There are many important symbols in The Awakening - the sea, Edna's ring, etc. Write about something in your life that is symbolic.
For example: Theo has a stuffed animal frog named Ferdinand; Ferdinand has a velvety soft blanket part to him, and Theo loves to rub his face with Ferdinand to help comfort him as he falls asleep. Ferdinand represents comfort and safety, and something to help soothe Theo.
When the news my mom was pregnant reached her family, they all started planning gifts for my mom and the baby. My aunt, who was known to be a skilled sewer, decided to make a quilt for the baby. After an ultrasound said I was a girl, she sewed a beautiful quilt, checkered with pink and purple squares of fabric. In the corner of one of the squares, the message Anne Greenspan, November 30 1994 was sewed in. Once I was born and brought home, that quilt became a part of my crib, protecting me from the cold New Jersey winters. As I grew older, it made the transition with me from crib, to actual bed. It fit perfectly on my single bed, placed carefully under a comforter. My parents assumed that this quilt, like most of my other possessions, would eventually be outgrown, lost, or become so used it could no longer function as a quilt. But as I grew older, so did the quilt, never leaving my bed. Once I became old enough to be told the story of where the blanket came from, at night when I couldn’t sleep, I would look at the embroidered square and run of my fingers over the stitching. I would think of the work and dedication my aunt most have put in to create this beautiful quilt. It spoke to me of the love and dedication of a family. Then, when I was eight, it was announced my family would be moving from our quaint home in New Jersey up north to Massachusetts. We were getting new furniture, a new house, new friends and new rooms. But there was one thing I made sure came with us, my quilt. I folded it up carefully, putting it was the rest of the bedding and it was transported up our new house. As we settled in, I put the slightly worn quilt on my new bed, and immediately felt at home. This quilt had become a symbol to me of family and home. As long as I had my quilt, I would be okay. 16 years after it was made, it still keeps me warm every night. Holes have appeared in many of the squares, the stuffing inside is leaking out, tickling my toes. It isn’t the right size for my new bed. But I know this quilt is going to be with me for the rest of my life so I will always know where my home and family are with me.
ReplyDeleteAn object that represents me the best is a book. The biggest representation is my love for reading. Reading books for fun is a great way to relax but my favorite read is sports articles. Every day I tend to read at least 5 sports articles and I try to finish one book a week.
ReplyDeleteAn open book represents my personality. I am very open with people and never hide my ideas. Also, I like being a person that is open to new ideas. If I have a plan and someone suggests a new idea, I take time to reconsider my plan and incorporate theirs. In the early part of my life, all I played was soccer. I had never tried to get better at any sport except soccer. In the fall of 2010, I decided to try Cross Country for the first time. Playing soccer so many years made me realize that I liked the running part more than the sport. For numerous years, my friends told me how fun Cross Country was so I decided to give it a shot. Staying with that perspective, I wanted to give track a try but unfortunately it did not turn out to be as fun as advertised.
The chapters of the book represent the chapters of my life. My life began as a child. Childhood is all about learning how to do life essentials. It’s a time when kids, like I, began to find interests in sports or other activities. Next came teen life. Being a teenager is always told to be the worst part of your life. School is a burden and while you’re trying to succeed, the pressure of finding a career you like is always bearing down. The teenage years is the time when most of my knowledge has and will be taught to me. School used to be a fun place to be but once homework and tests counted, the learning began. The next step is adulthood. Being an adult is about making life decisions and independence.
The book not only represents my interests and personality, but also is broken down into a timeline like my life.
In my life something that is symbolic to me is small bottle of 50 ml if warning track dirt from Fenway Park. I got the dirt from the track from my camp counselor when I was ten. We were on a tour of Fenway before a big game against our rivals the New York Yankees. Everyone surrounded the counselor and he picked up a big bag of the dark red dirt. Once we were out of the stadium a guard called us over and told us that it was illegal to take the track dirt from Fenway and that we could be fined over 10,000 dollars for our act. Our counselors kept their cool and told the guard that it was from the trees out side the stadium that has the same color dirt but less expensive. The guards then let us go without any problems. On the bus back we made fun of the guard and saying how cool our counselor was because he eluded the guards. When we returned to the camp my counselor divided the Fenway dirt among the other counselors and staff members. Then he gave the me the rest of the dirt that was in the bottom of the bag. This little bottle of warning track dirt from Fenway meant a lot to me. The bottle symbolizes a day of fun and happiness. Every time I look at the dirt it reminds me of the amazing day I had in Boston with my friends and counselors. The dirt also symbolizes the amazing time I have at camp. It makes me fell like I am at the camp and at Fenway every time i look at the bottle or pick it up. It makes me remember a time were we did not care about consequences that could come from the choices that we made. The bottle makes me remember the wonderful memories that I have from going to camp, making new friends and being exposed to new things that I did not know existed. Most of all it symbolizes the first time I went to Fenway Park.
ReplyDeleteIt was January 27, 2001 and my dad and I were watching the Patriots beat the Steelers handily in the AFC Championship game. It was that day, once we knew that they would be going to the Super Bowl did we decide we would get a new TV. The one we had was old and small. The next weekend we went to Best Buy and bought a huge TV that required my entire family and a couple of my neighbors to just get it in the house. The next weekend with our new TV, we held a big Super Bowl party. The TV will always be a symbol of not only the party that weekend but especially the Pats 1st Super Bowl win. After that whenever there was a big game we had a party. For me and my family, also represents all the happiness that Boston sports teams gave us this past decade. It will always represent the Red Sox winning their first World Series in 86 years. During the Yankees series, my uncle (from NY and a Yankees fan) was staying over at my house. He was supposed to sleep over that night and the game went into extra innings. Things got so tense that he felt he had to leave. I remember him saying "I can't take this anymore, I've got to go" and he left. The Red Sox won the game and went on to win the series and eventually the World Series. Though he is still somewhat bitter, my uncle and I still laugh about that today. I remember the heartbreak of watching David Tyree pin the ball on his helmet and Kobe Bryant celebrating with his teammates after Game 7. It is a constant reminder that we have been so lucky as a generation to see the city do so well in sports. The success has helped many people in Boston get through very tough economic times. It seems a little ridiculous but the TV means a lot to me and my family. The TV does not just symbolize the accomplishments of all the sports teams but also the memories we have had watching them.
ReplyDeleteOne day last year, when I was cleaning out my closet, I discovered a very old pair of shoes. I brushed off the dust and thought to myself “my god my feet have gotten so much bigger since kindergarten”. After stating the obvious, I started to ponder the meaning of the shoes. Holding the shoes brought back memories of every place that I have been to. Every place somebody goes, they are wearing shoes. The shoelaces hold everything together. So I thought about all the vacations and realized something. My family does not like to take trips to the Bahamas or some intentionally lazy place. We enjoy taking our vacations to more active places, such as numerous National Parks around the country. The other major idea that I thought about with my shoelaces is all that I have learned throughout school. The connection between an object as simple as a shoelace and everything that I have learned in my life happened because I considered all the different classrooms that my shoes took refuge in for about 6 hours every day for 180 days a year. That is 1080 hours a year, or 10,800 hours since kindergarten to the start of this year. That is a ton of time for my shoes to be in a classroom. Although my style of shoes has changed dramatically over the years, shoelaces are still a common thread. This simple shoelace is similar to my family in a way. Regardless of what happens during school whether that could be a bad day or being sick, my family is there just like having a trusty pair of shoes. Everything changes year to year in a school system that emphasizes learning, but the little piece of string that binds everything will still be there. As I continue to travel frequently and this summer internationally for the first time, my loyal shoes will be there. Shoes in general are very similar to life. They get worn down slowly over time, and once it becomes almost unbearable, they get renewed, meaning purchasing a new pair shoes. In life once that point has been reached, most people go on a vacation. As obscure as it might be to others, the shoelace that I found last fall in my closet has showed me how ways I have grown over the years.
