"The goal is to connect with something old so it becomes new. Look and imagine." -Tharp

When I look at myself in the mirror, I see myself presently, at that instant moment in time. It is not a common habit to look at your reflection and see your past, present and future. However, photographs can tell you something more about yourself that you normally do not see on a typical day. They could have been a prediction of who you are now. They can show you who you once were. Photographs, unlike mirrors, are your individual past, present and future. They are bittersweet memories from every important aspect of our life, a birthday, a graduation or even just an overall happy time. Family photographs usually do not show the negative. They do not represent the arguing and miscommunication, they only show the beautiful and wonderful happy. That is why I love looking back from time to time at myself and at those I love to see how we’ve changed and grown throughout our lifetime.

            I decided that I would do Tharp’s exercise called “Mining for Memory in a Photograph” on pages 75-77. This exercise involved you choosing a picture from your past and talking about how it is a reflection of you and your future. I chose this picture of me from my Graduation from Pre-Kindergarten. This picture was the front page of my local newspaper following the graduation ceremony. The caption of the picture reads, “pondering the meaning of life.” Obviously, as a 4 year old girl I was not pondering the meaning of life. I was simply in fascination by the piece of paper that was just handed to me. This rolled up piece of paper with a ribbon on it meant I was now a “big girl” and could move onto Kindergarten. This picture symbolized my future. Ever since that early age I loved to learn. I never minded going to school while others dreaded it. I was never the smartest when it came to any particular subject but I always had a certain level of determination that kept me going. Even today, I have chosen higher education. I decided for myself that I wanted to continue on my education to be the most I could be. One day in the future, I will be looking down at my college diploma just as I looked at my Pre-K one. The only difference is that my college one will mean something much more significant. There is no part of this photograph that does not resemble my present self. Even my dress, which has sunflowers on its front, represents me today. It just so happens that sunflowers are my favorite flowers. My mother refers to me as “her sunshine” and makes sure that I always have a fresh bouquet in my room of them. Sunflowers represent happiness in my own life. They are the powerful connection between my mother and I. Their vibrant color and big petals are eccentric and lovely.

Overall, this photograph describes me very accurately. Although I was too young to “ponder the meaning of life” I am now old enough to understand this. I have a plan for my life and I have found meaning in it. Looking at this image I now have new motivation to continue on. It shows my curiosity that I have had for my whole life. It elicits the feeling of accomplishment. I have fulfilled my dream of higher education.