The short, 3-page comic below was illustrated for the upcoming issue of the Harvard Lampoon, the nation’s oldest continually published humor magazine and Harvard College’s most renowned publication group. I’ve been an undergraduate artist for the Harvard Lampoon for more than two years, now, and this piece is one of my proudest creations. It examines, with dark humor, the realities of growing up through the lens of a blossoming flower.
On the first page, the flower grows and begins to blossom. The scene is euphoric and pure. On the second page, immediately after it reaches full blossom, the flower’s growth is cut off by an unidentified voice telling it to get a job. The flower reluctantly proceeds to go along the preordained path, getting its degree and then going through various jobs. On the third page, the flower is fed up with its life and decides to take an unconventional turn. It (humorously) becomes a weed dealer and makes a fortune while also finding its true calling. The specific profession is unimportant, but rather an example of bold action, taking risks, and following its dreams.
As a Harvard undergrad who has taken the year off to work and travel abroad, I am using this piece partly as an expression of my own grappling with coming into adulthood. After spending the past year working for a cryptocurrency company, traveling alone to different countries, going completely financially independent, and dealing with the other stresses of being an adult, I’ve learned just how incredible it is to be young and in school. My college friends may complain about the dining hall food, but they’ve never had to pay for and cook their own food like I have had to do! They may complain about their dorms, but they’ve never had to shell over thousands over dollars each month for a roof over their head! They may complain about their schoolwork, but they’ve never had to work 40+ hours a week on a project with no guidelines, teachers, or cheat sheets. They may complain about the difficulties in deciding a major, but they’ve never had to decide who exactly they want to be and what exactly they want from life.
Having to live as an adult this past year has weathered me, in good ways and bad. My experiences were broadened, and my perspective on almost everything was changed. My views on many subjects have become complicated and inconclusive, but my views on being young have never been clearer. The freedom and leisure of being young and without real responsibilities is something that is too often overlooked. Hold onto it with every last breath!
I hope it was enjoyable to take a look into this process, and I look forward to posting more content on Steemit! Feel free to follow more of my works on my instagram and my website.
Best,
Teddy
