Story & Lesson Highlights with Jiayi Zhang of Lubbock, TX

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Jiayi Zhang. Check out our conversation below.

Hi Jiayi, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
I think a lot of people secretly struggle with feelings of self-doubt, loneliness, or the fear of not being good enough, even if they seem confident on the outside. Many wrestle with financial worries, mental health challenges, or the quiet pressure of comparing themselves to others, but they don’t say it because they fear being judged or misunderstood. Others carry hidden anxieties about time slipping by, aging, or whether they’re living the life they truly want. These struggles are often invisible, yet almost everyone carries them in some form.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Jiayi Zhang, though I also go by Tom, a name I chose from my favorite childhood animation, *Tom and Jerry*. I’m a freelance illustrator who sees myself as an observer of reality, always drawing inspiration from the world around me, whether it’s a grand event or the smallest overlooked detail. I believe illustration is rooted in lived experience, and that what we haven’t truly seen, we can’t authentically create. While I tend to be quiet and prefer calm spaces like libraries, riverbanks, or museums, my inner world is vivid and imaginative, constantly fueling my creative process. This balance between stillness on the outside and a vigorous artistic spirit within defines both my personality and my work.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
What often breaks the bonds between people is a mix of unspoken expectations, misunderstandings, or neglect, when trust erodes and people stop truly listening to each other. Distance grows when empathy is replaced by assumption or when pride makes it hard to admit mistakes. What restores those bonds, however, is usually simple but difficult: honest communication, vulnerability, and the willingness to see each other with compassion again. Small gestures of care, consistent effort, and a genuine apology or act of forgiveness can reopen the door to connection, making relationships even stronger than before.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering has a way of stripping away illusions that success often reinforces, it teaches humility, patience, and the ability to endure uncertainty. Unlike success, which can make us feel invincible, suffering reminds us of our limits and, at the same time, reveals hidden strength we didn’t know we had. It deepens empathy, making us more attuned to the struggles of others, and it forces us to find meaning in pain rather than in outcomes. Success celebrates achievement, but suffering teaches resilience, compassion, and perspective, the kind of wisdom that lasts long after triumph fades.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I’m committed to capturing the essence of reality in my illustrations, observing the world closely, from everyday objects to big events, and translating them into visual stories. No matter how long it takes, I want my work to reflect genuine experiences and the details of life as I see them, because I believe art divorced from reality loses its resonance.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I’m working on my artwork. In those moments, I’m completely absorbed in the process, observing details from life and translating them into my illustrations. Creating allows me to enter a quiet, focused state where the outside world fades away, and I can fully connect with both my imagination and reality.

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