Whispers from Beyond

My artwork represents the battle between the good and the bad. I am not sure which will reach me first.

School Intruders

For this prompt, I decided to take a step further and illustrate the horrors of potential school intruders. Unfortunately, it is well known that the United States has faced many issues regarding school safety from individuals attempting to enter schools unlawfully. I wanted to depict that problem as it is the horror of these incidents and the impact they may have inflicted on children, regardless of age.

Stop Bullying

Open Eyes

The biggest problem I experience in school is how my home life and my relationship with my dad interfere with my schoolwork.

Bad Day

I was inspired to create this artwork because of my experience at school with bullying. In my opinion bullying is our biggest problem in school for myself and my peers.

Hard Work Pays Off

I was inspired by my own personal stress caused by an overwhelming amount of schoolwork. My artwork emphasizes that the biggest problem I experience in school is trying to keep up with the schoolwork load that seems to be never ending and how high school expectations cause my peers and I a significant amount of stress.

Vape: The Illusion of Safety

Vapes are an electronic cigarette popular with teenagers. Because it is electronic, they think it does not harm them, but it can be more dangerous than a normal cigarette. My drawing shows the damage these vapes cause and how bad they are for your health. My goal is to make teenagers aware of the harm they do to their body.

Silenced Muse

I experienced an event at school which allowed me to see one of the biggest problems in a school, not allowing creativity to grow. My artwork shows the lotus flower which represents creativity. The flower is held by chains and cut down by scissors, which represent typical school regulations. I believe we have come to a situation where school is based on memorizing and testing instead of embracing creativity and problem solving. This is what I was hoping to communicate.

Phones and Social Media

The biggest issue at my school is the use of phones and the negative impact of social media. Phones have become a major distraction, affecting our ability to focus and learn effectively in class. In my school, I have also seen them contribute to mental health challenges, including anxiety and decreased attention spans. Social media does not help these problems but often worsens them. The pressure that many teens face to stay connected and always be online creates an environment where students can have issues staying focused and being productive.

When Phones Replace Focus in the Classroom

My picture highlights one of the biggest problems in schools that use Chromebooks. While the teacher is teaching, students often have their phones hidden behind their Chromebook screens. They're so addicted to their phones and receive notifications constantly throughout the day, which takes away their focus. As a result, they don't understand what they're supposed to be learning. Instead, they're just glued to their phones all the time.

Drowning in Grades

I created this artwork to show how kids and teens struggle with academic validation and gain self-esteem based on their grades. The artwork is of a girl drowning in her thoughts about not being good enough and feeling like she needs to be perfect for her to have peace and be accepted. It shows the struggle many students face to get good grades and still think it is not good enough.

See my Thoughts

One thing I experience in school is my anxiety and depression, which a lot of my peers and classmates also suffer from. I chose an eyeball because it shows how it feels when they are thinking badly about themselves. I also chose an eyeball so people could "see" my thoughts through "my eyes.

The Victim

My inspiration comes from when I was bullied as a little kid. It shows the issue of bullying in schools.

Empty

I have always felt empty, lonely, and uncomfortable at school. I felt like everyone was looking at me and judging me. I have bad social anxiety so I really love to express my emotions through art, hoping other people can relate. I have a problem thinking everyone dislikes me or thinks negatively of me. I feel trapped at school, and I try to capture the emotions I feel into my art piece. I hope that teachers and students are a bit more considerate and aware of other people with their struggles and not making anyone feel uncomfortable or unsafe at school.

Unfair Dress Code

The problem that influenced my art is the unfair dress code between boys and girls. The dress code always seems to only apply to girls. When this happens, girls try to stand up to the adults but fail as it would be wrong to talk back to an adult and it is unacceptable behavior. My art demonstrates how unreasonable it is for girls to get into trouble for how their clothes fit on them because of their body, while boys show their underwear while sagging or having ripped jeans.

Burnout

I was inspired by my peers and myself since it's very common to feel burnt-out due to an overload of work. I created this art piece to represent the frustration that many students like me experience. But with the help of our teachers and adults we can overcome these problems, like asking for an extension, tutorials, and guidance.

Burnt

My artwork shows a worn-down male sitting in his room with many assignments he does not have much time to get done. He is struggling with stress and burning out from all the expectations of school. Substance abuse like smoking, vaping and drinking is also a problem that this can lead to. This is a problem my peers and I experience.

