The Butterfly Effect and Me

The butterfly effect can simply be described as a minor change that has an impact on events on a larger scale. Is it possible that a butterfly flapping its wings could cause a tsunami on the other side of the world? Truth be told, it is possible. This is a concept that is truly fascinating and is something that I believe. The butterfly effect has taken place in my life.

One example of this large-scale event that has happened in my life was me ultimately becoming the school photographer for the sports teams during my junior and senior years of high school. Now, in order to get to this large-scale event that happened, we need to break it down and look at the root of why it started. In order to do this, we need to jump all the way back to seventh grade during the year of my Bar Mitzvah. When I wanted to see the pictures from my Bar Mitzvah, I had to go to the office of the photographer in downtown Boston. When I got there, I looked across the room and saw these incredible photographs of World Series games, Super Bowls, and Stanley Cup Finals, and I was mesmerized at how beautiful they were. This event resulted in my parents buying me a camera with the money from my Bar Mitzvah, and I just shot everything I saw. During my freshman and sophomore years of high school, I took a photography class and really worked hard to get better. Once junior year rolled around, one of the wide receivers on the football team asked me to take pictures for the team and I enthusiastically agreed. This event set me on a course to become the school photographer for almost every sporting event and other events in the school. The highlight came when I got the chance to be on the sidelines of an ESPN televised game of a Boston College vs. Syracuse football game. This outcome, I believe, all stemmed from one minor change back in seventh grade.

Another example of the butterfly effect occurring in my life was in sixth grade when I wanted to get involved in community service. Because of this interest, I began researching different organizations where I could impact people’s lives. I didn’t want to do something where I just donated money, but instead wanted to do something hands-on, so I could see the impact that I was making in people’s lives. I ended up volunteering for kids with disabilities and played sports with them. I enjoy sports, and I enjoy working with kids, although at the time I did not know how much working with those kids would impact my life. One week after the session, one of the parents of the children asked me to work with her kids during the week and weekend. I continued this job for a few years and then started working at a summer camp where I have continued to work ever since. I never knew I wanted to do something with kids in my future but the decisions I made in sixth and seventh grade were a huge part of who I am today.

Clearly, the butterfly effect is much more prominent than we can even see with our own eyes. Minor events that has happened in my life — such as getting my camera and volunteering with kids – affected my life in ways I could never have imagined. That is the beauty of the butterfly effect.

PHOTO CREDIT: PAYCOM.COM