Mending Me: What it costs to be me

An art portrait, combination of spray paint and oil painting, with a girl in the middle, red on the left, yellow on he right, with different parts of the portrait representing different personalitites
Jena discusses Mending Me piece and what it signifies to her and what it took to create it. Wan Park. April 2026
Jena presents her artwork to students and teachers during the exhibition. Wan Park. April 2026
Jeffery , Jeremiah , Makenzie, Jena and Tati showcase their artwork at the exhibition. Wan Park for The Pulse. April 2026
JJ admires the art exhibition that she helped create. Wan Park for The Pulse. April 2026

I look at this portrait and see every version of me that fought to survive, the girl who carried too much, the present me who’s stitching herself back together, and the future woman I’m finally allowing myself to grow into. I’ve walked through things I never thought I’d make it out of, and yet here I am, rebuilding myself with my own hands. This isn’t just art, it’s proof that I kept going, even when it hurt, even when I felt broken. I’m proud of the strength it took to get here, and even prouder of the person I’m becoming. My experience in the I SEE ME program has been really meaningful and eye-opening. It helped me become more confident in myself and more comfortable expressing my thoughts and ideas. I appreciated being in a supportive environment where I felt seen, heard, and understood. The program also pushed me to step outside my comfort zone and recognize my own potential. Overall, it encouraged me to believe in myself more and carry that confidence into other areas of my life.

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