Declaration

Devotion can be defined as a profound dedication and an earnest attachment to a cause, person, or principle. Morrie Schwartz said that “So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they're busy doing things they think are important. This is because they're chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.” Some people truly waste their lives devoting their time and effort to what they think is important, such as their job or a sport they play. On the other hand, many people choose to devote themselves to what they believe is far more meaningful, such as relationships and the community. No matter what they choose, however, people find something to which they devote all of their time and energy.

Therefore, I decided to create my concept folio based on the idea of devotion. It is a topic that can be expressed in a plethora of ways and a person can always find a way to relate to it. A person can be dedicated and devoted to their religion, relationships, work and school, and sports and hobbies. I chose devotion because I am personally devoted to many different things as are most people.

The Biglen Brothers Racing

His muscles flex as he pushes the oar down into the water. The red boat glides across the murky water, the trees but a mere green blur on the shore. Beads of sweat appear on his forehead as the shining sun looms overhead. There’s a slight pause, and with another push, the Biglen brothers are soaring across the water again.

The Biglen brothers had always worked well together. Today was especially a day to prove their teamwork skills. It was the day of the big boating race and the brothers had always been devoted to their sport. John was seated in the back, using his strength to drive the boat forward. Bill was in front, guiding the boat with each swift push of the oar. The silence and tension between the two brothers showed their deep concentration and even though they were not saying anything, it was clear that they were both silently reminding one another to stay focused and move forward. Suddenly, another team sailed by with great ease, as if their boat was an airplane with clouds as competition. At this moment, John, the younger of the two brothers, was reminded of the race the year before. He can still picture the look of disappointment on Bill’s face as they crossed the finish line merely seconds behind the winning team. He can still hear the frustration in Bill’s voice as he muttered under his breath, “We almost had them.” John couldn’t help but blame himself for their loss the year before and was determined to not let it happen again.

John began to dig his oar into the water and after a few more forceful pushes, John looked up and noticed that they were inching closer and closer to the only team ahead of them. Bill soon caught up to John’s pace and they were coasting through the water with the trees whizzing by, the cheers of the crowd distant on the shores. All of a sudden, the cheers grew louder and when Bill and John looked up, they realized why. The Biglen brothers had won the race.