Reflections

*Entry Forms Below.

Each year, the? PTA Reflections program?offers students a platform to express their unique perspectives and interpretation of a student-created theme. For the 2025-2026 school year, the theme is “I Belong!” This concept was created by Ben Morgan from Boise, Idaho as part of the? 2023 Reflections Theme Search Contest.?? 

At the time of submission, Ben Morgan was a 6th grader at Lewis and Clark Middle School PTSA and was inspired by the sense of belonging and connection he has with his friends, family and community.  

“I have found belonging with my family and friends. The people in my classes can also be like part of my family, even though we aren’t directly related. For me, “I Belong!” means I know where I am accepted, and I know that I can be myself there without being criticized or judged.”? – Ben Morgan 

Understanding “I Belong!” 

“To belong” is to be a part of group, team or community, and your inclusion in that group can be documented by membership and rosters. But in a broader sense, to belong means your place in a certain community is valued, respected and secure. In either sense, belonging builds self-esteem, social skills, and, in moments of personal or collective crisis, belonging to a supportive group can offer comfort, strength, and resilience. This is especially true when belonging means knowing you are included without needing to change or hide parts of who you are. Through those authentic and meaningful bonds, we develop a sense of stability, direction and comfort and know that we can rely on others to support us.  

Belonging can be found in various contexts, such as family, friendships, workplaces, cultural or religious communities and even online groups. In many of these, our sense of belonging feels based on commonalities and shared experiences within those communities or spaces. In a cultural or religious context, belonging can provide a sense of shared identity, values, and traditions, fostering a deeper connection to one’s heritage and beliefs. With a club, organization or sports team, shared interests and common goals create a sense of camaraderie and grow our ability to work with others. ? 

However, belonging is not about being similar or identical to others. People can belong to groups even if they have different backgrounds, perspectives or experiences because no matter how similar a group is, no one is the same. When we recognize and embrace the differences in the groups we belong to, we broaden our understanding of the world and build open-mindedness. The sense of belonging builds communities where differences strengthen and sustain the community. These communities are then more resilient because they can draw on a variety of strengths, resources, lived experiences, and knowledge. 

Creative Ways to Explore “I Belong!”  

Each person will have a unique way of creatively portraying “I Belong!” because each group we belong to is unique to our own experiences. With so much to capture, this year’s Reflections theme is a great opportunity to use symbolism, metaphor and new styles to portray the feelings and emotions that come along with a sense of belonging–or feeling excluded. Alternatively, artists can use their craft to describe a persona experience where they felt they understood what it means to belong. Make sure you use your artist statement to help explain your creative decisions and how your artwork connects to the theme.  

There are even more opportunities for creative thinking across the Reflections arts categories! Here are just a few ideas to get begin working on your entry: 

• Expressive Movement in Dance Choreography: Find a song that captures how you feel about belonging and use dance or movement as a form of artistic expression. Moving your body in response to music or emotions can help release feelings and foster a sense of connection with yourself. 

• Personal Documentaries in Film Production: Create a documentary about your own experiences with belonging and/or exclusion. This can help you process your feelings and share your story with others. 

• Write a Story in Literature: Tell the story of your experiences using different characters, settings and plot points that help share how  belonging feels. This can help you process your journey and see it from a new perspective.  

• Collage Making in Visual Arts: Create collages using magazine cutouts, photographs, and other materials to create a cohesive image. Focus on how you personally define belonging, identity and community to help you visualize and explore your feelings in a tangible way. 

• Instrumental Pieces in Music Composition: Create instrumental music that evokes the feelings associated with belonging. Rather than lyrics, use melodies, harmonies, and rhythms to express emotions like acceptance, and connection. Use style-specific instruments to represent your piece as part of a larger musical style and narrative.  

• Symbolic Imagery in Photography: Set, stage and capture an image with different pieces that jointly symbolize belonging, such as group activities, or shared spaces. Use these symbols to create a visual narrative about connection and togetherness.  

Create Conversation and Engagement with “I Belong!” 

The theme for?each PTA Reflections program? is meant not only to inspire student artwork, but also conversations, creative expression and learning between PTAs, parents and students. “I Belong!” encourages conversations about what it means to belong, the value and privilege of feeling like we belong somewhere and how we can create welcoming spaces to share that feeling with others.  

Here are some discussion questions for families to explore the theme of “I Belong!” together:  

• Defining Belonging: What does belonging mean to you? How do you know when you belong somewhere? 

• The Value of Belonging: Why is it important to feel like you belong? How does it affect your happiness? 

• Feeling Excluded: Discuss a time when you felt excluded and didn’t belong. How were you feeling, and what can be done to prevent others from feeling the same way? 

• Role Models: Identify people (real or fictional) who exemplify the spirit of belonging. Discuss what specific traits help them build community or deal with exclusion. What can we learn from their actions and attitudes? 

• Belonging in Different Contexts: Explore how belonging might look different in various settings, such as school, work, sports teams and online communities. How can we adapt our approach to foster belonging in each context? 

“I Belong!” is sure to inspire a deeper understanding and appreciation of belonging to the groups and communities that support our creativity, nurture our personal identities and celebration our artistic creations.  

Congratulations, once again, to Ben Morgan and Lewis and Clark Middle School PTSA!    

For more information on participating in the 2024-2025 “Accepting Imperfection” Reflections program, visit your?state PTA’s Reflections Program page or PTA.org/Reflections.