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When I first started this unit I wasn't at all sure how most of this was going to work and what techniques I should've been using. In my experimental print there's a lot of weird shapes and I also didn't carve enough in the first few layers. I also wasn't as sure of what do to with colours or contrast. Looking at my prints now I'm more confident in what I should be carving out of the Lino and what colours I think look good and will be able to pop. In my first experiment I didn't really know what to do with all my shapes so there's a lot of random things pretty much everywhere, but for my final print I mainly focused on lines that were horizontal and vertical and kept that pattern throughout the entire piece.

I think that I've definitely improved with my ability to communicate an idea through my art. For example I feel like compared to the first experiment I made which was just a "Normal" portrait of a person, I tried to avoid making anything literal as much as I could. My portrait is a disfigured monstrous thing that looks interesting to look at. So instead of having just a bland person in the middle, there's something there with meaning and that has a story to it.

I think that it is very important that we are able to use art as self-expression because it is a way we can communicate our thoughts and feelings in a way in which words cannot. While sometimes art is confusing or hard to understand, I feel like it is one of the easiest ways to organise an idea into a piece of expression.

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I wouldn't say I got better at my creative thinking skills but I've definitely improve technically because before we started this unit, I was completely clueless, I first found it very confusing and difficult to understand the logic behind the layers, I didn't even know that there was a technique to print it either. I definitely I think its still complicated and confusing with all the different layers but as I am learning, it's about the lighting of how bright it is when there's a light hitting at the artwork and the different shadows that could possible appear. For the first layer, I made sure that I carve out at least 30% and I made sure even though it's a little, every symbol has their own shadow that is slowly showing through. I wanted my focal point to be the rat which was the reason why the scale of the rat is big, its an insecurity that I see in myself. Since the first unit that we did this year, my thinking of art has become more deep, it's not just who you are, it's how you want to express yourself through art work. By the creative thinking strategy, I use scale to represent my body figure and how I was feeling. I use the rat to make myself feel big because that's one of my biggest insecurity while I also hate being look at which was one of the reasons why I made it the focal point. For my technique that I had with the white paper, my original plan was to use that white paper but on the last layer, I messed up the printing a bit and  made it crooked leading it to look messing. Even though I like the way my final piece turn out, most of the time I wasn't able to figure out on my own, I had to ask for help, I was feeling a little bit lost with what part I was supposed to carve out. I could've done it better by planning and coloring it out in my sketch book before I start carving and printing. I also need to improve my skill by knowing how much paint is enough or not because sometimes I can't really tell by the sound of the stickiness. Before I started carving, Ms.Blair help me more with my negative space and my composition. Doing art made me learn more about myself through expressing who I really am. It almost like having therapy without having to talk to someone if I feel uncomfortable especially for someone like me who doesn't really like talking and sharing. The colors on the brown paper express what I feel like sometimes like anger and frustration.

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Yes, I am more accomplished technically now than I was before this unit. Firstly, now I completely understand that if I were to cut out this part what part would show? Another thing that I have come to conceptualize is how lighting works and how to use lino printing to emphasize the shadows and highlighted parts of just anything. Additionally, I have also developed my lino carving skills, throughout the layers you could see that I carved more and more intricate details, all while using many different tips (V and U). Lastly, one way I have been more successful technically is through the printing process. Specifically, knowing when there is enough ink on the plate (When there is an orange peel texture and sticky sound), and also use the holes and borders to help me align each layer of ink. There are still mistakes that could be seen and they are due to my start-of-the-unit skills and lack of planning which I wish I developed sooner so that my piece would’ve been more refined.

