I said I’d do this…

These are the explainations of the objects in my book for the final project in Foundations.  I hope these shed some light on the otherwise random objects I’ve compiled—

Camera-est. 2007

In Fall 2007, I decided to establish a Fine Arts minor, focusing on Photography.  I have had a love for this form of art for many years, but have never worked with developing and enlarging in the darkroom.  This camera was given to me by my boyfriend’s father as something for me to use throughout the rest of my college career.

Backpack -est. 1998

This backpack has traveled with me from elementary, junior high, senior high, and now college.  I have always loved the color yellow and as a child, my mother believed that Jansport backpacks were given to humans by the grace of God and his understanding that most backpacks didn’t hold up beyond a year of being drug down the stairs of my Catholic elementary school.  Despite the zippers being faulty (but luckily, they come with two on each track) I have been able to utilize this backpack.  Although I sometimes substitute it out for other bags-more interesting, more colorful, and not of the backpack variety-it seems that I always return to the durability that I can rely on.  With its padded straps, many storage pockets, and bright yellow color, I have always found this to be something that can be counted on in my academic life.

Blankets-est. 1989

My blankets.  For those who know me, this would be the single identifying object that I still have within my possession.  Nothing has been able to come between me and them in my (nearly) 20 years.  I arrived home from the hospital wrapped in their delicate knit weave, wrapped as warmly as I still try to become now.  Although they have ripped, faded, and aged immensely, I still find a comfort in them that I have not been able to find from anything else.  They remind me of a less stressful time in my life, the safety and security of home, and my family.  I am often asked if I will give them up when I myself have children and I quickly answer with a definitive “no”, as I am convinced that I would steal them back from time to time.

Soy milk container-est. 2006

In Summer 2006, I decided that I would no longer eat red meat.  From there, my diet progressed; I slowly eliminated poultry and fish shortly after.  Now, living with my vegan boyfriend, I have realized that I barely consume any animal products or by-products.  Although my turn to vegetarianism was originally diet-motivated (I was looking to lose weight), it has now become focused on environmental awareness.  For me, Chocolate Silk perfectly represents my love affair with a vegetarian diet.  This is a treat that comes into my apartment once a week and is typically consumed within just a few hours of being purchased.

Ballet bag/shoes-est. 1995

I have never been athletic.  As a child, I attempted every sport-karate, little league, soccer, basketball, gymnastics-and failed miserably.  As an attempt to get me involved in something, my mother enrolled me for dance lessons at a local ballet studio.  Once a week, I took ballet, tap, and jazz lessons.  I have now been dancing for over ten years, and have been trained classically in ballet, tap, and Pointe ballet.  As a college student, I now participate in the campus dance organization and have branched out to other styles of dance.  This is something that has allowed me to grow in grace, patience, and discipline.

The Hoboken Chicken Emergency-est. 1992, 2005

After watching this film as an adult, I realized that it may not have been the cinematic masterpiece I once hailed it as, but nonetheless, it holds a special place in my heart.  This movie was first found during a trip to the local Blockbuster when I was a child.  My mother, a stay at home mom caring for me and my younger brother, often took us to find new movies to keep us occupied in the afternoons.  This became a staple in my house and finally, we purchased it.  After moving several times during my childhood, the tape became lost and I was unable to find it for many years.  Three Christmases ago, my best friend (and now boyfriend) bought it for me as a surprise gift.  I was thrilled to have it back in my life and constantly subject my friends to the 90 minute experience that is The Hoboken Chicken Emergency.

Seashell-est. 1999

When I was young, I often longed to go to the beach.  As my brother, sister, and myself finally grew older, my mother thought it would be great to take our annual camping trip to the Delaware shore instead of the campgrounds that we had grown very accustomed to.  The summer trip quickly became a family tradition, and each summer the four of us made the four hour and eleven minute journey to the Rehoboth Beach, Delaware area.  After years of staying at the same campground, it closed its gates and our family trip ended.  It has been seven years since I have been to the shores of Delaware but every time I visit the beach with friends, I recall the summers that I spent digging in the sand with my brother or riding bikes along dirt trails with my sister.  They were summers that I will never forget and always recall fondly.

