post, so please let me know if there's something i missed in posting/formatting.
i followed the circuit mapping from here: https://docs.arduino.cc/learn/electronics/lcd-displays/ and i made sure everything was connected correctly, but the panel is not lighting up.
i would really appreciate some help! (i attached a picture as well).
Impossible to tell from your photo. Use shorter wires. Measure VCC and GND at the LCD and again at the potentiometer.
I can only make out you running 5V to pin 2 of the LCD. Where are you running it to the red power rail as well? I don't see that connection.
Try to draw a schematic, your nice picture does not have enough detail to see what you have done. Parallax is causing problems seeing what is going to what. Using a color pattern makes it easier to follow. Red + Black - etc.
I would try a parallel to serial adapter:
