Artist Statement

This illustration explores mentorship and the kind of growth that happens when someone gives you the chance to learn. I created this piece for the community I have found in a research lab, where I have learned not only how to conduct research but also how much trust and encouragement can affect the learning process. The smaller axolotl looking toward the larger one represents how many people feel when they first join a lab, including me: curious about the work around them and the people willing to teach them. At the same time, I like to imagine that the larger axolotl is just as curious about the smaller one. 

As I moved from shadowing to working in the lab, I began to understand that learning is not just about gaining knowledge. It is also about contributing and working together to support one another. To me, that is what makes growth meaningful: having the opportunity to contribute while continuing to learn from the people around me. I created this piece digitally, building it from an initial sketch through line work and inking before adding color. Through this piece, I have come to appreciate that education can happen far beyond a classroom, especially in communities where curiosity is encouraged and people are given room to grow, much like these axolotls. I hope this piece inspires others to view their own education and learning processes in personal and meaningful ways.