ReplyDeleteSymbolism in my life, well, a great big shining symbol in my life is the sun. Basking in the glory of the sun is one of my favorite things to do, but more idealistic than materialistic, the sun, to me means something. Both draped over my bed and painted on my wall, the image of the sun is what I wake up to every morning. The sun to me is the symbol of glory, and a new day. Being outside in the sun, reminds me the great days of summer, with no worries and all about fun. The summer sun brings a feeling of freedom, life, and relaxation. Hanging out at the beach, swimming in Lake Winnipesauke, and playing all kinds of sports are activities that are under sun, no homework, no classes, no tests, no stress, just freedom and tanning. To me the summer sun is an ever-burning memory stick. The summer sun symbolizes all that is free, joyful and relaxed. The fall sun, not much of anything to most people but to me, it represents my love of sports. Only when the sun is up can one play a sport such as my favorite soccer. The less intense fall sun brings up memories of growing up and meeting new friends, whether through the start of a new school year or the next season for soccer, new is what is good in fall. In addition, as the leaves change, the glimmer of sun soaked trees is one of the most beautiful things, and driving to soccer along route 2, all you can see for miles is reds, blues, and vibrant yellows lining the road. The winter sun is symbolic of the summer and spring to come. Up and down every day like a reminder that one day, the summer relaxation and spring bloom with be back one day. Also my birthday occurs during the time of the winter sun, in which I celebrate my maturity as well as my Christmas and new years. As the days lengthen, and after the rains come, the spring sun brings out the best in people. A simile in my life is the attitudes of people in the spring are much like the flowers. Bright, beautiful and kind. The spring sun brings out the best in people, and that is why the sun is so meaningful to me. Not only does it bring light to our lives, it also brings joy and memories.
ReplyDeleteMy first baseball mitt. My first baseball mitt holds a lot of symbolism for me as it was the light of a lot of my life between the ages of 5 to 11. I came to America when I was 5 and would wear the stereotypical Indian clothing… dress pants with shirt tucked in and oblivious to American culture. Needless to say I didn’t make a lot of friends anytime soon. But then when my dad signed me up for baseball and I was afraid of whether I would be any good or not or if any of my teammates would actually like me at all. The baseball mitt was with me for at least 2-3 years but it was the beginning of fitting into American culture and society for me. When I started playing baseball I was pretty crummy and sucked but, after a month or two I started getting a lot better and became one of the best players on the team. Now I actually had something in common with other kids at school, something to talk about, a common interest; Baseball. Because I got really good at baseball I started making a lot of friends since everyone seemed to value a good player. Because of making some friends through baseball I started wearing clothes that were fitting for here and understanding how to act and be and this caused me to be able to fit and be a regular American kid instead of the weird Indian kid. After getting out of the smaller baseball leagues into the age 10+ I started pitching and was amazing at it, often throwing no hit innings. When I was pitching it would feel like the world was cheering me on because I would have all of the parents and all of my teammates cheering me on from the bench while I struck out one kid after another after another. Baseball gave me a chance to be a part of American culture and fit in with everyone and enjoy myself here. The baseball mitt, to me, represents the struggle for acceptance and becoming “American”
ReplyDeleteThere are many objects that are symbolic to me but one that symbolizes me well is my basketball court. We got a half court and hoop installed in my backyard about four years ago, ever since I have played on it. I’ve had some of my best summer days out on my court with my friends and played some really fun games with my dad too. To me the court symbolizes more than one thing. First is it is symbolic for my love of sports mainly basketball. I’ve played basketball ever since I was little. It started with a mini ball in the kitchen with chairs as the hoops. I love to play basketball both competitively and recreationally. My court shows my passion for the game and the forever burning passion in my heart to play the game. Something else my court symbolizes is that I like to be comfortable. When I play on my court I know how hard the rim is the location of the hoop when my backs turned and a whole bunch of tidbits that some of my friends may not know. I am very comfortable on my court, and this is true in any situation I’m in. I enjoy being comfortable whether it be when I am watching television, hanging out with friends, or doing something new. I like to obtain a certain level of comfort with my surroundings so I can be myself, and my basketball court symbolizes this well. In addition my court is at my house and provides a sense of security knowing that I am only a few steps away from being back inside. I do not fear that anything bad will happen to me when I am outside but having the satisfaction of knowing that if something went wrong while I was outside I would not have to travel any distance to be back at home is reassuring. My court is symbolic of me liking to have a sense of security. This does not mean I do not like venturing far from home, on the contrary I like going away and trying new things but it is always nice to have home close because it is comforting. My basketball court is symbolic of many things for me and these are just a few of the major ones. I love my basketball court because it means a lot to me.
ReplyDeleteI was in Kindergarten when my brother was born, and I was a very happy little six year old. I was given a small stuffed animal of Curious George, which my parents said was from my little brother. To him, I gave a small book called "Colors," that says "To baby, from Meghana." Those two items are very special to me, symbolizing my brother, and something I would never be able to lose. Every time I take a look at both items, my memory goes back to that Wednesday afternoon when I was sitting in the hospital chair, holding the baby. As I saw his sleepy eyes looking at me for the first time, I was filled with excitement. I kept on insisting to my grandmother, who had come from India at the time, to let me hold him by myself. That moment made me feel really proud, when I could go and tell the world that I had a new baby brother. My brother is like one of my best friends. Any time we are upset, we go to and help calm each other down, feeling much better afterwards. He is also a very fun person to spend time with – whether it is playing videogames, bothering each other when doing homework, going to the mall, etc. We are always there for each other; through the good times and the bad. The little book and Curious George stuffed animal will be with me throughout my life as I grow older, and will always remind me of that afternoon in the hospital where I made a new best friend.
ReplyDeleteOne night when I was about 6 weeks old I couldn’t sleep. My dad decided that to help me settle down, so that he could sleep, it would be a good idea to give me a stuffed bear that he had originally given my mom. He thought that it would only be temporary and my mom would get it back the next day, so he was not exactly giving it away. However, because the bear smelled like her I refused to give it up, and it became my favorite object. When I learned how to talk I began to call him “Big Bear” and that became his name. I slept with Big Bear every night until I was 13. I had melt-downs when we forgot to pack him on a trip of any length. Eventually he became old, and had to be patched and sewn up many times. I rubbed the felt of his nose, the fur of his left foot and around his nose, and I scratched the shine out if his gassy eyes. I also managed to get all of the beans into his foot because I liked to smell it. Now he looks like a sad, world weary retiree.
ReplyDeleteBig Bear was there for me when I moved both when I was still a toddler, and again in 6th grade. I was just starting to move him out of my bed in 6th grade, but then we moved and I felt uncomfortable and strange without him, so even though I was afraid I would rip him in a way that my mom couldn’t fix I still slept with him. Eventually he became so worn and old that I couldn’t sleep with him anymore. Now he sits beside my bed and watches over me each night. To me Big Bear symbolizes simplicity and comfort. He symbolizes simplicity because he reminds me of a time when I did not worry so much, and all I had to do to make things better was hold him. He also symbolizes comfort because whenever I was sad, or hurt I would snuggle up with him and try to forget about it. I still rub his worn out foot when I am particularly upset and I am happier because I remember when I was little and things where easier and simpler.
