A reflection of my personal healing journey—shaped by struggle, survival, and growth. I used a dreamcatcher and wire sculpture I made by hand, symbolizing intention, protection, and the complexity of emotional entanglement. These forms act as stencils and central motifs in the work, layered with spray paint to evoke dream states, memory, and transformation. A key element in this piece is the spoon and baggies – once a tool I used during my period of ketamine addiction. By embedding it into the artwork, I confront its history head-on and recontextualize it. No longer hidden or shamed, it becomes part of a larger story: one of reclaiming power, telling truth, and moving toward light. Spray paint allows for both chaos and control in my process. It’s unpredictable, yet directed—much like healing itself. The layers represent time, memory, and the emotional weight we carry. Through this piece, I want to challenge stigma and invite viewers into a narrative that is both vulnerable and resilient. Healing is not linear, and this work is a way of holding space for that reality—of honoring what I’ve endured, and how I continue to grow from it.

Many journeys are tangled paths that feel like you are never going to reach your destination. But if you keep running forward regardless, you learn that isn’t true. Even if you can’t see it in the moment, you will usually end up in a different place than when you first started.

Aperiodic Revival explores the process of healing as nonlinear and deeply personal. Just as aperiodic tiling forms an intricate, ever-evolving pattern without predictable repetition, healing is rarely straightforward. This artwork, composed of discarded student paintings stitched into a new whole, symbolizes the act of reclaiming what was once seen as broken, unworthy, or failed. In repurposing these neglected canvases, I parallel the emotional work of learning to see value in ourselves even when we feel fragmented or cast aside. The pattern, both structured and chaotic, serves as a metaphor for how our complex experiences—pain, recovery, loss, and growth—interlock in unexpected but beautiful ways.  
This piece is about renewal: the slow, intentional act of piecing ourselves back together, not to return to who we were, but to become something newly whole. Aperiodic Revival honors the quiet resilience of healing and the creative redefinition of self-worth through transformation. 

This self portrait of my head chopped, with wires coming out of my neck and a dandelion from my mouth, symbolizes the experience of coming to terms with my imperfection. There’s death but also rebirth and hope. Growing up as a low-income, first generation Vietnamese American, I felt a lot of pressure to be the perfect person—successful, intelligent, and useful to society. This led me to be extremely critical of any of my perceived shortcomings. However, as I learned self-love, I realized that being human means making mistakes, because only robots are perfect. That robot-emulating part of me died.

In the stillness of a foggy morning, “A Path to Clarity” captures the essence of a journey towards mental well-being. The photograph depicts a serene landscape where the misty veil shrouds the surroundings, symbolizing the often murky and uncertain path to healing. As the eye navigates through the image, it encounters a group of people standing at the edge of the fog, representing the initial steps towards seeking help and support. The trees, partially obscured by the mist, signify the obstacles and challenges that one may face on this journey. However, the presence of a building in the background, with its roof and walls slowly emerging from the fog, offers a sense of hope and guidance. The road, winding its way through the landscape, serves as a metaphor for the journey itself. It is a path that is not always clear, but with each step forward, the fog begins to lift, revealing glimpses of clarity and understanding. “A Path to Clarity” is an invitation to reflect on the importance of community support and healing in our mental health journey. It reminds us that we are not alone, and that together, we can navigate through the fog and find our way towards a brighter, more hopeful future. 

Life is an eternal journey galloping into glimmering aspirations and mysterious tomorrows.

In the stillness of a foggy morning, “Healing in the Haze” captures the essence of a journey towards mental wellness. The photograph depicts a serene landscape with trees shrouded in mist, symbolizing the uncertainty and obscurity that often accompanies mental health struggles. Yet, amidst the haze, a glimmer of hope emerges. The grassy hill, dotted with trees, represents the path we must navigate to find solace and peace. The fog, though dense, is not impenetrable, suggesting that even in the darkest moments, there is always a way forward. The sun’s presence, though obscured, casts a gentle glow, illuminating the journey and guiding us towards healing. This artwork embodies the theme of JOURNEY, acknowledging that mental health is a process that requires patience, self-reflection, and community support. It reminds us that we are not alone in our struggles and that together, we can find our way through the haze. “Healing in the Haze” is a testament to the human spirit’s capacity for resilience and growth, encouraging viewers to embark on their own journey towards healing and self-discovery.

A poem written about the complex journey of growing pains and the power of vulnerability.

A community artwork piece from the 2025 Mental Health Resource Fair. A display of positivity that was built leaf by leaf by our UCI Community. The journey to loving one’s self can be difficult at times but when we come together as a community we can build each other up. 

This piece displays my gender transition over time through the school ID’s I was issued from 2013 to 2023. Starting at 1 o’clock, you can progress clockwise through several names and presentations, and clearly see my joy increase as I become more myself. In the center is the nonbinary pride flag in stained glass. With this work I hope to reduce the stigma surrounding gender transition.

The LGBTRC Community Handprint Tree represents queer journeys of self-exploration and healing. The tree symbolizes our community with roots grounded in care while the hands reach for the sky in aspiration of our vibrant futures. The branches of our lives interweave and intersect much like the many facets of our identities across identifiers like race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and more.

This community mural is inspired by the Dr. Seuss book, Oh the Places You’ll go. The artwork depicts themes discovered in journeys such as transformation, growth, adventure, wanderlust, developing identity, taking bold steps, discovering new ideas, and much more. The artists invite the viewer to invoke their own memories of how journeys have shaped them and how these memories share unique details yet common threads!

Images drawn by Counseling Center staff and embroidered by Special Guest Artist Ana Gloria Virella.