Honorable Mention

The beauty of believing in your own ideas

When Zara’s “Glitter Germ” wins an honorable mention in the art contest, she can hardly believe it. Her parents are proud, though Papa can’t help but raise an eyebrow at the sparkly microbe on her shirt.

Zara stands her ground. “It’s a gut microbe with dreams,” she says confidently. To her, it’s not just art. It’s imagination at work, turning science into something fun, bright, and full of personality.

But Misha’s playful comment plants a seed of its own. If people appreciate creativity enough to give it awards, maybe it can also become something bigger. As Zara thinks it over, a lightbulb goes off. Literally and figuratively.

This strip celebrates the moment when confidence meets curiosity. It’s about recognizing that originality often starts from the tiniest spark and that even the quirkiest ideas deserve to shine.