My creative thinking skills have developed much deeper throughout this unit in terms of using symbolism, colours, composition, and use of negative space. I learned that using scale, hybridization and metamorphosis and repetition in my piece helps to show the blend of the past and the present and how it depicts my current characteristics. It also displays the repetitive cycle of human suffering and helps to tell a story in a more subtle and complex way. Without the use of creative thinking strategies, I feel like my composition would have looked too literal and obvious. I have plenty of symbols within the pose, the accessories, hair, clothes and lines. For some pieces, I’ve chosen to use contrasting colours (ink + paper) so that they would pop, and it was still able to send a message of feeling unsafe but willing to protect who I was/am. In terms of composition and use of negative space, it’s dynamic and the piece draws your attention to the right places and gives meaning to the pose and symbols used.

It is indeed important because it's the purest way to express a range of emotions. Whether the emotion is depression or love, one can express it in many different ways, especially when it's done in a form of an art piece. By being able to express oneself, one will be able to understand the deeper-rooted emotions that can’t be expressed through words themselves. For some, self-expression through the medium of art is therapeutic or relaxing for them and can possibly lead to a decrease in many self-degrading actions. Another reason why it's important is that one may be able to connect with anyone using art. Whether or not the emotion is mutual, it could be an emotion that one has felt before and now a wisp of nostalgia is upon them reminding them of the “bad” or “good” days. For some it might be an emotion that they are experiencing right now and don’t know how to explain it, knowing that someone else is feeling the same can help validate their feelings and allow them to embrace it instead.

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Your technical skills. Are you more accomplished technically now than you were before starting this unit? In what way(s)?
- Throughout this unit i was able to improve my printing skill because as seen in my blue prints i know that when the ink board and the the lino have the consistency of an orange peel then it means that you have enough ink. Although i tended to use more of the V shaped tools they varied in sizes, I also tried to included using the U shaped tool to take out larger portions.The use of this helped me better understand the concept of negative space and balance in the positive space i have. Also understanding what to carve out in each layer as in the beginning of the unit was a struggle for me.  Understanding how much i needed to take out of the first layer, and where too in the next. Over the unit i was able to develop and better understanding of where the white aspect should go and that by adding in white around or in my focal point it will bring it out and help show the audience that this is the focal point.
Also carving over the same lines will give lines depth.  I also feel that I have bettered my technical compositional skills as proven through the circular composition and combining something that looks super traditional (a plate) and making it look more modern through the line marks and colour scheme.

Your creative thinking skills.
-Through this unit i was able to better develop my creative thinking skills through the use of symbolism. I pushed my creative thinking as I combined traditional and modern. I also combined a spoon and a fork into one symbol to express my non-binary identify. I am neither one or the other.  i had to try and find different ways in which to incorporate different meanings with symbolism. I also used appropriation. The artwork the American Gothic has the heads replaced in order to symbolism how i have taken aspect of both and shown that i became a combination of past and present America. This shows how i have combined symbols of traditional colonial America with progressive and newer facets of identity. And how I have changed over the years in a subtle way. The flowers also represent different types of change, this taught me that using buds, small blooms and open blooms through metamorphosis can prove change in a person.

The statement of inquiry.
Its important for us to create art as a form of self-expression as art is a way for people to communicate their ideas and feeling about how certain events have effected them.It also shows their side of the story, and in a way for artist to create art about these experiances it can be cathartic

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This unit has helped me to develop my thinking and art skill because during the planning process, I really pushed myself to thinks of symbolisms or symbol that could give off a sad and angry feeling and I tried to add as many symbol to my piece as possible and the unit has help me with my printmaking skill because now I know how to a line my art after every print and I know that if I want to line it perfectly, the first print has to be straight and on the second print I can place my finger on a part that I took a chunk out and my thump on the back and look at from the top and then I will print it perfectly on top of the first print or I can aline one side of the print to the Lino and than slowly place the whole Lino on top. I also improved my creative thinking through finding symbols that fits with feeling that I want to give off such as an action going on in my eyes that lead to tears because, it shows that as times went by, everything make me angry and sad and I also learned how to make something stands out and it is by drawing it a little bit on top of the middle of the paper and a bit to the left and I can also carve the a lots of parts from the place that I want to stand out in the first layer because, it is going to be white and when people look at art from far away the colour that catch their attention will be the white parts. I also learned that if I put anything in the eye of the person in the picture, then it will look like the past and the person in the whole frame will look like the present.

