March Photo Essay

This month marks about one year in quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s been really interesting reflecting on how I’ve been feeling this last month, given all of the stressors that have been circulating in my world recently. Midterms, quarantine, online classes, the lack of inspiration, and overall motivation have left me feeling drained this month. So for this photo essay, I decided to create a diary entry, documenting this month and its events. 

Midterms often weigh heavier on my mental health than they actually should. It seems like every time I ask my college friends how they are doing, they always reply with the same answer of burnout, exhaustion, and general unwellness. This month marks a year that we’ve all been living in this weird time warp, but it wasn’t until this month that I fully recognized how colleges are pushing their students to maintain a very high standard of academic “normalcy,” even in a pandemic. This standard produces a strange sense of guilt if one isn’t being productive and using their time “efficiently.” Capitalistic modes of thinking are really ingrained in every facet of society… I hate it here. 

Regardless of my academic-related angst, I’ve been feeling drained artistically as well. However, my journal is always a place of respite for my creativity. Whether it be doodling around polaroids, collaging pictures I took of my stepmom, or making collages of my favorite celebrities, I always find it necessary to let my creativity roam free within these pages. My journal is a place where I can just release whatever whenever I’d like, whether it be a beautiful collage, a messy drawing, or even scribbles. This journal entry allowed me to create for the sake of creating. I encourage everyone to find that thing that lets them express themselves freely because it can genuinely make all the difference when the world around you feels stagnant.