My breath was taken away when I stepped inside the Getty Museum. The entrance hall was filled with natural light, with a gleaming marble floor that shone underfoot. The space was so expansive that I had to take a few moments to take in my surroundings. The scent of age-old history and creativity mixed with the smell of antique wood welcomed me. As I walked further into the museum, I was struck by the contrast of the dim lighting that cast a warm, soothing feeling into the expansive space. The first room I entered was a vast expanse of European paintings, each one more breathtaking than the last. I stood there in awe of each painting's rich colors and intricate details, varying bold and vivid colors of flower vases to soft and subtle shades of oceans, ballerinas, or even the magnificent “Irises” by Vincent Van Gogh; every painting had a hidden meaning, like a puzzle waiting to be solved. Each piece was unique, telling its own story and adding to the overall experience of the Getty Museum. As I wandered further into the galleries, I was captivated by the sculptures of marble figures in the next room. The art pieces differ in size and shape, creating a mesmerizing display. Each piece, from contemporary art to medieval European tapestries to ancient Egyptian artifacts, was unique, expressing a different emotion, story, or heritage. My relationship with the community is like curating a museum exhibit. Just as a museum houses a variety of different artwork, artifacts, and sculptures, a community is also made of distinctive individuals with diverse backgrounds, cultures, personalities, and experiences. Museums allow visitors to gain a deeper understanding of different cultures, sciences, and the world around us, similar to how the community provides individuals an opportunity to grow.  Through the books A Burning, Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress, and Purple Hibiscus, I learned the importance of the community in an individual's life as it supplies essential guidance, awareness of different lifestyles, and a sense of belonging which are all crucial for personal growth and success. As a result of the books we have read and discussed in our groups, I see my purpose in my community resembling a picture belonging to a museum. The community is a museum comprising diverse individuals and ideas that come together to create a richer, more meaningful experience. Just as one can learn about different cultures and backgrounds by visiting a museum, one’s engagement with the surrounding community can lead to exposure to new knowledge and discovery of oneself.

Artworks in museums are like people in a community, each with their own story, personality, and purpose. Just as every individual is unique, so is every piece of art, and when put together, they create a masterpiece. Taking away one work from the collection will have repercussions, in much the same way that the loss of one member of a community will have ripple effects on the other members of the community, as everyone is dependent upon one another to function. In the book, A Burning by Megha Majumdar, Lovely is an example of a loyal and ethical person; Lovely defends Jivan during her trial by telling and unveiling the truth that Jivan is falsely being accused as a terrorist. Like her new hijra name, Lovely is very sweet and caring, but she does not want to ruin her way to success in becoming an actress, so after Arjuni Ma’s question, “‘You want to be a star, or do you want to be that girl’s defender?” Lovely wants to avoid the controversy of defending Jivan as much as possible (Majumdar 222). Arjuni Ma’s influence and pressure put Lovely in a dilemma, as she has a bright future ahead of her but a friend in trouble. Although Lovely holds strong beliefs and values, she struggles to reconcile them when considering the risk and ramifications of standing up for Jivan. She considers the potential backlash from the community for going against their expectations. Still, she ultimately decides to take action, to do what is morally right so that “Jivan can be going forward without [her]” (Majumdar 222). By telling the truth during the trial, Lovley’s actions significantly impact Jivan, even if they interfere with her fortune and fame. In the same way as the artwork in a museum, which depicts a society's collective experiences and values to provide insight into the world, strong values will be reflected in an individual's contribution to the community. Like Lovely, I have developed solid morals and values guiding my decision-making process. In particular, I believe that honesty is of the utmost important, even when it may be tempting to lie. As a group of friends and I were planning to go to Disneyland after our 8th-grade promotion ceremony, we decided not to include one friend because we did not get along well. Although I initially followed the plan, I soon realized it was immoral. I considered how I would feel if I were in my friend’s shoes and knew I would be hurt and upset. As soon as I knew I had to speak up, I suggested we ask our friend if she wanted to join us, even if she declined, we should be transparent about our plans and include her in the conversation. As it turned out, the friend was leaving on a trip the same day we planned to go to Disneyland, so it all worked out. By choosing to be inclusive and honest, I could stick to my values and maintain the trust of my friends. Each piece has unique qualities in art and literature that contribute to the masterpiece. Just as an individual in a community can come together to create something beautiful, the artwork in a museum can tell a story and provide insight into the world around us.    

When you enter a museum like the Louvre or the Getty, there is not just one artist’s work on display but rather an array of sculptures, pottery, and painting, all sharing the same space. Similarly, each person’s unique contributions come together in a community to create a cohesive and collaborative whole. Just as each piece of art contributes to the overall beauty and meaning of the museum, each member of a community has something valuable to offer, and it is through collective efforts that we can build a strong and vibrant community. In Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress, the partnership between Luo and the narrator in achieving the goals of attaining Western literature and making the Little Seamstress happy. The two characters work together and take risks to obtain a book by Balzac, which is forbidden under the re-education policy. Luo and the narrator work together to achieve their goals of attaining Western literature and pleasing the Little Seamstress by taking risks and illegal agreements with Four-eyes that “if they [are successful] in getting [the] miller to sing his folk songs to [them, he] would lend [them] more books by Balzac'' (Dai 65). The collaboration and perseverance of Luo and the narrator allow them to overcome the challenges of re-education and strict rules, ultimately resulting in a stronger bond between them. This bond can be compared to the diverse works of art that come together in a museum forming a cohesive whole. When these contributions are brought together, they can create something more significant and meaningful than what could be achieved alone. Coming into high school, I started to discover who I truly am as I tried new things, such as joining a team sport and being a part of the musical, dance program, and different clubs. My first attempts at all these new activities were not just successes but many failures and mistakes. Still, I have a supportive community at school and home that allowed me to feel excited to try again instead of making me feel embarrassed and want to quit.  The museum pieces coexist within the same space and collectively convey the story of a particular time period or mood. Like a family, each exhibit room shares certain similarities, such as a common time period, artist, or object focus. However, just like a family member, each piece also possesses its own unique meaning and purpose. The fact that they are part of the same exhibit highlights their interconnectedness while allowing for celebrating their individuality. 

