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Devoted To Devotion

Journalism major Lillian Reid, a senior at the Walter Cronkite School devotes much of her time to photography. Here she is taking a landscape photo in Niagara Falls, Canada on a depth- reporting trip she went to for school. Photo by Perla Farias
Journalism major Lillian Reid, a senior at the Walter Cronkite School devotes much of her time to photography. Here she is taking a landscape photo in Niagara Falls, Canada on a depth- reporting trip she went to for school. Photo by Perla Farias

For quite some time now, I find myself thinking about devotion.

Suppose thinking about it makes me a little devoted to the idea of devotion.

Being in school, I think it’s obvious that many of us devote our time to our studies.  From wanting to do well in school to simply enjoying what we’re doing, it gives us joy to dedicate our time to something.

Student relaxes while reading at the Secret Garden. Photo by Perla Farias Student relaxes while reading at the Secret Garden.
Photo by Perla Farias

Celeste Padilla, a senior in the Family & Human Development program found a quite corner to work on her homework at the University Center at the downtown campus. She says by devoting her time to homework, she’s managed to get good grades and has never failed a class. Photo by Perla Farias Celeste Padilla, a senior in the Family & Human Development program found a quite
corner to work on her homework at the University Center at the downtown campus. She says by
devoting her time to homework, she’s managed to get good grades and has never failed a class.
Photo by Perla Farias

From loving someone to working to make ends meet, we devote our time to things that and people who pertain to our health and happiness.

Exercise and Wellness Junior Sam Weinstein and Psychology Senior Megan Light lie on the grass at Civic Space Park at the downtown campus. Megan says it’s important for a relationship to make time for each other, which they do every day. Photo by Perla Farias Exercise and Wellness Junior Sam Weinstein and Psychology Senior Megan Light lie on the
grass at Civic Space Park at the downtown campus. Megan says it’s important for a relationship
to make time for each other, which they do every day.
Photo by Perla Farias

Flora Madrid, a janitor at the downtown campus, says she devotes her time to working. She says she really likes her job and likes to know that her devotion to work essentially helps out the devotion of students working hard in school. Photo by Perla Farias Flora Madrid, a janitor at the downtown campus, says she devotes her time to working. She
says she really likes her job and likes to know that her devotion to work essentially helps out the
devotion of students working hard in school.
Photo by Perla Farias

While walking around on both the Tempe campus and the Downtown campus, I came across different people who showed a sense of devotion, from the most obvious things to the most subtle ones. Devotion underlies the lives of these people.

I found I could almost relate to all of them in one way or another. It’s fascinating to see them so into what they’re doing, completely immersed and unaware of the surroundings.

Criminal Justice and Political Science Senior David Bakardjiev works out in front of a mirror at the YMCA gym that’s part of the downtown campus. He says he goes to the gym about six times a week. Photo by Perla Farias Criminal Justice and Political Science Senior David Bakardjiev works out in front of a mirror
at the YMCA gym that’s part of the downtown campus. He says he goes to the gym about six
times a week.
Photo by Perla Farias

Bodybuilder David Bakardjiev, says he goes to the gym six times a week, while Flora Farago provides an alternative to the idea of devotion.

Flora Farago, a graduate student in Family & Human Development, often shops at the Tempe Farmer’s Market. She says she likes to devote her money to local stores where the owners know their customers and try to be conscious of the products they put on their shelves. Photo by Perla Farias Flora Farago, a graduate student in Family & Human Development, often shops at the Tempe
Farmer’s Market. She says she likes to devote her money to local stores where the owners know
their customers and try to be conscious of the products they put on their shelves.
Photo by Perla Farias

She says she devotes her money to shopping consciously at local stores, demonstrating we cannot only devote our time to things that matter to us but also products of our time such as money.

Aside from school, Communications senior, Desiree Rodriguez, devotes much of her time to hiking and her four-year-old son Jordan. This time she decided to combine the two by taking advantage of the nice weather and showing her son how close the airplanes get to A mountain. Photo by Perla Farias Aside from school, Communications senior Desiree Rodriguez devotes much of her time
to hiking and her four-year-old son Jordan. This time, she decided to combine the two by taking
advantage of the nice weather and showing her son how close the airplanes get to A mountain.
Photo by Perla Farias

But then there are other forms of devotion that hit close to home for many. Desiree Rodriguez devotes her love to her son.

Former ASU law grad student Jack Escobar devotes much his time to playing the guitar. Here he was playing and singing a cover of Bruce Springsteen’s Atlantic City. He says he’s played the guitar for about 10 years and devotes a couple of hours a day to practicing if he has time and is not too tired from work. Photo by Perla Farias Former ASU Law Graduate Student Jack Escobar devotes much his time to playing the guitar.
Here, he was playing and singing a cover of Bruce Springsteen’s "Atlantic City". He says he’s
played the guitar for about 10 years and devotes a couple of hours a day to practicing if he has
time and is not too tired from work.
Photo by Perla Farias

Journalism student Lillian “Lilly” Reid serves as an example for someone who lives her devotion.

Having roomed with Lilly in a depth-reporting trip to Canada during Spring Break (part of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication), I was astonished to see how she truly breathes photography.

Her D600 camera is her third arm;  she carried it around everywhere. And she would get to her editing and posting online right away, staying up for many hours into the night devoting her time to something she loves. I think at this point, she has devoted so much of her time and efforts to photography that it’s become second nature to her.

Journalism major Lillian Reid, a senior at the Walter Cronkite School devotes much of her time to photography. Here she is taking a landscape photo in Niagara Falls, Canada on a depth- reporting trip she went to for school. Photo by Perla Farias Journalism Senior Lillian Reid devotes much of her
time to photography. Here, she is taking a landscape photo in Niagara Falls, Canada, while on a depth-
reporting trip.
Photo by Perla Farias

What is devotion, anyway? Based on my personal experience with my 365 day self-portrait project, I know it takes a lot of discipline to devote your time to something you love or to some kind of responsibility or many times both.

Through the countless people encountered for this piece, I learned that whatever you devote yourself to, is that you really have to live it, especially if you love it.

Reach the photographer at pfarias@asu.edu or via Twitter @farias_perla

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