Music is a very big part of my life. From listening to performing, I would say that I live and breath music. Every day, I go home and put on some headphones, and listen to music from 3PM to about 8PM. While the act isn’t symbolic of something, the means in which I listen to that music has driven me through times good and times bad.
ReplyDeleteMy headphones, and music, have brought me through every time in my life. From when I’m feeling gloomy to when I’m feeling ecstatic, there is always music that can fit the situation. Slow songs about the sun and summer can fit the day when I want to take a bike ride. High Energy, punk songs can replace that feeling of happiness with a feeling of regret about the system. Regret about what is happening.
I remember when I became interested in music. My parents had always raised me on what is considered today as “Classic Rock”. Things like Genesis, Yes, Rush, Phil Collins, etc. That is the only music I knew. But, a friend introduced me to a band unlike I've ever heard, Linkin Park. No longer did PG rated themes about love and relationships rule how I felt. Gritty, non censored motifs about the system, drug use, and anarchism ruled my early teens.
From there, I realized what type of effect music has on my personality. No longer did I rely on the attitudes of others to drive me through middle school and on into my Freshmen year. I didn’t have to listen to the countless other bland gray types that roamed through the school halls. Music told me what to do. It told me how to react to situations. It told me when I should cheer up. It told me when I was in the dumps.
Headphones, music, pulse, beat, rhythm. It drives me through what can be best described as a never ending, bland, bleak series of classes on topics that don’t interest me. But, as the bell rings, I pull out my headphones, plug them into the Zune, crank the volume, and let myself be lost.
Something that is symbolic in my life to me is my collection of souvenir and autographed sports memorabilia in my room. Over my lifetime, I have collected baseballs, footballs, ticket stubs, and trading cards that all have some special meaning to me. Whenever I travel somewhere memorable, I always buy a baseball to remember the trip. I have baseballs from places such as Bermuda, New York City, and San Francisco. I also have autographed balls from players that I saw play in a game as part of my collection. I think that this memorabilia symbolizes me being a huge sports fan in general. Ever since I was younger, I would watch Sportscenter every morning before I went to school and see all the exciting events that happened in the sports world the day before. My favorite part of Sportscenter is still the Top 10 plays of the day because some of the plays are just so incredible to watch.
ReplyDeleteMy grandfather is also a huge sports fan as I am. He grew up and lived in the Philadelphia area for almost his entire life, so he roots for the teams in that area. I always look forward to seeing him so that we can discuss what is happening in the sports world. When the Eagles played the Patriots for the Super Bowl in 2004, I remember that we would always have debates of who was going to win, and I was very satisfied when my team won the big game. These conversations and debates with him are something that I will always treasure and never forget.
I can remember the first sports event that I ever attended which was a Red Sox game at Fenway Park back in September of 2001 against the Orioles which was Cal Ripken Jr.’s last game at Fenway Park. I remember going to the ball park with my grandfather, dad, and brother with so much anticipation and hype to see my first sporting event. I still have the ticket stub for that game because it meant so much to me. Even though the Red Sox lost, I had a great time, and the game helped shape me into the sports fan I am today.
I still remember that day i walked into Dicks Sporting Goods, to pick my first tennis racket. I chose carefully looking for the lightest racket, but staying under a budget of 100 dollars. My 7 year old mind couldn't have made a better choice. I picked the racket with Pete Sampras's signature and would soon start tennis lessons in a week. This tennis racket is an important symbol for me because it really engaged me in the sport of tennis. Although I threw it away years ago, this racket reminds me of the first time i played and really found my love for the game. This racket at this time really didn’t much, I thought of it just as something that would move the ball, but as I realized it would soon be outlet to freedom of school work and chores. Tennis became a sport I could play when I was sad, and I would instantly feel better because it made me feel good at something. Tennis was a good way for me to release my anger, my mom said that I had anger problems because I got mad at everything. But if I was ever angry before I went to tennis, I always came back happy. Just hitting that green fuzzy ball every time just gave me the feeling of releasing my anger on the ball. Tennis also got me away from thinking about school work and chores, it was a great distraction. When I was at tennis I focused on tennis and it really helped me just enter into a new world where grades and work weren’t necessary, all I had to do was get the ball over the net. Growing up I admittedly did have some anger problems getting mad very easily, but tennis really did help me grow out of it. As years went on, I got new rackets in accordance to how my skill level had increased. Today I owe my love of tennis to my first racket; it symbolized the beginning of my tennis career.
ReplyDeleteI own quite a few objects symbolic to me, but one that particularly brings back fond memories is currently sitting on my bookshelf in my room. It is a small red wooden book holder. Looking at it brings back memories from Cambridge, where I lived up until second grade. In our small studio near Harvard Square, there wasn’t usually much to do, and I had very few friends. However, on my fifth birthday, a few kids I knew came over, and we had a small party. Before I get into that, however, it is important to know a certain detail about the school I went to. In my small private school, there was a class that I particularly enjoyed, even more than gym. It was woodshop. I was incredibly fascinated by the tools and the equipment, as well as sculpting things out of wood. At this age, I was already avidly into skateboarding, so I had an interest in making my own some day. Anyways, for one of my birthday gifts, my dad bought me what he called a “woodshop-in-a-box.” It consisted of a few simple pieces of wood, some screws, and glue. It was a do-it-yourself book holder for kids. Excited to begin, when the guests left, I ripped it out of the box, and my dad and I began to put it together. When we were done, I decided I wanted to paint it red. Ten years later, I never really got rid of it, so the little red book holder remains on my shelf. While this little anecdote may appear insignificant, the reason it is symbolic to me is mostly because of the nostalgia associated with my old apartment in Cambridge. When I see the little red book holder, I am reminded of a much simpler time; my youth. The good times in Harvard Square and our little studio come back to me in a rush of good feelings. Times were much simpler, and I always went to my grandmother’s daycare near Boston to play with all the kids there, back when I was their age. When I look at the book holder, all of the good memories of Cambridge rush back to me .
ReplyDeleteWhen I was younger my family had season tickets for the Boston Celtics. We went to many games and had so much fun at them. Although the Celtics were not that good back then, we still loved seeing them play. At the time my favorite player on the team was Antoine Walker. Since I liked him so much, for my birthday I got his jersey. I loved it; I wore it to nearly every single game I went to. I have had many great memories wearing that jersey. When Antoine used to make a shot he did a little dance after which I called “The Antoine wiggle”. At the games every time he did it I would do the same, I thought I was being so funny. Even when I was playing basketball wearing the jersey I would do the dance after making a shoot. It is funny to look back on how I got so into something that Antoine just did as a joke. One time my dad and I were at a playoff game, as usual I was wearing the jersey. The only problem was the Celtics were getting killed the entire game. I was really sad and just wanted to go home, but my Dad kept telling me “They’re going to make a come back.” We decided to stay and then we witnessed a moment in basketball history. The Celtics were down by about 20 points in the fourth quarter. Instead of giving up, they made the greatest comeback in NBA playoff history and won the game. The whole place was going crazy, while Antoine stood on an announcer table pounding his chest towards the crowd. I could not believe my eyes when I saw them win, and I was there to see it happen. That was the greatest game I have ever been to and I doubt I will ever see anything like it again. My Antoine Walker jersey symbolizes all of the great times I had at the games when we had season tickets.
