Reflection Artifact
As I drew this art piece, I crafted each piece to symbolize some of my most important reflections, and how they led me to become a better listener. Growing up, I always felt the need to stand out from the crowd, to let every single thought of mine be heard, to be expressed nonstop. I wasn’t confident in my skills and friendship, and I was making up for it by being the loudest one in the room. The dark shade of the vase sharply contrasts the backdrop. While it is one of the loudest objects in the painting, it has a strong foundation, and it widens up towards the top-middle, around which the heart is on the body. Towards the top, it encloses a small opening. As I learned and gained more skills, I realized that true confidence is not about broadcasting every detail of what I was doing, but instead knowing that “I got this” and “I will push through”. It is about having a strong foundation and strong belief in myself at heart.
​
Five years in mock trial taught me a lot of jargon, at the same time, it also built my desire to make every sentence sound as complicated and long as possible in an attempt to “sound smart”. Through learning charismatic leadership research, I discovered that the stories that make me think and act are those with the most simple messages. The column next to the vase is simple, yet it is an integral part of this painting by bringing light to this otherwise dark piece, by being a base that other models built upon.
​
The ear delivers a clear message: it is important to listen. The two previous objects are about self and speech, and form a foundation to having the confidence to listen. I pride myself on having an impeccable spirit of curiosity. I find that the best way to satisfy that curiosity is to ask questions and listen. In business, listening is how I learn the most and find the root cause of the problem, collaborate with teammates to create a solution, and network with individuals and grow through hearing their experience.
​
The sparkling cider behind the ear does a job that its name stands for: it sparkles. However, its placement in the back in a more shadow-heavy area is a strong reminder to me about the vase: that sparkling is not about being the loudest, but being myself.