To open up, I would like to say that each one of these essay prompts ignited a type of creativity in me that I thought did not exist. As I was writing this portfolio, I was continuously told to look at my writing less as an essay, and more as creative writing. Being warned to leave out any dramatic or overly academic writing to ensure all of the thoughts and ideas were clear.. In the end I was pleasantly surprised on how this came together. Typically I am one of those people who writes at home, when I have something troubling on my mind or when I need to work through a problem. But this writing was different, it encouraged me to see things from the other side of the spectrum, and it allowed me to write more creatively, and even put in real life moments to make my writing more relate-able. I didn’t feel like I was writing because I had to anymore, I was writing because I enjoy the process of thinking abstractly.
Throughout this portfolio, you will find a set of writings that include different aspects of my life. Aspects that describe the unfamiliar familiarity to each and every place, person, and photograph that I've come across. As well as how the hatred that can turn into love, and the upbringing of finding empathy in life. You, the reader will come to discover a similar conversation between all these writings.
In the first piece I will tell you about my life and the mask I wear everyday. The things that I try to avoid speaking about when talking to the public. My deepest mindsets and most embarrassing actions. Though I do not give you every last detail of my life, in the writing I give you small glimpses into how I behave, how I deal with struggles, and most importantly the mask I put on for the people around me to see. In my second piece, about Abdon, I was able to discover so many new things about someone I thought I knew fairly well. Allowing you to better understand the importance of his father in his life and how their relationship has shaped him into the man he is today. For place of mind I focused on the pattern of my life, and how I often times forget to take a moment to absorb all of the finer things in life. Like small moments that pass with my mother, father, and the thoughts I have alone about my future goals and ambitions. The fourth entry about Otto takes you back to Nazi-Germany, throwing Otto into the conformation to familiar and societal views, to later on cause him to be apart of monstrosities of the Holocaust. As well as how he is able to change and overcome it. And finally, the last piece on food insecurity in the American school system. How it is failing to provide basic breakfast and lunches to its students. As well as the negative effects of food insecurity brought to light; causing children to be sluggish, unfocused, and overall lack the motivation to perform well academically. Sometimes people can’t see these patterns in their own lives. Do you wear a mask to those around you? Do you know everyone you come across? Do you get caught up with life, or do you slow down and enjoy the little things? Do you think people are capable of overcoming hate? Do you think you can do a small action to better the lives of strangers? Many people do not have the answers to the questions, select few do. Those who do can break the cycle; in their own actions, maybe even the world, and grow as people.
All in all, with all of the writing presented throughout this portfolio I want you to be able to gain a little insight and expand your mind to the other side of the spectrum. Hopefully while reading the written work I have presented to you, you will gain knowledge of not only my life, but the lives of others, places, and different aspects of creativity all around. Alongside the writing you will be able to see the multimedia parts of this portfolio that help strengthen the main aspect of the writing. With each and every piece you will discover photographs, videos, and interviews. I hope you enjoy all of the written work presented within this portfolio, and the many other aspects of media used as well. Especially my own photography, which I believe helped greatly throughout the portfolio, my works cited which allowed me to convey a story accurately and believably, and my writing itself, which continues to get better every single day.