Gargi Agrawalla

Advocacy and Identity

Here, I am decorating my cochlear implant, owning my identity and showing pride. I want people to see that my deafness is nothing to pity. Support means visibility and acceptance, empowering Deaf young adults to show up confidently without judgement. Communication is vital, even when hard; it is self-advocacy. Live captioning in the photo represents access, helping us understand, connect and belong.

Trapped Mermaid

This photo shows how assumptions, lack of awareness and ignorance can push you into an invisible, locked space. Mentally, you feel trapped even though you know your own potential. The mermaid is colourful yet blue, a sad little mermaid, overlooked and misunderstood. It symbolises how my light can dim when others misinterpret or dismiss my deafness.

Walking Alone

The picture frames along the sides represent past memories, moments you can reflect on but cannot hold on to. They are captured, but I keep moving forward. This represents me as a person: I do not dwell on the past, even though I have struggled. It shows my resilience; I keep going, even when walking alone, navigating spaces that are not always welcoming. I find my own way, advocate for myself, and keep moving towards growth, symbolised by the small staircase ahead.