Introduction
There is an opportunity that the impact
of has blindsided me. I set out to create a piece for my portfolio and
learn a little bit of something along the way, but what has come from
this process exceeds anything that I could have
imagined. The first day I walked into the old church building
that originally housed Upcycle Life, I met a group of women that have
eternally changed my life.
Our first day together was awkward. I didn't know what to say to them and
they had no reason to trust me with anything much more than their names.
I did not know their hardships but something about them touched me deep in
my soul that day. Maybe it was their warm nature or perhaps the composed
masks I saw staring back at me. I knew that I would never be the same.
This singular thought echoed in my soul, "I want to write something that people actually want to read" (The Help).
Six months after that stilted introductory meeting, I sat in the new office building of Upcycle Life
marveling at how much had changed with the group of women. From the
location of their work to the level of equivalent trust we had with one
another, I had created bonds that altered my perspective not only for my
portfolio, but my outlook on life. I listened intently as one of those
women poured out her story to me. Hblung, against all odds of her
"saving face" culture, broke down with me and wept as she told us of her
journey to America. She told me of an experience that will never vacate
my mind.
The stories that you will read are written from the real life testimonies of women that I met through Upcycle Life. Any text that has been italicized shows that some creative narrative has been added to that section in order for the reader to best understand the fullness of the story.
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