Reflections

Introduction

In this unit, Freestyle students were challenged to create work that answered the overarching question: “Who am I?” In class, we made creations such as mandalas, art through Adobe Photoshop, a Reflections Video Essay, and more. I valued these projects that we made in each class because they taught me a little bit about myself in each one. Below is the “10 Things” List that describe what I have learned in my life so far.

  1. Confidence is key
  2. No one actually knows what they are doing
  3. Clothing does not have a gender
  4. Random moments in life make me happiest
  5. Emotions are valid
  6. Guilt should not outweigh happiness 70% of the time
  7. Cliches are true most of the time
  8. Life is actually short
  9. You can trick your mind into feeling almost anything
  10. Food is good, eat it

Mandalas

The Mandala Project showed me how to trust the process of what I create. I love to doodle and draw a lot of stick figures because I get to create a story for each of them. This helps ease my mind when I am stressed or upset. This project also helped me learn more about Adobe Illustrator and how to use it.

Black and White Mandala

Engraved Mandala

Mandala Artist Statement

When creating my black and white personal mandala, I valued the creativity that I gained. When creating the black and white mandala, you can really see how the possibilities are endless and how each stroke that I made is my decision. I controlled every aspect of my artwork and no one could tell me if I was doing it wrong. When creating my colored personal mandala, I used the artwork from my black and white because I wanted to see how I could expand on my past artwork. It made me find different ways I could alter my dense artwork from before.

I learned a couple things about myself when creating both of my personal mandalas. One of the most important things I learned was that creativity takes time. Whenever I rushed myself, I found that I wasn’t doing my best work. In order to have the most fun and do the best I can, I needed to take my time. Overall, I really loved this project and want to create more mandalas in the future.

This I Believe

The writing process for the This I Believe or Perspective Opinion process/purpose of writing it, and the process of using After Effects to produce it into a video. Include personal reflection on what you valued about the Perspective Piece and/or Lyrical Essay production and how you grew as a digital artist.

The band, Depeche Mode, once wrote, “You wear guilt like shackles on your feet. Like a halo in reverse.” I’ve struggled with privilege guilt for practically my entire life. And I cannot seem to find a cure for this form of anxiety. After years of trying to find the answer, I’ve only narrowed down to one: Guilt, for something you can’t control, should not outweigh happiness. I have always struggled with feeling guilty for my privilege while other kids in the world have nothing. My family has sponsored two orphaned little girls in Cambodia for seven years. Shrey Leak and Nary had been on their own after their mothers weren’t able to afford to care for them. They were picked up by an American Orphanage that was put in Cambodia and they have stayed there for as long as we have known them. Shrey Leak and Nary have been in contact with our family over Skype and every time we are about to call them, my mother tells me to look at these girls and know how extremely lucky I am. And every time, I do. I haven’t stopped doing that since the first time she said those words. When I read the news or turn on the television, I see how many kids could have taken my spot and could have lived a much more fortunate life. The negative voice inside my head tells me I’m ungrateful and I do not deserve such luxuries. Then I beat myself up for feeling bad for myself, even if it’s just for a split second. I’ve been told my whole life that I am the luckiest kid in the world to grow up in a safe and simple lifestyle. Over time, I’ve learned to not overthink my privilege. I believe this statement because if you hold onto the guilt of something you cannot control, then you will never be happy. This statement has made me realize that I cannot change or give some of my blessed childhood away, but I can make a difference to future generations, using my privilege. I can help girls like Nary and Shrey Leak using what I have. Once I get rid of those shackles that weigh me down, I can change the world and use my guilt for good.

Take an impressive screenshot of your After Effects project used to create the video. Insert the photo and add Alternative Text and a caption explaining what the photo is showing.

Photoshop Art

  1. Write a short intro to all your Photoshop Productions and a reflection about what you valued in using Photoshop for digital art.
  2. Feature the following:
    1. Photoshop Painting and Artist Statement
    2. Photoshop Photo Conversions and Artist Statement
    3. Photoshop 360 Art and Artist Statement

College Personal Essay

My Personal Essay was something that I had written and rewritten multiple times because it was something I wanted to nail down. It is important to me that I show my personality and my values through this essay. Without my experiences at Freestyle, it would be hard to choose what to write about.

My sweaty hands fidgeted with the hairband on my wrist when my name was called. I stood up out of my chair and looked around the room to see dozens of eyes staring back at me. I had never been so nervous. My film teacher smiled and nodded to signal me to pitch my idea for the new narrative project we would be working on. I have typically been a great storyteller, but this time, I felt different. I felt less confident and more vulnerable because other students could critique my narrative and my storytelling ability in real-time. 

My classmates at Freestyle Academy would not hold back their opinions. Freestyle is an arts and technology program at my high school that I was accepted into during my junior year. I joined this program because it focuses on teaching through hands-on learning and collaboration. I admire how they teach us to be unapologetically ourselves and to illustrate that through whatever we create. My expectations were clear. I thought I wouldn’t be pushed as hard as I was now. Most of my initial intentions were thrown out the window as soon as I stepped into the classroom. I was both excited and surprised by the experience of having my ideas challenged. I could tell right away that the Freestyle teachers weren’t going to hold my hand or miss an opportunity to show me how to improve my creative output. 

After stuttering out the last sentence of my pitch, the room went silent. Then, some hands slowly went up into the air. I didn’t know whether to be offended that my audience saw some flaws, or touched that they were willing to help me. One classmate suggested that I change my story to a murder mystery, then a bank robbery, then a car chase. More hands shot up.  People were shouting with excitement, and creative ideas flew from one side of the room to the other. It suddenly got quiet, and I felt an idea spark that I confidently felt would tell my story. Without a single stutter, I sold my idea. I watched the faces of my classmates light up. 

I have seen a drastic improvement in the confidence I have to share ideas. With my classmates’ support, I’ve learned how to take criticism and work out issues with plot lines. At the same time, I have honed my skills in giving meaningful feedback. I used to see criticism as a way of telling someone I didn’t like what they have created. Now, I understand that feedback is a process and a mechanism of exchanging ideas and getting to know my colleagues better. As I gain an understanding of my classmates’ motives, my ability to respond with meaningful ideas becomes that much more impactful. I believe that the nature of collaboration and criticism that I have come to expect has been a strong motivation for the evolution of my creative problem-solving skills. Personal responsibility and the act of motivating others to receive help is something new I have learned at Freestyle. The nature of collaboration and criticism I have come to expect encourages me to tap into my creative problem-solving skills. And that is something that will stay with me for the rest of my life. I have learned that without taking risks, I can’t innovate. And if I can’t innovate, my stories would be on a repetitive loop. Standing up that day in my film classroom, and considering the work I have created, I know to never shy away from seizing the chance to make the best creative output I can.

Reflections Video Essay – Film

For this project, we were assigned to create a short film about something unique about each of us. I thought that my love for story telling and filmmaking would be the perfect example of something that has always been a part of me.