Oliver White
The question “why” is asked by everyone at some point in time.
Why is the question “why” asked, why do we as people need a reason?
Why do people do the things they do even if it hurts others?
Why do people say things that aren’t true?
Why doesn’t everyone get along?
Everyone has their reasons for why, just like you have your reasons for why you could never tell a specific person something.
But why do these whys happen?
Among the clouded mist that surrounds everyone’s minds the question why remains.
Every action, every movement, every small thing going on around you, was caused by a person.
You may not realize it but those small seconds that you took after a run to catch your breath have affected every aspect of your life.
Those seconds lost meant everything you did in the future, you did seconds later, thus you doing things at different times making different outcomes happen because you weren’t there.
Why do things happen?
It’s because every tiny little thing in our lives is what causes everything.
Something as small as taking the time to pick up the scraps of paper or pushing yourself to finish a test a little bit faster all creates ripples in the future that inevitably lead to the reasons you did something.
Next time you ask yourself wait why did I do that again, there’s millions of reasons why this outcome came to be.
All the grains of sand eventually make a beach, and all the tiny decisions you make eventually result in something big.
Everything that happens happens for a reason.
Everyone is born equal but not everyone is famous or rich.
Every tree comes from a seed, but some trees grow taller than others.
Everyone can learn to ride a bike, but not everyone becomes a BMX rider.
Why something happens is up to you.
So why do you ask why?
16-year-old sophomore Oliver White has found solace in his poem “Why.” When his dear Aunt June passed, he entered a time of darkness and desperation. During that time, he found himself pondering life’s questions, diving deeper and deeper into a rabbit hole of “whys” and “what ifs.” In his poem, full of ideas that flow from one to the next, he reveals a simple but true message.
The first stanza begins with seemingly random questions about human habits. Why do we hurt each other? Why do we lie? Then, as the poem progresses, he artistically transitions to question the questions themselves, creating the feeling of getting caught up in one’s mind.
Finally, the darkness begins to subside. In analogies, he thoughtfully explains to the reader how every person’s action plays a part in deciding their future. He realizes it might not be so helpful to get lost in the world’s small questions; instead, one should act in the present moment. He realizes that he, that we, are the why.
White hopes to convey the message that everyone is in control of their lives. All they have to do is act in addition to all their wondering, even if it’s just a half-step.
Art Showcase Club 