ReplyDeleteOne of the most important symbols in my life is the game ball that was given to me by my 5th grade football coach. One reason that it is important to me is that it shows my love and strong work ethic at football. In order to earn that I had to play my best and be a strong competitor on the field. In the game that I received the game ball, I had scored two touchdowns near the end of the game that took the lead and won the game over the other team. The ball signified how well I played and also how proud of me my coaches were. It really made me feel proud about who I was as a player. On a different level, it signified much more than just a great game for me. It was the first football game of mine that my grandfather came to watch. My grandmother, who had recently been diagnosed with alzheimer's disease, required a lot of care and he could not really bring her places in her weakened state. When I found out my grandfather was coming to that game, I was already excited. My grandfather had always been a big role model in my life, he practically raised me in the way that everyday my parents worked, I would spend the day with him and my grandma. since my grandmother had gotten sick, I did not really get to see him as much as I did when I was younger. Anyway, it was a very big deal for him to be coming to my game that day. I knew I really wanted to play well to impress him and have him be proud of me. By the fourth quarter, we were down by 13 points. Some great play calling by my coaches and great running by me led to us winning the game 21 to 20. In the after game huddle, my coach made a big speech and awarded me the game ball for my two touchdowns that won the game. Although getting this award from my coach was a big deal, it was a bigger deal to me that my grandfather was able to see me get it. In the first game that he saw me play, he saw me receive the game ball and play a great game. When I went over to him after the game, he could not have been more proud of me. It was a great day for me to put a smile on his face, when he had such a tough world at the time with my grandmother. The football symbolized my relationship with my grandfather, that we would always be close no matter where life took us, just like we were always in that game and did not give up no matter how much we were behind by. Today, the football still sits in my room as a constant reminder of both my accomplishment and as a symbol for my grandpa.
ReplyDeleteA symbol that encompasses many different aspects of my life is an areoplane (or I guess in the US it’s spelled airplane). Objectively, at least, my life can be easily divided into two parts: the time spent in America and that spent Australia. The two places though, are worlds apart and it is an areoplane that bridges the gap. Likewise, my life with my mum is in huge contrast with my life with my dad. The busy, exciting and adventurous life I live with my mum, step-dad, and sister is fantastic and full of the wonderful opportunities that this country brings. In contrast, my time with my dad, step-mum, and young siblings is relaxed, easy-going and carefree – exactly the way I would describe Australia as a country. Reconciling these two different lifestyles is difficult and it is all too easy to get caught in between - thus the areoplane. There are a lot of times that I sort of feel in limbo, not really firmly in a place or mindset. Areoplanes are, for me, a combination of excitement and heartache because no matter which way I’m going, I’m leaving someone behind. I guess, then, areoplanes symbolize taking good with bad, exciting with painful and love with heartache. Also, they represent the fragile balance of two different parts of the same person. Another aspect of me that areoplanes tie into is my absolute love and passion for travelling. I enjoy nothing more than experiencing a brand new place and way of life and I hope that I have the good fortune to keep experiencing new cultures when I am older. My two dream jobs involve a lot of travel and the prospect of the adventures I’ll have if I’m successful is a huge motivation for me. I love to be on the go and moving forward all the time and I appreciate that, largely, that would be impossible without areoplanes. Also, the fact that my dad lives halfway across the world and I still get to see him three times a year is unbelievable to me and I am extremely thankful that areoplanes facilitate that. So as well as reconciling the two halves of my lives in the present, areoplanes also represent my hopes for the future.
ReplyDeleteAn object in my life that is symbolic is my basketball hoop. My parents bought it for me when I was about seven, and I have used it frequently since then. I always enjoy going outside and shooting hoops because it is a fun way to get some fresh air. I also find that just aimlessly shooting a basketball helps me both to relax and to focus my mind, which is another reason why my basketball hoop is so important to me. I try to play basketball for at least thirty minutes every day when the weather outside is nice. Because of how often I use my hoop, the backboard has started to break, but I still have not replaced it yet because of what it symbolizes for me: a relaxing way to think about things while also getting fresh air. This is very important to me because I often feel like my life is going by too fast, and when I play basketball it feels like time is slowing down for me. It also helps me think about decisions that I have to make, and lets me forget about bad things that have happened to me. Shooting hoops also helps me become calm when I am angry at someone, which is always helpful. While I usually just play basketball by myself, I have also enjoyed playing with my brother from time to time. We usually do not get along because we are completely different, but when we play basketball together we are actually able to have fun with each other. Because of this, my hoop also represents the bond between my brother and me. Even though I am not a big sports fan, and even though I am not very good at playing basketball, my basketball hoop is still very important to me. It symbolizes a calming way for me to relax and think, and to occasionally have fun playing basketball with my brother.
ReplyDeleteSomething that is symbolic of me is my lacrosse net in my backyard. It represents numerous emotions for me. For one, it symbolizes my determination and work ethic. Whether it is just messing around or actually working hard to improve my skills, I always am outside shooting around. The net represents my freedom in that I get away from my everyday life activities: homework, school, TV, computer, etc. My effort to improve is physically shown through the wear and tear of the net. This net also, in some ways, soothes me because I can clear my mind of things like stress and anger. Repeatedly shooting as hard and fast as I can seems to relieve me of my motions more easily than anything else in the world. The sound of the ball making a whipping sound as it makes contact with the net makes me smile even when I’m enraged. In a solitary state sweating away my worries and enjoying the pleasant weather. Furthermore, this net signifies the idea that there is always room for improvement. After missing many shots, the net forces me to make improvements and adjustments. Perfection was a distant goal but my net brought me as close as I could go. This lacrosse net always posed as an option when there was nothing to do. Even if I was exhausted, I could constantly find the energy to go out and play. The mindset I have today, working hard and always improving can be traced back to my lacrosse net. Mentally and physically, it prepared me for life obstacles. In a way, it paved the road to the future by giving me the skills and attitude to go through school and eventually the rest of my life. This net resembles the start and the whole of not only my lacrosse career but my life account as well. Lastly, it reminds me of and will remind me of memories I have had with this game. For instance, game winning goals and the rush of excitement or my first goal. Certainly, this net brings and takes away mixes of emotions that will last a lifetime.
ReplyDeleteIt was October 2009, the month where I would turn fifteen years old. Every year I look through magazines, and stores for what I want for my birthday presents, and that year I had wanted some kind of jewelry. I searched for what I wanted for a great amount of time, and I was not sure of what I wanted, until I walked in Ralph Jordan’s in Acton. They just started selling Pandora jewelry products, and the Pandora counter was stunning. It was shining so brightly that it was difficult to not look at it; it pulled you in how shiny it was. I did not know what Pandora was at the time because none of my friends had any but I had to look at it for myself. The sales lady there explained to me how Pandora jewelry was kind of like a charm bracelet, and I had plenty of those, but Pandora had this beautiful elegant look to it that caught my eye. Pandora was meant to capture and celebrate unforgettable moments and memories, and that is why my Pandora bracelet symbolizes my life and who I am. Every charm captures a memory or a characteristic about me, and it symbolizes me. The charms that symbolize the best memories or characteristics are the soccer ball, the 16, the car, and the bouquet of flowers that says love. The soccer ball symbolizes fun and happiness because I have been playing soccer my whole life and I have loved playing the sport every minute of it, I would not imagine my life without soccer I it. It helps me relax, and takes my mind off of stressful things, and I always have a great time with my team. The charm that just says 16, and the car charm represents my 16th birthday, and the ability to drive, but those both symbolize maturity and growing up. Being legal to drive made me realize that I was growing up, and responsibility would be placed on me when I turned 16. Being able to drive gave the feeling of freedom since I can go where I want without relying on others. The bouquet of flowers with love written across it symbolizes love that I have for my friends, and family, and their love for me. I would never be able to live my life without the support and love from them; they help me through everything that life throws at me. I am so grateful to have their love in my life, and it plays a major role in my life. With the Pandora bracelet I always remember what is important to me, and the special memories I will have in my life, and luckily I will always be able to add more charms and memories to the bracelet.