I think it is important for us to make arts as a self expression because in an art piece we can freely express ourself and shows our emotions and we can use symbolism to express those feelings making the meaning look more powerful and we can express ourself while making something that we love which is art and it simply give the art more meanings and it can also make the audiences who has the same problem to feel more related to the art and it could act as a form of therapy for my audiences.

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I have improved in printmaking, because the quality of my prints have improved. I have learned how to carve out my linograph better and using different tools, however when i carve I sometimes leave lines on my linograph that could leave paint on it and is left there when printing. I have improved at rolling out paint and using a good amount of ink, and I can tell when I do this when the paint I roll out sounds sticky and looks like an orange peel. I could still improve on my printing onto my paper, because it is not always accurate, and sometimes I miss and there are smudges on my art. My drawing skills have also improved and this artwork is proof of it. I have improved my ability to represent and express myself and communicate through symbolism and surrealism. I have created and thought of many ways I could communicate how I have changed in this artwork and my ability to do so has improved greatly. I think it is definitely important to create art as a self expression because then it gives the artwork a deeper meaning that represents the artist.

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As an artist, I have developed drastically from how I was really struggling with how to cut out the lightest part to being able to know precisely where to cut. Before starting this unit, I had some experience with printmaking but had never attempted lino printing before. As I progressed through the unit, I found that my technical skills improved significantly. Initially, I struggled with carving the lino block and using different-size cutters to create different shapes. However, with practice and guidance from my teacher, I became more confident and precise in my carving. I also learned how to properly ink the block and how the ink should look before I applied the ink to the paper. In terms of my creative thinking skills, I feel that this unit has helped me develop my ability to communicate on a deeper, more conceptual level. Through the process of designing and carving my lino block, I had to think more critically about my subject matter and how I wanted to convey it. I found that by simplifying my designs and using negative space more effectively, I was able to create more impactful prints. I also experimented with different colour combinations and textures to add more depth and dimension to my prints. Regarding the statement of inquiry, I do believe that creating art as a form of self-expression is essential. It allows us to explore and communicate our thoughts, emotions, and experiences in a visual way. This can be a way of detoxing ourselves and could also be therapeutic, and can also serve as a means of connecting with others who may share similar experiences or perspectives. Art has the power to evoke strong emotions and spark important conversations, making it a valuable tool for both my personal and societal growth.

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https://docs.google.com/document/d/1u5pSXpOqYEa8LQtAAMGQGZxX42NIhACWwLMZZZ6UPZ0/edit#

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During this unit I feel that my technical skills have improved since the start of the unit. I feel this way because my printing skills and my carving skills have improved greatly, I learnt techniques like crosshatching to create textures. I also used different tools to create different designs, for example I used the smallest tool to create spiral shapes in the leaves of my trees and by using the V shaped tool I created lines all over the tree to give it an organic texture. By using the U shaped tool I could create large white highlights in the first layer that helped my prints have a focal point. While printing I encountered issues with streaks of lino showing up while printing due to uneven lino in the large spots with empty lino, I solved this problem by evening out the lino after I print so I could find where the streaks appeared from. While printing I learnt techniques like using a gap in the lino to hold the lino to line up the lino to the print, I also rolled out enough paint by rolling until the paint makes a sticky sound and looks like a orange peel. At the start of the unit I had issues with lining up the lino to the prints but as the unit went on I learnt new techniques and eventually got better at lining up my lino.

