Lined With Wonder

Lined With Wonder - Raphaella Bravo (Ridgewood High School, Eleventh Grade)

“I keep a close watch on this heart of mine

I keep my eyes wide open all the time.”

My fifth-grade music teacher played these lyrics and asked if anyone recognized the song. My hand shot up as everybody else looked around in confusion. “I Walk the Line by Johnny Cash” I said proudly. 

I had learned the song from my grandpa—Papa. One afternoon, we spent hours listening to music from his past as he explained the significance of each musician. I soaked up his knowledge while trying to moonwalk like Michael Jackson or picture myself balancing on a tightrope, the way I imagined Johnny Cash walking his metaphorical line. From as early as I can remember, our conversations have been filled with the wisdom Papa gained throughout his life. 

After school, we would sit together on the couch. I would open a trivia app on my iPad, but he would answer before I could finish reading the question. He didn’t just give the correct answer—he would explain why it was correct, weaving stories and history into each explanation. Our games were never about points; they were about curiosity. 

Papa inspires me to keep learning because he never stopped. He served in the military, worked as an engineer for NASA, and taught as a professor at FDU, all while pursuing his passion for photography. Each of his titles is a line that he chose to walk. Knowing this, I’ve grown up believing that life does not follow a single track. My curiosity branches in every direction, and I know I can pursue all of my dreams—individually or simultaneously. 

One of my earliest memories of us working together is from first grade, during my school’s science fair. Papa suggested we explore the Deflategate Scandal, the controversy over whether the Patriots had intentionally deflated footballs during the Super Bowl. Together, we tested how air pressure changes with temperature. I stood proudly by my project, explaining to Patriot critics that science proved it possible that they may not have cheated. Through this process, Papa taught me to ask. Ask why. Ask how. Ask again. Use knowledge not to accuse, but to understand. 

As I’ve grown older, I’ve started walking my own lines. Whether I am teaching children Hebrew at my Temple or helping to edit DECA papers before States, I have found that each experience opens a new door to learning—one more line to walk. From leading French Club discussions about Francophone culture to living in the Adirondacks for a week on an ALPS trip, every line I walk is rooted in curiosity and guided by the questions Papa has always encouraged me to ask: Why? How? What can I do? 

When Papa taught me “I Walk the Line,” I had no idea that those lyrics would shape how I live today. Keeping a close watch on my heart means staying aligned with what truly matters, even when the path is uncertain. For me, curiosity feels like the moon lighting up the night sky—sometimes dazzling, sometimes subtle, but always revealing something that would otherwise go unseen. I keep my eyes open to new opportunities and embrace the unexpected. Most of all, I remain endlessly curious, just like Papa. 

Today, I walk many lines. Between my passion for French, my love for animals, and my desire to understand people, I pursue a range of interests. I ask questions, connect stories, and seek out new perspectives. Each one draws a line of its own—and with my eyes open and my heart aware, I am ready to walk them.