ReplyDeleteI had lots of stuffed animals when I was little but one stood out in particular. It was a teddy bear that was really soft and had on a different colored pastel outfit. It used to be my brothers and when I was turning one, he was eight, that was his birthday present to me. I brought the bear everywhere with me. He used to sit at dinner with me in my old high-chair and I would bring him any time we left the house. He has a syrup stain on him from one time when we were having pancakes at my Grandma’s house. This bear was always there when I needed something to hold when I was sad and when I needed something to help me go to sleep. When I was little I used to fall asleep with him every night and would cry if I couldn’t find him. When I was little he represented safety and comfort but now it is different. Now he is on a shelf right next to the head of by bed, just more faded than before. Now he reminds me that even when I don’t see them that often, my brothers and I have been together from the beginning and nothing can change that. Sometimes when I’m really missing them I see the bear and realize that they are always going to be there to protect me just like my bear was. My bear also reminds me of many good memories I had when I was little, especially with my grandparents because I would always let my grandpa keep my bear while we were at their house. I don’t remember that much of him but I do remember how he would always hang out with me when I was little and that he always waited for me and my bear when we got there after our long drive. My bear keeps good memories for me when I was little and everyone I loved was so close and there when I needed them.
ReplyDeleteFor years, I had heard stories about my father’s admirable skills as a lacrosse player from my grandfather. He spoke of my father’s endurance, his powerful shot, and his great game sense. I had heard so many stories that by the time I was nine I was itching to get my hands on a lacrosse stick. I thought that passing and catching would come easily to me since my father had no trouble in this department, but boy was I mistaken. The first time I played was in our back yard, and I missed over half of the balls that my dad threw to me. The stick felt awkward in my hands, the complete opposite of what I had imagined. But, with my dad as my role model, I longed to get better. We spent countless nights outside, just playing catch, because to be great at any sport you must master the basics first.
ReplyDeleteIn middle school, I had a solid understanding of the game of lacrosse, thanks to my father. Even though I had improved significantly since the third grade, I still enjoyed playing with him in the back yard. It seemed as though the more I played, the more I loved the sport and the better I wanted to be. Improvement was not a problem though because my dad was now my coach. When I was on the sidelines, he offered me advice but also made a point of praising me for a good play. I valued the opinion of my dad, the former lacrosse superstar, so I worked my hardest in every game to make him proud. Nothing was more gratifying than playing well in a lacrosse game and having my father say, with a huge smile on his face, “Great job!”
Today, I continue to love playing catch with my father. And, every time I pick up my stick on the way out the door, I remember the first time that I played catch with him in the back yard. Together we have shared so many laughs and good times. The funny thing is, however, most of these memories involve a lacrosse stick. As a result, my stick has come to represent much more than just an instrument I use to catch passes that soar through the air. It also symbolizes the closeness of my family, since we have bonded over this sport for so many years.
My lacrosse stick is not a miracle worker. Even after much practice, I still miss passes. It is the symbol that the stick has come to represent that makes it magical.
When a loved one dies, everything that was once theirs becomes much more special. I was really close with my great grandmother before she unexpectedly passed three years ago. I was her first great grandchild, so we shared a special bond that no one else in the family could say they shared with her. She always told me how special I was and she would never forget my birthday even at 93 years old. My great grandmother gave me hand painted rosary beads for my first communion in second grade. When she gave this to me, she said “God is always with you, no matter what happens.” These rosary beads have been a symbol of not only God always being with me, but my great grandmother as well. Whenever I am feeling like the world is out to get me or I am just having a really bad day, I look at the rosary beads to remind me that God and my great grandmother are there with me every step of the way. My great grandmother always believed in me, and told me I could do anything I set my heart and mind to. When I get nervous, the beads especially help me. For example, in the fall I applied for a job at a toy store and I got called back for an interview. I got really nervous, and I thought I might mess up or say something stupid during the interview and not get the job. On the car ride there, I took my beads along with me to make me remember how much my great grandmother believed in me and told me I could do anything. They made me believe in myself, believe that I could get the job. And I did! I got the job and I still have it, luckily. Without the indirect support of my great grandmother through the gift she gave me, I do not think I could have had so much belief in myself when an obstacle or challenge came my way. Although unfortunately she is not physically with me here on Earth, I still feel her with me, motivating me and supporting me every step of the way through the rosary beads she gave to me when I was young.
ReplyDeleteI cannot think of one object that is symbolic to me. I have lots of random things around my room. For me, objects are not symbolic, places are. I have spent the majority of my time at Hybid since I was 6. Ten years of getting to know everything there, volunteering, teaching, riding, and going just to be there. My parents always joked that I would rather be there than at home, in reality, they are telling the truth. I cannot remember a time then I was not at the barn. When I started out there the atmosphere was slightly different, maybe because I was so little and spacey, of which I still am. It seemed less rushed, no one was running to get somewhere or do something. Everyone was where they needed to be, with their horse. It is comforting to be able to be with a horse. No matter how crazy and seemingly mean that they can be, when you really get to know a horse, they become your partner. You both develop a bond with them that cannot be expressed. On my favorite horse, I could anticipate her actions when dismounted along with mounted. To be able to feel so connected to something that is just a horse in some eyes is amazing. Now the barn is much more crowded, its hectic and crazy, but still the same in the overall feeling that you get when walking through the big barn doors, a warm welcoming feeling. They all feel the same about their horse. Its different yet the same. Everyone is close, like a family. I have watched friends leave and go off to college and new places, not to be seen again. Soon most of us will leave, to be taken over by a new group of kids that have the same feeling towards Hybid. I know that some will not come back to visit, but others I am positive will come back. Remembering all of the memories that we have there together, late night sledding, sleepovers, Canobe Lake Park, and Kimball trips. I, like most that have ever gone to Hybid, would rather be at the barn than anywhere else. Representing nearly my whole life, Hybid is a home outside of home for me.
ReplyDeleteIn 6th grade of elementary school, my class read the book Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes. The book is based on a real story about a girl when the US bombed Japan. She was diagnosed with leukemia from the radiation and spent many hours on her bed in the hospital making paper cranes. It is a Japanese saying that if you make 1000 paper cranes, you can have any wish. Her only wish was to live. She didn’t finish making all of them because she became too weak, but her friends and families made the rest for her and buried her with all the paper cranes.
ReplyDeleteMy friend Dianna and I were obsessed with the book for such a long time. It inspired us to make our own set of 1000 paper cranes. We both thought this was going to be impossible but it would be worth a try. We took paper and started to teach ourselves how to make a paper crane. At first, we made so many mistakes and took a while just to make one crane, but as soon as we started making more, folding the paper into small birds was almost natural. We took just about any material we could find, even sticky notes, and turned them into cranes one by one. By the end of 4 months with vigorous folding, we produced exactly 1000 paper cranes. Neither of us had a wish that we wanted, so we kept the paper cranes just for pride. At the end of 6th grade, Dianna moved halfway across the world, and she took with her 500 of those paper cranes. Even though we have limited connection now, those months spent on the paper cranes was an experience that I’ll never forget. During those four months, Dianna and I were inseparable. We spend many afternoons together, and we sat there during recess and lunch making those paper cranes. Over time, she became my best friend. The bond that we shared was so special because no matter how much time we spent together, we never got tired of each other. I put the cranes in a box and it is now in my room. Whenever I look at them, it reminds me that if you have a goal, it can be achieved if you really go for it. It also reminds me of all the moments I shared with Dianna, even if we haven’t seen each other since. My box of 500 cranes means a lot to me because it reminds me of my childhood and all the special memories I have from it.
