Then and Now: The Now
Reflecting on my Journey
As I get ready to graduate with my degree in graphic design, I find myself reflecting on the time I’ve spent at Southeast Missouri State University. The ‘Now’ piece I contributed to the ‘Then and Now’ exhibition at Catapult Creative House is something I created to reflect on that journey and ask myself the question that’s been on my mind as I look toward the future.
The Design
In this current chapter of my life, and with the premise of the exhibit being to show one piece from the start of your academic career and one from the end, I wanted to create a piece that represented how I was feeling about the future at the time of graduation. The background of the piece features a slightly distorted silhouette, with the words: “Are you what you want to be?” in front. This has been the question on my mind as I think about my future and what I want to be after graduation. Did I make the right choice with my major, and what does the future hold for me?
Alongside this big question are verses from two powerful poems – “Invictus” by William Ernest Henry and “The Will to Win” by Berton Braley. The line “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul” from “Invictus” stands as a reminder to take my future in my own hands. I am the only one who can decide what I want to be, and I am in control of my future. Complementing this declaration of autonomy is an excerpt from “The Will to Win” by Berton Braley, which talks about chasing your dreams and going after what you want, which represents how I feel at this point in my academic career.
What This Piece Means To Me
In essence, my contribution to the exhibition encapsulates a pivotal moment in my life – a reflection on the past, an exploration of the present, and a contemplation of the future. As I navigate the uncharted waters beyond school, I am reminded that the journey of self-discovery is a continuous process, and this piece serves as a reminder that I can be whatever I want to in life as I ask myself the question, “Are you what you want to be?”