I believe “going with the flow” is often the best course of action to reduce anxiety and be flexible enough to catch opportunities that come your way. Yet, Week 4 and 5 of my LiA were a testament to how advocating for yourself is equally important when events are disrupting said “flow”.
First, Sophie (from the Hart House Art Committee, or HHAC) and I headed to Staples to pick up the foam board placard that was supposed to hang next to my photographs—it explained the context of the images and the purpose behind my project. It had already been a week of my exhibit being up without a description, and many of the parties involved in our set-up (including me, Sophie, and the HHAC staff supervisor) were getting frustrated at the delay from Staples’ printing house. After standing in line for a few minutes, waiting to hear about whether the store had misplaced the foam board, we found out they had simply stored it underneath the checkout counter—which explained why other employees weren’t able to find it when we had first gone to pick it up. We walked to Hart House to hang up this last portion of the exhibit; after that, the series was showcased for three weeks without a hitch.
Second, a large chunk of my LiA hinges on receiving REB approval—I finally was able to get the first stage of it approved by my supervisor, but I have yet to hear back from the board itself with the official green light. Through this process—largely consisting of waiting—I’ve learned that I need to do as much as possible to prepare in order to not fall behind. You Jia (who we at UofT are most lucky to have as an advisor) lent me a book titled “Finding American” by Colin Boyd Shafer. In it, I found a common theme that reinforced my own resolve to continue searching for connections between culture and identity in Toronto. Shafer’s book is a photographic and textual documentation of immigration in America, a timely discussion given current events. A few stories stood out to me—from politicians like Patricia and Wilmot, to a bestselling author like Javier (whose memoir, Solito, I realised was already saved to my Goodreads), to a US Army translator in the Middle East like Wissam. Yet in every story, the common thread was that they were all examples of how immigrants contribute to and make up the fabric of America.
As I wait for my REB and replies from the Office, Shafer’s book serves as a reminder of how important it is to keep my vision in mind—that is, to hone in on my vision for the documentation of culture and self in Toronto. In terms of leadership, I have continually been reminded of the importance of communication and resilience, and to not be discouraged by certain hiccups in the process. Finally, I am endlessly grateful for the grace You Jia and Shraddha have given me; looking forward, I hope to produce a documentary I can be proud of that encapsulates small pockets of Toronto’s diverse individuals.