Rough Draft: Symbols

Certain experiences and education shape the development of every individual, morally, intellectually, and physically. These different traits construct a personality unique to whom they belong. Throughout the course of my lifetime, I have discovered a handful of features of my personality that stand out from the others. Only a few of these can properly be associated with symbols and a story.

Toys have a strong reputation and presence in the life of children. A wide variety of cars, dolls, and blocks keep the young population occupied and satisfied. Stuffed animals have always compromised a significant portion of the market; their soft, comforting appearance looks promising in the eyes of parents. As a child, I was very fond of these toys and often considered them to be a flexible version of Legos. Even though my plush animals were simply a shadow of my Lego collection, I still valued their function as toys. I spent a number of days fiddling with the animals, creating my own scenes and feeding my imagination.

Looking back, I can now easily relate my shy personality to one of my favorite stuffed animals, the turtle. Socializing with other students was a difficult process; only a handful of words came to thought after scraping the boundaries of my mind. For a while, my head was in the shell, protected from the fear of humiliation and indignity. However, as I continued to force out words, I became familiar with people and words came easily to my lips – I had managed to poke my head out of the shell. Since then, my timidity has, for the most part, diminished, and is slightly reflected in my personality.

During my transition from a young child to a boy, technology was a growing focus amongst the community; commercials enthusiastically advertised the arrival of the newest, most advanced device around. It never sparked my interest until I got a phone. It was an LG Vu, an old phone, but a phone nonetheless. At its prime, the company boasted about a number of features we would consider basic today. Despite the fact that it functioned at the bare minimum, I enjoyed the idea of having such a device.

Before I knew it, I had fully adapted to technology. Physical play became virtual play – writing on paper became typing on computer. Education began incorporating the usage of computers into their activities and lessons. The entire world around me had become captivated by technology, bound by its multitude of functions. The dinosaur of a phone had pioneered my passion for science and technology and dramatically changed the course of my life.

Unlike the small, mysterious electronic box which allowed nearly telepathic communication, school never appealed to me as a child. Countless hours of work with no visible outcome convinced me it was just a chore. I was losing interest and my grades were paying the price. However, in seventh grade, upon receiving a new backpack, I decided to focus on my future.  Homework was no longer for my parents or teachers, but for myself; I understood that my actions at school affected my entire life as a whole. Both my mindset and attitude shifted from play-oriented to work-oriented. Education was going to drive my pursuit to a happy, successful life.

To this day, I still use that backpack for its basic uses, to carry my books. However, I quickly came to the realization I was carrying not only the weight of my class materials, but the weight of my future as well. It represents the moment of my epiphany and newly developed mindset towards my education. Within a matter of weeks, schooling became one significant priority in my life and was forever engraved into my personality.

These three traits are clearly visible in my personality and reflected in my behavior. The plush turtle, old phone, and backpack were all accompanied by stories that, in some way, affected my life. Even today, the effects of those stories are seen in my communication skills, interest in technology, and concern for education.