Digital Collage By Kristianna Eaton

A vibrant, digital collage featuring a winding road that stretches from the top center toward the horizon, surrounded by various symbolic images and text boxes..

Image Description: On the left, a large, halftone-style illustration of a mouth is open as if speaking, positioned above a hand writing in a journal. Text boxes nearby read “Patience for me when I’m struggling” and “A safe space for me to share and open up about my feelings.”

The center features a cluster of microphones, a globe with a blue flower growing out of it, and a teal flag. Text boxes in this area say “Realizing not every problem has the same solution” and “Making accommodations to advocate for my success.”

The right side shows a photograph of a group of people sitting on the front steps of a brownstone building. Overlapping this are stylized, flat-color icons of two people hugging and a simple red house. Text boxes here read “Clear communication and guidelines that help to benefit me” and “Creating community where I can feel empowered.”

About the Author

A headshot of a woman with long dark hair wearing a black top, smiling slightly at the camera, with a brick building in the background.

Image Description: A headshot of a woman with long dark hair wearing a black top, smiling slightly at the camera, with a brick building in the background.

“Kristianna Eaton is currently studying Marketing at the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University Indianapolis. While navigating her academic journey, she manages anxiety, and with the support of Indiana University’s Academic Excellence Services (AES) program, she has been able to thrive academically. With the resources provided by AES, Kristianna has found strategies that allow her to succeed and plans to graduate in May 2026.”

School in the Ring By Julia Vetters

In the foreground, a massive, muscular figure seen from the back wears a graduation gown and mortarboard, holding a book labeled "DIPLOMA." They loom over a much smaller, scruffy student in the boxing ring.

Image Description: In the foreground, a massive, muscular figure seen from the back wears a graduation gown and mortarboard, holding a book labeled “DIPLOMA.” They loom over a much smaller, scruffy student in the boxing ring.

Author Statement: “High school was a huge struggle for me.  There were times when I thought I wouldn’t be able to graduate because it was so overwhelming.  Every time I would go to school I felt panicked.  Thanks to the support of my wonderful teachers and advisors I was able to graduate.  They helped me set goals that I could achieve and pushed me to keep going.  They never made me feel bad about needing accommodations and helped me build the confidence I needed to start advocating for myself more”

About the Author

A person with light skin, wavy blonde hair, and round glasses smiles and wears a patterned teal shirt and a gold ring necklace.

Image Description: A person with light skin, wavy blonde hair, and round glasses smiles and wears a patterned teal shirt and a gold ring necklace.

Kenadie’s Safe Place

By Artist: Kenadie

Description of Art:
Front: This piece is painted and drawn on a rectangle canvas. It shows a bedroom with yellow walls, tan-colored flooring, a white open door, and typical bedroom furniture. The dresser drawers are open with clothes spilling out of them. The waste basket is overflowing, there is a book on the floor, and someone sitting in their bed on the right side of the room. The person has storm clouds with lightning above them and a thought bubble with the following words: Bills, Crime, Love, Food, Family, Success, School, and Job.


Description of Art:
Front: This piece is painted and drawn on a rectangle canvas. It shows a bedroom with yellow walls, tan-colored flooring, a white open door, and typical bedroom furniture. The dresser drawers are open with clothes spilling out of them. The waste basket is overflowing, there is a book on the floor, and someone sitting in their bed on the right side of the room. The person has storm clouds with lightning above them and a thought bubble with the following words: Bills, Crime, Love, Food, Family, Success, School, and Job.

Back: The back of this canvas has a note from the artist written in pencil. This drawing represents anxiety and depression to me cause even though you’re in your so called Safe Space and where I feel most comfortable things around you that would make you happy can’t even get you out of bed. You have everything around you to make you happy but no motivation to do so. Anxiety will cloud my mind and I worry about everything all at once and I lose sleep, and precious productive time. I try not to overthink and just lay down but it never works. I feel like anxiety and depression go hand in hand and if you can eliminate one it feels a little better. Being in my room in general helps my anxiety and where I feel most free to release my emotions and isolate.

Back: The back of this canvas has a note from the artist written in pencil. This drawing represents anxiety and depression to me cause even though you’re in your so called Safe Space and where I feel most comfortable things around you that would make you happy can’t even get you out of bed. You have everything around you to make you happy but no motivation to do so. Anxiety will cloud my mind and I worry about everything all at once and I lose sleep, and precious productive time. I try not to overthink and just lay down but it never works. I feel like anxiety and depression go hand in hand and if you can eliminate one it feels a little better. Being in my room in general helps my anxiety and where I feel most free to release my emotions and isolate.

Artist: Kenadie (She/Her)
Interview:
This project has been exciting for a number of reasons but especially because we had the opportunity to talk to each of the artists about their piece. Here is just some of what Kenadie (She/Her) shared with us on August 5th, 2024.

Kenadie (She/Her) is a lover of art including drawing, poetry, and tattoos. She is a young adult living in a housing program for LGBTQ+ youth and she experiences depression and anxiety.

Describing their Art:
When Kenadie thought about submitting art for this project the first thing that came to mind was her safe space, her room. Her room is the space where she gets to be alone with her thoughts and she has everything she needs. Even though it is her safe space, anxiety and depression can still come through. She was very intentional about portraying a space that is dark, “kind of dingy” to emphasize how it feels late at night.
For Kenadie, a safe, stable, and nurturing environment has routine but the people supporting you let you take things step by step.
“There can be better days, where you get up and feel motivated. You just feel the emotions through, it’s okay to feel them and feel low sometimes but when you’re ready just pick up and keep going.”