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You’re sorry, but you shouldn’t be

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My poem is about how people can sometimes trick themselves into thinking that they’re a burden for reaching out for help. I want to emphasize that they’re not a burden, and what they’re going through is valid. Sometimes it can be hard to reach out and trust someone to talk to them, but it’s usually the right thing to do for yourself.

Bulletproof

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It’s incredibly disheartening how school shootings are almost normalized now. They happen, we talk about them for a few days, and then everyone goes back to normal until it happens again. No child should lose their life to violence, especially not the kind that could be easily prevented by gun control laws.

From Caged to Unafraid

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My art symbolizes coming out for queer people. As more and more people and forms of media become more accepting of the LGBTQIA+ community, there is more hope.

Cultivating Mental Health

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My submission highlights the importance of taking care of our mental health and compares it to taking care of a plant. Our mental health is a delicate system that requires careful attention, just like a fragile plant. When we provide the right conditions, it can flourish remarkably.

May 2024 Snap, Filter & Swipe

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This entry is made by one our youths from the Eastern African Community of San Diego. In the Video they, the youth member portrays what it’s like to view oneself from a negative view based of the today’s social media standards. However, the Youth in the video switches scripts and starts providing positive affirmation and focuses on social media from a positive lens.

Mental Health Matters

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This piece supports people asking for help and also reminds people that they are brave for asking for help.

Helping Hand

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My entry is a watercolor painting of a person helping a friend climb up a hill. I decided to show these two people in the outdoors because, a lot of the time when I don’t feel great, being outside is the best way to ease any stress on my mind. […] Sometimes we can’t do everything by ourselves, and it is important to both provide and ask for help when times are tough.

Filtered Realities

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I was once deeply affected by my appearance and often used filters to try and hide what I looked like. Now, I have come to accept myself for who I am, and I choose to not use filters anymore. I allow everyone to see who I am, and I am proud to show my true self