Power of creativity

Select a topic or area of interest in
child and youth issues and use the power of creativity to make the connection of your
personal perspective to the issue you choose. This project is meant to evoke your
response of how you personally interact with some of the issues discussed in or related
to this course. Using the muscle of creativity you will explore the topic and your
perspective in new ways.
Examples include collage, painting, found art etc. an example would be to make a
collage comparing students lunches from 10 or even 20 years ago to today's lunches.
Write up a paragraph explaining your choice of issue and your creative health project
along with a picture of your art.

Full Answer Section

     

My sculpture uses a large, ornately decorated backpack to represent the expectations and pressures placed on young people. The overflowing contents symbolize the various stressors they carry, such as academic pressures, family issues, social anxieties, and even the weight of unaddressed mental health concerns. Emerging from the backpack is a dark, shadowy figure, hunched over and clutching its head, depicting the emotional strain often hidden beneath the surface.

The contrast between the vibrant backpack and the dark figure creates a visual tension, highlighting the unseen struggles carried by many children and youth. This project allows me to connect with this issue on a personal level, as I remember feeling overwhelmed by academic expectations and social pressures during my own school years. It serves as a reminder of the importance of recognizing the emotional weight young people carry and creating supportive environments where they feel comfortable expressing their struggles.

Sample Answer

     

Creative Project: Unseen Struggles: The Backpack's Burden

Chosen Issue: The emotional weight carried by children and youth beyond their physical backpacks.

Creative Project: A mixed-media sculpture titled "Unseen Struggles: The Backpack's Burden"

Explanation:

The backpack is a familiar symbol of childhood and education. However, for many children and youth, it represents more than just books and supplies. It can carry the weight of emotional burdens, anxieties, and challenges faced at home, school, and in their social lives.