Photo contest - Cracks That Mend - fallen tree with rings and cracks

Research Excellence: Cracks That Mend

Photography by Maria Mejia, professor,
Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine

This image of a fallen tree reveals the story of time, struggle and survival. Each ring marks a year of growth, while the cracks running through the wood tell of storms weathered and pressures endured. Despite the breaks, the tree remains whole and offers shelter to new plants and moss along its edges. In many ways, this mirrors the human journey through mental health. Life leaves its marks, some visible and some hidden, but resilience is found in how we continue to grow around the fractures. Healing does not erase the cracks; it transforms them into part of our strength and story.