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GiftofRespect
Art&DialogueProject2013NewEnglandCenterforCivicLife
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TheboxIcreatedisdarkandtherearemanybrokenitemsonit.TheyrepresenthowtornIfeltafteracustomerdisrespectedme.Ialsopokednailsthroughtheboxtoshowthatdisrespectcanhurtothers.Thealuminumfoilsymbolizeshowonetreatsothersreflectsthekindofpersontheyare.Thestonesrepresentsthesaying“Sticksandstonesmaybreakmybones,butwordswillneverhurtme.”
Makingmyboxallowedmetoexpressmyfeelingsthroughart.AfterIwasdone,Ifeltlikeabigweightwasliftedoffmyshoulders.Theexperienceatworkalwaysbotheredme.NowIlookattheexperienceasalearningprocess.Itmademegrowasaperson,andcreatingthisboxmademerealizethis.
—CrystalColon
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Ifelthappyandcalmcreatingthisbox,itwasnicetobeinthewarmlakesideclassroomonthecoldfoggymorningandsincemystorywasspecialtome,itbroughtmeserenityandcomfort.IchoosepinkcamouflagetissuepaperbecausepinkisthecolorforbreastcancerandmyMomisasolideragainstthisdisease.TherearefourstrandsofgoldtissuepaperforthelonglineofstrongwomenIcomefrom.OnmyMom’sgoldlinearefourstones,representingmeandmythreesisters.Asilverstrandofropeacrossthebottomoftheboxisanodtomybestfriend’smom,whowelostfrombreastcancer.
Thecamouflagepaperalsosymbolizesthatthisisagreatemotionalinternalbattleandalargegold“I”onastonerepresentsthatourstoryisonlyoneofmillions.OnthesidesarethenamesofwomenIknowwhohavefoughtorbeenaffectedbythedisease.Theyaresisters,mothers,andfriends,andtheyinspiremeandgivemegreatstrength.
—JacklynTherrien
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Mystoryisaboutaphysicallyhandicappedboywhoslippedonapatchoficeandfell.Anotherboywentuptohimandofferedahand,butthendecidedtokickhiminthestomachinstead.IwishIhadbeenabletohelpthehandicappedboybutIwasincompleteshock,unabletoprocesswhatwashappening.Overcomingobstaclesinadifficultsituationisanopportunitytobecomeastrongperson.Thismessagecanapplytoanyonewhohaswitnessedotherpeoplegothroughatoughtime.
Rocksrepresentthatlifecansometimeshaveroughpatches.Apieceofstringlookslikeamazeandrepresentsthattheseroughpatchescansometimesbeconfusing.Thepiecesofthatpuzzlearestillnotputtogetherinmyhead,andIdonotbelievethattheyeverwillbe.
—LeahHoard
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Handsdown,mygiftofrespectgoestomyDad.MyfatherisacaptainintheArmyreserves.Atthebeginningofmyfreshmanyear,hewasdeployedtoKhost,Afghanistan,for18months.IwouldgetaphonecalleveryThursdaynightandsometimesitfeltlikehecouldfixarainydayjustbythesoundofhisvoice.OtherdaysIwouldn’tgetthatphonecallandIwouldjustsittherewaitingforthephonetoring.
Idon’thaveanytattoosonmybody,butifIdidIwouldgetatattoothathasthecaptainemblemwith“Capt.Kellough”onmyrightpeck.EverytimeIseesoldierIgladlyshaketheirhandandsay“thankyou.”Theygotohealandbacksowecanliveinpeace.
—DonnieKellough
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MybrotherJakeisasuperherotohisstudents.Thechildrenlookuptohimasateacherandafriend.Jakeis23yearsoldandteachesinacognitivelearningclassroom.AlthoughJakeisteachingtheclass,heislearningevenmorefromhisstudents.Thesechildrenshowothershowtoappreciatelife,behappy,andloveeveryone.
