Portfolio: Hallmarks

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Hallmark One

The artifact chosen for Hallmark One is a photograph that I took when I went to church.There is a great significance with the photograph because I have not attended mass in about four years. While I was there, it brought back memories of when I used to go with my family every Sunday morning. It is a great reminder that dedicating one's time is important to one's faith.

Hallmark One emphasizes the importance of our commitment to God. The photograph shows the dedication of many students and other members. Because the large majority of the members were college students, it represented how firm believers do not lose sight of their spiritual beliefs, even with the amounts of influence that is directed at younger generations. Throughout our spiritual lives, we practice the word of God, whether it be by going to Church, or simply helping one another when in need.

Hallmark Two

The artifact chosen for Hallmark Two is a brochure from a Keynote Event, A Brave Heart. This brochure is significant to me because it is a great reminder of the experience of the event. During the event, I watched A Brave Heart which tells the story of Lizzie Velasquez's struggle with being bullied for having an unknown disease. After the film, Lizzie came to the stage and gave a speech about how unique each individual is. I have seen powerful motivation videos before, but when I was able to see her in person it made everything seem so "real".

Hallmark Two present the message that people should honor the dignity and sacredness of each person. Lizzie Velasquez is a motivational speaker and activist in the anti-bullying campaign. She encourages people from around the country to respect each individual, despite how "different" they may seem. She is constantly dedicating her time to lobby for an anti-bullying bill that is currently pending in Congress.

Hallmark Three

Though it is just a simple pamphlet, it is significant to me because it provides useful information for a situation I may encounter one day. It describes some of the main signs of how to tell if a child if being trafficked. It also provides the hotline to call or text if there may be a potential case. It is very concerning how common this occurs in multiple areas, even in Belmont.

The event clearly embodied the message of Hallmark Three, to education for and act on behalf of justice and peace in the world. Representatives from organizations, such as UNICEF USA, came to inform students and other attendees about the significant dangers that anyone could come across, but specifically young children. The speakers emphasized to take a course in action. This act did not have to be drastic, but as simple as watching out for any of the warning signs. There were other events later on in the week that portrayed the same information, but I was not able to attend them. Instead, I told friends about the events and encouraged them to go. It was a very memorable teaching experience that changed the way I viewed certain issues.

Hallmark Four

The artifacts chosen for Hallmark Four are all the informational flyers I obtained at the Volunteer Fair that occurred at NDNU. These flyers are significant because they presented me with multiple opportunities. Normally, I see volunteering opportunities that do not peak my interests; however, these ones did. They had volunteer options, such as working at the Marine Science Institute, that showed that volunteering can be explored in many fields. It encouraged me to volunteer more.

Hallmark Four proclaims that people should commit themselves to community service. These flyers gave many students awareness of opportunities to work for a field that suits their strengths. Within each of these events, there is an academic aspect that is incorporated into the job.

Hallmark Five

The artifact I chose for Hallmark Five is a screenshot from a video my roommate took of me. I had just gotten off a sailboat with a group of children at the Treasure Island event. This photograph is a significant reminder of the wonderful experience I had. Not only did I get to sail for the first time, I got to experience the children's first time as well.

Hallmark Five embraces the gift of diversity. At Treasure Island, we were aware that we would be mentoring a diverse group of children; however, I did not reflect on this thought until I was on the boat. The group of girls I went with were all unique in their own way. Whenever one told a story, the others would share ones that were similar and it was possible to see all their different backgrounds. When we had to go indoors to work on the next activity, it was evident how differently each of them learned.

Hallmark Six

This artifact I have chosen is the playbill from my very first production at NDNU. It is significant because it was the first time I was not performing in the show; instead, I was the assistant stage manager (asm). As the asm, I had to be there for every rehearsal, write down blocking, read lines, step in whenever an actor was missing, and had more responsibilities. While it was stressful in the beginning, I discovered how much I enjoyed being apart of the tech crew.

The experience of being in the production as a technician serves the message of Hallmark Six. I had established many new friendships with students while working in the show. Each of them were very helpful and insightful about the program. My teachers, who were also the director, technical designer, and lighting designer, create hands-on learning experience. One part of my responsibilities were to participate in building the set. I have never had to do such a task before, but all the students and teachers were willing to teach me how to perform the task. Another factor was the comforting environment that the theatre held. If any of the actors of technicians were having difficulties in regards to the production or personal life, our director would comfort them. The production was an educational experience as well as an opportunity to establish friendships.

Hallmark Seven

This artifact is a photograph of my friends and I studying for finals. While the actual studying was stressful, it became enjoyable because I was with them. They were able to help me with my essays and I was able to provide whatever help they needed with their work. Our bond has grown stronger since the semester because we always encourage each other to strive in school and succeed with our goals.

This photograph represents Hallmark Seven because our studying group values the importance of our academics while still focusing on one another. We have established ways to help one another succeed in school, even if we all have different assignments. If the workload is too much, we allow each other to vent. We have supported one another through our transitions as freshmen in college.