Museums offer an opportunity for visitors to experience and attain a deeper understanding of different science and the cultures of the world around us. Many of the artworks on display are drawn by various artists that are from different parts of the world. Similarly, communities can transcend specific genders, races, cultures, and languages. Even so, they are highly diverse in terms of gender, race, ethnicity, and culture. All museums share a similarity with communities in that they not only consist of many artists’ paintings but also showcase the diverse backgrounds and cultures that these artists represent in their artworks. In our class this year, we also read books that took place in various parts of the world.  In a similar way to museums that house the works of different artists, a community consists of individuals from all over the world. This year, each book we read in class took place in different parts of the world, such as China, India, Nigeria, and the Dominican Republic, which enabled me to be aware of what different communities are like in different areas of the world. Although each region and country has its unique norms, the culture is intertwined with a similar connection: the significance of family. For instance, living under a corrupt government in the Dominican Republic, Anita’s trust and hope for her family drive her to escape; in Nigeria, Kambili’s love and care for Aunty Ifeoma, Jaja, Mama, and Papa Nnuwku compel her to stand up against the religion that causes her father to be abusive and to protect her family. Each character faces different challenges and circumstances living in their respective cultures, but the importance of family relationships and love is shared across all cultures worldwide. My family has always been a vital part of my life, and their influence has shaped who I am today. As a Korean American, I feel a deep sense of pride in my heritage, giving me a unique perspective on life. In interacting with other communities, I try to be mindful of the values and traditions I have learned from my family and culture.

 Overall, the community contains a significant amount of diversity while also sharing commonalities among individuals within it. Unfortunately, even in a positive environment, toxicity can arise. While conflicts can typically be resolved through problem-solving, in some cases, individuals who pose a threat or use violence needing them to isolate themselves, as they make the community unsafe. In Purple Hibiscus, for example, Papa is a religious leader within the Catholic community, and he enforces strict rules and regulations on his family and others in the community. This austere behavior causes him to be perceived as demanding and oppressive to the point where he ends his relationship with his own father because he was a traditionalist instead of a catholic. Even after his father's death, he could not “participate in a pagan funeral” as it was disrespectful to his religion, and he would sin by doing so (Adichie 188). Religion has corrupted Papa’s life, as he has estranged himself from his family to get close to God. Papa’s rigid adherence to his religious beliefs has also caused him to become intolerant of other cultures and beliefs. Papa’s actions highlight the negative consequences of extreme religious beliefs and how they can cause individuals to become isolated from others who do not share their beliefs. In many communities, families play a crucial role; however, their strength can be challenged when there is a disagreement between individuals' views.

Like a piece of art in a museum can instill thoughts and emotions in its viewers, my service learning experience has allowed me to discover my impact on the community as a student, mentor, friend, and individual. Having developed a meaningful relationship with Matthew, my Scholarship Prep buddy, during my Service Learning experience this year makes me feel immense gratitude. I have volunteered in different settings where I helped children with their homework and participated in classroom activities. Despite the importance of those experiences, I never developed a personal connection with students like I did with Matthew. Initially, I was skeptical about meeting Matthew once a month, doubting how much impact I could make in such a short time. I was proven wrong during the first few minutes of meeting Matthew, as our connection dramatically differed from my expectations. I underestimated the value of the experience, and Matthew’s kindness and care motivated me to be a better mentor. Whether he offered candy or wrote a heartfelt letter of gratitude, Matthew's actions truly touched me and inspired me to be a better person in my community. I learned to be mindful of my language and ensure my instructions were clear and straightforward, as well as learned to be patient and understanding when working with people with different viewpoints and backgrounds. His excitement for my planned activities showed how much he valued our friendship and time, which made me want to prepare even better activities for our following meetings. However, during our visit to Scholarship Prep, I encountered challenges such as communicating with the students at the fourth-grade level. This experience has changed my view of meaningful relationships and connections, as they are outlets for growth and enlightenment for individuals to become better people. 

The community I live in is a museum, and I am one of the fine art pieces displayed within it, surrounded by others with unique stories, backgrounds, and personalities. Each family is an exhibit; similar art pieces are grouped together to tell their story. As family members have similarities to one another, these pieces of artwork also share some features in common. As a picture on the wall, I adapt and blend in with my surroundings whenever I move to another museum section. Still, I also know it is very important to maintain my individuality. The purpose of every picture is different: some are meant to be the gallery's highlight, and some are less eye-catching, but every facet of our presence is vital to creating the best result. As I read many stories of characters finding their place within a community this year, I observed my growth as a community member and young adult. My learning process continues as I gain experience from those around me. I play an essential role in my community, just as any painting does in a museum exhibit.

Works Cited

Adichie, Chimamanda Ngozi. Purple Hibiscus. Algonquin Books. 2003.

Alvarez, Julia. Before We Were Free. Reprint, Ember, 2018.

Majumdar, Megha. A Burning. Vintage Books. 2020.