Clay Gwaltney

Ms. Caruso
April 1, 2015
UWRT1103
Inquiry Final Paper
Many Americans face problems with self-esteem, and self-image.
Most times cases start at a young age. Self-confidence is always a big
part of a childs life. Children are vulnerable and can be broken by the
smallest comment or action. That is why keeping a safe and
encouraging environment is key to helping a childs confidence grow.
Self-esteem is a problem in America but not just in America, This
is why I want to focus to where I can reach people around children. Self
esteem issues as well as issues with self image may be caused due to
a persons environment or surroundings, or traumatic past
experiences. It is a common theme that leads to both depression or
low self esteem start while people are children. These children or
young adults are then treated with medicine, which can in the long run
cause emotional problems that can worsen over time. I have personally
experienced this with friends and family members who have suffered
from similar situations and conditions. I decided to focus more on the
aspect where this early on lowering of self-esteem, can be prevented
as an adolescent. The lowering of self-esteem usually starts at a grade
school age, and carries throughout teenage years. This is due to

comparing to others throughout puberty in by body conditions and

physical changes.
There are many things people can do to become someones role
model. During the past few summers I have been a summer camp
counselor to kids between the ages of 7-13. One way I can relate to
children is to tell them stories and experiences when I was their age.
This way the child knows that he wasnt the only one going through
something like that. One example was Cursive was hard to pick up
when I was in second grade I really struggled, but eventually I got
pretty good. Even if the story was not necessarily a situation where
everything was perfect but it ended out for the best. Always be
optimistic. Surprise the child with how awesome they are. Everyone
loves a compliment; so tell them You were definitely a team player
today you seemed to help everyone out today when playing kickball!
Everyone loves to be told theyre doing a great job, so make sure they
know you were watching. Creating a relationship can change a childs
life.
My role models were my grandparents. They have always taken
the time to listen, tell stories and are two of my best friends. They
allowed me to be who I am, taught me what was right and wrong and
truly built my confidence up from the time I was a child. They
encouraged growth and helped me achieve goals that I would not have
accomplished on my own. One thing I specifically remember was

playing cards with them. We would play endless games of go-fish when
I was younger and as I got older I continued to play cards with them.
This was my personal connection that I felt would serve as a great
analogy: I role model will help a child build their self esteem day by day
one card at a time. Every good comment will build the house higher
and higher but even the smallest negative can easily make it all
collapse. Building both the childs self esteem and the house of cards
will take patience and understanding. It is a tough journey to complete
but it can be rewarding, just as my grandparents helped me
accomplish my goals.
Self Confidence as a physical building was one of the first few
ideas that my peers had helped me come up with and would be a
creative way to incorporate both my major and something non
alphabetical. The literal building of self-confidence was a really cool
idea, but materials to do this have to be perfect. I originally thought of
building it out of materials as if it was one of my architecture models
but when thinking back on it I want the construction to break apart
easier than it would be built. Then I though of a house of cards, the
cards would have a symbolic meaning and not only serve as the
construction.
On the cards themselves they would be normal playing cards but
have a written comment on each which would represent comments
said to a child growing up. These cards would be built up to a house to

symbolizing the raising of the childs self esteem and confidence.

(During my presentation I will try to build a couple stacks high, this will
be difficult and just like with one negative comment it will fall.) So
this will be both sculptural as well as a performance piece.

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