Jakedemonstratesrespectinhisclassroomeverydaytohisstudents.IrespectJakeandallthathedoesforhisstudents.Whengivenachance,childrenwithlearningdisabilitiescanaccomplishgreatthinks.Respectandpridemakethesepeopleactivemembersofsociety.
—NicoleGalewski
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Myboxiscoveredwithblackandwhitepaper.Thesezebralinesrepresenttheworldofblackandwhite.Theseashellsrepresenttranquility,butmixedalongwiththemarerandompuzzlepiecesthatdon’tbelongtogether.Thereisheavyandthickmetalchain...showingthatthereisalinedrawnandthatitcannotbebroken.
Myboxshowsmyjourneytoself‐respect;ajourneyoutofdisrespectanddiscrimination.Itvisuallyrepresentstheneedforpeaceandacceptanceinasocietywhereblackandwhitelinesaredrawn.Chainssymbolizeself‐baggageandhowthatweighsdownthevictim.Onesideisdisrespectandtheotherisalackofself‐respectandtheyearningtofitintoananimalisticsociety.Iwastryingtoexpresswhatdisrespectcandotoyou.
—PatienceTurkson
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WhenIwas11yearsoldthecoachoftheopposingteamusedunethicalpracticestogaintheupper‐advantage.Ourteamlostthegameandtheseason.Wemaintainedourcomposure,actedasprofessionals,and“tookthehighroad”inaterribleandheart‐breakingsituation.
Theblacklinesontheboxjumpout,especiallythethirdbaselinewheretheopposingteamwaslocated.Thatlinewaspurposefullydrawnina“crooked”manner.Thebuttonsrepresenta“circleoftrust”whichwasalsobroken.Greenducttaperepresentsthegrassandhowvividthedaywas.Mynameatthebottomisinsmall,adhesive“stickyletters”becauseIfeltnonexistent,irrelevant,anddisrespected.IwillsavemyboxforaslongasIlivetoshowmychildrenandtoremindmyself.Ihavelearnedtopositivelydealwithadversityandthat,unfortunately,everythingdoesnotalwaysgoaperson’sway.
—JustinJamesHopkins
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Thisboxtellsthestoryofacomplicatedrelationship.FormanyyearsIdancedwithagirlwhowasanon‐again/off‐againkindoffriend.
Theplacesonthetopthatintertwinerepresentwhenourfriendshipwasclose.Theareawherethepathsspreadapartrepresentstimewhenshedisrespectedmyfellowclassmates,ourinstructors,andme.Thepathscometogetheragaintoshowatimewhensheseemedtohavechanged.Attheendthepathsgotheirseparateways,justlikewhensheleftourstudioonbadterms.Theribbonsmirrorthefriendshipwehad.Ononesidethereisaspacesewntogethertoshowreconciliation,butontheoppositesidetheribbonisalmostcompletelysevered,whichishowsheleftthings.
—MarissaMoore
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Christinawasafreshmanatmyhighschool.LastMayshepassedawayinhersleep.Throughoutthistragedy,thefreshmenstayedstrong.Theytalkedabouthowtheyfeltaboutherpassing,andworkedthroughtheirdifficulttimes.
Theupside‐downicecreamconerepresentssomethingupsettingtoachild.Thebrokenclockrepresentshowsuddenlyyourworldcanchange.Theplayingcardsshowhowlifecansometimesnotbefair.TheYalekeyrepresentshowChristinacouldhavegrownuptobeaYalegraduateandthesnakecharmshowsthatsomethingcouldalwaysgowrong.Irepresentedthefreshmenwithchildlikeelementsandthecommunitywithadult‐likeelementstoshowhowdifficultitwasforthefreshmentoactlikeadults,buttheyseemedtodothisalmosteffortlessly.Theykeepheraliveandintheirheartsbytellingherstory.
—HaleyNelson
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MyboxrepresentshowIusedviolencetodemandrespectformeandmymother.Twohighschoolfemalescarelesslyandblatantlydisrespectedmymombycallinghernamesbecauseofhowshelookedduetochemoandradiationtreatments.Ilaterrealizedfrommymotherthatyoucannotcommandrespectfromothersjustbecausetheyfearyou;it’ssomethingthathastobeearnednottaken.
