by Scarlett Smithen
For the past year I’ve explored mental health and the ways it’s perceived in different parts of the world. That first “constellation” - what I call points of discussion here at Scarlett Writes - was incredibly personal as I’ve struggled with mental health in the past. And before I transition into my next major constellation I wanted to take time to reflect. I’ve learned a lot, and I hope my readers have too.
Lesson 1:
I’ve learned that mental health differs tremendously in other parts of the world. Not everyone has the same resources that I am so fortunate to have. Not everyone views mental health as a prominent issue in daily life. For some, there isn’t quite the terminology to describe it.
Lesson 2:
I’ve learned how school life significantly differs in other countries. In China, the school day lasts until 10pm and there are strict uniforms that everyone must wear. I’ve learned from my Israeli pen-pal how most students don’t go to college deciding instead to join the military, which is very different from my college-preparatory school’s culture.
Lesson 3:
I’ve learned how the way we cope with challenges is similar across the world. Like me, people will listen to music when they’re sad. They may go to the gym or go on walks to blow off steam. There are people out there who have similar values that I do, and I am grateful for getting to know people like me in other parts of the world.
What’s next?
Everything makes me excited about art. Life imitates art. Art is a way to showcase life in a way that makes it beautiful. I love to romanticize elements of life, and art helps me do that. Movies are the building blocks of my identity. Each character I watch, each quote I hear - they stick with me every day of my life. Movies help me see the world beyond myself and try to appreciate the beauty within it.
I’ve always been fascinated with how art is perceived around the world. Whenever I travel to another country, I find myself wandering through museums, learning about the culture's history, and often seeing the art that comes with it. Art is such an important aspect of cultures. Whether it's visual art, written art, music, film, or theater, every culture has some sort of art that can be both appreciated and used as a tool for learning. During this next constellation, I hope to learn about how different forms of art contribute to societies across the world. I want to learn about what these other cultures appreciate and if I can find similarities between myself and them.
Readers can expect articles about areas of art that I’m particularly interested in, like film. They can expect to see interviews with people who create art, such as filmmakers, as well as people who appreciate art, like other high school students. Readers can expect to see articles regarding various art forms in other cultures to aim to spread awareness about the greater world, ultimately promoting the idea of art being universally loved “under the same sky.”
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