Each year, the PTA Reflections program offers students a platform to express their unique perspectives and interpretation of a student-created theme. For the 2024-2025 school year, the theme is “Accepting Imperfection,” a concept created by Paige Opaska from San Antonio, Texas who won the 2022 Reflections Theme Search Contest.
This theme serves as a powerful reminder that our flaws and mistakes are just as much a part of us as our strengths and are a natural and beautiful part of being human.
"‘Accepting Imperfection’ is a reminder to myself that mistakes are welcome because they are a part of being human. Our flaws are as much a part of us as our strengths, so being imperfect should be perfect enough for us."
Paige Opaska
Understanding “Accepting Imperfection” Perfection is most often subjective and created by societal or community standards and, increasingly, it has become especially important across our fast-paced, perfection-driven society. Despite everyone feeling the pressure to be perfect, “Accepting Imperfection,” which means embracing flaws rather than rejecting them, is a deeply personal journey for students—and adults.
Some students may feel pressure to be flawless, which can come from themselves, their families or society, and will pursue perfection relentlessly. However, their pursuit will often end in disappointment because perfection, as many of us envision it, is unattainable. This can lead to stress, anxiety and a sense of never being good enough.
In contrast, some students may view imperfections as part of the journey to excellence. To them, mistakes and flaws are seen as steppingstones, each one contributing to the development of skills, character and resilience. In this way, imperfection becomes a powerful motivator.
Exploring Creative Interpretations of the Theme Because “Accepting Imperfection” is a personal experience and concept, there are endless possibilities for artistic expression across the PTA Reflections arts categories:
Engaging Families with the Theme “Accepting Imperfection” is not just for students to explore on their own and in their PTA Reflections submissions—it’s also an opportunity for families to foster and engage in meaningful conversations. Simply talking openly about imperfection can help normalize the idea that nobody is perfect, and that’s okay.
Here are some discussion questions for families to explore the theme of “Accepting Imperfection” together:
Questions for Parents/Guardians:
If interested please contact [email protected] for the entry form and rules. The deadline for submissions is December 9, 2024.
This theme serves as a powerful reminder that our flaws and mistakes are just as much a part of us as our strengths and are a natural and beautiful part of being human.
"‘Accepting Imperfection’ is a reminder to myself that mistakes are welcome because they are a part of being human. Our flaws are as much a part of us as our strengths, so being imperfect should be perfect enough for us."
Paige Opaska
Understanding “Accepting Imperfection” Perfection is most often subjective and created by societal or community standards and, increasingly, it has become especially important across our fast-paced, perfection-driven society. Despite everyone feeling the pressure to be perfect, “Accepting Imperfection,” which means embracing flaws rather than rejecting them, is a deeply personal journey for students—and adults.
Some students may feel pressure to be flawless, which can come from themselves, their families or society, and will pursue perfection relentlessly. However, their pursuit will often end in disappointment because perfection, as many of us envision it, is unattainable. This can lead to stress, anxiety and a sense of never being good enough.
In contrast, some students may view imperfections as part of the journey to excellence. To them, mistakes and flaws are seen as steppingstones, each one contributing to the development of skills, character and resilience. In this way, imperfection becomes a powerful motivator.
Exploring Creative Interpretations of the Theme Because “Accepting Imperfection” is a personal experience and concept, there are endless possibilities for artistic expression across the PTA Reflections arts categories:
- Dance Choreography: A dancer might choreograph a piece that highlights moments of imbalance or missteps, weaving these “mistakes” into the performance to show that they are expressions of humanity and growth.
- Music Composition: Musicians can explore imperfection by embracing the natural variability in performances. A piece doesn’t need to be flawless to be powerful; often, it’s the slight deviations and emotional nuances that make it memorable.
- Photography: Photographs can capture the beauty of candid, unposed moments or highlight unique flaws—wrinkles, scars or everyday messiness—which can tell a more compelling story than a picture-perfect image.
- Literature: Writers can explore imperfection through storytelling about a character who finds strength in their flaws or through an acrostic poem that uses each line to celebrate a different, personal imperfection.
- Visual Arts: Drawings, paintings and sculptures can elevate imperfections as the true standard of beauty, contrasting them with traditionally “perfect” elements to emphasize the value of the imperfect.
- Film Production: Film makers can capture and edit day-to-day footage to create a narrative that showcases the beauty of everyday life, using cinematic techniques to explore how the world would look if ordinary people, not Hollywood, defined perfection.
Engaging Families with the Theme “Accepting Imperfection” is not just for students to explore on their own and in their PTA Reflections submissions—it’s also an opportunity for families to foster and engage in meaningful conversations. Simply talking openly about imperfection can help normalize the idea that nobody is perfect, and that’s okay.
Here are some discussion questions for families to explore the theme of “Accepting Imperfection” together:
Questions for Parents/Guardians:
- How do you define perfection, and how have your views on imperfection evolved?
- Can you share examples of how you’ve accepted imperfections in yourself or others?
- How do you react to making mistakes? Do you learn from them or get frustrated?
- Can you recall a time when an imperfection helped you grow?
- What are practical ways we can celebrate imperfections at home, school or work?
- How do social media and cultural norms influence our views on perfection?
- What imperfections in the world around us—like the irregularity of nature, handmade crafts, or a loved one’s quirks—do we find beautiful or endearing?
If interested please contact [email protected] for the entry form and rules. The deadline for submissions is December 9, 2024.
About the Program
National PTA’s Reflections program has helped students explore their own thoughts, feelings and ideas, develop artistic literacy, increase confidence and find a love for learning that will help them become more successful in school and in life.
Each year, over 300,000 students in Pre-K through Grade 12 create original works of art in response to a student-selected theme. In response to this theme, students create works of art in one or all the available arts categories: Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, and Visual Arts.
Student winners from the local level have the opportunity to move up through their district, region, council, and state PTA programs to the national level. Student entries submitted to the national level go through two rounds of review by esteemed arts professionals across the country. National Reflections winners are announced in May and celebrated annually at the National PTA's Convention & Expo in June. Over 200 students are recognized for their achievements in the arts with prizes and scholarships, and their works are showcased and exhibited throughout the year.
There are two contests students may enter:
1) Theme Search Contest - Students help pick a theme that will spark fun and creativity during the following year's Reflections Program.
2) Reflections Artwork Contest - Students create original artwork in accordance with the theme
Each year, over 300,000 students in Pre-K through Grade 12 create original works of art in response to a student-selected theme. In response to this theme, students create works of art in one or all the available arts categories: Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, and Visual Arts.
Student winners from the local level have the opportunity to move up through their district, region, council, and state PTA programs to the national level. Student entries submitted to the national level go through two rounds of review by esteemed arts professionals across the country. National Reflections winners are announced in May and celebrated annually at the National PTA's Convention & Expo in June. Over 200 students are recognized for their achievements in the arts with prizes and scholarships, and their works are showcased and exhibited throughout the year.
There are two contests students may enter:
1) Theme Search Contest - Students help pick a theme that will spark fun and creativity during the following year's Reflections Program.
2) Reflections Artwork Contest - Students create original artwork in accordance with the theme
Copyright © 2022 Herbert Hoover Middle School PTA. All rights reserved.
