This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at U Mass Amherst chapter.
On family vacations, special events, or holidays, I used to be the first one to complain about taking pictures. It seemed like such a chore to get everyone all together and situated just to snap a picture or two. As I got older, especially after I graduated high school, my perspective completely changed. Every single year since I was little, my mom has made Shutterfly books of pictures from the whole year. She makes a book for the fall and winter, and another book for the spring and summer. She made a book every year for all 10 years of my competitive dancing career. I only go to school two hours from home, but being away from home can be hard, and those picture books bring me so much joy. Not only do I get to relive the fun moments I have at home through the year, but I also get to see what I missed while I was away. I get to see my baby cousins grow up, my cousin’s first prom, my mom singing karaoke, and every other important or ridiculous thing my family gets into.
Pexels
I have been able to watch myself grow up from the outside, and for that, those picture books are the best gifts that I will ever receive. Each picture has a different memory or story attached to it, and I have come to appreciate why my mom takes as many pictures as she does. These books have become a sort of therapy for me, especially during quarantine. I would sit on my couch for hours just flipping through the books, and it always gave me a sense of comfort. Those books are a constant reminder of how loved I am and how lucky I am. Sometimes young people can forget how important family really is, but those books show me that I am the woman I am today because of them, (sorry, sappy alert!) I think being present is super important, and just living in a special moment can be so positive for the mind. However, taking less than a minute to capture a certain picture is something that you’ll be able to keep with you for the rest of your life. Taking pictures can seem like a process, but I am telling you because I know, it is almost always worth it. There are few things in the world that only take a few seconds, but can last a lifetime and completely make someone’s day. Take advantage of the special moments, and make them last longer with a quick picture. I promise you won’t regret it.
Ava Mullin is a junior at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, majoring in Communication and minoring in Sociology. She has been a dancer her entire life and also enjoys writing and spending time with her family and friends. Follow her on Instagram: avamullin