Sometimes the best symbol is that which does not at all represent one- an antisymbol. For this purpose, I present to you my brotherly antisymbol, Prateek. We are polar opposites. In terms of physique, I am short and athletic, participating in Track, basketball, and Taekwon-Do. My brother is tall and…not quite so fit. I utterly despise technology, ranging from computers to cellphones to video game consoles (but I just LOVE blogs). Prateek as an engineer obsesses about it, always fully equipped with an iPod Phone (whatever it’s called), a Sony Pavilion laptop, and a fancy watch. Prateek’s activities are constantly in question by his friends as he is liable to do odd things. I am the first person to be asked about them, and the last person to give an answer, for I question them just as much. If adolescence includes sensitivity, then I have not yet matured; he has. In terms of relationship experience, I’ve done enough poking around to calculate logical outcomes, while he is bogged down with a date for the Senior Prom. He already has one, and that is the trouble. I fake cheeriness all around the clock, but he does not do too good a job at staying content. I have found that friends are disposable to a certain extent, whereas he is tooled on big time by his friends.
ReplyDeleteMy classmates and his convey information from one brother to the other, thoroughly putting the receiver in an embarrassing position. I do not really mind, but when Prateek hears, “Like, omigosh, like, guess what your brother said in, like, class today!” he is not sure what to make of it. Neither am I, but he lets out his anger on me.
A cumulative example of the last three differences between me and Prateek is this one incident: Prateek comes home and tells off his little brother to his mom for embarrassing him again; I ask him how his gullibility utterly failed him this time (discreetly), and he said how his Prom date saw me drop all my stuff in the hallway and had to help me pick everything up- which never happened. She tooled on Prateek majorly, but if he was at all upset he did not let it show. It always helps me to look up to my antisymbol, and then quickly look away with good knowledge of what not to do. My parents pushed him through his education hard, but I get a neat, appreciative, little pat on the back if I get anywhere from a “C-“ to “A+” just because their expectations have been thoroughly lowered. I do not think I have enough self-motivation for another two years of school, but who knows, I may learn to drive myself as he never learned to, and come out on top. My grades are better, my attitude prevails, my ego is not thoroughly chewed, and my dependence may just crack down enough to let me gain full independence.
I looked at the old worn out flats in my hand. The beads were falling off and there were permanent dirt marks on them. It was moving day and I was clearing out my shoes. It had been easy to decide whether or not to keep all the other shoes. Only that pair had required some time to think about. I had gotten my white flats in China the summer after sixth grade. It was during a week of dance camp in Beijing with my dance troupe. One day, after hours of hard work, I really wanted to go shopping. Our teacher was strict and insisted that we take naps. However, I was fortunate enough to have my mom along on the trip. She could take me. As I was discussing shopping plans with my mom, two of my friends overheard me. They begged to come along and my mom and I agreed to take them secretly. At the mall, shelves and shelves of shoes surrounded me. None of the shoes in most of the stores would fit me. It was frustrating. After an hour or two, my friend pointed out a pair of white flats. They were pretty and comfortable. When I tried them on, they were perfect, but acquiring them took some effort. Haggling with the salesman was a long process. The salesman was stubborn and he wouldn’t drop the price to what we wanted. My mom debated with him for a while until she just decided to buy them at the price they were. It was a happy day for me. I had officially just bought my first pair of flats. I felt so formal and grown up. Afterwards, I always tried to find a chance to wear them. I wore them on the first day of school and to every special occasion. I was proud of my new shoes and enjoyed the compliments from everyone. Over the years, I wore them many times. Soon, they were worn out and I moved on to abusing other pairs of shoes. Looking back, those shoes will always symbolize my transition into maturity because they were my very first pair of formal shoes.
ReplyDeleteSometimes, after school, on the weekends or when I have time, I would sit down at my desk and open my sketchbook. As I gaze into its crisp white pages, the first thing I would grasp is my 0.5 mm uniball black pen. There was always the sense of satisfaction as I darkened the etched pencil lines with my pen. The smooth ink gave power to control the thickness and crispness of a line in my drawings.
ReplyDeleteI have always appreciated art when I was little. Years ago, my closest cousin came over and drew a massive poster sized picture of a dragon for me. I used to admire her ability to draw clearly and eloquently. She was like a sister and I loved to learn about the things she did, I took up drawing too, and learned from a few art books my parents bought me. Artistic talent runs in my family. My grandpa, who is skilled with Chinese brush painting, would spend afternoons laying down ink that would form beautiful images of horses, mountains, and eagles. He has had years of practice working with the ancient art. I even spent a few summers painting with him. Painting on the delicate white rice paper required patience and steady hands that I had trouble mastering. I loved looking at the pieces of art that were made when I was taking art at the junior high. I learned about famous artists such as Van Gogh and Kandinsky during high school. However, I did not constantly sketch until I met a friend who liked art as much as I did. After being persuaded to draw, I now enjoy sketching when I have time. To me, art symbolizes the beauty that everyone has within themselves and art helps express that clearly. It documents feelings and history just as well as a historical artifact could. When I look at all the art my friends and family drew, I could see their ideas, hard work and dedication. When I draw, I remember their work and try to create a wonderful piece for everyone to enjoy.
Baseball had gotten extremely boring for me to play at the beginning of sophomore year. Standing around on the field endlessly waiting for a ball to come to you every half an hour, or batting, getting on base, and running only 270 feet before you actually score. Sure, baseball used to be fun, but now, it became more of a chore than a passtime. I just did not see the fun in the sport anymore as I did before. I yearned for a sport that would actually keep me entertained to play, get me into better shape, and that would not be too hard for me to play. Then I found frisbee.
ReplyDeleteA frisbee represents a lot of things for me. It represents athleticism, fun, being social, and many more.
It represents athleticism because when I started playing it, I thought baseball had gotten me into good enough shape that I oculd play it easily. I soon learned that there was SO much more running in frisbee than baseball. Frisbee is the reason why I am not totally unfit, as I have to keep up my athleticism and stay in shape if I want to do any good in the sport.
Even though I had to work hard at the sport, I still had a lot of fun doing it. It was a welcomed departure to the endless droning on of a baseball game where the players mostly just stand around. I got to actually run around and do something while I played. I cannot really explain it, but whenever I play frisbee, my spirits are always lifted and I am always happier.
Although playing frisbee meant nothing to me a year ago (I even looked down on it sometimes), it means the world to me now. It put excitement back into my life and I was not so bored all the time anymore. It really ended the endless droning on of the same repititions of everyday life and so, whenver I look at a frisbee, I think of how it changed my life for the better.
There are many important things that are symbolic to me. These things are special to me because they motivate me and they mean a lot. An important symbol of mine is my power balance bracelet. Even though the bracelet is scientifically proven not to work, it is a source of motivation to keep me going. The power balance bracelet is widely known and is used by many of my role models such as sport athletes. Watching NBA players performing at their best abilities with the bracelets make me perform my best at everything I do. I view my self as a hard worker who always tries my best at any challenge presented to me. My power balance bracelet is a symbol of motivation and perseverance. Another of my many symbols is my bed. My bed provides comfort, security, and a feeling of a home that will always be there. It also provides warmth and a good night’s sleep. Another symbol can be a basketball. A basketball represents athleticism, sports, fun and skill. Basketball is one of my passions. I love the game of basketball no matter if I am playing for fun or as a competition. My power balance bracelet and basketball relate because my power balance bracelet keeps me going and helps me play basketball well. Basketball and other sports such as wrestling and football make me feel good even if I am just watching it on television networks such as ESPN. Sports are a huge part of my life and I love playing them with friends, family or even alone. When I am not playing I feel incomplete which makes me want to play even more.
