Timpview’s students submitted some wonderful Reflections art contest entries this year. Following is a sampling of some of our top entries that have already been sent on to Provo Council, together with their artist statements (top entries there will go to Region, State, and could even go to Nationals).

Carter Middleton in Photography: The Universe Experiencing Itself Looking up at the stars has always made me feel small, yet in a strange way also important. The far away galaxies and stars from millions or billions of light years away remind me I’m made of the same stuff as those stars. Our current understanding of the universe is that Earth is the only planet with life, so on a universal scale, a view of the stars is extremely rare. I’m merely a speck in the immensity and complexity of the cosmos, but I, like the stars, have my place. I matter because I see.

Elanor Smith in Literature: Blue Cars and Bicycles For most of my life, I couldn’t separate my self-worth from my piano abilities. I mistakenly believed that my musical skills (or lack thereof) determined my merit, my potential, and even my happiness. This piece shows my search for identity after I stopped playing piano competitively. As the story progresses, I realize that piano is not what defines me. I matter because of my ability to find beauty and meaning in seemingly insignificant things. Our talents and abilities do not limit our worth; instead, they give us a unique perspective through which we can see the world.

Lorraine Lindsay in Film: Meant to Become Bad things happen to good people. It is hard to know that we matter if nothing seems to care if we are miserable. I have often written to my grandmother to let these feelings out. She has lived a life just as remarkable as the next person, but in my eyes, she is an inspiration. I have realized that no one needs to have a tragedy free life to matter. I matter because my choices and hardships will build me to be the person I was meant to be.

Matthew James in Photography: Holding On In my picture, I capture one seed of a dandelion, which may seem insignificant. Similar to this seed are all of us, each a single person with seemingly little influence. Yet a single seed has great potential. From a single seed have come fields and forests. From a single person have come peoples and nations. From a single seed can come something beautiful. And from a single person can come the power to change permanently for the better. Just as a seed holds on, so can we. If only we’d realize that we matter.

Vivienne Rasmussen: You Say In her song “You say”, Lauren Daigle writes, “in you I find my worth”. This song is about knowing where your worth and self image comes from. As a religious person this song resonated deeply with me, because when I “look within” I could identify my flaws, but instead I choose to remember that my God determines my worth and potential. His love for me is what I try to use to improve my perspective of myself. What he sees in me is the only opinion I care about. That is where my inspiration for this piece came from.