It’s more than self expression, it’s your way of life

People have different forms of self expression. Some do music, while others express themselves through their outward appearance through hair and piercings. A person's culture as well can be a huge influence on what they enjoy. Life is adventurous, it leads people through different tunnels and everyone can have a different hobby or interest, and it’s what makes us human.

Photo credit: Eric Saldana

I interviewed some individuals of certain talents and asked “How do you express yourself” as well as “Why does this form of self expression work for you?.” Ryan Korolczuck is a teenager from Polish immigrant parents who found his passion for music in high school. Playing the trumpet he says “Music is different from other forms of expression, it's universal to everyone and anyone can connect to it.” Being friends for a decade, seeing Ryan continue to practice music as his form of self expression, as well as honoring his former music teacher who lent the silver trumpet he now plays, shows his maturity and passion. “I’d say the trumpet is more than a hobby, it's a way of life. Sure I won’t become a full time musician, but that doesn't mean I can’t make it an integral part of my life.” Many times, arts and music aren’t funded nearly as much as compared to athletics, so seeing this talent bloom despite this is inspiring.

A Forsyth Satellite teacher, Jvon, expresses himself through body modifications like tattoos and piercings. “My anime tattoos and my nose piercings are just a glimpse into my identity, but it’s who I am and how I express myself.”

Photo credit: Eric Saldana

For myself, I do photography and want to get into fashion more, ever since my sophomore year. Music as well is a big part of my self expression, but photography and fashion have gotten me into a lot of opportunities and make me want to establish a possible career in a similar lane. Marc Riboud, a French photographer, once said, “Taking pictures is savoring life intensely every hundredth of a second,” and he lived a life that sums up my ideology and mindset as I take photos. He traveled throughout the East, photographing his experiences in India, China, Japan and was one of the only photographers who covered both South and North Vietnam in the 1960’s.

People may confuse their talents with their personal escapes. Marc Riboud was originally an engineer for the Ecole Centrale in Lyon, but for a much longer time was exposed to photography in his early teen years and later pursued it as his career. In difficult times, we often find ways to express ourselves. Some people like Marc Riboud make it their career, people like Ryan make it part of their routine and lifestyle.