Names are changed to ensure anonymity
In the quiet suburbs of Schaumburg, where the glow of streetlights meet the shadows of towering trees, lived a young teenager named Ethan. His world, often cloaked in solitude, echoed with the distant hum of his parents’ ambitions. Dr. and Dr. Kapoor, both esteemed physicians, were never home, their lives consumed by the demands of their medical careers.
As the days unfolded, Ethan found himself navigating the unknowns of adolescence without the necessary guidance of his parents. Early mornings were filled with the distant clattering of dishes as his parents rushed to the hospital, and evenings lingered with the stench of leftovers for dinner.
Ethan, left to his own devices, found comfort in the world of books. The shelves in his room became a visual diary of his thoughts and emotions, filled with the books that seemed to be the only thing to understand him. In the midst of loneliness, he found refuge in the fictional realms crafted by his favorite authors.
One day, as Ethan strolled through the neighborhood park, he noticed a small community center offering art classes. The opportunity of filling his evenings with creativity instead of leftovers filled his stomach with excited butterflies. Ethan signed up for painting classes, now stepping into a world that would soon become his sanctuary.
In the studio, colors danced on canvases and imagination knew no bounds. Ethan discovered the language of art, a silent dialogue that spoke volumes despite the absence of his parents. Each brushstroke became an expression of the emotions he bottled up in the shelves of his room.
As the weeks passed, Ethan’s talent blossomed. His paintings, vibrant with a mix of emotions, captured the essence of a teenager navigating the complexities of adolescence and the absence of parental presence. The community center became his second home, and friendship with fellow artists filled the void that lingered in his empty house.
As his room began to fill with unfinished sketches, paint stains, and empty canvases waiting for color, Ethan began to long for recognition. Yes, art was his therapy. Yes, art was his friend. Yes, art was his hobby. But couldn’t it be so much more?
Ethan began collecting his finished works and searched the internet for an art competition. One day, he found an application for YoungArts. After days of restlessness and pondering, he reluctantly decided to submit his portfolio.
For months, Ethan didn’t receive an email regarding his application. He lost hope and continued to create in secret. However, five months after he applied, Ethan received an email from YoungArts as he was doing schoolwork. His heart began to race and his hands became clammy as he opened the email to the words: congrats on your award in our arts division! In no world did he expect to win the whole competition!
Now he faced a new dilemma: how would he break this news to his parents who expected their son to follow in their stable STEM lives? Ethan wanted nothing more than for his parents to notice him and his new talents. Would this award do this or would it simply disappoint them? He decided not to find out.
Ethan’s art was displayed in galleries and art shows for the next few weeks. He posted every event on Instagram and began working with successful artists in the Chicago area. Each post was followed with empowering and supportive comments from his friends and mentors. Despite every like, follow, comment, art show, and opportunity he gained, the empty pit in Ethan’s stomach would not fill. He was too scared to take that next step in filling it, though.
One night, as Ethan came back home from an art show, he opened the door to his 2 parents, still in their scrubs. Ethan’s mind filled with confusion, worry, and fear as he saw their stern faces; usually they were still at the hospital or sleeping at this time. He slowly closed the door and took his shoes off, waiting patiently for his scolding. As he looked back on the past few months, Ethan realized how deep a hole he dug for himself. He enrolled in art classes, neglected many of his classes, replaced STEM extracurriculars with art shows, and ignored his parents’ expectations for him– all behind their back.
As Ethan’s mind was swarming, his dad cleared his throat, “You should have told us.”
“How did you find out?” Ethan whispered in fear.
“Your Aunt Mia texted us saying how impressed she was with your work. We did not even know what she was referring to! Maybe you were scared of disappointing us but we had the right to know about these successes.”
Ethan looked at his parents with tears trapped in his eyes.
“We may not approve of this lifestyle, but Ethan, we are so proud of you,” his mom said as she stood up. Ethan’s trapped tears began to stream down his face as his parents embraced him.
“We can figure this out, but you need to promise to come to us with these types of things,” his dad whispered as he held his wife and son.
“I promise,” Ethan said as he smiled. Finally, he was seen by his parents.