ReplyDeleteAnother of my most important symbols is a plate. A plate symbolizes a healthy meal and a good mother that provides me with food. Food is the most important thing for many people. Without food people can not survive. Food resembles survival which is the role of life.
An important symbol in my life is a soccer ball. It represents my passion and desires. First off it is my favorite sport. I have been playing the game since I can remember and it has always been an outlet for me to escape. Escape from all outside influences and a place for me to feel good about myself. A soccer ball itself bounces around and that is what life is about. Life kicks things at you and you can choose to receive it and keep going or you can let it go by and be left behind. The soccer ball also can have many different designs on it like I have attended many schools but in the end it is just a soccer ball as it is just another school. The game of soccer is a team sport and the object is to score a goal this is just like my family. We work together to meet a common end goal. Soccer is a large part of my life and without it I would not know who I am. At times I thought about quitting because of bad coaches. But I stuck with it because I rose above the coach and my passion for the game overtook my dislikes. This is just like life in the way that you might not like everything that happens but you have to rise above it and keep moving forward. The soccer ball is a symbol of which represents me. It also represents parts of my life. It can be different, go in different directions, and even after being kicked it goes back to its original shape.
ReplyDeleteThere are many objects and items in my life that could be considered symbols for something else. One of these is my metronome. In music, a metronome is basically the only thing that musicians use to practice other than their instrument and their music; it is used to sound a steady beat. When playing, a musician might decide that one or several sections needs to be much more steady, because there are slight fluctuations in tempo. When this happens, they use a metronome to give them a steady beat that they can play to enough times so that when the beat is taken away, they continue to play as if it was still going. I thought this represented a couple of things in my life. The obvious one is that it is used in practicing music and can represent practicing, which takes up a lot of time in my life. I spend several hours each day in order to get better as fast as I can. The other representation is of things and people that keep me from doing less than I can do; some of the represented things could be motivation, my talents and abilities, and people like my parents and teachers who help me get better at those abilities. It is obvious that I would not be the person that I am without those things, and it is equally obvious to me that I would not be as good of a musician if I did not own and use a metronome. On the other hand, the metronome can be representative of those things that no one likes but everyone must do or have. In the music world, using a metronome is a tedious task, but it is just as necessary as it is boring. There are many connections that could be made to my life: things like doing homework and waking up early every morning are two examples. They are not things I enjoy doing, but if I did not I wouldn’t do well in school, which would hurt my chances of getting into a good college, and ultimately it would only take away opportunities. For this reason, of course I do wake up in the morning and do my homework, and this is similar to how I do use the metronome even when I may not want to.
ReplyDeleteSomething in my life that is symbolic is my bedroom. My bedroom represents me, the colors I like, my personality and interests. My room is painted a lime green and although it was already painted that way when we moved in it was the exact color I wanted to paint it. Since I am the oldest my parents let me pick which room I wanted first and my criteria was based on how big it is and how much light comes into the room throughout the day. One of my favorite things is to be woken up in the morning by sunlight, well school is too early but otherwise it is nice. My bedspread is pink, orange, blue, purple, green, and red which also makes it seem like a bright and cheery place. My best friend says my room it’s “creepy” how neat my room is. Even though that’s coming from a completely not organized person who shares a room with a slob she is partially right. I like it when my stuff clean but I’m not obsessed with it. Around my room I have lots of pictures of my friends from Maine and Massachusetts and my family. I also have two wavy mirrors which I think look cool but they have no actual purpose because you can only see one half of your body at once. Another thing I enjoy about my room is that it’s not perfectly rectangular there are little dents and places that jut out of the wall or are at an angle which makes it less boring and I’d like to think I’m not a boring person.
ReplyDeleteAnother symbolic thing in my life is an alarm clock. It symbolizes annoyance because I never want to get up when it goes off and it is very faulty so sometimes it doesn’t go off when I need it to. This often causes me to have to rush or be late to things which just starts off a day really poorly. And as I said before I prefer for the sun to wake me up slowly.
The most symbolic thing in my life is my stuffed dog I got from my Grandfather when I was one. It symbolizes many things for me.
ReplyDeleteThe first thing it symbolizes is my Grandfather. He died when I was five and although I don’t remember much about him I know he loved me when I was little. He used to travel a lot and he would always bring me back presents some of which I still have and some of which I lost. My dog symbolizes the nights I would sit at his house and he would read to me before I fell asleep.
I sleep with my dog every night and I can’t go anywhere over night without him. It symbolizes comfort and safety for me. When things get bad in my life I run upstairs and I sit in the corner of my room with the dog and I always feel better. I suppose it also symbolizes happiness because when I’m upset I know that all I have to do is pick it up and I’ll feel better. It symbolizes the days when I was young and life was easy and care free. When you’re a little kid your biggest worry is someone stealing your ball on the playground. My dog represents those days. The days I wish I could go back to.
The one time I went on vacation and I left him at home I cried and cried every night we were gone. My parents bought me new stuffed animals and tried to comfort me but nothing worked because that is the only thing that represents comfort and safety for me. Whenever he goes missing I can’t sleep and I’m usually constantly upset. I can’t think of a day that I haven’t had my dog with me involuntarily.
About ten years ago, before I lived in Acton, I resided in the town of Arlington, MA. There, I met my neighbor Christopher Rockwell, who soon became my best friend. Though, I only lived there for approximately two years, we did everything together. If we were not at home sleeping or eating, we were hanging out. He was like the brother I never had, a friend that I would never forget. Although I have not seen or talked to him in so long, I will never forget the memories we had. In times of sorrow, the memories formed by these friendships help remind of us of our childhood, the better times in life. The times when money has no value and where schoolwork has been replaced by entertainment. These memories must therefore be cherished as some of the most important things in the world. An item that symbolizes our friendship is my stuffed animal, Tony. It is a Tiger that my mom got for me back when I still lived in Arlington. She bought a Tiger and a Panda, which was given to Christopher. Every time I see Tony, I look back to the great times we had with those animals and we brought them everywhere to play with. We used them as characters to act out scenes and slept with them during our sleepovers. We never went anywhere without them. When I see Tony, I remember the times when we spent all night watching movies and playing. I remember the places we always went to like the neighborhood playground or our favorite corner store to buy snacks and gingerbread cookies. Those two stuffed animals represent our everlasting friendship. This friendship is a kind that I have never experienced after I left Arlington, a friendship where you do everything together and spend all your time together. These stuffed animals will forever be in our homes, reminding us of the memories our friendship had. Whenever I see Tony, it makes me want to visit Chris, in hopes of being able to catch up after all these years.
