RETROSPECTIVE TRAVEL JOURNAL
Throughout college, I've been extraordinarily blessed to travel to so many new places around the globe. I visited new areas of Cincinnati, new cities within Ohio, states I'd never visited before, and new countries, too. Each little experience, for however long I had it, contributed to my learning both academically and personally. I know that I grew as a person during college, and I cite many of the experiences I had while traveling as the reason. So now, at the end of my five years, I wanted to document each city I had visited along with the experiences I had there.
First, I listed every city I traveled to and came up with 20 new places. 2! 0! To me, that's incredible. I spent time journaling about my memories, and going through old photos, texts, emails, etc. that came out of each place. Throughout that process, there were laughs and some tears as I reminisced about my favorite times in college. After sifting through the images, I found a few from each place that resonated the most with me, and I began compiling them into a book.
Each location received a short journal entry along with the date and an icon to represent the city. Check out the images below to see how the final product turned out, and scroll down to read some of my reflection.
First, I listed every city I traveled to and came up with 20 new places. 2! 0! To me, that's incredible. I spent time journaling about my memories, and going through old photos, texts, emails, etc. that came out of each place. Throughout that process, there were laughs and some tears as I reminisced about my favorite times in college. After sifting through the images, I found a few from each place that resonated the most with me, and I began compiling them into a book.
Each location received a short journal entry along with the date and an icon to represent the city. Check out the images below to see how the final product turned out, and scroll down to read some of my reflection.
I had planned this project long before the coronavirus began to sweep the world and then our nation. At the time, I had no concept that in a few weeks, I would be quarantined at home with my family instead of completing my senior year as planned. What would have already been a special project became even more reflective as I reminisced on all of the places that I had been and suddenly couldn't go.
As I flip through these pages, I think of happy memories from the last five years. Occasionally, during this very strange time of coronavirus, it's hard to think about making those kind happy memories again. Of course we will, eventually, but it increasingly appears like it'll be a long road. In its production, this book took on new meaning, and that transformation makes it even more special to me.
I hope that in the future, I can pick up this project and think not of coronavirus but instead of all the happy memories that came before and every memory we have yet to make that will come after.
As I flip through these pages, I think of happy memories from the last five years. Occasionally, during this very strange time of coronavirus, it's hard to think about making those kind happy memories again. Of course we will, eventually, but it increasingly appears like it'll be a long road. In its production, this book took on new meaning, and that transformation makes it even more special to me.
I hope that in the future, I can pick up this project and think not of coronavirus but instead of all the happy memories that came before and every memory we have yet to make that will come after.
SHOWCASE
To flip through the pages of this project, visit www.gracehertlein.com/retrospective.
To read the entire book, click here.
To read the entire book, click here.