Graffiti Wall Author's Statement

In my graffiti wall, I put a fence around the outside edges to represent borders. Borders were an important part of this class because we learned about how big of an impact the place a person lives influences how they live their life. The sacrifices that people will make to move somewhere else to have a better life are amazing. People would rather risk their lives to cross borders and try to make a better life for themselves, even if it is an extremely dangerous feat.

            I also have pictures of many different families on my graffiti wall. We talked a lot about how families have a big impact on our personal identities. Families can come in many forms. Some people have two parents, some have one, and some have two of the same sex. Some families live with other generations or extended families. Families can also take on different forms in different situations. For example, in A Long Way Gone, the boy had many different families throughout the book. As his circumstances changed, so did the people who he considered family.

            There is a picture of a little boy having a great time, then a gun, then a sad man. This represents the hardships of war, and how it ages people. When children have to fight for their lives, it makes them grow up and mature very quickly. War changes people, and people do things that they would not do under other circumstances. I picked a picture of a sad man because it represents the memories that linger. The images and events that are lived through are hard to forget, and can weigh on a person.

            The last picture I have is of the world with people all around it holding hands. This represents the different cultures of the world. That was a big topic that we discussed, and was recurring. I have this picture in the center because it is made up of all of the other impacts. A person’s culture is influenced by their family, where they live and the limitations and barriers of that place. Whether a person is living is a peaceful time or a time filled with peace can also impact their culture.