Natalia Betancur
home/neighborhood landscape
I grew up living in Medellin, a city in Colombia that is located in a valley. When I turned 13 I moved to Carlsbad, and now I get to enjoy the beach and the beautiful sunsets during my free time. I think the change of landscape in my life really marked the end of my childhood and the beginning of a new journey. Sometime this summer, I was reflecting on how far I have come, and I realized that while I have grown and learned so much, there are also some aspects of my life that I need to improve. I think being an immigrant led me to give up most of my wants and needs for the benefit of my whole family. Moving implied being flexible and available whenever I was needed, and it might have gone as far as "extreme" people pleasing in my friendships and relationships. This project is an opportunity to connect with my surroundings, and I have a good feeling that there's a lot that I can learn from the ocean. The ocean is so vast and mysterious that it can seem scary to me. But I heard someone say once that the ocean is powerful and beautiful and it never apologizes for it. I want to be more like the ocean, unapologetic of my wants and needs, and not making myself smaller to please the people I love. I am in a point in my life where I want to to let go of what is not mine, so that I can find my most authentic self, and I hope to document my progress through the photographs I take throughout this semester.
