View Gridby: Mikaela Li
10th Grade, Saint Francis High School, San Jose, California
"Sometimes, the person you need to listen to the most is yourself."
quote by: Harry Xu, 11th Grade, Pine View School, Osprey, Florida
Teacher: Jessica Hentges
This self-portrait, created using mixed media including photography, digital painting, and pencil drawing, conveys themes of vulnerability, constraint, and perseverance through a visual metaphor. The girl's smile, supported only by ribbons, symbolizes the societal pressure to feign happiness, even in the face of hardship and struggle. This layered illustration captures the resilience required to maintain authenticity in a world that values emotional suppression and outward appearances