Angela Fitzborough: A Senior Profile Portrait by Michal Krupa (2011)

My character is Angela Fitzborough, a cynical, passive-aggressive senior. She spent most of her life in a very structured, traditional family with classic American morals and values. Although she found much success in her education, she did not find herself being drawn to the fast-paced corporate world. Her mother urged her to become a housewife, often justifying her suggestions with the statement ''a woman who spends time outside of the home is no woman at all.'' She spent the beginning of her career working as a file clerk, later moving on to work with special collections. After giving birth to her son, Andrew in 1983, and going through a messy divorce, she decided to change her lifestyle and moved to New Jersey, finding solace as the headmistress at a school for troubled youth. Her brief dive into academia lasted 5 years, before she felt that the values of the world were disappearing, and that she needed to preserve herself from the horrors of the general community. Isolating herself at home, she took to tending after two adopted diabetic cats, Mr. Whiskers and Princess Tabitha. In her portrait, Angela can be seen participating in one of her favorite hobbies, educational reading. Angela's personality of structure and control can be seen through her choice of reading material, ''How to Become a Manager.'' The way that this is also shown is through her rigid posture, showing the all-business persona that her childhood and career has shaped her into. Angela's life is very private and concealed, thus the lack of visibility within her home, and the lack of visibility of her face. Angela's obsession of her pets is demonstrated by the large portrait of one of her cats, situated very closely to her. This shows how dearly she clings to the connection between herself and other living beings. However, she does not feel as closely connected to her son, Andrew, as he has been spoiled by the modern world. Although her motherly instinct is to keep him close, she is reluctant to do so and prefers to keep him concealed in a small niche within her life.