Scholastic Art

In 2026, I was awarded two regional Scholastic Art Awards for my digital art. I received a Gold Key for a portrait of my dad called Breaking Through the Noise and an Honorable Mention for a drawing of my grandparents called Look How Far We’ve Come.

Breaking Through the Noise was inspired by a photo of my dad reaching toward the camera while standing on the glass floor at New York City’s SUMMIT One Vanderbilt. The room had mirrored floors, ceilings, and walls, creating a trippy image that looked like it came straight from a fever dream. I liked the idea of my dad breaking away from all of that chaos, hence the title of the piece. The background is crowded with reflections, lights, people, and buildings, while my dad remains at the center.

My Honorable Mention, Look How Far We’ve Come, was a much calmer and more personal piece. It depicts my grandparents sitting at a Chinese restaurant, surrounded by their favorite dishes like Sichuan Boiled Fish and sea cucumbers with mushrooms. They have been together for 55 years, and both grew up in China during the Cultural Revolution. My grandpa was sent to work on a farm because he was a college graduate and considered to be over educated. Later, they immigrated to the U.S. and built a new life while keeping their traditions alive.

Those traditions have become part of my childhood. Every Lunar New Year, they give us red envelopes. My grandma often makes dumplings by hand, and on birthdays, we eat long noodles for a long life. The drawing represents not only how far my grandparents have come, but also the family and traditions they have carried with them.

Having both pieces recognized at the regional Scholastic level was especially meaningful because they came from people and moments that are personal to me. The awards reminded me that some of my strongest subjects are already part of my own life.