Glasses-est. 1994

After years of squinting and thousands of headaches, my mother took me for an eye exam when I was in kindergarten.  At first glance, I felt extremely cool in my new specks.  After a few weeks, however, I quickly realized I was the only child in class with glasses and relegated them to my pencil box and continued squinting.  Three years later, my eye sight became so terrible that I had no other choice but to wear the glasses.  I am now legally blind in my left eye and becoming quite close in my right.  I wear contacts to correct my vision, but sometimes opt for the more classic black frames that I bought during high school.

Sandals-est. 2006

I found these sandals on sale in the winter of 2006.  They quickly became my favorite and I vowed to wear them every day during the summer of 2006.  The wear and tear soon overpowered the construction of leather and foam cores, and tears became evident in the suede soles.  This past spring, despite the holes, I wore them during my journey to India.  I photographed my feet several times, documenting the travels that the shoes had become such an important part of.  Although my mother and friends constantly begged me to get new shoes (and after being forced to purchase new ones) I still continued to wear my old ones until they broke.  Sadly, on September 17, they finally broke, leaving me to my new leather sandals.  I have decided to hold onto these as they became a huge part of my typical wardrobe and are an important souvenir of my trip last spring.

Jeans-est. 2002, 2006-2008

These jeans are not representative of a love of fashion or an obsession with denim; they instead are of various sizes, ranging from girls size 14 jeans to juniors size 2.  In the past seven years, I have struggled with my weight.  Entering junior high school, I weighed 140 pounds.  During the summer between seventh and eighth grade, I lowered my weight to 110 pounds.  While at summer camp that July, I saw several teachers who were afraid that I had become ill.  I soon balanced back out and became healthier.  As I progressed into high school, my battle with weight took a backseat to a busy academic and social life.  After entering college in 2006, I once again became obsessed with my body.  I lost weight rapidly; by the spring of 2007, I was 82 pounds.  I had other ailments that became apparent as a result of my disorder-irregular heartbeats, constant fatigue, hair loss, and change in my skin tone.  After seeing my mom at my dance recital, she decided that something would have to be done.  I moved home in May and, under the constant watch of my friends and family, began gaining weight.  By the following fall, I was 100 pounds and in much better health.  This year, under the recommendation of my doctor (and to the delight of my family), I have balanced out at 110 pounds.  The struggle with my weight has been something that I always fear and has been difficult for me to confront, but with the constant support of those close to me, I have been able to defeat my illness and maintain a healthier lifestyle.

Violin-est. 1999

I have always loved music and became involved with my local Philharmonic at a young age.  As soon as a strings program became available at my school, I begged my mother to allow me to join.  Since I was not involved in any athletic teams, she thought it would be a great opportunity to find an activity that I enjoyed.  At first, I was drawn to the cello, but because of my size, I was encouraged to instead try the violin.  I have been playing the violin for almost a decade; I have participated in school ensembles, pit orchestras, community symphonies, and university orchestras.  After moving to Glenside, I have not been playing nearly as often as I have in the past, but I hope to once again revive my love for music.

Mother-daughter necklace-est. 2007

I often hear people who describe their relationship with their mother with disdain.  I have honestly found my mother to be my best friend.  Growing up as the oldest child in a single-parent family, I often found myself in role of friend and supporter instead of daughter.  I have now found myself growing closer to my mother in the years since I moved out, looking to her for support in my life and relationships.  She has helped me in the worst times of my life and we have both succeeded in the face of adversity.  I look to her for love and compassion when others just do not seem to understand me.  She’s helped me grow into the young woman I am now and I appreciate her wisdom.  This necklace was my Christmas present to her last year, with my sister also receiving one.  We wear them as reminders of each other and that no matter where we live, we are always bound together.

Ruler-est. 1989

This ruler isn’t symbolic of a love of lines; instead, it symbolizes my height (or lack thereof).  As a child, I was always one of the tallest kids in my class.  This soon changes as many people hit their growth spurts in fifth or sixth grade.  I, instead, stopped growing, and leveled out at four feet, eleven inches in the fourth grade.  Since then, I have remained relatively the same size.  Although I’m the oldest of three, I am shadowed by my siblings, who are 5′10″ and 5′7″, respectively.  My size is typically the topic of jokes about my age-I’m often asked if I need a children’s menu when dining out with my parents.  While I may be small (and occasionally need a cushion to see over the driver’s seat), I have learned to embrace my size; children’s clothing is much more inexpensive!

