Art is one of my favorite pastimes. It has become a way for me to de-stress and quietly work through life while creating beauty. It has taught me how to look at life analytically and has made me more observant. When I draw or paint, details are the most important things that contribute to the significance of the piece. I can look at a painting and see each detail, but I can also see the bigger picture. Each line, each brushstroke, somehow makes a difference to the meaning behind the piece. As a child, I took art classes just to pass time. But as I used it in my daily life, no longer obligated to practice it, I found that I was able to express who I was easily without using words. Not only do I draw and paint, but I also dance and play the piano. All artistic forms have taken a special place in my heart because I grew up conveying my persona through it. I believe the principles of art can also be applied to life. In fact, the shading, depth, and perspective from which people view their lives is different for each one of us. Each person’s life is a unique landscape. You need to be able to see all sides of a story or an experience or an idea or a person to fully understand it. The piece I have submitted, specifically, is a self portrait with objects. I found objects that express who I am and things I like. The medium is charcoal. I know that I will continue to create art because it is a way I care for myself, a way of life, and a way for me to escape reality. It continues to be a reliable source of serenity.

When I was 11, my grandmother passed away. We still do not know the cause of death. An autopsy was never done because Hindu culture forbids autopsies. Losing my grandmother deeply impacted my mother. She is a physician. Knowing the cause of my grandmother’s death would have brought her some closure. My grandmother’s passing was part of what has led me toward the medical field. As a child, I got sick a lot because I was a very picky eater. When I was sick and couldn’t go to school, my mom would take me to her office. Her co-workers kept me occupied by enlisting my help in the lab with urine samples. My job was to dip test strips into small plastic containers and then hand them over to the lab tech. I didn’t know exactly what I was doing, but I knew that it was helping my mom make people feel better. Recently, I attended a medical conference where I went to Washington DC hoping to find clarity about which aspect of medicine I would like to pursue. There, I discovered in myself an even greater passion for the profession. Participating in activities like suturing a pig and dissecting a sheep’s heart and a cow’s eye drew me to surgery. We also watched a limited access video on an open-heart surgery. To my surprise, I was not disgusted, but intrigued! I believe that I am destined to work in healthcare. My mother, as a physician, is my role model, and I hope to see myself as the same kind of caring doctor that she is. I would like to dedicate my life to helping others, and I believe that the best way for me to do that is as a healthcare provider.

The COVID-19 pandemic has devastated the mental health of hundreds of thousands of children and teenagers. The loneliness, depression, anxiety, and other psychological issues related to fear and isolation have been almost as disastrous as the disease itself. Yet, teen psychological issues are not new; the situation has been addressed ineffectively for years. This is very concerning to me. I am currently working on an initiative to help bring awareness to teen mental health, especially in underrepresented communities. Through a medical internship called Bilingual Opportunities, I and five high school colleagues are attempting to educate the public and normalize discussions about mental health. Through this organization, we first created a research project to understand what our target population thinks about mental health medication and other kinds of help. We reached over 100 people with our survey. It was sad and discouraging to document that most people said that they knew of resources, but will not reach out for help. It is possible that teens are uncomfortable reaching out because they fear judgment, they have no financial resources, or doing so would be upsetting to their parents. We are currently working on solutions through social media and educational pamphlets to bring greater awareness about the mental health struggles of teenagers. Our goal is to create a more educated society, one in which everyone is comfortable sharing their thoughts and working through their problems with a little help from the relatable experiences of others. It’s needed now more than ever.