When I plant a seed, I think about what it will become. The prospect of putting a seed in the ground thatwill ultimately become a head of lettuce, a vine of squash, or a bush of basil is so exciting. A part of me is still mesmerizedby the fact that something so small contains something so large, colorful, and lively; no matter how many times the process of development is explained scientifically, life will always hold elements of magic and miracles in my mind.

The same kind of awe is applied to the metaphorical seeds that I see every day. Just at St. Mary’s, I see large changes and movements, such as the Living Wage campaign, or the rally of students that demanded to be included in decisions regarding the college after the Admissions Crisis: these changes start with one person orsmall group planting their ideaand helping it to grow into a larger grass roots movement. These movements do  more than make change, but they bring people together for a common cause, and strive to sustain a healthy and thriving community, just like edible plants become the glue that brings people together, and creates harmony between people and nature.

Introspectively, the seeds I plant are those that mark the changes and goals that I have for myself.  New hobbies, like playing piano, and preparing for a fresh beginning for my post-graduation life are seeds that I have planted recently. I know they must be nurtured and well-attended to so that I may grow into the person that I want to become. It may be a well-used cliché to use this metaphor, but it honestly helps me to establish a sense of hope for the growth of these developments and an expectation to take care of the life I cherish, within myself and without.

The seed is miniscule, but its symbolism is great and complex and the weight of its potential can be easily overlooked. For me, the seed is a source of a new beginning- an opportunity for fresh starts, new life, and the humble origin of miracles. That seeds need to be planting over and over again signifies that the state of growth is never-ending, and that the possibilities for progression and development are never-ending: as long as there are seeds to plant, things to change, and life to be born, the prospect of growth will remain. I believe that while the Earth can continue to replenish itself with new seeds to grow again and again, so can I; that way, my connection with my surroundings is that we grow together.