Influences on My View of the World

In English, we have just finished reading the novel Asher Lev. In this book Asher, an artist, struggles to do what he feels is right versus what his family thinks is right, and his view of the world is changed accordingly. As our end-of-the-novel project, we had two write five journal entries  on:

1. a person outside of school who changed the way we looked at the world
2. a classmate who changed the way we looked at the world
3. a work of literature that changed our view of the world
4. an event that changed our life
5. our most prized possession

After we wrote these five journals, we had to complete an art project that represented each of them. I chose to use photography. Here are my pictures!

1. A person outside of school who changed the way I look at the world is my Grandmommy. She passed a way a few years ago, but everyday I am still reminded of the lessons she tried to incorporate into my life. She was the most loving and caring person I've ever met. She taught me to use small acts of kindness to show great love. A few years after she passed and just three days after my Grandaddy passed, I found a letter from her in a box in my room. The letter went on to explain that she had asked my mother to put away this letter and picture of her and my grandfather until I was much older so that I would have a picture to remember them by. She expressed her love to me. I incorporated this into my project, as well as her sapphire ring that she left me in order to represent the kindness and love she taught me.

2. A classmate who changed my view on the world is my best friend, Katharine Clark. She is a true example of unconditional friendship. Katharine understands me like nobody else quite does. Sometimes when I don't even know how to express how I feel, she knows exactly what to say. I know that I can call her at any time and she will be there for me. Our friendship will truly be put to the test though, as she will be moving to boarding school in North Carolina to pursue her gift and passion for ballet. I know it will prevail. For this reason I chose to represent her by pointe shoes.

3. A work of literature that changed the way I view the world is Th1rteen R3asons Why by Jay Asher. In this novel, a teenage girl commits suicide and leaves behind thirteen cassette tapes explaining what drove her to this. She tells of the small, unkind actions people did towards her that seemed very big to her. This novel made me rethink the things I do that may seem tiny to me, but could be huge to someone else. We are never fully aware of the battles everyone is facing.

4. An event that changed my life was the week I spent at the YoungLife camp Southwind. This week at camp showed me true friendships that I didn't realize I already had, as well as exposed me to many new friendships. This was also the week I fully decided to turn my life over to God, and I have had no regrets since. To represent Southwind, I chose a piece of paper one of my leaders gave me that has all of the main Bible verses from the week on it.

5. My most prized possession would be my YoungLife Bible (ironically from Southwind). This Bible not only represents God's Word, but encompasses my week of camp and my new-found faith in God. On the morning of the last day of camp, we went on a "new believer's walk with Christ," and we recieved these Bibles at the end. It holds so many memories, and I take it with me almost anywhere I go.

And here is my final photograph, with all of the things that built me to be who I am today.

xoxo,

Rachel