The sunny days draw closer. My parents' hard work paid off. I get to dream bigger. This reminds me of my childhood memories where my parents would work for my education, in turn for me to focus more on my studies. During this time, I produced my childhood dreams and imaginations. The field of weeds on the side of the freeway depicts freedom to move and be carefree.
Ever since I was young, I've always been hyperactive. My hobby and one of my favorite sports, running, feels to me like jogging through these weeds so that I can get to the top of the mountain ranges. I have set goals each time I climb up the stages of struggles. From the sunshine's warmth caressing my skin and the weeds pushing me to go far up the deep mountains of nature. The fenced up background symbolizes that I live secluded from how I was feeling back then in my childhood.
Now, I have to own up to expectations as a young adult and transition into being very responsible for myself, instead of my family. This isolation results in the loss of aspiration to come back to them because we "move on with our lives." Recently, I've been trying to get back to being carefree and healthily active. It's important because as I grow older, I will be experiencing sicknesses and taking careful measures.
Childhood Dreams
The sunny days draw closer. My parents' hard work paid off. I get to dream bigger. This reminds me of my childhood memories where my parents would work for my education, in turn for me to focus more on my studies. During this time, I produced my childhood dreams and imaginations. The field of weeds on the side of the freeway depicts freedom to move and be carefree.
Ever since I was young, I've always been hyperactive. My hobby and one of my favorite sports, running, feels to me like jogging through these weeds so that I can get to the top of the mountain ranges. I have set goals each time I climb up the stages of struggles. From the sunshine's warmth caressing my skin and the weeds pushing me to go far up the deep mountains of nature. The fenced up background symbolizes that I live secluded from how I was feeling back then in my childhood.
Now, I have to own up to expectations as a young adult and transition into being very responsible for myself, instead of my family. This isolation results in the loss of aspiration to come back to them because we "move on with our lives." Recently, I've been trying to get back to being carefree and healthily active. It's important because as I grow older, I will be experiencing sicknesses and taking careful measures.
The beach
Through the silhouettes we can see an example of a father and daughter, and two people in love. This picture represents the circle of life and the adventure it is.
Circle of Life
The beach
Through the silhouettes we can see an example of a father and daughter, and two people in love. This picture represents the circle of life and the adventure it is.
My class went on a hike. We took turns using a digital camera. This was my favorite photo because it shows my friend smiling and having fun. I had a good time with my class.
Class Adventure
My class went on a hike. We took turns using a digital camera. This was my favorite photo because it shows my friend smiling and having fun. I had a good time with my class.
When we were camping in Calico, we were next to a small cliff, and we had lots of fun trying to climb it. We pretended it was a big, huge rock.
Climbing a Huge Rock
When we were camping in Calico, we were next to a small cliff, and we had lots of fun trying to climb it. We pretended it was a big, huge rock.
This photograph relates to this year's contest theme of "Adventure," because it was truly a new adventure I embarked on when I took this trip to Hawaii for a week! I had new and different experiences. I saw new sights, and got to go do new things and tried new foods and Hawaii's specialties! I went bodyboarding, got onto a tour bus and saw the majority of Honolulu, went to flea markets and bought stuff, I went swimming in a really famous ocean and saw some behind-the-scenes movie sets on the tour guide of Honolulu! I went to see a volcano and geysers! I also got to go see Hilo and see the Merrie Monarch Festival! Tons of floats and people dancing and just having a good time while in Hilo! I also got to go sightseeing for animals, and overall so much more I did a whole bunch of new things in a week in Hawaii and I'm truly grateful I got to experience this with family it was super fun and I hope we can go again sometimes!
Coastline of Waimānalo
This photograph relates to this year's contest theme of "Adventure," because it was truly a new adventure I embarked on when I took this trip to Hawaii for a week! I had new and different experiences. I saw new sights, and got to go do new things and tried new foods and Hawaii's specialties! I went bodyboarding, got onto a tour bus and saw the majority of Honolulu, went to flea markets and bought stuff, I went swimming in a really famous ocean and saw some behind-the-scenes movie sets on the tour guide of Honolulu! I went to see a volcano and geysers! I also got to go see Hilo and see the Merrie Monarch Festival! Tons of floats and people dancing and just having a good time while in Hilo! I also got to go sightseeing for animals, and overall so much more I did a whole bunch of new things in a week in Hawaii and I'm truly grateful I got to experience this with family it was super fun and I hope we can go again sometimes!
Adventure is a thrill of life that all people have and don't recognize. Every day we have our own adventure, whether it be work related or school related or even something people will actually consider an adventure. As of a year ago, our journalism class went on a trip to the Coit tower. If you're not familiar, it is 234 steps to the top of a white circular tall building for the view of San Francisco. While debating to go all the way up the stairs when you don't know if it will be worth it at all, but you do it anyway for the thrill and so one day you can say you walked up that many stairs. It was a struggle trying to keep a steady pace up the stairs but when you reach the white tall tower with the view of the cityscape and all the different life adventures that could be
happening below you as you stand tall admiring all the possible adventures in life.
