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This picture I took was on the day I went on a school trip with my show choir to Disneyland California Adventure. I was accompanied by my favorite choir friends, and the sun was setting as we began to exit the park and meet back up with the rest of the choir. I specifically bought this set of lollipops with the aim of setting up a beautiful photo.
As I was walking towards the meeting spot, I stopped by the monorail and found the perfect spot to take a photo. It took several tries, but I managed to get some lovely shots.
The photo reminds me of a simpler time, where I didn't have to worry about deciding where to go to college or figuring out what my career might be. It gives me fond memories, stirring up warm fuzzy feelings of when we weren't in a pandemic, and I was just an eighth-grader going through life without a care in the world.
I sometimes envy my younger self and her nonchalance. Nowadays, I'm constantly reminded of the hardships in life, and how things won't get easier just because I'm getting older.
Nevertheless, this picture transports me back to that time, where the oranges and yellows mixed in the sky, illuminating the beautiful day that, sadly, was ending.
Obviously, I am quite proud of this gorgeous photo, but its appearance isn't the only thing that's inspiring.
The memories that it holds for me serve as a remnant of the ambitious, starry-eyed girl who saw no limits to her dreams.
With this photo, I want to create my own worlds, just as Walt Disney did, and motivate others to do the same.
And just as Mickey Mouse represents compassion, I desire to help others and let them glimpse and experience the magic that I've received from many others in my life.
Overall, it is with this singular photo that I'm able to go back in time, remember my ambitions, and remember to always choose compassion above anything else. That is why this photo holds a special place in my heart: because I'm able to undergo a rush of nostalgia, all in the same heartbeat as the urge to want to better myself as a person.
