Gregory Lewis: Shadows

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Posted on March 23, 2015 by Gregory Lewis

“Here is the tragedy: when you are the victim of depression, not only do you feel utterly helpless and abandoned by the world, you also know that very few people can understand, or even begin to believe, that life can be this painful. There is nothing I can think of that is quite as isolating as this.” – Giles Andreae

Often as we go about lives we fail to notice that those near us are going through difficult times. Several of which struggle with mental illness such as schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder and clinical depression. 1 in 10 Americans suffer from depression at one point or another. However, over 80% of people with clinical symptoms are not receiving treatment for their depression.

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young woman with depression

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Jessica was a first generation college student who graduated valedictorian of her high school . Her entire school was excited when she was accepted into an Ivy League institution. Jessica was moving quite far away from home but she deemed it worth it as she was pursuing her dreams at her dream school.

Jessica was quick to make friends once she began college because of her “bubbly personality”. However,  several months after being on campus she became extremely homesick. Additionally, her boyfriend of 4 years began what would eventually be two tours in Iraq. Jessica latter admitted that this added significant stress in her life as she was constantly worried about his well-being. Further adding to Jessica’s stress was her grades began to slip.

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Jessica began avoiding interactions with other and even stopped going to classes. Her eating habits completely changed and she began hating her body. She even said at one point that she wanted to just, “end it all”.

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Thankfully, Jessica had made a close friend in her first few weeks at her school. This friend would constantly check on Jessica and encourage her to go to class. Eventually, with the encouragement of this friend, sought professional help to address this change. After having being diagnosed with clinical depression Jessica began to fight this crippling disease. Jessica still has a long road ahead of her but she looks forward to the future with a positive outlook.

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Photography and Text by Gregory Lewis, Copyright 2015

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About the Author: Gregory Lewis is majoring in Nursing, enrolled in the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania, Class of 2015.

Kevin Lu: Blank Space

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Posted on March 18, 2015 by Kevin Lu

Everyone has his or her own space. It’s often bottled up deep inside of oneself where few outsiders have ever seen, much less have access to. It is in this space where our deepest emotions truly lay: happiness when we recall a distant memory, silly random thoughts, our greatest frustrations, our worst moments, and our deepest fears. This space, if opened to the world, could put oneself in an uncomfortable position. Therefore, oftentimes when people attempt to initially find or interact with this space they see it in a different way: blank.

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 Everyone has his or her own space. It's often bottled up deep inside of oneself where few outsiders have ever seen, much less have access to. It is in this space where our deepest emotions truly lie: happiness when we recall a distant memory, silly random thoughts, our greatest frustrations, our worst moments, and our deepest fears. This space, if opened to the world, could put oneself in an uncomfortable position. Therefore, oftentimes when people attempt to initially find or interact with this space they see it in a different way: blank.

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Allowing someone into this space is truly a courageous endeavor. It requires peeling back the outer layer of nothingness and diving deep into the confines of another human. What one encounters is never predictable as you are greeted with new discoveries at every turn. Yet, with each new finding, it somehow all begins to seem familiar. A worried face or an angry tick is suddenly reminiscent of your own and what you begin to discover is that everyone is not as different as they seem.

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young asian woman looking worried

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Oftentimes when met with the journey of entering such a space, I am filled with apprehension — What if I see something that scares me? What if I don’t find what I had hoped to? Can I handle this responsibility? Once the walls come down it is a frighteningly vulnerable moment that you must close your eyes for — but then you open them. Everything that once was empty and blank is filled. The walls are colored with fears and frustrations; the floors are lined with precious memories and each turn brings both joy and sadness. It is here where you truly begin to understand a person and it is in this space, when it is no longer blank, that defines who you are.

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Oftentimes when met with journey of entering such a space, I am filled with apprehension -- What if I see something that scares me? What if I don’t find what I had hoped to? Can I handle this responsibility? Once the walls come down it is frighteningly vulnerable moment that you must close your eyes for -- but then you open them. Everything that once was empty and blank is filled. The walls are colored with fears and frustrations; the floors are lined with precious memories and each turn brings both joy and sadness. It is here where you truly begin to understand a person and it is in this space, when it is no longer blank, that defines who you are.

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Photography and Text by Kevin Lu, Copyright 2015

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About the Author: Kevin Lu is a senior enrolled in the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania, Class of 2015.

Karuna Krishna: Julius Scissor Hair Salon

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Posted on March 10, 2015 by Karuna Krishna

On Locust Street in Philadelphia, you see passersby stare curiously at a window with arresting sculptures and a sign, Julius Scissor Hair Salon. Past these Dali meets Duchamp assemblages, Julius is on display, shaping hair.

Julius is a master hair artist. His station is a theater, with spotlights on the chair, where he performs. “Everyone is beautiful,” he says, “I want to bring it out.” An old Philadelphia tradition, he opened the salon in 1980. Not unlike the barbershops of old, it is a place to meet an eclectic, urban cast of Center City residents.

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Julius Scissor at his salon on Locust street Philadelphia

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“Everything changes when you hear that your daughter has cancer,” says Julius, talking about his life. His daughter battled ovarian cancer for eight years, and lost. Her photo looks back at him from the mirror. His wife, Marsha, ran the salon but is at home now, with cancer. Julius handles the Salon and still manages to care for Marsha at home. “The only way to live life,” he says, “is to live it.” He reflects, “I choose to be happy. I live life each day.”

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Portrait of Julius Scissor at his salon on Locust street in Philadelphia by Karuna Krishna copyright 2015

A self-taught artist, Julius’s art and sculpture frequently incorporate hair and scissors — literally. “Scissors on faces is an obsession,” he confesses. “The Scissor Man can withstand anything,” he says, striking a warrior pose with the mask he painted yesterday. Best known for his 1980’s Ronald Regan sculpture, the same whimsical, quirky humor animates the dizzying amount of art displayed in the salon.

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Portrait of Julius Scissor at his salon on Locust street in Philadelphia by Karuna Krishna copyright 2015

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Julius transmutes tragedy to laughter and his work to art. Much of his art is ephemeral. During the shoot, he cuts my hair and as I look at myself, I see the way I feel.

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Portrait of Julius Scissor at his salon on Locust street in Philadelphia by Karuna Krishna copyright 2015

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Photography and Text by Karuna Krishna, Copyright 2015

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About the Author: Karuna Krishna is the director of Creative Services, Marketing Communications at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.