Harper, 11

The youngest of four siblings, Harper has always been social and independent. She was not as isolated as other kids during the pandemic and acclimated easily back into the classroom. But middle school can be tricky for any pre-teen to navigate.

"Tween girls can be cliquey and highly sensitive," observes Harper's mom. "It seems loyalties and friend groups shift often, leaving girls to feel excluded at times. I see how this impacts Harper's self-image and recall how it impacted me, as well."

Harper's photo session captured the confidence of a girl who is charting her own path, filled with aspirations and immune to criticism.

"At this point in her life, she believes the sky's the limit," adds her mom. "One day she says she'll be a lawyer. The next, perhaps a gymnast. She's reaching for the stars. These images hang in our home to remind her to keep reaching."