Creating Wanda.

Wanda was created as a representation of my grandmother: strong, quiet, subdued. Blunt, gentle, humble. Raised in South Boston by two Polish-speaking immigrants and 6 brothers in a 2 bedroom apartment during the Great Depression, my grandmother learned to maintain poise while battling adversity. She takes hardships in stride with little complaint, but she makes her opinions known to those around her. 

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One of her most memorable lines was spoken to my father as a young child: "Learn not from how someone talks about themself, learn from how others talk about them." She did not coddle her children, nor praise them for every accomplishment. Yet this was not for a lack of care. Wanda is stoic, straightforward. She guides you and teaches you and isn't scared to toughen you up.

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Her inherent humble nature represents the enduring, strong Polish woman in the Soviet Era. Wanda was created as a portrayal of those who seem to be unfazed and abnormally headstrong, but inside, have battles and demons with which they are unsure how to cope.

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Even those who seem "perfect" don't always know what they're doing.