To me this image represents a new beginning.
When I was a freshman, the big tortoise was as small as the tortoise in the picture. The big tortoise has grown so much, it is like the tortoise has grown with my senior class throughout these four years. The small tortoise will now grow with the present freshmen class and it is crazy to believe that we are seniors now. The small tortoise is a symbol for the younger classes who will be the new leaders once my senior class has left and gone to college. I chose this title for the image because Drag is the name of the little tortoise. This is his name because he cannot walk using his back two legs and they just drag behind him as he walks with his front two feet. I chose this image because I thought that the small tortoise was so cute and there was great symbolism behind his presence in our school.
From the message or story behind this photo is that Brother Jack got a new tortoise. We have had the big tortoise for about 3 years and it is a member of the San Miguel Family. The new tortoise is still a baby and nobody wanted to buy him because his back two legs do not work. Brother Jack got him of course because he knew that the students at San Miguel would care for the tortoise just like they do for the big tortoise. This story taught me a very meaningful lesson, which was to always be open to anyone despite what they look like. This tortoise was different from other tortoises because he can’t walk with his back legs, and the students at San Miguel would not treat him any differently because of the way that he looks. The San Miguel community is very open to absolutely everyone and the way that a person looks does not define who they are as a person or animal. It makes me very grateful to be part of a community that is so accepting and loving towards anyone despite their differences.
Alyssa A
Artist Photography
Class of 2022