I also feel that my creating thinking skills have improved a large amount since the start of the unit. Ive been able to use symbols to express my ideas in conceptual ways on a deeper level. I have used hidden meanings and symbols in my prints by hiding them in the texture, shape and scale of the print, this helped my symbols express their meaning by adding another layer of symbolism through texture and shapes. I also used artistic techniques like hybridization as a symbol to express my ideas, I did this in my final piece by hybridizing the tree with the faces to express my how my emotions have changed over my life. At the start of the unit I my creative thinking was not as developed as the end of the unit as I am able to create more complex symbols in my artwork than at the start of the unit. By the end of the unit I was able to use artistic techniques and carving techniques to enhance my symbols ability to communicate my ideas.

I think it is extremely important for us to create art as a form of self expression because art is a form of therapy for people to express their emotions and feelings in a conceptual way. Without art our lives would be bland as art is a way to understand each other without words.

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Your technical skills. Are you more accomplished technically now than you were before starting this unit? In what way(s)?

Before this unit, I didn’t know how to use the tool or know that that type of artwork exists so by learning this unit I will be able to understand that artwork is not just painting and has different types. Before I didn’t know how to use a tool or to paint. So at the start of the unit, I feel lost and I don't understand, I feel like I'm confused a lot with different layers. By this I mean I have to use the tool to carve out lino so I can paint different colour into the paper however I was so confuse that I don’t know what to carve out, it also because i was scared that i get it wrong so I think i might use up alot of time at first to get use to these tool and the lino. However as the time goes, I am able to understand how to use it even though I still feel confused about what to carve out so I alway ask my teacher if I carve out lino correctly so I will be able to make sure that my artwork is right and I won’t make any mistakes. I am able to use different types of tools and I think it is very useful like the V shape. I am able to use it for the detail and the small part that I need to carve out. I am able to use the ink and paint it into my paper. I make sure that there is not so much negative space so I make a circle curve line so it will look more detailed and not so boring.

Your creative thinking skills. Has your ability to communicate on a deeper, more conceptual level developed throughout this unit? How?

For my final artwork, I have used different tools to communicate like the water that is in my final artwork, I use a v shape to make a curved line like a wave in the ocean or river, it is to be used as a water line to show that I feel like I'm drowning. I also know that using different type of colour also can tell my feeling, like blue that I use in my final piece. I also know that if i use a book in my final piece it will give idea to other that it is about school and grade and I also have put me drowning in the book and the book have ocean in it to show the affect of school to my life.  I also use a monster in my final piece so people can know that bad thing is happening and get an idea of what happen.

The statement of inquiry. Do you think it is important for us to create art as a form of self-expression? Why?

I think it is important for us to create a art that is a form of self expression because people be able to communicate about my problem though art, it is also can help people with their mental health as people be able to talk about their problem so they can at least the problem that people are carried can get out of their chest a little though making artwork, art work is also can use as a hobby for people to express themselves when they are so stress and when they have no one to listen to them or they cannot trust anyone so art that use as self expression can make them feel at home and peaceful. It can make people want to do art more and just want to stay there because it makes people feel peace from their problems. Artwork that people use as self expression is helpful, to some people, they don’t have money to get help with their mental health or they don’t have anyone with them that will listen to their problem so it is help people without cost money to talk to therapy because their art work can be their therapy by them making something that express themself, which can make them feel like they not alone and it can people to be able to put their strong emotion like anger or stress into their artwork so the people can calm down after making art that express themself.

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yes I know yellow on yellow

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i messed up print 2 so its not going to be seen

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The sun: represents my younger self

Stars: represent that it's night time and things are often very confusing when you literally can't see (hard to see in the dark) - contrasts with the sun

Spots/pimples on face: to represent my growing insecurities as I've grown older

Dead plants: to represent how i've often lost or forgotten how I used to be when I was younger and my younger self

Filipino National Flower: to represent when I was younger and how I lived in the Philippines.

Half-ish face: Wanted to try and make half my face the younger me and half the me now. the left half is spots with no eyes and a small smile (present me) and the right has a big eye and has the mouth open wide and happy.

Big eye: the large eye is supposed too symbolise how when I was younger there were so many more new things I could learn, experience or see for the first time and things were just more interesting.

