Three Icons that Have Influenced Me

Hi. The three icons that I chose are the Statue of Liberty, Julia Child, and Bill Monroe. The Statue of Liberty graces the harbor near New York City. Julia Child was an American-born wanna be French Chef. And Bill Monroe was the creator of Bluegrass music.

The Statue of Liberty is a symbol of our freedom. It was given to the U.S. by the French as a centennial commemoration of our independence as a country. Julia Child is an icon representing French cuisine done American style and also, on a greater level, the idea that simple ingredients when put together just right, yield extraordinary results. Bill Monroe is known as "The Father of Bluegrass Music" and, as such, pioneered a whole new genre of music.

These symbols have influenced my life in different ways and at different times. The Statue of Liberty has always meant "hope" to me. When my mother would tell of her grandparents coming to the U.S. from Germany and seeing the Statue in the harbor, I wondered how it made them feel. It must have been a sight to behold, representing promise of a new life. As a child, I watched Julia Child on television with my mom as she would effortlessly create yet another masterpiece out of common ingredients. Over the years I realized that these cooking lessons we watched were also applicable to other areas of our lives. If we learn to appreciate and combine the simple things, the results are always incredible.

Bill Monroe epitimizes Bluegrass music. He invented it and started a whole new craze in the Appalachian area. Today, many famous Bluegrass artists (and some not so famous like our family band) measure their own music by his. He had a gift and wasn't afraid to try something new. To me, his example shows us all that there are niches out there to be found and filled.