Artwork and Reflection by Alexa Aguirre
Eyes — alluring, imprinting a familiar scorch, shaking the depths of my stagnant soul — stare back at me as my mind starts its journey towards the unfamiliar. The cogwheels turn as my gaze linger, the flames seem to shine brighter the longer I observed. I continued to study the piece that I have made and realized that my artwork could be easily mistaken by others as something associated with anger and greed directed to the world, a confusing mess of an artwork, but what grounds the art to the light is the reminder etched on the bottom of the piece — set the world on fire.
Until now, I don’t have a concrete plan on what I want to become in the future. Imagination became my closest companion as I dreamt of expensive vacations, invitations to a fashion show in Paris, donating to charities helping the marginalized and so much more that excites me. I indulged myself in frequent daydreams of my possible future where I could be anything; a doctor saving lives in the operating room, or a CEO to a multi-billion company, I could also dedicate my life to art restoration, or perhaps I could also become a designer, maybe both interior and fashion — everything just feels closer as I considered my choices for the future. It feels as if I have the world on the palm of my hands. The thought of the future fuels my passion to study harder and pursue my interests but I remain stuck wondering what I really want to become in the future. As I prolong my stay in my carefully sewn utopia, I began to feel lost in a sea of people sure of what they want, standing strong and committed to their choice for the future. I never realized that as I was seeking for what I truly want and waging war with practicality and emotions, the passion I’ve nurtured wilted away, leaving me in an empty shell. Daydreams I once had, distant.
For a long time, in the darkness I stood in embers, the lost fragments of my passion seem to piece itself back together to start a new adagio. Lessons I’ve learned during my stay in Ateneo invigorated the embers’ dance reminding me that I am a part of the people who are meant to help others. Light slithered through the darkness as I gazed at the eyes I drew filled with fire, not of disappointment or rage but of passion as if issuing a challenge. A challenge to prove that I have learned well and to prove that I am ready to set the world alight. A challenge for me to use my passion as fuel to slowly make a difference in the world by helping the marginalized. A challenge for me to use my imagination, learnings, and talents to my advantage to give service to others, to think outside the box. I may not be sure of what career I will pour my blood, sweat and tears into for now, but I know that my heart and passion lies on serving others while setting the world on fire.
#IgnatiusInArt #adnujhs
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“Ignatius in Art” is a 9-day series of artworks and reflections from our students focusing on the themes provided by Educate Magis: Global Network of Jesuit Schools. This is a project of the AdNU JHS Campus Ministry Office and the ANSGO JHS in celebration of the feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
Campus Ministry Office 