This piece is one about hope amidst dark and unpredictable times. The frame of the piece is a computer monitor, representing my life as a student and the extended amounts of time spent on my computer, completing assignments, taking tests, etc. The monitor in turn becomes a general representation of my life, giving special emphasis to the student aspect and the burdens that come with it. 

The three hands surrounding the monitor demonstrate the three primary components of my life. First, the hand with the glittering fingers represents my potential, but also past successes. As a result of any successes I’ve had in the past, the glitter highlights the fact that my life isn’t purely filled with the negative; positive and happy parts have been and will continue to be integrated within my life. Next, the hand with the cuts and stitches represents the painful aspect of my life, demonstrating how some of my life experiences have inflicted permanent pain on me, affecting my life on a larger scale. Lastly, the hand with the ropes shows constraint, and my subconscious deciding that I am incapable of certain tasks, restricting me from being who I want to be or doing what I want to do. This further implies a sense of toxicity towards myself. 

However, the colorfully painted canvas in the center of the monitor is the key component. By creating contrast, the bright pops of color are meant to stand out from the rest of the piece, signaling the audience to question its meaning and cohesiveness with the other parts. In reality, it shows how on the other side of my pain, there lies opportunity for happiness and hope for the future. It shows that I no longer want to be trapped in the bleak, gray mindset I’ve kept for so long and wish to introduce color and light into my life.