While many items stuck with me this semester, there was one quote from Cole’s Doing Documentary book that really hit home. He stated, “Who we are, to some variable extent, determines what we notice and, at another level of intellectual activity, what we regard as worthy of notice, what we find significant (Cole,89). This is particularly true in life and something I never stopped to think about prior to it being said out loud. What everyone notices are from a different perspective and that’s what makes people unique. Significance is also relative and what one views as being significant may not be what another thinks it may be. Though there is no right or wrong, it is all about perspective and the reality of one’s perspective. I highlighted and underlined this part when I first read it and have referred to it in conversations with even my family. With documentaries, they are just that; perspectives of what one considers relevant, important, and worth changing. from this point forward, not only will I take this into consideration, but I will also be more compassionate towards others. I have to remember that even in everyday school, such as working in a small group, what I notice and find significant may not be what someone else does, but it does not mean it’s wrong or irrelevant. In fact, taking other’s perspectives and looking through a different lens will enable me to be more open and empathetic with others. which in turn, will make me a better listener, friend and student.