Long hair: To represent puberty and how my body is changing and especially hair growth and how it's often the thing you try to prevent from changing the most by shaving it back.

Large and Small limbs: The large limbs are supposed to represent how i've grown and literally gotten bigger. Where as the smaller limb also represents how I'm still growing and the contrast of how small I used to be.

Younger self buried in the dirt: to show that the younger me is still in myself, but it's buried so deep inside me that it's hard to grasp and sometimes I forget about it.

Colours: All the things connected to my younger self will be the same colour to show the connection between them (layer one).
The blue represents predictability as puberty and this art piece is about something that is bound to happen to anyone and isn't surprising.
The brown represents wisdom because as I've grown up and changed i've gained new found wisdom and learned more things.

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Thanks for uploading all of your work and being up to date. I really appreciate it.

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Thanks for uploading all of your work and being up to date. I really appreciate it.

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This final drawing looks great, but there is going to need to be orange and or green in the pattern in the background also. 

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This final drawing looks great, but there is going to need to be orange and or green in the pattern in the background also. 

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Creative thinking strategies missing under your sketches

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Creative thinking strategies missing under your sketches

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Your nose needs to be bigger to balance the size of your eye. Your ear needs to be higher up. This was supposed to be done in colour please before you can start your final piece.

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Your nose needs to be bigger to balance the size of your eye. Your ear needs to be higher up. This was supposed to be done in colour please before you can start your final piece.

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You need to remove this drawing and update your Padlet with your updated drawing that we were working on last week. 

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You need to remove this drawing and update your Padlet with your updated drawing that we were working on last week. 

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Final Plan drawing is missing. You need to do it in colour.

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Final Plan drawing is missing. You need to do it in colour.

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You also have creative thinking strategies missing under your sketches

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The circle under the rat concerns me. The stem on the flowers is a problem compositionally, and the bunch of rectangles in the bottom right hand corner needs some refinement before you begin your final artwork. More detail in in the rat needed to make it look less cartoony.

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The circle under the rat concerns me. The stem on the flowers is a problem compositionally, and the bunch of rectangles in the bottom right hand corner needs some refinement before you begin your final artwork. More detail in in the rat needed to make it look less cartoony.

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Thanks for uploading your final plan drawing. I have a few minor issues with the hand, the two bubbles and the figure. The scale is an issue and there needs to be more overlapping happening. 

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Thanks for uploading your final plan drawing. I have a few minor issues with the hand, the two bubbles and the figure. The scale is an issue and there needs to be more overlapping happening. 

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Your artistic intention is also not done still. This needs to be done.

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For this piece, I focused on the unspoken but expected responsibilities of the eldest child (plus my own experiences, regarding my own situations). Expressing the stress that is put on you by yourself and the people around you (mostly direct family and society), constantly having to be one step ahead to remain relevant or to achieve parental love and affection, or else you will inevitably fall into a pit of disappointment and failure. In addition to that, this piece also focused on the manipulation, the spirals, loops and turns "they" were willing to take to make you so desirable to others yet lose your own identity to fit their standards and expectations. After turning double digits in age, suddenly there was a bar to reach, more lectures about womanhood and being the eldest, and the lack of affection for one another in my familial relationships just kept growing. Quite honestly, it was me transitioning into a teenager, becoming vocal, and more emotional was a threat. They no longer have the ability to change my mind or views with ease, so they changed their target to the younger ones. This version of me now has never felt so much guilt for my younger self, the pain she endured, the issues and blame that was put on her (even if it wasn't her fault), I hope to protect and preserve her kindness and gullible but cute personality however in the meantime she should not exist anymore for me to move on and continue my path. I hope the audience will be able to sympathize with my experience, feeling the pressure that is put on children, specifically the elder ones due to the fact of their added responsibilities and have-to-be-met standards.

