The Cliff Edge (and Beyond): A Senior Explorations Amplified Piece by Drew Russert (2014)

I want to stand as close to the edge as possible without going over. Out on the edge you can see all the kinds of things you can't see from the center'' (Vonnegut). The things you see represent the next stage in life. However, like all things in life, the cliff edge represents the line that can or cannot be crossed. Falling over the edge leads to one of two new things: opportunity or possibility. The next stage can change you for the better. You can succeed. However, it can also break you if you go too far. It is possible for you to fail. In the end, one must fall over the edge and take the risk. After all, what good is it to stay away from the edge? Why just witness change when you can be a part of it?

This photo, which was made in Adobe Photoshop, symbolizes my next stage in life which is going to college. My subject (who is Henrik) is looking down a cliff, which is actually a woman's head that I cut out and found in a magazine and used an oil brush tool to make her look more liquid. He is looking down into the depths of the unknown, which is rich with red. Across the horizon are Chinese words. Yes, these Chinese characters actually mean something. From left to write they read ''possibility, opportunity, risk, reward''. As I progress in life, I need to take risks in order to find success. However, the success isn't guaranteed, as I could also fail if I'm not careful. The spider web in the bottom right hand corner represents a trap that one can't escape from, thus ruining a life. More Chinese characters appear on the head that my subject is standing on that reads ''safety''. It is important to avoid danger, but one lives only once, and the feeling of living isn't fulfilled until you take a step off the cliff. A bird learns to fly by falling from the nest and spreading its wings. People must also do the same thing.