The Baron Banner asked students to describe 2020 in one word. These were our nine favorites out of the most frequent responses we received:
- Chaotic
- Historic
- Apocalyptic
- Divisive
- Painful
- Eye-opening
- Resilience
- Change
- Hope
We then challenged students and our staff to choose one of these nine words, or a word of their own, and create a piece of art that illustrated what that word meant to them and that represented 2020. Here’s what they created.
Each piece includes the artwork, the word the artist chose to describe 2020, and the written statement the artist included to explain their work.
Student artwork
“Disconnected” by FVHS senior Alan Le
The art depicts an astronaut disconnected from a ship just as we are disconnected from ordinary life.
Comic by Emily Medero.
By FVHS freshman Emily Medero
Okay, I know that I kind of [bent] the rules, but come on, how am I suppose to explain this whole year in just one word… This piece shows my train of thought when trying to think of a word to describe 2020, and my conclusion at the end. I tried to show everything from this year, but with so many things that happened this year, I’m sorry if I skipped an event, so enjoy 🙂
“Adaptation” by FVHS sophomore Brandon Jaiyen
I chose the word adaptation because 2020 forced us to adapt our lifestyle and also because it’s vague and can be interpreted in different ways. This photo (self-portrait) is supposed to convey multiple interpretations of adaptation and one way you can interpret it is isolation because everything around me is dark. This relates to how we had to isolate ourselves from the world due to COVID-19. There are more interpretations that other people might discover as well.
“Chaotic” by FVHS freshman Hannah Park
2020 has been a crazy year, with so many things changing, and new obstacles to overcome. As many have said, the global pandemic has brought out the best, and worst, of us.. I drew a shopping mall to depict the chaos that many of us witnessed, or took part in, during the early days of the pandemic.
“Chaotic” by FVHS senior Bianca Crader
A lot of people died this year. We should cherish the people we love before they’re taken away from us.
“Painful” by FVHS sophomore Chinatsu Sugawara
A girl depressed by covid-19 is crying in the corner of her room. To express the depression, I used the darker colors.
“Painful” by FVHS sophomore Bao Trinh Nguyen
This was about how painful it was during quarantine and my mental health altogether. Such as the people in this artwork who one was emotionally manipulating the other who was isolated. Dream made Tommyinnit’s mental health worse since he couldn’t see his friends during exile, that’s my art in a few sentences.
“Painful” by FVHS senior Diana Truong
Although this year had some of its positive moments, many of us this year felt an immense amount of pain for any number of reasons. Everyone experienced 2020 differently, but I think we can all agree that this was definitely a painful year.
“Painful” by St. Francis High School junior Amy Deatherage
The pain was never physical.
“Eye-Opening” by FVHS junior Cameron Cao
When I entered this year I had envisions a grand fantasy in a way that life would be amazing that even if I wasn’t entirely happy with myself I had all I ever wanted. But slowly things fall apart my relationship my family my mental health and my self esteem It was an eye opener and a wake up call from my naivete that things don’t last forever. Along with the world going through social and economical reforms It opened my eyes to how life and the world never stays the same and that maybe hopefully my pain won’t stay with me either.
“Resilience” by FVHS senior Michelle Pham
Drawing of my sister. Don’t really understand my color choice and very chaotic, but I guess that explains 2020 too.
“Change” by FVHS junior Elizabeth Le
My art displays my self reflections I undergo during 2020. During the time, I tried to consider what I was not happy about and what I should change about myself in order to be content with the person I wanted to be. The girl with long hair is reflecting back at her past, while the girl with the shorter hair is congratulating herself from the future.
“Hope” by FVHS junior Clare Duquette
This art is supposed to show everyone that they are not going through the isolation and motivational issues on their own. And that positivity can take over everything if you let it.
“HOPE” by FVHS freshman Maanan Purothi
The ‘H’ has a flag that represents that we are hoping for a great president in the coming term. It also has 2 vaccines which represent that we desperately need a Covid vaccine very soon.
The ‘O’ is a basketball with the Black Mamba’s symbol and a big fire which shows the 2 worst things that happened at the beginning of the year and that we are hoping that 2021 has a better start.
The ‘P’ is a rocket (Space-Ex) that is heading out which represents that I am hoping for the space mission to be successful. Observe the smoke coming from fire (‘O’) is portraying global warming.
The ‘E’ is a pole with some of the things I would like this coming year:
- the cash: the economy bounces back
- the rings: I hope that the Olympics start up again and give people some sort of hope (this year is one of the very few years that the Olympics had to be canceled)
- the mask: I hope that this pandemic has shown people the need to wear a mask and protect themselves and others to keep them safe.
“Hope” by FVHS senior Eric Luu
This is where our planet meets the outer space, the beautiful stars, and the top right shinning star representing my word of choice: hope. There is this ray of hope that leads us to a brighter future.
Baron Banner staff artwork
“Perspective” by Andrew Hsieh
Optimism or pessimism, perspective spurs growth. The year 2020 is one big lesson for perspective; learning to flip the narrative and seeking to make the most of an otherwise discouraging situation. Fire is not destruction, but life, and is a representation of the events and ideas from this year. We can learn to accept the negative outcomes or adjust the angle and find the light in the dark.
“Ignorance” by Katy Nguyen
It is undeniable that the ongoing pandemic has brought misfortune to the year 2020. Not only that but the ignorance that many Americans carry have caused a great deal for those who care and take precautions regarding the pandemic. Some might have selective hearing when it comes to following a stay-at-home order. But for me, I try to zone out on the misinformation about COVID-19 and racism towards Asian Americans because of it.
“Historic” by Sydnie Sabbarese
A year like 2020 is sure to be one for the books.
“Divisive” by Justin Hsieh
Before COVID-19, most Americans could put their politics aside when they needed to. We could live with our neighbors, work with our colleagues, learn with our peers and play with our teammates without knowing if they were Democrats or Republicans. Mask-wearing shattered that compartmentalization; the politicization of this public health measure meant that our politics were now visible, inescapable, and a matter of life or death.
“Resilience” by Kim Ly
While 2020 was chaotic and filled with turmoil, our resilience helped us get through it all.
“Change” by Anneliese Duong
While 2020 has been a disaster, our world and society is changing for the better. As we progress into the new year, society will continue to work together to make a greater change.
“Change” by Camelia Heins
2020 has been the year of an upheaval of everything we’ve ever known. Every aspect of our lives has changed in a multitude of ways. This year has brought ripples of changes to our lives but it’s important to remember that we will persevere.
“Hope” by Junanna Chen
Amidst the chaos of 2020, hope was diminished, but there were still a few moments where its light shone through. Here’s to an even more hopeful 2021.
“Historic” by Charlyne Nguyen
I drew events that occurred in 2020. The events and people don’t appear in color because I wanted to represent these things as the past. It’s basically 2020 in a nutshell.
“Hope” by Kailyn Thai
Since 2020 was a hectic year, there’s hope of walking into a new year escaping COVID-19 and the pandemic lifestyle.
“Hope” by Kevin Doan
We’re living in some of the toughest times in recent memory, and it’s important to remember that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.
“Hope” by Katelyn Nguyen
2020 is filled with darkness: COVID, social unrest, and frequent wildfires. However, with all the bad that persists, people hold hope for what is to come.
“Hope” by Catherine Vu
It’s been a tumultuous year. Many of us have gone through immeasurable struggles, losses, and adjustments yet still hold out hope that things will get better.
