Jonathan Masterson: A Senior Profile Portrait by Ben Wilson (2011)

I look into the darkness, and try to bring light into a dark place. Most people don't see it that way, but most people don't see anything my way. If you had been as low as I was, with nobody there to help you, you would see things like I do. Now, I try to be there for anybody when nobody else will, and I try to be the friend that I never had. At school, I have friends and I have enemies, but my teachers all see me as a good student. They see me as always prepared, always on time, always helpful, but always serious. I know my faults. I know I tend to take things too seriously. I know I sometimes hide too much inside. I also know that the world needs more people like me, who take life seriously and try to do what's right, making the world better for the rest of us. My past is behind me, the future is ahead of me, and I am inside me. As I walk into the future, I will be who I am, with all my morals and all my faults, knowing that the resulting actions can brighten the world. Even if what lies ahead seems bleak, I'll make the most of it, making the world a better place one step at a time. Symbolic of John's extremes of thought, the lighting on John in the photo is extreme. One side of him is engulfed in darkness, while the other part is completely visible. The lighting on him symbolizes not only his extremes in personality but also how he tends to keep some things to himself and not let anybody see them. The photo captures him taking a brief moment to stop and think about the future. At this point he thinks the future looks bleak, which is symbolized by the shadows in front of him and light behind him in the frame. The watch represents his punctuality, while the loaded backpack demonstrates his preparedness. The backpack also symbolizes how he often feels the weight of the world on his shoulders, and his hand positioning shows his struggle to deal with it. Finally, the barely visible blue t-shirt under the dark sweatshirt symbolizes that the happy part of him is too often engulfed by his serious exterior and his efforts to bring light to the world are often choked by the darkness of his past and his current life and worldview.