Original Work — Creating Something That Expresses Who You Are
The young adult creates an original piece — art, music, writing, code, craft, photography, or any medium they choose — that expresses something genuinely personal. This isn't about technical perfection; it's about the courage to make something authentic and share it. Through the process of creating, explaining, and discussing the work, the young adult reveals creative authenticity, technical skill relative to their medium, capacity for personal expression, and willingness to be vulnerable through their work.
Opens a guided voice session in TogetherTime.
What you'll need
Materials depend on the chosen medium: instrument, sketchpad, laptop, camera, notebook, craft supplies — whatever the young adult needs for their chosen form. If they don't have a specific medium in mind, suggest they write (it requires no special tools). The creation phase may take 10-15 minutes of focused work, during which the conversation pauses. The parent should be present but not hovering. If the young adult has an existing work-in-progress, they can bring that instead of starting from scratch.
How it works
- 1~50s
your child, before you start creating, tell us: what are you trying to express? Not a thesis statement — just the feeling, the idea, the question, or the experience that's driving this. It might be clear ('I'm angry about something and I need to put it somewhere') or it might be vague ('there's a mood I keep feeling that I can't name'). Both are valid starting points. Then — create. Take the time you need. This isn't a speed test. When you're ready to share or when you've gotten to a stopping point, show you what you've made. you, when your child shares the work, tell me: what do you see/hear/read? What does it make YOU feel? And does it feel authentically like your child?
Watch for: Creative authenticity — does the work express something genuinely personal rather than imitating, performing, or playing it safe?
- 2~40s
Now let's talk about craft. your child, walk us through the choices you made. Not just WHAT you created but HOW. Why this medium? Why these specific words, notes, colors, shapes, or structures? What did you try that didn't work? What surprised you? Every creative work involves dozens of micro-decisions — most people make them unconsciously. I want you to make them visible. A songwriter chooses a minor key for a reason. A writer chooses short sentences for a reason. A photographer frames left instead of center for a reason. What were YOUR reasons? you, tell me how your child explains their creative choices — with specificity and awareness, or with 'I don't know, it just felt right.'
Watch for: Technical creative skill — command of the chosen medium's tools and techniques, and awareness of craft decisions
- 3~35s
Last part, and it's the hardest. Sharing. your child, how does it feel to show this work to someone? Is there a gap between what you made for yourself and what you're willing to let others see? Most creators feel a version of this: the work is personal, and sharing it means letting someone see a part of you that's unguarded. Some people never share. Some people share everything. The interesting question is: what does sharing your work COST you, and what does it GIVE you? Would you share this more broadly — post it, perform it, submit it? Why or why not? you, reflect on how your child handles the vulnerability of sharing original work, and tell me what you observe.
Watch for: Willingness to share personal creative work — capacity for vulnerability through creation and comfort with being seen through one's art