This is a personal narrative reflecting on an experience where I saw how justice or the lack of it can shape how we see fairness, people, and the world. It shares how a moment involving someone else helped me think more deeply about what justice really means.
“This piece was inspired by things that happen in a everyday life, the way that our perspective are deeply influenced by our backgrounds, identities and other experiences. The hands with the handcuffs symbolizes the struggles and challenges faced by many people who may feel trapped by legal systems and immigration policies. On the sides you see two different flags and a border above them, that represents the auhority and the power of the legal system and shows how much power they have over many individuals. The gavel represents authority and the power of the legal system, while the scales of justice symbolize the tracking of fairness and equality. The illustration of God’s face above the border means reassurance, reminding you that you are never alone in you’re struggles, helping to guide you through challenges and offering help when things get difficult. This captures the idea that our identities influence not only our individual stories but also our mutual understanding of justice.”
The scars below the chest signify a trans individual who was able to pursue their transition, despite the many hardships they undoubtedly faced. The eyes on the chest signify defiance in the face of adversity, staring back at those who scrutinize their identity. This statue shows that although many political and public figures may try to erase or belittle the history of trans people, we have always been here – represented in art, culture, and media. Trans people deserve to see their bodies represented and their issues spoken through art.
Recently, I went driving with my dad to a wilderness area and enjoyed being in the bright sunshine, taking the time to be outside and clean up the environment with someone I loved. It made me reflect on how, in many cases, lifting ourselves up often involves lifting up others as well, directly through companionship, but also indirectly with acts of charity.
It’s hard to be in a situation where being mistreated has become common. It starts small, but it spirals out of control. However, the hardest part isn’t having your worth undermined each and every day, it’s the possibility of letting go. So much could go wrong, and sometimes it feels like your mental health and sense of self-worth aren’t a lot to sacrifice. But they are. You shouldn’t be told your worth by others, others have no right to put a value on you. Yet, they do, and all you feel like you can do is… let them. That’s when you realize it’s time to let go. It’s hard, sometimes that person(s) is deeply involved in your life, but that makes it more important to do so. It’s hard to heal and move on because maybe that person was your rock to lean on. It’s hard to sleep because they’re in your head 24/7, and you see them in everything you do. But when it’s all over, and you look back to see how far you’ve come, you’ll know you made the right decision.
My art explores the emotional and transformative journey of someone who begins their path feeling lost, inexperienced, and overwhelmed by the challenges life throws their way. When I started skating, it taught me a lot about perseverance. When I first started, I kept falling and felt judged by others at the park, but I didn’t give up. With time and practice, I started to skate more confidently and even landed my first ollie. That progress made me realize that anything is possible with effort and persistence.
Whenever I feel like I can’t deal with anything, I search my house until I find one of my cats. I pet and cuddle them until I feel like I can manage the rest of the day. Spending time with my pets relieves stress and I don’t know what I would do without them.
Something that helps me while I’m going through a tough time or feeling overwhelmed is gardening. Gardening makes me more patient and mindful, providing me a space to reflect and process emotions. The act of planting seeds and watching them grow, despite challenges, symbolizes resilience and hope and reminds me that, similar to my plants, I can grow and thrive even during times of adversity.
My submission follows my anchor which falls into digital media, specifically film and documenting. All of my life, I’ve always felt that every misfortune that I’ve had to bear would forever be out of my control and that I had to live with that misery by itself, but my anchor and the new things I discovered, gave me something to smile about, and something to bring me comfort and a smile at least in what could be the hardest times of my life.
I’ve always struggled with feeling comfortable in my identity because of the way my hair looks compared to those around me. It’s caused me a lot anxiety and stress. I’ve learned though, that over time, my hair is apart of me. Not something to perfect or change as to conform into a mold of how others should perceive me. It’s something I should embrace, simply for myself. Through this short film, I describe this inner turmoil I face everyday. I voice the thoughts that constantly run through my head, even when I appear normal to others. In this piece I show the ways I have found myself to be more comfortable in my skin, or more specifically my hair. Seeing my mom with her own unique hair, and talking with others who also share the same feelings allowed to me to realize I’m not alone.