Planner-est. 2006

I never carried a planner until I entered college.  In the past, I often looked to Post-It notes to organize my work schedule, the hectic life of extra-curricular activities, and upcoming test dates.  My planner is now filled to the brim with meeting times, project due dates, work hours, and the schedule of my boyfriend.  I often spend more than half my day on campus, where I’m involved in a hectic academic schedule paired with work and clubs.  I have tried to stay involved throughout my time in college, but often found that it means limited time for my self.  This can sometimes be a burden, but, I have found joy in participating in various organizations, such as For the Women, Ambassadors, and Knight Club.

Drumline shirt-est. 2003

Three weeks before the start of my Freshman year, I moved to a new high school.  As a way to meet new people, I thought it’d be great to join the high school marching band.  Since I only had a background in string instruments, my band director thought I would fit well in the drumline.  As I had never picked up a drum in my entire life, I was scared.  Before I knew it, I had a set of cymbals strapped to my wrist and I was learning to march.  My high school had a competitive marching band, performing weekly at different competitions around the state.  Band was not only an activity; it was where most of my friends were made.  Now, three years since I graduated, I have realized that the only friends I have kept in touch with were those made during my first few weeks at my new high school.  Band gave me an amazing outlet for my musical creativity and a chance to learn new things; by the end of my high school career, I had played bass drum, learned marimba, performed as a cymbalist, learned clarinet, and even served as the Colorguard captain my senior year.

Track shirt-est. 2006

As previously mentioned, I have no athletic talent.  I wasn’t surprised by the reaction I had when I told my friends that I was joining the track team for my senior year.  Many people were confused; my brother and sister laughed.  They had both been on for their entire high school careers-my brother was a distance runner and my sister ran hurdles.  I trained hard and by the end of the semester, came within three points of receiving a varsity letter.  The only thing that stood in my way was my last meet; I accidently led my entire relay team to the wrong side of the track, resulting in us missing the race.  Needless to say, I was embarrassed, but very much satisfied with the accomplishment of actually doing something that I didn’t think I could.  This was something that I did to prove to myself that I could succeed if I tried; even if it was something that many people didn’t believe could happen.

Graduation shirt-est. 2006

I entered high school in fall of 2003 and graduated in June 2006, in just under three years.  When I arrived at Berwick, I had been inspired to accelerate my high school career.  Throughout my schooling, I had been pushed beyond my grade level and had even attempted to skip a grade during elementary school.  After being turned down by my small catholic elementary school, I settled for what was available to me.  Once I realized that it would be possible for me to graduate high school in three years, I began my petitions.  I  had to write letters to school board officials, the superintendent, and high school leaders.  Many people opposed my idea and felt that I should not try to “grow up” sooner than I needed to.  I had been offered a chance to take full-time courses at a local university, but I knew in my heart that I wanted to begin at the university that I would graduate from.  After endless phone calls, letters, and even tears, I finally had my way.  I walked in my graduation as sixth in my class and as an honor graduate, achieving a 98.2 GPA.

Keys-est. 2002

My keys are symbolic of my independent life.  I have recently moved out and rent my own apartment.  I also have my car key-I drive a 1997 Subaru Outback that has become a very big part of my life since crashing my Jetta in 2005.  My keys are the lifeline to everything that is near and dear; I can’t get home without them, and I can’t travel anywhere if I misplace them.

Foot tattoo-est. 2007

I have an extreme fear of needles, so I wasn’t surprised when many people laughed when I said I was getting a tattoo.  My mother doubted me even after I sent her a photograph of my fresh ink.  The phrase, “Nothing is worth more than this day” was engraved on a bracelet that my mother gave me on my high school graduation day.  It was meant as something to inspire me and to constantly remind me to live for the moment.  The bracelet, however, was too big and I was never able to wear it.  I chose it as my first tattoo because of the connection I have with my mom and because I thought it would be something that I would love to carry with me every day of my life.

Chest tattoo-est. 2008

After having my first tattoo, I realized it would not be long until I had another.  I loved the idea of having a permanent work of art with me at all times.  After coming home from India in Spring 2008, I decided that I would get at tattoo to commemorate the trip that changed my life.  I have always been fascinated by peacocks, and while there, found numerous pictures of peacocks painted in a traditional manner.  After arriving back in Glenside, I had my friend compose a drawing using several parts of many drawings that I had photographed during my time in India.  This was then turned into my tattoo.  While I do not see it often, it reminds me of an amazing trip and the change that it brought into my life.