NicoleBartley

Nicole Bartley

March 8th 2009

REFLECTION

Reflection: Day 2

So today we went to the musem, The Frist Center. I don’t see how visiting this museum was helping anybody. We looked at a bunch of pretty pictures, and I guess we were left with trying to figure out the feelings behind the art. Again, I don’t see how this is helping anybody. I don’t see why they would have this ‘Safe Haven’ exhibit. Whats the purpose for it? To show off how great some people can take pictures? To show off how easy it is? Is it an advertisment? “So easy, a homless person can do it!” Added with a big fake smile at the end? I asked my roomates this, and they told me it was to see their point of view, and to give them the chance to do something yadda yadda yadda. My question, or thought, Why give them a camera? Why not give them training in a field that could make them money and get them back on their feet? Ok, pictures and art are a good way to express themselves, but how does expressing yourself make you money? How does that give you a home, and put food on the table?

The pictures had descriptions, the only one I felt worth reading was the picture of a 14-year-old named Benjamin. It was a picture of him in his Air Force JROTC uniform. He said he wanted to join the military. That’s a kid after my own heart right there. Wanting to do something productive with his life, and even better something involving the military, is what I like to see. It’s what I plan to do in the next 2 years as well.

So I was told that in these reflections we have to write a good story, and a bad story about the day. The picture of Benjamin can be the good story. My bad story, well, theres a lot of them. I suppose the whole day was bad. I guess my bad story can be how I don’t feel like we are doing anything here by going to museums. I’m pretty sure I signed up to help out, work at homeless shelters, and soup kitchens. It’s what I do back home at the Atlantic City Rescue Mission. I don’t understand why it isnt the same here. Sure, it was a nice get-away I guess, but I came here to work. That’s what I want to be doing. That’s what we should have been doing.