Reflection

The academic pressure can be suffocating at times with the relentless expectations for high grades, sleepless nights spent studying, and the constant comparisons with peers. The thoughts of upcoming tests overwhelm my head like I’m sinking into a bottomless pit with only dread awaiting, but despite this, I still have a place that brings me comfort. Growing up in Southern California, the tranquil shores of the Torrey Pines State Beach has always been a place I could return to, lifting the weight from school off my chest and releasing me from an anchor that holds me down. In my artwork, I capture the solace that the ocean gives me. By juxtaposing the overall calming, blue color scheme of the piece with the red test scores and dark hands reaching toward me, my piece depicts the tension between my internal struggles from academic pressure and the healing energy of nature. Orcas, often viewed as symbols of protection, surround me, representing the strong sense of safety I feel near the ocean even as demands and expectations, represented by the hands, attempt to drown me. The test numbers lifting off the papers reflect how the ocean’s vastness brings clarity that such values are insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Through this art piece, I hope to convey the peace and tranquility that the ocean offers—not just me but to everyone. Now, it’s our turn to protect the very thing that protects us.