What is a Self-Actualization Box?The Global Perspectives program has taught us many valuable lessons: how to think critically, how to be creative, how to survive with four hours of sleep a night, how to work with others; but some of the most important things we learned were about ourselves. With each challenge we faced, we discovered our strengths, weaknesses, values, desires, passions, and so much more.
From the beginning the teachers challenged us to break free from the proverbial box, but with this project, we faced the challenge of putting ourselves into a new box. More specifically, we had to represent ourselves through seven individual boxes that fold into one. Or at least they should fold. It doesn't always work out that way. |
What Does Each Box Represent?Each box is designed after Maslow's hierarchy of needs, a theory in psychology that human needs are ranked, starting with physiological needs and building up to self-actualization.
Box 1: Medal of Self. This box contains a clay medal. One side represents us before Global and the other side represents how we have changed. Box 2: Home. This box portrays the idea of home. Contained within the drawer is an artifact that represents what makes us feel safe. Box 3: Belonging. This box is decorated to show our "tribe", the people we can count on during tough times. Box 4: Esteem: This box contains an artifact representing a personal talent, ability, or achievement. Box 5: Cognitive. This box shows our education goals. Box 6: Aesthetic. This box shows what we find beautiful. Box 7: Transcendance. This box contains a poem about an issue beyond ourselves that we feel strongly about. |