Balance of Bad

Over the 4 years of high school, I have seen some harmful stuff like vapes, fighting, cyber bullying and drugs. I know nationally every school struggles with something bad. So, I created a balance scale to demonstrate how all the bad can outweigh having safe schools.

Mental Health and Suicide

Our peers struggle with the emotional effects of bullying and have experienced suicide-like symptoms of self-harm, depression, self-isolation, and aggression. We used a gun and a teen to represent bullying and suicide. They symbolize the harsh reality of these issues. The gun represents violence and danger that can result from bullying. The person reflects the emotional pain, isolation, and mental struggle that victims feel when they encounter bullying.

In the Mind

Teenagers in high school have a lot going on in their mind that nobody knows about: depression, love, peer pressure for drugs, and money issues. My friend struggled with depression, relationships, peer pressure to do drugs, and a lack of money. I watched as she let it take over her life. She became hateful and distant. Many students struggle with this and do not have anyone to turn to. The signs are there, but no one recognizes them. They have a lot on their minds.

Forever Changed

My peers and I experience the deeply personal fear that the next school shooting could target us. It does not matter how kind we are, we are never truly safe. The fear grows with each school shooting. Our teachers face the unimaginable fear of giving their lives to protect us. We are all altered by this ever-present threat.

Burnout

When I come to school, I always feel stuffed to the brim with my failures and lack of accomplishments. I stress over the need to do better, and no one can see the effort I am truly putting in unless it is a perfect A+. I feel burnt out.

The Reality of School

I was inspired by the things I see at school and other schools. Each drawing represents the biggest problem in schools; bullying, vaping, fighting, and anxiety. The characters in my artwork represent the reality of school problems.

The Dangers of Vaping in Schools: Health Risks, Disruptions, and Safety Hazards

Vaping in schools is unsafe because of its health risks, negative effects on the school environment, and potential safety hazards. Many vapes contain nicotine, a highly addictive substance that can harm adolescent brain development, along with harmful chemicals that may cause lung diseases. Their use in schools distracts students, encourages social pressure, and is hard to detect due to their small size. Additionally, some devices may contain illegal substances like THC and vape batteries can explode if misused or improperly charged. Schools prohibit vaping to protect students' health and safety.

Stop Cyberbullying

My artwork was inspired by my observations and sometimes hearing how people make fun of others without anyone stepping in to stop it.

The Weight of Anxiety

My artwork was inspired by the anxiety that comes with senior year and how all the stress can affect someone mentally.

A Study in Tension

My artwork was inspired by the fact that students are often stressed by deadlines and assignments. It symbolizes a major problem students face: the pressure of schoolwork. Managing deadlines and assignments is stressful for me, but as I am near the end of the school year, I've pushed beyond my limits to accomplish my goals.

I'm Not Hungry Anymore

I created my artwork to raise awareness about school lunches. Although our food isn't gourmet, I don't complain it tastes great. Personally, I think my school's food is excellent, and I'm thankful for our lunch ladies. While my art isn't entirely realistic (like the radioactive milk, for example) or directly related to me, I still sympathize with children who are less fortunate and don't have access to safe or sufficient food. I hope and pray that schools in the future can provide safe and nutritious meals for all students.

Words Hurt-End Bullying

My artwork is a drawing of a girl who has been bullied. She is crying because of all the mean words her peers have called her. A sticker over her mouth reads “Stop Bullying,” symbolizing how many victims fear speaking out or standing up for themselves. Below her are a pair of crying eyes, representing the emotional distress she has endured. The bullies are shown as dark, shadowy figures with angry expressions, towering over her, just as victims often describe them. What inspired me was witnessing bullying and being called names myself. I speak up for myself and for others I see being mistreated because I want everyone to know they are seen and heard.

Emotion

Depression is a common problem high schoolers experience, but it often goes unaddressed. For me personally, depression looks like hiding my emotions and not sharing how I'm really feeling. I smile even when I feel hopeless inside. I chose theatrical masks to illustrate this because they show the two sides of emotion, what people see on the outside and what's really going on beneath the surface.

Anxious Spread

My artwork shows how anxiety clouds the mind and how certain words deeply impact us. Words spoken to us can grow into something larger, creating a sense of overwhelm and dread. They make us feel small or weak, affecting us more than we often admit.