I Am is a self-portrait that reflects that I am not afraid to be who I am. The colors are bold to showcase that I will not be apologetic for my beliefs. It is a piece about both self-discovery and self-assurance to stand up for women and other girls like me who express themselves through art. At the end of the day, it is about being comfortable with who I am.

JOY XIE is a junior at Mountain Lakes High School and lives in a small town in northernNew Jersey. She enjoys painting and reading in her free time, developing a passion forthese hobbies as a young girl. She has been published in Celebrating Arts, AerieInternational, Blue Marble Review, AIPF, and Sugar Rascals( forthcoming) and hasreceived awards in Scholastic Arts and Writing.