High School
Creative Expression
Decatur County
Samuel Hermasillo - 11th grade
"Transformation"

This is original artwork depicting my life. Spider webs on the corners of the drawing define the background of my life. I have had a rough life and many hard times. The thorns around the rose symbolize the protection the rose requires to grow into a beautiful flower but also the trials we must go through to be successful. The protective thorns in my life have been things like:

My father- He moved my family from Florida to take me out of an environment where I was literally dying, not going to school, fighting, drugs, gangs, trouble with the law.
My mother- My mom always tries to keep me out of trouble. She wants the best for me and loves me unconditionally.
My grandmother- My grandmother always gave wise words and taught me to do good things with my life. She was my strength. Abuelita Linda made me smile in the good times and the bad. She wanted me to stay out of trouble.

The hurtful thorns in my life are:
Fighting and arguing with my parents- I argue with my parents and think they don't understand me. I want them to accept me for who I am with my thorns. I am a work in progress.
Drugs- I constantly battle the temptation. Drugs have been a part of my life since I was 9 or 10 years old. Everyday I make a decision to stay away from drugs.
School- I am working to repair the damage from my past decisions. Today I am on track to graduate next year.
Gangs- I am no longer involved in gang activity. My dad moved my family to Georgia to remove me from this environment.
Fighting and trouble with the law- I work very hard to stay out of trouble. I don't participate in things that are against the law. I don't fight like I used to and never instigate fights.

The butterfly symbolizes the new creation that I am. Moving to Georgia was the first stage of my transformation. Bainbridge High Westside PLC (through CIS) has given me the opportunity to be different. Teachers and staff at PLC make a difference in my life by motivating me and caring about me. They will do anything to help you out and be a part of your life. No other teachers have treated me this way in school. I still have thorns, good ones and bad ones; the changes I have made are part of my work in progress, my transformation.