ReplyDeleteA symbol of my life is a little box under my bed with letters. I have had these letters since I was twelve years old and I never want to throw them away. These letters aren't letters that people have sent to me, but letters that I've written and never sent. Before Facebook and email, I used to think that sending letters was the coolest thing ever. I loved getting letters and I loved sending letters, but the ones I've saved under my bed aren't letters that I could send because they were to people who I really hated, liked, missed, or people who I wanted to apologize or thank. These letters were where I could say everything and anything without holding back. This is a symbol of my life because it shows how I feel strongly about many things and many people, but I’m never able to tell the person to their face. I’ve even planned out what I wanted to say and written it in these letters, but I never had the courage to say it to their face because I was scared of what they would think. I always feel like I care way more about something than the other person, and when they find out how much I care, it would be weird because they never cared in the first place. Writing all these letters is a way for me to say something to someone without actually saying it. When I’m writing these letters, it feels as though I’m actually talking to them. I’ve written countless letters to real people, imaginary people, and people who I’ve never met before. Some people are bold and say exactly what’s on their mind, but I never know everything about a person to judge them or tell them something. These letters also serve as a diary because they remind me of people and events in my life, and my personality as it changes through out the years. Their main purpose isn’t to remind me of all the people, and all that has happened, but it is to help me express what I really want to say. They are a symbol for my hesitance and me as an introvert.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a little girl, my grandfather gave me a teddy bear when I was a child. The new teddy bear was the best present because I loved my grandfather so much. I thought of the most unique name as possible, Teddy. Teddy went everywhere I went. Teddy followed me like he was my shadow. To be honest, Teddy was my first real best friend. He was always there for me, he was a great listener, and he never got mad at me. My Teddy symbolizes friendship and love. I acted lie Teddy was a real person, because he felt so real to me. I even gave him haircuts. Which, in the long run, eventually made him bald because I did not understand that it wouldn't grow back, but I was just trying to help my best friend. Teddy was a major symbol of love and friendship because he was my first best friend. No matter how unreal he was, he was the one who was always there for me and always listened to me.
ReplyDeleteA symbol of my life and how I live my life is an old worn out basketball I have. I have a newer ball that I use on indoor courts but when I play with my basketball I got several years ago. This is symbolic of my life because I love basketball and it is a major part of my life. Also, the way it is worn down represents that no matter what kind of beating the ball takes I can still use it. In life you have to be resilient as you will not be able to accomplish whatever you want on your first attempt. You have to work hard and struggle to reach your ultimate goal. I have gone through several hot summers playing with this ball and it is extremely worn down. Playing in these hot summer days can wear me down but in the end it makes me a lot better. In basketball it is vital to score which is very similar to life. You can do all the preparation but in the end the team that wins is the team that can execute and perform when it really matters. In life and in basketball it is essential to have the ability to make adjustments. Every game is different and you have to be able to adjust to the other team and adjust to how you are playing. Similarly, to life you will face new obstacles and new challenges and you will have to be ready to react. If you are not ready for a defense of obstacle you will lose every time. Basketball in general is a good symbol for my life because I am extremely competitive. To get better it is important to be competitive and want to succeed more than your opponent. In life and in most sports the winner is whoever wants it more. Basketball is a symbol in my life in the ability of a basketball to be resilient and the competitive nature of the sport.
ReplyDeleteSymbols can vary from person to person due to the different experiences each person has in their life. These symbols can be used as transitional objects or as a way to find or express ones true identity. A transitional object is a physical or nonphysical object that provides a person comfort when they are distressed. But a symbol is not always a transitional object. It could be something that shows identity and also gives a source of pride and self respect. Symbols can be physical like stuffed animals or jewelry they could also be more complex than that. But they all essentially serve the same purpose. The main purpose is to provide comfort and pride to those who need it and want it. In picking something symbolic in my life I could only narrow it down to two objects. One is my transitional object, providing me comfort when I need it. The other gives me a sense of pride and can represent a very large part of my identity. My transitional object is not an object in the typical sense. It is not a stuffed animal, although I do in fact have one that means a lot, it is not a blanket or a picture, it is something larger than that. The thing that provides me the most comfort is music. Whenever I am angry or sad or stressed, I can turn on some music and instantly my emotions are swept away and all I feel is happiness and content. But I am only truly cured when I sing. There is something about singing that takes over me. I feel like I am walking on air when I sing, and that feeling instantly overwhelms the negative feelings I have. The other symbolic thing that I have in my life allows me to show off part of my identity and in doing that I am proud of who I am. This object is a physical object unlike music or singing. It is a pure gold chamsa with a real diamond in it. A chamsa is a Jewish symbol that is intended to keep the evil spirits away. I received this chamsa from my aunts for my Bat Mitzvah. Whenever I wear it or even just look at it, I instantly feel proud of who I am and my heritage. These two “objects” are the primary symbols of my life.
ReplyDeleteMy trombone is a symbol for me. It is a symbol of my past, present, and future. It is a symbol of the past because it symbolizes my hard work, experiences, and people I’ve met through music. It symbolizes all the practice I’ve done and how far I’ve come from when I just started playing when I was nine. I’ve had a lot of experiences and met a lot of people through music in school, at camp, and at performances. I symbolizes the struggles I’ve had, when I felt I wasn’t the best or that I wanted to quit. It represents the present, with the practice I still put in and the groups I am in right now. Right now I’m active in the school band and the jazz band, and I really enjoy my time in both. I have the most fun playing in these bands because my friends are there and we all enjoy the music and the laughs together. I really put my heart into my music, now than I ever have before. It symbolizes the fun I’ve had at the summer music camp I went to, and the wonderful summer I will have again this year when I go back, including the people and the memories there. It also represents my future, as I hope to become a musician one day. Music is what I want to do my whole life, and it is something that never goes away – you don’t retire, it doesn’t fade away, and it can always be enjoyed. I hope I never lose the positive mindset I have about music and performing, and I hope to continue doing it forever. My trombone symbolizes all of music for me, which is my past, present, and future, as my memories and friends, my hard work and love, and my career.
ReplyDeleteAs a young child, i received a blanket from my grandparents. I still have the blanket somewhere but don't sleep with it anymore like I used to do. I would sleep with the warm and soft blanket and it would help relax me and always helped me get to sleep. It has always been a huge part of my life and i will always charish my blanket. I named it "Kuggy", this is only because when i first got it I was too young to say "cuddly". So "kuggy" was what came out whenever i said it, so the name stuck. For me my blanket is a sign of security and love. This is because it was the first thing i loved and i will never forget the numerous nights that my blanket was right there with me, keeping me safe through storms and nightmares.
ReplyDeleteThe one universal talent within my family is music. Everyone is involved in music somehow. I played violin for 9 years, and take guitar now, my dad has played violin for 20 years, my cousins both play piano, my mom sings, and everyone loves listening to music. My symbol would have to be a pair of headphones. I know that no matter what, I can rely on my music to make me feel better. If I'm nervous, I can find music to help me feel pumped up and in the zone.If I'm upset, I can find music that I relate to, knowing I'm not the only one thats felt that way. Or If I'm happy, I can listen to music that makes me feel even better. The headphones allow me to tune out whatever's bothering me and just feel good. Tuning out the bad stuff and taking in the good stuff helps me when I'm stressed or when I need that extra support. Music's always been there for me.
ReplyDeleteWinter is a very important month during the year for me and my family. Every since I could walk, my parents strapped skis onto my feet and it has stuck since. I love skiing and my life revolves around it during the winter time. During my first winter skiing, when I was 2 years old, I received a hand-knit hat from my grandmother to keep me warm. I loved the hat to death and wore it all the time. I always felt proud as a kid with it on and even tried showing it off to my friends! It symbolizes security in my mind. I always felt safe when it was on my head. Never was I scared to do anything with that hat. It also symbolizes my youth and all of the good memories it gave me. I have an image of me building a snow fort with my brother in the driveway. I was wearing that knitted hat and built up enough courage to take the first crawl through. The hat also represents my deceased grandmother. She was an inspirational woman who brought great happiness into my life. She taught me many life lessons and also made my childhood enjoyable. I will never lose that knitted hat. Although it doesn't fit me on the outside, it is still a part of me on the inside.
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