Some of the hardest battles we face are the ones that nobody sees. Internal struggles where on the outside everything can look like they are perfectly fine, but in reality, things are going so wrong. Ranging from loneliness, depression, heartbrokenness, we all face one of these problems at least one time in our lives. The visual text I selected depicts these world real problems in a subtle, but relatable way. Nobody is ever always comfortable in their lives, at some point or another they are going to experience some sort of pain. As we look at this pencil standing out amongst his eraser-head peers, there could be countless maladies affecting him that we are unaware of. But for this visual text in particular, we can see that the picture is depicting the pencil-man to be facing some of the hardest internal struggles to overcome, which are loneliness, depression and self-consciousness.

One of the main focal points of this visual text is the pencil and how he stands out from all the other erasers in the picture. The pencil is the same in every way as the rest of the erasers except for his head, which is completely different. The pencil tip doesn't actually represent what his head looks like, but it is a symbol for what is going on in his mind. As the pencil looks around he sees nobody like him, nobody that can relate to him or understand what he is going through. The pencil sees himself alone in a world full of erasers. This is something that many people can relate to in life. Often times when we experience hardship we shut ourselves off completely from the outside world. We feel as though nobody could possibly understand what we are going through. Even in the background of the visual text, where the characters' face aren't even visible, we can still see that their silhouette is in the shape of a square. This makes the pencil feeling even more alone since not only can he not turn to the people close to him for help, like family or friends, but, he can't even turn to strangers for help, like support groups or therapists. 

The head of the pencil is the only thing differentiating him from the rest of the characters, his body is the exact same as everybody else's'. This is great symbolism for depression. The suit that the pencil is wearing symbolizes the face that he is forced to put on to go about his day. Everyone has responsibilities that must get taken care of regardless with how they are feeling, which is why the pencil and everyone else in the picture is dressed the way that they are. In fact, many people are like this, they put on a happy face as they go about their day but on the inside all they feel is pain and sadness. This is called "smiling depression" which many people have to deal tih in life. Smiling depression is defined by "appearing happy to others, and literally smiling, but internally suffering with depressive symptoms." (http://www.frccla.com). It's hard to determine just by looking at people if they are suffering from this kind of depression. It's important to try and reach out to people if they show any signs of needing help. But, just as the erasers don't know how the pencil is feeling on the inside, the pencil is equally in the dark if any of the other characters around him are having similar feelings.

This visual text shows the perspective of the pencil, which depicts how people who are self-conscious often feel in social situations. Because of the plain grey background, all focus is on the characters, especially on the pencil since he is in the very center. Because of the way the shadows are drawn, it looks as if the erasers are all looking at the pencil. This is how people who are self conscious feel a lot of the time. They feel as though all eyes are on them and that they are constantly being judged. Constantly worrying if people are making comments about them, that if they even make one small slip up they will be ridiculed. It is one of the many reasons why the pencil is wearing the suit, just like everyone else. The pencil is afraid to show his true colors; he is afraid of what others will think of him. So he puts on a face, he acts like everyone else in order to fit in.

It is extremely hard to deal with problems by yourself, especially internal ones. Since you are alone and forced to overcome these obstacles, it is hard to reach out for others for help. The problems that the pencil are having  is sad, but it also shows that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Even though it might seem like it, people should realize that weren't the first to encounter these problems and they won't be the last. It may not seem like it, but things like anxiety and depression are universal problems that many people go through in life. By having all the characters in close proximity to the pencil, the visual text shows that even thought you might not think that the people closest to you will understand you, it is important to reach out to them if you ever in a time of need.

