Blog 4

I work with children. I see them for eight hours a week. I see ages from one to five. I was inspired to study them when I realized how much they love stories. They have books everywhere, even outside. They all love stories. Some of them love dinosaur books, others books on boats, and others like them all. I was drawn to this subject of stories and their effects on us from both them and my mother. I watched how the stories they read influenced their play. We read a book on ballet and suddenly everyone wants to spin around.

Through my case study I learned how our stories affect us. Just because you liked dinosaur books as a kid doesn't mean you want to study them all your life, but maybe it will lead to an interest in animals, or history. The people I talked to were so changed, so influenced by what they had read and watched as a young child.

I reflect on talking to Beth, Austen, and Nika. There were many things that influenced their lives and the way they turned out. I was so amazed by how big s role stories played. I will be honest I didn’t think that it would play this big a role. Where would Beth be without “Gone With the Wind”, or Austen without Star Wars trilogy(or anyone really?), or Nika without “Gay Purr-ee”? Would they still be here, doing what they do? Or would they be somewhere else.

Each time a story is told it brings a world to life, it reminds us of our past. We learn from stories and with the lessons we learn from them we shape our future. How do you prove you exist? Maybe you don’t exist. I exist through the stories I tell, that other tell about me.

            I remember the stories my mother tells of me and my siblings as kids. How she connects with people through her experiences with us and with life. Where would society be without our stories? I think I would have a fewer friends. Where would you be?