Every night as a child, I eagerly awaited my mother’s voice as she read “Katinėlis ir Gaidelis”, my most cherished bedtime story. It is this tale that I eventually memorized, allowing me to read my first book at the age of four. My Lithuanian heritage has gifted me many firsts: from the first words I ever read to the first song I danced to, and even the first dessert I baked. My upbringing within a Lithuanian household has shaped my character and instilled values that guide my life choices today. 24 years ago, my family immigrated to the United States with little more than a suitcase and a dream. Despite facing challenges, they found support from the tight-knit Lithuanian community in Florida, who helped get them on their feet during the early years. Although I was not yet born to personally meet many who aided my family, I deeply appreciate their kindness. This experience instilled in me a profound belief in the power of community and the importance of extending help and kindness to others. It is why I hold loyalty and community to such a high regard. Aside from developing my community values, my Lithuanian heritage has also influenced my sense of self. My family often quips about how American I am, but it certainly didn’t feel that way with my childhood peers. My school lunches, packed with Lithuanian cuisine unfamiliar to most, were often met with crooked stares from other students. Some days I felt ashamed and confused, but other days I’d come home to a package from my grandmother packed with my favorite Lithuanian delicacies. I came to realize I enjoyed Lithuanian-fused meals and other traditions too much to have them be overpowered by a few unpleasant comments. I learned to embrace my Lithuanian identity, which in turn empowers me to pursue my life goals authentically and unapologetically. Furthermore in my journey of self-development, I primarily look to my parents, now proud owners of a small business, to guide my work ethic. My mother attributes much of her determination to her own upbringing. As a single parent, my grandmother pushed herself through difficult times to provide a safe and stable environment for my mother and aunt. Her perseverance inspired my mother, and it inspires me as well. When I face hardships in my own life, I frequently reflect on how far my family has come, and I push through just like they taught me to. These days, I spend my time pursuing an undergraduate degree at Boston University, in the same city where my great-great-grandfather worked for mere pennies decades ago. His story, along with those of my other ancestors, inspires me to curate my own story, one that honors my Lithuanian heritage. Though I can count my visits to Lithuania on one hand, each trip feels like a homecoming. Lithuania is more than just another country on a map, it is the embodiment of my family’s history and legacy. From my grandmother’s resilience as a single mother of two to my late grandfather’s dedication as a beloved school principal, Lithuania is the very essence of who I am. Lithuania is the place where my sister decided to marry the person she plans on spending the rest of her life with, and it is also the backdrop for countless stories that brought me to where I am today. I carry my Lithuanian heritage with love and pride, and I hope to carry it with me well into the future, as a reminder of the strength, resilience, and community that have shaped me.

Blurry recollections of shaky hands and tears rolling down my cheeks consume a myriad of my memories. It’s difficult to recall just one instance of my ongoing anxiety, as it’s been present at many times and many places. From student parking lots and grocery stores to family hiking trips, my anxiety holds a lot of weight in my thoughts and actions, but I refuse to let it define me any further than it already has. As your friendly neighborhood anxiety-ridden teenager, I often overthink every decision I make, and get emotional at any minor inconvenience. I tend to get anxious with typical things, such as exams and socializing, as well as not-so-typical things like taking out the trash at night. On my worst days, I get fidgety, shaky, and any outside stimuli seems to be enough to make me feel like I’m ready to spontaneously combust. It affects the way I think in school, the way I interact with my peers, and the way I view myself everyday. I struggled with accepting the extent of my anxiety, but I knew I had to be aware of it and make efforts to help myself. When directly addressing my anxiety, the most effective coping mechanisms I have found have been utilizing creative outlets, whether it be embroidery, origami, or most importantly, art. One of my most recent artworks highlights my own interpretation of anxiety. I feel that I was able to portray anxiety in a way that didn’t shed a negative light on it, and I would like to do so again. My main goal for the future is to be able to properly express how I feel through my art. I want to find beauty among all the chaos in my head, and create art that reflects the struggles of mental health in a more positive way, as opposed to something that must be overlooked. I hope to create artwork that raises mental health awareness and helps others realize that they are not alone, and that what they feel and how they think can act as a strength, not a weakness.