Hi! My name is Emma. I am a rising junior studying Media Production at the University of Cincinnati, and I aspire
to become a filmmaker and overall participate in the creation of visual storytelling in any way I can.
I love doing anything creative, whether that be film making, doing something with my hands like
painting, thrift flipping, or crocheting. I find that creativity is the ultimate form of self-care; it
allows your imagination to flow without limitations and works your brain in a critical yet soothing
way.
Self-care has always been a taboo thing in my life. I grew up with my parents working
seven days a week, never taking a solid break, so they could make sure they could support their
family. I never watched my parents do any self-care other than sleep, which is really just a
necessity. My mother raised me with a strong work ethic and to be as independent as I could be.
I was never taught self-care other than making sure to relax from time to time, for example,
taking a nap if I needed. I didn’t know that self-care meant not only taking a physical break but
also taking a mental break. I didn’t know it was treating yourself from time to time, taking time for
yourself to explore a personal interest, making sure to drink your water, eating in moderation, or
even exercising.
I grew up with my grandmother babysitting me a lot as my parents worked every day.
She allowed me to eat whatever I wanted; if the baby wanted chicken nuggets, the baby got
chicken nuggets. So, due to this, I grew up as a bigger kid. Eating well and exercising were
always something that felt like an attack when it was mentioned, as I thought that when people
suggested it, they were calling me big. However, as I grew older and got into high school, I found
that it was my brain attacking itself, and I was self-sabotaging. So, I took action, I tried eating
better and getting into the gym. It was hard at first, and it took me a couple of years to find a
balance, but now, after taking that time, I find myself wanting to go to the gym and wanting to be
active, and eat healthier. This is my form of self-care that I take the most pride I, besides just
being creative. It allows me to be more confident in myself, which in turn allows my creative
work to be even better. It’s crazy to think that when you take care of your physical health, your
mental health also improves!
I still work hard on myself, and experience burnout from time to time, as I believe
everyone does nowadays. But when I find myself in that state, I take a step back and focus on
my physical health, which then helps my mental health. The careful balance between the two
allows my creative juices to flow and facilitates my participation in my chosen form
of self-care, which is being creative.