In high school, I was desperate to figure out who I was—at least, I thought that’s what I was searching for. Looking back, I realize what I truly wanted was to understand who I would become in the future. And if that person was meant to be as remarkable and exceptional as I had been led to believe, where was she hiding within me right now? I spent so much time trying to break away the layers of insecurity and confusion that defined my teenage years, but I never knew where to begin, or when to stop. It wasn’t until my final painting in AP art class, Cracked Revelations, that I was able to express this feeling. Through the metaphor of a crab, I captured the struggle to uncover an identity hidden within. The painting depicts a crab being forced open by a cracker, leaving only the shattered fragments of its shell and the empty void inside. The vacant shells are placed on a plate for others to sift through, but there’s nothing to be found—only the lingering, bittersweet remnants of what’s left behind, highlighted by the lemon that accentuates the emotions that remain, raw and untouched. After learning more about Crabs in biology class, I found out that they are crustaceans that molt several times a year, particularly when they’re young, shedding their old exoskeletons as they grow. But if an external force were to break through their shell prematurely, it would kill the crab. Though the meat inside—the essence of the crab—is remarkable, it could have continued to grow and flourish if left undisturbed. This mirrors my own experience, as I’ve always struggled with "trusting the process." Instead, I tend to overanalyze and manipulate my own growth, pushing myself too hard. Just like the crab, this tendency often leads to my own downfall. To counteract this pattern of self-sabotage, I turn to positive memories from my past. These moments are visually represented in the altered photo collage in the background of my piece, which mirrors the fragmented crab shells. Each image is a real photo from my life, capturing moments when I felt content with who I was and grateful for what I had. These memories remind me that growth, like the crab’s, needs time and space to unfold naturally. Cracked Revelations is my favorite piece, not only for its vibrant colors and use of mixed media, but what it taught me right before going to college. It changed my mindset of self-growth entirely, and I hope it can offer the same clarity to others who find themselves at a point in life where change is constant and overwhelming. As I navigate major academic and financial decisions in pursuit of my dream to attend art school and study industrial design, I still struggle with the weight of my anxieties. But instead of obsessing over who I might become in a month, a year, or a decade, I’ve learned to focus on the moments that have already shaped me into who I am today. I also remind myself that there is so much more life ahead, with countless paths to choose from. And above all, I trust that I am capable of becoming the remarkable Black female designer I aspire to be.