LCD screen for Arduino UNO onlys shows a row of white boxes on top

Hello, I hope everyone is doing well. I am trying to use the LCD screen from the Arduino started kit to display text. I followed this tutorial exactly: [in comments] except that I plugged my LCD directly into the breadboard. The LCD came with header pins, so I didn't solder anything during this project. I am sure that all the wires work. Maybe someone can explain why there would be white boxes instead of text, so I can also troubleshoot. I also looked up other questions on this topic in this fo

LCD top row only showing blocks - Displays - Arduino Forum

My Arduino LCD display only displays white boxes and when the potentiometer is adjusted it just turns blank. Any help would be great. : r/arduino

Using a 20x4 I2C Character LCD display with Arduino Uno

Using LCD Displays with Arduino

Using LCD Displays with Arduino

Interfacing Arduino with Seeed Studio Grove LCD - Simple Circuit

Basic 16x2 Character LCD - White on Black 5V - LCD-00709 - SparkFun Electronics

Arduino LCD 2x16 BL Shield displaying only boxes on top row. - Displays - Arduino Forum

LCD not working only half 16x2 - Project Guidance - Arduino Forum

1 Set IIC/I2C/TWI LCD 1602 16x2 Serial Interface Adapter Module Blue Backlight for Arduino UNO R3 MEGA2560 Blue Green Gray - AliExpress