Behind the Poster Child

Behind the Poster Child"Behind the Poster Child" takes authentic pieces from Emerson's journals dating back to 2016. For ages, Emerson received praise for his intelligence, thoughtfulness, and individuality; however, behind those traits lies a person with a history of being let down by professionals in the medical field, battles with mental illness, and difficulties forming long term and meaningful relationships. The selections chosen display the journey and growth of

"Behind the Poster Child" takes authentic pieces from Emerson's journals dating back to 2016. For ages, Emerson received praise for his intelligence, thoughtfulness, and individuality; however, behind those traits lies a person with a history of being let down by professionals in the medical field, battles with mental illness, and difficulties forming long-term and meaningful relationships. The selections chosen display the journey and growth of Emerson as they pursue their path of learning, connecting, and finding their place in the world.
In this collection, Emerson aims to share some of their perspectives on life, reveal personal details and snapshots of his mind, and foster a connection with people like him who notice the odd looks and lack of engagement from peers. In a true multi-tasking fashion, they also risk damaging the image family, supervisors, and classmates hold of Emerson.

Content Warning: Depictions of self-harm, suicidal ideation, sexual assault, disordered eating, and substance use