The Weight of Being explores the internal struggle of grappling with one’s identity while living with mental illness, and the fight against the misconception that mental illness defines who I am. 

Through the act of self-expression and reflection, I attempt to give form to this ongoing battle. The work captures the tension of living in a state of uncertainty—caught between the present struggles and the potential of what might be. It is a fragmented exploration of my journey: the struggle to reclaim my identity, the effort to heal, and the reminder that my mental health does not define me.

This project is not a resolution but a reflection on the complexity of navigating one’s sense of self while confronting the pressures and labels imposed by mental illness. It is an exploration of how we fight to exist beyond what we struggle with, to reclaim a sense of self that is not defined by our pain.