childhood Archives - Tony Ward Studio

I’Mani Sellers: Lost Childhood

Posted on April 20, 2015 by I’Mani Sellers

I went back home for spring break and realized how fast all the children in my life are growing up and I decided to go to one of the parks closest to me. I have noticed, that in my hometown, a lot of children do not spend their time in the park with their friends. When I was younger, we lived to be able to go to the park and still swing on the swings, and even now when we’re trying to channel our childhood, we will go back to the parks late at night.

In my town, children have a lot of responsibilities, besides just being a student; it goes way beyond chores. Most children back at home, end up taking the roles of parents and having to leave their childhood behind, and with that they leave the parks behind also. Having fun is a lost art at home, when you’re younger. They are not allowed to relax and enjoy their childhood anymore.

I wanted to capture the park when there was snow on the ground, because I believe it went with the attitude children have towards the parks, cold. The park only feels warmth from the sun, and the stray animals that scamper through it. I wanted people to see the conditions that the park is left in. It is abandoned, not maintained, the equipment is rusting and losing it color.

Parks still cause me to feel nostalgic, and it makes me want to find a way to find the lost childhoods of the generation after mine.

About the Author: I’Mani Sellers is a sophomore with a focus on the field of STEM, College of the University of Pennsylvania, Class of 2017.

Corey Fader: My Second Mom

Posted on March 2, 2015 by Corey Fader

For the first 16 years of my life, Myra was like a second mother to me. While my parents were busy working, Myra was there to take care of all of the housekeeping, cooking, and my sister and me. As early as I can remember, she would push me around in a stroller to museums such as the Please Touch, Franklin Institute, and the Museum of Natural History. She was always there to bathe, feed, and support me in any possible way.

As I grew older, everything around me started to change. I went through a notorious time in my life when I had to figure out exactly what I wanted to be. I was on the brink of expulsion at school, and I was associating myself with a bad group of friends. Even though these were a few rough years for me, I always knew that I could come home and have Myra brighten my day. She taught me right from wrong, and significantly helped me navigate my way through tough situations.

Entering high school, I was aware that my time with Myra was beginning to come to a close. My sister was getting ready to go off to college, and I was much more self-reliant than when I was younger. As each day of freshman year went by, I realized that we were that much closer to the end.

I can still vividly remember the day that I learned that Myra would no longer be with us. My parents let me know that Myra had received a full-time teaching position at Trinity Academy. I immediately went to my room to cry, and I was confident that Myra was doing the same on the other end.

I suppose people are correct when they say that you never fully appreciate something until it is gone. There is not a day that goes by that Myra does not cross my mind, and I can honestly say that I would not be where I am without her.

Photography and Text by Corey Fader

About the Author: Corey Fader is a freshman enrolled in the Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania. Class of 2018

Jesi Kim: Grieving

Posted on February 22, 2015 by Jesi Kim

The death of a loved one impacts each individual in varying manners. Many theories involving grief have been established, but it seems unrealistic to force a pre-determined linear path into such an individualized process. The loss of someone who is so dear can lead to a cluster of emotions that range from depression to regret.

The thought of never being able to see her father again is a source of confusion for her as if she went back when she was in second grade and could not explain why her mother was crying alone on the bed. The same sinking feeling that sucked her in and made her feel like she was falling into an eternal abyss, uncertain whether this feeling would ever subside.

However, sometimes she sees her father, smiling at her like he always did. She describes them as her “sweetest dreams”. She knows that when she wakes up from this state, he will disappear and she will once again be without a father. That vivid dream where his touch was gentle and his touch was warm haunts her.

She begins to regret her actions. If only she had known that her time with her dad would be so precious, she would not have expressed that annoyance towards him. If she had it her way every moment would have been nicer, sweeter, more pleasant. She would show him nothing but how much love she has for him.

However, she has to realize that her father is still with us. He will always have a presence in this world through the impact that he has had and her memory that keeps him alive. He thought that “watching [his] daughter graduate from college, walking her down the aisle, teaching [his] grandchildren how to fish” would not be a possibility, but he was mistaken. Although he has changed into a new form, he is still very much present, and is proudly smiling at what she has become.

About the Author: Jesi Kim is a senior enrolled in the Engineering School of the University of Pennsylvania, Class of 2015.

About the Model: Naomi Tsai is a senior enrolled in the College of the University of Pennsylvania, Class of 2015.