Evocative Objects_Wilcoxon

According to the Dictionary.com, the term "evoke" literally means to "call up or produce (memories, feelings, etc.)". The idea that a single object that represent so much more than what is on the surface is a seemingly complex thing to comprehend. As humans we are programmed to draw memories and different emotions from certain objects, smells, scenes etc. gathered by our five senses. A specific object that may cause one person to feel uneasy can have an entirely opposite effect on another person depending on their past experiences. Throughout life we unintentionally develop a sort of "scrap book" of memories and experiences that have had an impact on our lives. This is why objects and specific events in our lives can spark old memories and evoke emotions.

One of the most important objects in my life is my high school class ring. The ring is gold and has a the Culver Academies crest and the year 2011 engraved in it. Every time I look down at my hands a flood of memories and emotions overwhelm me. I remember the excitement I had as my best friend slid the ring on my finger and I saw it for the first time at the ringing ceremony. After the ceremony all the new seniors sprinted to the senior house called Beason where we had been forbidden to go as an underclassmen. Even the grass was off limits. The moment my feet greeted Beason's green grass I felt over joyed. It is an experience that is unique to Culver and it's many traditions. Each time I look at the ring I remember walking through the Culver arch as I graduated in June and feeling the hot summer sun shining down on me. It is tradition that as you pass through the arch you touch the Culver crest at the top with the hand your class ring is on. My heart raised as I started a new chapter of my life while leaving behind one of the most wonderful places in the world. As I sat down on the bench after walking through the arch and listened as my fellow classmates names were called, I took the ring off my finger and flipped it the opposite direction (with the year 2011 closest to me and the Culver logo facing out). This tradition symbolizes the closeness of Culver to you while continuing on with your life. Needless to say, this ring is so precious to me... I've never taken it off.