Passing On the Love

I remember a time when I was very ill, and I didn't have anyone to depend on except my mother. Her care reminded me that she is always there when I need her which is different from some other parents who ignore their children's needs and let the world raise them. My mother is always sacrificing in some way so that she can make sure that I am o.k.

I respect my mother's bountiful love in a way you couldn't imagine. I adore her so much in virtue of her effort of taking care of her only son.

I've heard great things about my grandmother Ruby and how she took care of her kids, how she worked hard and lived up to her responsibilities. I think my grandmother Ruby instilled the same work ethic and nurturing instinct in my mother. I can see it clearly in my mother. I hope my future wife will have this same determination, because I want the same treatment for my kids so that it can be instilled in them also.

(Yasene Cummings, 11th Grade)

Inspiration

This blog was inspired by the sudden death of the former director of our program, Dr. Shirley Arnold, a kind and compassionate woman dedicated to opening the doors of higher education to young people. Her passing inspired me to create a unit for students devoted to the exploration of legacies, lasting impressions and the different ways that people pay homage.

Over the winter and up to now, we have read about, discussed and written about a number of religious and secular practices—from Dia de los Muertos, the construction of altars (ofrendas) as well as the building of monuments such as the Vietnam War Memorial and the footprints in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood and more. We have also explored the ways that experiences of the past create much of the structure of the lives we are living today.

I'd planned for the discussions to culminate in the building of an altar near Dr. Arnold’s former office; in lieu of that we have constructed this blog. Although the altar did not come to fruition, the main idea here (probably the most important one) is that new life springs from those things that have passed on.

(Jené Watson)