As far back as I can remember, stories have been an essential part of my life. Ever since pre-school, I’ve been a voracious reader and I can distinctly recall carrying around battered copies of Geronimo Stilton and Magic Tree House novels wherever I went. As I became older, I listened to my family’s stories. I […]
Trigger Warning: This story contains references to rape, suicide, and abuse. “I was abused throughout my childhood. My father was an egotistical maniac, self-absorbed with his government conspiracy theories and hatred of anyone with a different color of skin. My mother was an abusive alcoholic and an apathetic caregiver who had tried to kill me
Rewriting My Story – From Trauma to Triumph Read More »
On March 27, I led a youth mental health workshop at the Tompkins County Public Library in Ithaca, NY, and it was such a wonderful time! Young participants made their own storyboards which outlined their mental health journeys as well as their current moods and emotions, and they decorated them with a huge variety of
Zach’s Mental Health Workshop Empowers Youth Through Art & Reflection Read More »
Mental health support and access to ceramics are both resources that have only been made accessible to me later in my life. As a child of immigrants, I grew up in a family that stigmatized psychological issues. I never felt comfortable discussing my own struggle with depression and anxiety with my mother. Due to this,
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As a high school student, things can get tough- especially with school, socializing, and everything in between. One thing that keeps me and other people in line is music- it cultivates a sense of tranquility and peace when there are stressful times, and overall opens a whole new state of mind that seems magical for
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Meet Zach, one of YTP’s newest Youth Ambassadors from New York! From overcoming self-doubt to embracing his true identity, Zach’s journey is a powerful testament to the importance of self-belief in mental well-being. In his video, he shares how he found the strength to move beyond a toxic environment and step into his confidence, proving
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To further delve into the minds of young, struggling students in high school, Yejin tried to create another version of her previous piece on educational mental health by incorporating a black-and-white pen style. The upper-half of the drawing portrays the anxiety and stress students go through before an exam, which is shown to be connected
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To approach a new direction of psychology and art, I created a piece depicting how youth affects your older self. In this piece, a little girl is shown in black and white, smiling as an array of bubbles surround her, with some containing memories of childhood that shaped who she became. Her present self is
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As the years go by, I believe the mental health of students in Korea is declining at an alarming rate. With the unbearable stress that pressures these students, this causes students to feel trapped or unsafe in school-related environments. But since this is so normalized and stigmatized in Korea, the probability of youth seeking for
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As a tattoo artist, I often find myself reflecting on the profound ways my craft intertwines with mental health. The process of tattooing offers a unique form of therapy for both my clients and myself. Drawing and tattooing have always been more than just my career—they’re essential practices that help me maintain my mental wellness
EXPRESS: My Art Journey by Macie Comer Read More »
