“I am letting go of anger because I don’t want anger to stop me.” Signed, CJ
Third grader CJ with other Lone Pine Elementary School classmates in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan participated in my ArtPrize Nine installation. Their assignment was to write Let Go sentences and choose an assumed name to protect the children’s identity. Their teacher said the students really enjoyed getting to make up their own fictitious names.
When the other third grade teachers heard about the opportunity, they didn’t want to miss out. So their classes wrote Let Go sentences too. Here is a sample of the third grade Let Go submissions:
I am letting go of lying because I lie to my mom and dad.
Signed, Jacqui
I am letting go of third grade because I’m graduating to fourth grade.
Signed, Riley
I am letting go of being scared of loud noises. I will face a fire drill.
Signed, Scarlett
I am letting go of not including everyone. I think that people will be sad.
Signed, Carly
I am letting go of perfection because I want to be myself—the self that is not perfect!
Signed, Dalila
I am letting go of insecurity because I am insecure going places and meeting new people!!
Signed, Ellen
I am letting go of a toxic person because they are really rude to me and slow me down in life.
Signed, Pearl
I am letting go of playing American football because you can get injured really easily, so I’m gonna play baseball instead.
Signed, Henrik
I am letting go of attitudes because I really want to be a great student and do my best and get good grades.
Sincerely, Stephanie
I am letting go of swimming in shallow water because I want to push myself to become a better swimmer.
Signed, Margo
Teacher
I am letting go of “easy,” because I want to do hard things that will challenge me to be the best ME.
Note: One hundred twenty-six participants pre-submitted Let Go letters and sentences to be collaged into the painting. The names and some details have been changed to protect identities.