Ichosetogowithasmallerboxbecauseyoudon’tneedthebigobjectstodrawyouraudiencein;youcanusesmallerobjectstomakethemfocusongreatdetailsinyourstory.ThepinkcamopaperrepresentsBreastCancerAwareness;thepinkfuzzyheartshowsmyunconditionalloveformymom;theribbonisaconstantreminderthatweneedtofindacure;andthesilverchainshowsthatsheisasurvivorandafighterandbeatthisillness.
—SharyonWilliams
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Thisboxallowedmetoexpressmyfeelingsonrespectthroughusingmyownexperiences.ThoseexperiencesarewhatshapedmeasapersonandbydesigningthisboxIcouldshowmystorythroughfiguresandsymbols.Ienjoyedcreatingsomethingthathadmeaning.
AfterfinishingIhadinsightsregardingmybrother.TheautisticawarenesssymbolsmademefeelgoodaboutwhatIamdoing.IprintedoutablankautisticpuzzlepieceandputTanner’snameinit,torepresenthimasakidwithautism.Hemightbeautisticbuthehaschangedmylife,andcreatedagreatatmosphereforkidswithsimilardisabilities.ThankstowhatTannerhasgivenme,Iwilltrymybesttomakethisworldabetterplaceforkidswithautism.
—HunterNiles
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Respectissomewhatofanabstractconcept.Pinpointingtheexactmeaningisnearlyimpossible.Frommyexperiences,respectissomethingthatisearned,nothandedout,andbecauseofthisnoteverybodyearnsrespect.
Otherthanthegoalpoststhathelpmorerealisticallydisplayafootballfield,thereisnothingbutagreenfieldonmybox.Icreatedonlyafieldbecauseregardlessofeverythinggoingoninyourlife,thefieldiswhererespectwasearnedorgained.Itiswherepeoplerevealedtheirheartandcharacter.
—NicholasPark
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Respectiswhateveryoneshouldbetreatedwithallthetime.ThisisexactlywhatmyhighschooldidnotshowmewhenIwasill.IreceivedallF’sbecausetheydidn’tbelievethatIwassickandthisresultedinmedroppingout.
TheF’swritteninredsharpiesymbolizethegradesmyhighschoolgavemewhenIwassick.Inaddition,thestickersillustratethatIwentfromhavingA’storeceivingallF’s.Ialsousedblueandgreencoloredtapetomakeplus,minus,andequalssigntoshowthatmyexperiencerevolvedaroundschool.Finally,thewirethatIusedtosealthelidsymbolizeshowcloseIholdthisexperienceandhowithelpedmebecomethepersonIamtoday.
—JohnSzalwinski
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Myworkisaboutrespectbetweenbrotherandsister.Mysister,Jennifer,keptasecretaboutherhairbeingmessedaroundwith.Mysisteronlygavemehintsthatshewasbeingbullied,butshenevertoldme.
CreatingthisboxwasmoredifficultthanIthoughtitwouldbe.“AnhnEm”meansbrotherandsisterinVietnamese.Theboxhasblackandyellowribbons,whichrepresentsthelightanddarknessofthestory.Therearetwoofeachitemsonthebox.Thereisonethatisbiggerthantheother.Thebiggeronerepresentsmeandthesmallerrepresentsmysister.Thestarrepresentsthatmysisterisaspecialpersontome.Thematerialusedtoholdtheitemstogetheristheglue,whichrepresentsthestrongholdorbondbetweenus.
