By: Kaeson Warnes
“My mama always said you can tell a lot about a person by their shoes, where they going, where they been.”
Forrest Gump
It’s simple. Every day begins with putting on a pair of shoes before heading out. Throughout each day, our choice in footwear can reveal a lot about who we are and who we want to be. Maybe your go-to pair is pristine and white; carefully hand washed and polished after each outing. Maybe you have worn these shoes to every concert, every adventure, and every exhausting workday and the soles have just begun to wear through. Or maybe these shoes are shiny, tall, and new; reserved for the days when you need that extra boost of confidence to carry you. Whatever your shoes look like, they all have a story to tell that is unique to you. To explore this idea more, I took a walk with a few Western students and asked them about who they are, where they’re going, and where they’ve been.
Sadie
Sadie’s sneakers. Kaeson Warnes // Wavelength
What 3 words would you use to describe yourself?
“Dancer, silly, and stubborn.”
Describe to me your favorite place you’ve been.
“Imagine if I said Disney… Haha but no. Mexico City in a tianguis [an open-air market]. I did this before I came to Western… I was 18. I went back to my birthplace and saw some cool sh*t. There were lots of bright colors and cool people.”
When do you feel the most ‘yourself’?
“In the dance studio…definitely. Or on stage, but that’s a whole different thing…”
[Talking about an upcoming show] “It’s choreographed with 10 dancers, and all but one is choreographed by students. It’s their final to do this whole thing and they cast dancers who show up to the audition, and we do three performances… It’s free for students, so bring your ID. It’s Thursday-Friday at night. Then on Saturday at like 2.”
Ainsley
Ainsley’s cowboy boots. Kaeson Warnes // Wavelength
What 3 words would you use to describe yourself?
“Itchy, cat, and umm… goof. Yeah.”
Describe to me your favorite place you’ve been.
“I studied abroad in Italy last summer…I don’t remember what it was called, but there was this really big fountain place with a whole bunch of different fountains—like really big ones and really small ones—with different animal faces spitting water out of their mouths. It was really pretty. And the train ride there was also beautiful. It was through this mountainous area, and it was built into this mountainside.”
When do you feel the most ‘yourself’?
“Also in the dance studio. We [Sadie and Ainsley] have a piece we are in together.”
[Sadie] “It’s chill.”
Adella
Adella’s hiking shoes. Kaeson Warnes // Wavelength
What 3 words would you use to describe yourself?
“Ooo, I don’t like thinking about myself… Exploration, helping hand, and imaginative.”
Describe to me your favorite place you’ve been.
“I’ve got a lot of favorite places. But one place in particular I won’t shut up about is… well, actually, it’s between summer camp and a time when I was 13 or 14. But I went out on a canoe trip down the Colorado river at the base of the Hoover Dam. We stopped at this place to camp along the river and there were hot springs. There was a cliff we jumped into the river from. It was so fun! I want to do it again.”
When do you feel the most ‘yourself’?
“Out in nature, of course… it’s something my therapist tells me when I get super out of it… or like I’m trapped. She’s like, ‘Have you been outside lately?’ And I’m like…umm no. Have you touched some f***ing grass!?”