My Goals

Portrait Explanation

Self Portrait

       In this portrait I wanted to portray who I want to be and what I want to accomplish by my senior year of high school and beyond that. The three items in this photograph each represent one of the many goals I have to reach, which is why they are hanging. The camera is not only to represent that I enjoy photography, but also that I want people to remember me. When you take a picture, you have that one moment and image, that you captured, to remember forever. I would like people to remember me like a moment in a picture. To represent my love for the arts, I have acrylic paint next to me. Also, I made it to portray what I want to succeed as an artist and person. I want to remain myself throughout high school, as well as my entire life. That's also why my facial expression and what I'm wearing is as it is. I'm usually a very simple person and want to stay like that and not try to be someone I'm really not. I have my glasses hanging above me because when you see glasses, you see eyes. Eyes, in my opinion, can contain a lot of information about a person. In other people's eyes, I want to be seen as a pure leader. That's also why I tried to create shadow behind me, to abstractly represent leadership.
       To accomplish these many goals I know I'll need to work very hard, and earn the respect of others. I found a quote in Girl With The Pearl Earring that I found very encouraging and it reminds me to put myself aside, and think of others and how they need help or someone to look up to. This quote is said as Griet is talking to her younger sister when they find Griet is going to be leaving to be a maid. She says, "...I don't want to leave. I have to... We need the money. We have nothing..." (Chevalier 8) This quote shows how strong Griet is, and I would like people to look at me the same way. I'm also going to work extremely hard to keep consistent good grades for a better education in the future so I can be a role model to others.
       At the same time I am working to fulfill these hopes, I want to remain a kind person. I don't want to try to be someone I'm not, either. I would love for people to remember me as a simple, nice, creative and inspirational person, whose footsteps they'd like to follow in. One goal that I want to achieve eventually is to be able to have a good job doing what I love. This would take place in the arts. It's hard to find a well paid profession in the arts, but I want to be an inspiration to others and find a way to make it work. "When I made my choice, the choice I knew I had to make, I set my feet carefully along the edge of the point and went the way it told me, walking steadily." (Chevalier 216) This quote made by Griet reminds me that no matter what happens or tries to stop me on my path to who I want to be, I won't recognize it. I'll keep working to become the person I want to be.