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10 Symbols and Meanings:

1. Scale:
The difference in size between the 2 young girls and the mysterious being in the back is shown through the fact that two of the young women's feet can balance on one finger of the giant. The reasoning for this choice is that no wonder what I do, at the end of the day I always feel like the smallest being when being ridiculed, scolded or embarrassed by them. However after years of experience, I no longer cry out of sadness or anger in front of them, my pride wouldn't let me. Instead, I choose to stand tall but not tall enough to beat them yet.

2. Inner Child:
The child that this young woman (present to future me) is carrying in her arms is my childhood. Always wanted affection and attention from parental guardians but never received enough to feel satisfied. So present-future me wanted to become the person that the inner child always needed and craved. The inner child's tight hold is evident by the gripping of the clothes and how their heads smile at the delight of the warmth of the loving figure which is present-future me.

3. White clothing:
The long and fitted white clothes are traditional Khmer funeral clothing, the young woman is mourning the death of the child but the birth of a much wiser and more experienced woman. Knowing the experience that started when I was 8 till now, all I could think about was the protection (passionate holding tight to the child) and guilt towards someone that was so vulnerable and young. Now that the child is gone physically (Body changed physically), they are not gone mentally as they will be the motive for every move I make.

4. High heels:
High heels represent the image, pain and expectation of my family (code P). Standing tall and not worrying about those below you was the image they hoped that I would take as an example. The "high" expectations they that gave me throughout the years will crumble the way I fall to the pain of the high heels because it was way too "high". They also had very unreasonable expectations for the height I would be able to achieve with my genetics (short parents), in order for my P to help me achieve that they went through unnatural (shows through the height boost from heels) routes that were not only expensive but ruined my body for quite a few years. The thing is, I don't care about fitting the Cambodian standards of being tall, slender and fair-skinned - I only care whether or not I can satisfy them.

5. Pointing Finger:
The pointing finger is supposed to convey the feeling of being told exactly what to do all your life, because visually if they were unsatisfied they could easily retract that finger and leave you falling down the void of their voice. And there is this sense of hypocrisy as well because I've been told to follow them all my life I didn't use to have many ideas of my own so they would call me incompetent and lack the skills to take care of myself, but I when I thought for myself or gave my views they would call me selfish and rude (most of the time it's the publically humiliating me then privately yelling at me cycle). There is just no way to win.

6. Void:
The void that consumes me every time is anything and everything that comes out of their mouth (In this case the voice sprouting from their voice box).

7. Use of lines:
Spirals are used in the face to convey the confusing nature and front that they portray to trick and manipulate you.
Loops and Turns are used out of the voice box to showcase how they manipulate my intentions and actions through their words which leads me to my downfall.

8. Hair Bun
A hairstyle that represents being put together, and having control over oneself. Whether it be emotions, words, or my own body I hope to have full control over my life without their input.

9: Romdol Flower:
Placed carefully in the hair of the child, showing how much she loved her country and culture but the absence of it in the woman (me now) conveys how much I despise to show the culture and religion I'm a part of.

10: Balancing Rod
Balancing the long heavy list of current and future responsibilities. Those orbs have little items representing the need for academic validation, the worry of financial status and balancing both school and social life.

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The purpose of my art pieces is to show how I change from the thing I went though. This art piece is to show about the pressure that my family or other adults give me because of my grade. This art piece is to show the effect of my family taking control over me by using violence and the bad words that can say to me about my study and the way I act at school. I want adults and families to understand how hard the work that the kids need to do by studying to make them feel happy. They need to understand that making the kids scare of them by using violence and giving them pressure not going to help the kids with the study to get good grade but it make the kids try to do work even though they find it hard and feel pressure which make them have metal ill so they should help and encourage the kids to study and to understand the kids feeling.

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Malysa, you are not working fast enough in class. It feels like you are wasting class time. You don't have a final plan uploaded or your 10 meanings done. This should have been done by now. 

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Malysa, you are not working fast enough in class. It feels like you are wasting class time. You don't have a final plan uploaded or your 10 meanings done. This should have been done by now. 