—BrandonNguyen
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IfeltasthoughIwaswalkingaroundwithaballandchainattachedtomyfoot.Thecardwithan8onitrepresentsmyluckynumber.Itisisrippedinhalfshowingthatmyluckisnomore.Thereisalovenotewiththewords“Iloveyou”onit.AgirlIhadstrongfeelingsforrippedmylovepoemsthatIhadwrittentoherintopiecesinfrontofmyface.TherustykeyrepresentsthekeytothefuturethatImustfindinordertoachievemytruehappiness.Lastbutnotleastistheteslacoilstandingperfectlyerectinthecenteroverlookingeverything.Itisasymbolbeingmorepowerfulthantherest.ItshowsthatIhavethepowertotakechargeofwhoIreallyamandknowingwhoIreallyamishalfthebattletobeinghappy.
—DevonAvery
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Startingwithablankcardboardboxcanbedifficult.AsIsiftedthroughtheimmenseamountsofmaterials,Ifoundthegray,gleamingribbon.Iusedthisribbontorepresentbraincancer.Ifoldedtheribbonintheshapeofatypicalcancerribbon.ThenIsetthechainupina“Z”figure,makingtheboxappearlocked.Theoveralluseofthecolorgrayrepresentsthecolorofbraincancer,whichmydearfriend,Sam,had.Tosome,grayisaveryneutralcolor.Itdoesn’ttakesides.
MyboxholdsthetypeofrespectSamandherfamilysharedwiththeworld.Thechainlocksmyboxandprotectsthiskindofrespectbecauseitisabeautifulthing.Thekeycanbeseenasthe“keytorespect.”ThestarrepresentsSam’ssoccerteam,theStarsofMassachusettsandthefactthatshewasastarinallaspectsoflife.
—SydneyStengel
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Five years ago my family moved from Florida to a small town in New Hampshire. I went from having a lot of close friends living nearby to none. The same day we moved in we met our neighbors and their son, Eli, was my first new friend. In middle school and high school, people complained about how they did not like him. It always annoyed me because it came from people who barely knew him.
At my family’s Christmas party last year, my aunt’s brother-in-law’s heart stopped. We all watched him go from being fine to dying in a matter of seconds. My friend ran next door to get his father, an EMT. During the whole situation Eli did what he could to help. Even though I never questioned why I was friends with him, that night made me respect him and appreciate being friends with him a whole lot more. —Andrew Toscano
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Lifegivessomekidschallengestheycannotgetthroughalone.TheMake‐A‐WishFoundationofVT&NHstrivestomaketheirdreamscometrue.IplayintheAll‐StarHockeyClassic,oneoftheirfundraisers.AtthegameIwasinterviewedbyareporterwhokeptinterruptingmewhenItriedtotellhimmybrotherwasmyreasonforplaying,nottherivalrybetweentwostates.
Goldhasalwaysseemedlikeacolorthatwouldrepresentrespect,asitisbrightandasgoldasthestarsintheskythatsymbolizedreamsandwishes.Thisgoldcanalsobeappliedtothebrightnessofthevideocamera,whichseemedtoglareatmeasIwasbeinginterviewed.
—JennaLancour
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Inevertrulyrespectedofficialsbecauseofhoweasyitwasforthemtocompletelychangetheoutcomeofagamewithonecall.Butmyfatherurgedmetolearnhowtoumpire.SinceIknewprettymucheverythingtherewastoknowaboutbaseball,Ihadsomeconfidencepriortoumpiringmyfirstgame.ButImadeafewterriblecallsandwasthemosthatedpersonintheMoosupLittleLeaguecomplexthatafternoon.
Thelargeplasticeyesrepresenthowmyeyeswereopenedtohowharditistobeanumpire.TheeyesalsorepresenthowblindIwasinmissingseveralobviouscalls.“Boo!!!”and“Yousuck!”representphrasescomingfromoutragedparents.Themustacherepresentsmywishtobeincognito.Irippedadollarinhalfinordertosymbolizehowlittleumpiresgetpaidforwhattheyendure.Puttingmyselfintheirshoesopenedupmyeyesandimpactedmybaseballcareersignificantly.NowIgivethemrespect,andtheygivemerespect.
—GageGriffin
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Toseeinterviewsonrespect
conductedby
FranklinPiercestudents
pleasevisit www.YouTube.com/user/HeatherTullio