Honestly, when handed this project I had no idea what to use as my picture. How would I know what I'd want to look like when I'm a senior in highschool? I mean, in truth I don't think anyone would be capable of picturing themselves years in the future. You never know what your appearance will be within a day, let alone entire years. But then, when we were told to look past the image, and look more at the symbolism, it seemed like I was flooded by ideals that I could use within this assignment. However, these symbols aren't ones that could be comprehended without proper explanation.  I smile, but not fully. My mouth is closed not only to represent that I'm still me, a shy girl with incredibly high anxiety, but also to represent that I will hopefully know when to bite my tongue. I tend to have a very short temper, and have been known by friends to lash out at even the smallest mistakes. I hope within the years that such an issue fades. My bangs represent a mask that I am capable of unveiling, hence the uncovered side, but that I might not be necessarily willing to unveil my past, my personality, and just my general being. The shadows that fade into a bright white, with occasional splashes of other shadows throughout, represent that I am hoping to leave behind the pain, mistrust, and general sorrow of my past, and that it will gradually become brighter and more joyous as time passes. My T-shirt shows that no matter what, I will not do anything I'm uncomfortable doing. Although I will mature, and most likely gain and lose aspects of my personality, I hope to continue staying me.

I honestly can't state an exact way to come to this 'transformation'. If I knew, then I would have done it by now. I do not enjoy being unable to socialize without stuttering or having a slight panic attack at the mention of groups or public speaking, however I do enjoy that it makes me just that. Me. However, I think that if I can learn to control such disabilities even in the slightest, then maybe that kind of ground can be made within the upcoming years. Possibly through more interaction among a small group of classmates, and in general I think JSA itself is already helping me begin that transformation. "I instantly regretted having even spoken that one word." (Chevalier 148). After removing this quote's original context, and replacing it with my own, I would like to state that in a situation where I am forced to speak, I too regret things that say. In order to stop this disability from taking over, I think that plotting out my sentences clearly before saying them out-loud could honestly assist me greatly from stuttering and regretting such things.

"'...He traps them in his world. You can get lost there." (Chevalier 186). No matter the amount of compliments I receive, nor the offers, nothing will sway me from who I truly am. Much of my personality is separated by layers, and I'm going to act like Shrek here and reference an onion, because as you go through each layer, you slowly will come to the core. The core where my true personality and feelings are held. Once you reach the final layer, you can not go any deeper, and being that such layer is the final, that will be considered my 'real' personality. The one or true attributes that truly make me, me. Even if no one else realizes it, I will always know the truth. And that is what benefits me. The courage to know that no matter how many layers are peeled off, my being is mine and mine only. And no one can ever change that.