Coit's View of the World
Adventure is a thrill of life that all people have and don't recognize. Every day we have our own adventure, whether it be work related or school related or even something people will actually consider an adventure. As of a year ago, our journalism class went on a trip to the Coit tower. If you're not familiar, it is 234 steps to the top of a white circular tall building for the view of San Francisco. While debating to go all the way up the stairs when you don't know if it will be worth it at all, but you do it anyway for the thrill and so one day you can say you walked up that many stairs. It was a struggle trying to keep a steady pace up the stairs but when you reach the white tall tower with the view of the cityscape and all the different life adventures that could be
happening below you as you stand tall admiring all the possible adventures in life.
My 18 year old son passed away suddenly in 2023. He was a multidisciplinary artist. In his journals and sketchbooks, there were two repeating themes, youth mental health and his words, "I just want my work out there, I want to connect with people. Art makes me feel not alone, and that is important for everyone."
Each day since his passing, I have taken a photo of his work out into the world. This photo on an adventure to the first beach I took him to as a baby. Santa Monica. I brought his original character sculpture. It is a moment to pause the world without him and feel his presence in it..
Cole Swings
My 18 year old son passed away suddenly in 2023. He was a multidisciplinary artist. In his journals and sketchbooks, there were two repeating themes, youth mental health and his words, "I just want my work out there, I want to connect with people. Art makes me feel not alone, and that is important for everyone."
Each day since his passing, I have taken a photo of his work out into the world. This photo on an adventure to the first beach I took him to as a baby. Santa Monica. I brought his original character sculpture. It is a moment to pause the world without him and feel his presence in it..
Having a pet isn't just having a companion, it's also having an adventure, with that companion. The cat to the left is Jiji and the cat to the right is Queenie.
Companions
Having a pet isn't just having a companion, it's also having an adventure, with that companion. The cat to the left is Jiji and the cat to the right is Queenie.
Composing music might not immediately enter the mind when thinking of an adventure, yet the journey of composing is truly remarkable. A blank score can be quite daunting. Where should I start? What notes should I press? How should I express myself? The vast realms of possibilities just beg to be explored--melodies, harmonies, and themes waiting to be brought to life. Should I transport the listeners to a quiet field, the highest mountain, or a peaceful lake? Does the music represent a thunderstorm or small drops of rain? Music is an adventure of the imagination.
Composing My Thoughts
Composing music might not immediately enter the mind when thinking of an adventure, yet the journey of composing is truly remarkable. A blank score can be quite daunting. Where should I start? What notes should I press? How should I express myself? The vast realms of possibilities just beg to be explored--melodies, harmonies, and themes waiting to be brought to life. Should I transport the listeners to a quiet field, the highest mountain, or a peaceful lake? Does the music represent a thunderstorm or small drops of rain? Music is an adventure of the imagination.
This photo was taken in the Sierra Nevada mountains on the road to a nearby hiking trail. The cows had been allowed to roam the mountainside and had been following the road for a while. As they hiked along, side by side, I realized that they resembled a group of friends enjoying nature together and took the picture to highlight part of their adventure. California is well-known for its warm beaches and beautiful weather, but I've always loved exploring the mountains and discovering the variety of plants and animals that live there. It's fun to see that even the cows enjoy the mountains too!
Cow Pals
This photo was taken in the Sierra Nevada mountains on the road to a nearby hiking trail. The cows had been allowed to roam the mountainside and had been following the road for a while. As they hiked along, side by side, I realized that they resembled a group of friends enjoying nature together and took the picture to highlight part of their adventure. California is well-known for its warm beaches and beautiful weather, but I've always loved exploring the mountains and discovering the variety of plants and animals that live there. It's fun to see that even the cows enjoy the mountains too!
My family forced me to go on a cruise ship in early August to a different country. I have been scared of the ocean ever since I was little so I was very on edge and hesitant the whole trip. During the cruise ship adventure, I saw almost the same ship as ours in the distance. It reminded me that on a cruise ship, you are supposed to have fun with your family; so I took this photo. Although I was scared to try something new I ended up enjoying it in the end.
Cruise Ship Adventure
My family forced me to go on a cruise ship in early August to a different country. I have been scared of the ocean ever since I was little so I was very on edge and hesitant the whole trip. During the cruise ship adventure, I saw almost the same ship as ours in the distance. It reminded me that on a cruise ship, you are supposed to have fun with your family; so I took this photo. Although I was scared to try something new I ended up enjoying it in the end.
Cruisin’
Elias M
Student
Los Angeles
2024
Honorable Mention
Tying a car to the theme of “Adventure” is not as simple or obvious as a road trip or a trip to the mall. A car, like other vehicles, represents transportation and mobility. However, unlike other vehicles such as airplanes, a car allows someone to take in the full scenery and absorb the beauty and uniqueness of the areas passing by, not just the final destination. A car offers freedom and flexibility, two vital aspects needed to create and form identity. It is important not to discard or blur out what happens along the way because that’s what an adventure is truly about, right? It is about the journey and events that take place, mold, and change the one embarking on the adventure, for better or for worse.
Cruisin’
Tying a car to the theme of “Adventure” is not as simple or obvious as a road trip or a trip to the mall. A car, like other vehicles, represents transportation and mobility. However, unlike other vehicles such as airplanes, a car allows someone to take in the full scenery and absorb the beauty and uniqueness of the areas passing by, not just the final destination. A car offers freedom and flexibility, two vital aspects needed to create and form identity. It is important not to discard or blur out what happens along the way because that’s what an adventure is truly about, right? It is about the journey and events that take place, mold, and change the one embarking on the adventure, for better or for worse.