Jewelry has always been more than just a decorative accessory. For many, it holds the weight of memories, traditions, and milestones. Jewelry can symbolize many things, such as love, memory, personal identity, religion, friendship, and much more. People receive jewelry for gifts or special occasions. Jewelry can symbolize significant life events like weddings, anniversaries, or birthdays. It’s not just a sparkle that shines on your neck, or that dangles from your wrist. Or even the shine of silver coming from your ear. Every piece has an impact.
In a survey that AHS students and staff filled out about the meaning of jewelry, 71% of responders wear jewelry with significance. 17% of them wear it sometimes, and 10% don’t wear jewelry with significance. This shows that if people wear jewelry it is more likely it will have importance to them, and not be something they don’t care about, each piece of jewelry has some sort of memory that is cherished with the metal. Beyond its value, jewelry can also remind us of a special relationship or personal achievement. Whether passed down through generations or carefully chosen for important events, jewelry carries stories and emotions across time.
Raya Parker wears a blue beaded bracelet with a turtle on it. Her bracelet symbolizes “tracking a turtle.” She said her bracelet is a sign of recycling and helping out the sea animals. She got her bracelet in Florida this summer as a memory from her trip. This piece of jewelry is important to her because it symbolizes the memory she made while she was in Florida and every time she looks at it she will get to remember the great time she had.
Senior Eleanor Meyer wears 2 rings with great significance, a class ring, and one her mom gave her. Meyer got her ring from her mom 2 years ago. She said, “I saw the ring in her room and asked if I could have it.” Her mom got it sized and gave it to her for Christmas. It is special to her because her mom has had that ring since she was a teenager. Another piece of jewelry she has is a necklace she had gotten when her grandpa passed away. It has his fingerprint imprinted on it with the words “love grandpa” in his handwriting. Meyer said, “Having these pieces of jewelry is special because they mean so much to me.” When she wears the necklace she is reminded of the good times and memories she made with her grandfather when he was still alive.
Almost 90 percent of AHS students and teachers responded that they wear jewelry with significant meaning at least some of the time. Even over 70% said they wear jewelry with significance all of the time.
Among these responses, necklaces are the most commonly worn piece of jewelry at AHS, along with rings, bracelets, and earrings. There are many other types of jewelry but these are the most common ones worn in our school.
Many people wear jewelry with a significant meaning, whether this be from being passed down through generations to being Christmas presents, birthday presents, and much more. Receiving a gift brightens someone’s day and that gift of receiving that gold or silver makes them shine even brighter because whenever they wear that chain or those earrings or the dangling bracelet they will be able to think of the person who gifted it to them or the memory they made when they received the jewelry. If you want to warm someone’s heart this holiday season, consider giving them a beautiful piece of metal as a gift.
