The Forced Change: A Junior Narrative Diptych by Maya Shaanan (2011)

This young girl had to face the horrible reality of her new life without her mother. She found out about her mother's sudden death and now has to decide how to react. She could either retreat into her childhood and not face the grief, or she could act like a grown up. The choice was going on inside herself. No young girl should have to make this choice but she chose to grow up and face the situation even as painful as it may be.

In my first image, I depicted a girl playing with her teddy bear but looking uncertain. This creates the idea of a dilemma she must face. In the second photograph, I showed her choosing to step over her childhood and become a woman. The red high heels signify both the pain and love the girl is dealing with. High heels are also a symbol for adulthood and while most girls look forward to wearing them, she puts them on because she feels it is the best thing to do.