People can be seen wearing jewelry from all different places. You can stop in at Pandora, TJ Maxx, or Kendra Scott and see many familiar pieces. Most people view jewelry as decoration. If you take a step back, however, you will notice it’s much more than that. Jewelry can be a way people express their love, show remembrance, and it’s a part of their identity.

Some people wear jewelry because they love the symbol on it, or they love the person who gave it to them. Seni or, Jaycee Bodnar, can be seen wearing a gold cross necklace with a gold chain layered below. She “never takes them off” since they are “so special” to her. The cross is a gift from her mom, and the chain is a gift from her boyfriend, Eliott. She likes to wear them because everytime she sees her necklaces, she is instantly reminded of them. 

Brylee Bodnar wears a silver cross necklace and only takes it off when she has to. Her mom gifted her this necklace for her 18th birthday. She wears the cross as a symbol of her religion, but because she also loves her mom. Her mom and her religion both mean so much to her that she loves putting her necklace on and thinking of both.

People incorporate jewelry into their daily attire to show remembrance. Isabel Keslar, a senior, has worn a silver cross ring for the past several years. Her great-aunt gifted the ring to her for Christmas. Izzy said, “I wear it all the time because it reminds me why I’m here and what my purpose is.” This ring is a symbol of her faith and she loves the reminder to stay true to herself and not let the world get in the way of that.

Senior, Addison Sterett wears several different rings. She likes to change them out every day, so she has a constant rotation. One of the rings that sticks out to her is a silver ring with a colored jewel on it. She got this when she went to New York. When there she had the opportunity to dance in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. She had so much fun and wanted to bring a little piece of it back with her so that she would never forget it. Anytime Addi goes on vacation, she buys rings from the place. For instance, on her trip she Punta Cana, she picked up a blue ring that she wears now too. Addi loves remembering where she got each ring and the memories that come flooding in each time she looks at them.

Finally, jewelry can be a part of someone’s identity. Members of the hockey team can be seen wearing rubber bracelets with the word “ATTITUDE” engraved on them. Brock Pflugh, a goalie on the varsity hockey team, wears his daily. While their Coach Ferg, gave them these bracelets, he shared the meaning behind the bolded word, “In the game of hockey a lot of things are out of your control, but the one thing you can control is your attitude.” Every time Brock looks down to his wrist, he is reminded of the outlook he wants to own and of the team he wishes to uphold.

Samantha Pedicone has 13 ear piercings. She wears them 24/7, except when she has to take them out for sports. Sammy says, “I love them because they make me unique.” No one else has the same exact ear look as her, and it gives her a distinguishable look. 

Jewelry is so much more than something that just adds to an outfit. People wear it because they love the meaning behind it, to remember someone or something, and because it’s a part of their identity. Next time you see someone wearing a bracelet or necklace, take a second to ask them the significance behind it, and you be pleasantly surprised by their answer.