family. tribe. posse.
When thinking of this, a more sort of abstract thought came to my mind. Of course I initially thought of my actual family, but then when thinking of who has had my back, looked out for me, made me feel included and needed, something else came to mind. I am the youngest of 5 kids with 3 older brothers. They were all wrestlers from a very young age through high school. This was one of the first sports that I ever watched or understood, and is the reason for many good things in my life.
I grew up watching wrestling. When I got to high school, I became a team manager where I scored their matches and was in charge of a lot of aspects of the team. This is where it really started to become a real part of my life. My brother was a senior when I was a freshman and it brought us way closer, to steadily move from siblings to best friends through it. Him and his friends looked after me, as did the wrestlers for years to come. I was very good at what I did, so I always felt needed and wanted. I was a favorite of the head coach as he had known me since I was born.
My photo teacher, who is my mentor, was also a wrestling coach at one time for my high school but at the time for another one, which brought us closer, and in a way made him want to pass on his knowledge to me even more.
coming to college, I obtained an internship with the wrestling team where I take their photos and help to run their social media. Many of my friends now are on the team, along with my boyfriend. I get praised for the photos I take and it makes me feel like I really have a purpose. It got me into sports photography. It has put me in contact with many people who will help me with my future.
Wrestling is just a sport I love to watch, who has brought me to some of the most important people in my life.
mary b photography 