This is 2020
Every human being in the year 2020 has felt the wide effects of injustice and hopelessness, and I wanted to write something that I can look look back on if ever we do move forward from 2020.
2021
Saving Everyone
Over the past year I’ve experienced many changes in who I am. I am an incredibly social person, and suddenly I found myself alone and without a way to connect with people. My art highlights two characters, LadyBug and Cat Noir. They are kind and generous, and they never leave people out. I wanted to express that even though I feel alone, that I’m not. Reaching out to others is important, and everyone matters.
Never Alone
In Middle School, so many students feel like they are alone. It doesn’t matter what culture or language- we all share that same struggle. Thankfully- knowing we are not alone has great power in every language. The students at DAB want others to know that you are NEVER ever alone.
Not Enough
Through social media, peers, and ourselves, we often fall into a loop of our appearance, being controlled by our looks and body shape. I often hear people say that they are “not enough” of this and that, which leads to a mindset that is only focused on looks. Adding some elements of self-image, the person that is overall controlling our appearance is ourselves, so I drew a dark image of the girl being controlled. Feeling helpless and trapped as a life-less puppet is what our self-image has come to these days. Through this art piece, I was hoping for at least one person to look at themselves in the mirror and like their appearance without worrying about what others thought of them.
Your Not Alone
In my drawing shows a mind with a corrupted glitch showing that we struggle with mental health and the sayings your not alone were here don’t give up because many people who struggle with mental health feel they are alone when millions of people go through the same thing
Calling YOU to Vote
A student explains the history of voting and the importance of casting your ballot on election day.
Alive Again
Since the young age of eleven, mental health has been a large impacter in my life. I didn’t plan on making it to sixteen. That was never my plan. There was no way I would let myself continue living this life full of emotional torment. Something switched this past year in my mind, however. I didn’t see life as this annoyance I had to put up with. I didn’t wake up dreading the fact that I had to get up and start another day. I didn’t see the world as the enemy, myself as a ghastly parasite needing to be exterminated. I found a sense of worth inside me, despite the years of torture I put myself through. The other day I found myself at a moment of complete peace–laying in grass, feeling the blinding sun, cheeks warm, thoughts calmer than the waking dawn. It almost brought me to tears; I didn’t remember the last time I was able to be carefree without experiencing self-deprecative thoughts. Smiling genuinely into the camera, I took a snapshot of this small, but mighty moment. That picture is what inspired me to create this artwork–I wanted to find a sense of closure in myself, and engrave in my mind the exact instant I realized there had been a change. I wove lime green ribbon into my hair to represent the stories that are hidden inside us all, pushed aside due to the stigma of struggle in our society. I’m not going to push those ribbons deep inside my pocket anymore, away from the world to see. I am proud of who I became, and proud of my journey to getting to where I am today–sixteen.
Pawsitively Grateful
“My video serves as a reminder that no matter how long one has a pet, the love, kindness, empathy, and joy that can be learned from them will forever be present and allow us to connect to those around us.”
Family is my Hope
My submission relates to hope because it represents what has helped me and been there for me through the difficult changes this past year. It’s what matters the most to me. Reaching for the green ribbon represents what I keep on going for what gives me motivation to keep on pushing forward. My family is my hope, I hope to help my family in all ways possible as I get older.
What Are You Waiting For?
“Saying thank you to our family, friends, and teachers for the unconditional love and kindness they provide feels good- and brings happiness to our hearts. When we show gratitude, it changes our lives AND the lives of those around us. So… what are you waiting for? Any time is a good time to show gratitude!”