jrowe

Unrooted, a cultural short film and PSA, illustrates the “Through the Lens of Culture” category as we showcased the dynamics of mental health throughout many cultures. From Japanese, to Puerto Rican, to Albanian culture, the film portrays the struggles of diverse students and how mental health takes on several but similar forms in all cultures. The students silently struggle with mental battles while their families remain unaware. Caused by academic stress, bullying, and even just spacing out, the students’ stress causes them to undergo a rollercoaster of negative emotions. Despite cultural differences, their experiences highlight the universal nature of mental health. When their loved ones finally recognize their pain, understanding and love bridge the divide.

Umoja highlights the power of family in overcoming sadness. It shows how speaking up and seeking support can be the first step toward healing, emphasizing the importance of unity in Kenyan culture.

Video raising awareness about teen mental health

My entry explores the nature of water and how it relates back to us. Water is malleable and flexible, meaning that anyone can bend and mold it to whatever shape they like. Similarly, parents bend and mold their children. From the moment they are born, parents guide them towards a better direction. However, as children grow up, they may feel controlled or insecure. These negative thoughts can bubble up in silence, leaving them vulnerable. The goal of my entry is to tell youth that the challenges of meeting your parents’ lofty expectations, especially in Vietnamese culture, should not define them. The expectations we think are from our parents may actually be amplified by our own expectations for ourselves. And, sometimes, they can be more unforgiving. Youth need to reexamine their way of thinking and never forget, at the end of the day, they are their parents’ child. No matter what, their parents will always be proud of them.

Behind the Curtain is a topic that brings forth the awareness of mental health in artists. In the visual and performing world, there are artists who experience long rehearsals, auditions, critiques, and expectations, which can be overwhelming over time. With an actor, dancer, and musician, we see the lens unfold and view the perspectives that can be seen across all artists. Taking care of your mental health is just as important as perfecting your craft.

In my film, “Ang Isip” (meaning The Mind), I showcase the experience that comes with being an Asian-American high school student, where school and family come together to create a giant ball of stresses that leave us reminiscing about our childhood. In a world where we are isolated and alone, where no one understands the complex feelings that we go through every minute of every day, there are many aspects of the mind that make our reality feel like this. And with the romanticization of everything around us, our sadness feels consuming and excruciating to go through. This film highlights that experience in hopes of telling others who look like me and share this culture that they are not alone.