[NOTE: Thanks to the many people who have been moved by this image, and who have taken the time to comment so insightfully on it. Please consider sharing it with others. I believe it contains as much — or more — Truth in it as any 10,000 words one might read on the subject. Again, thanks for your responses.]
According to Andrei Kurkov, renowned Ukrainian novelist, who first posted this image on Twitter, although their high school was destroyed by Russian bombs, the students were still determined to wear their prom dresses to school. Sixteen year old Valerie, pictured above in a photo [apparently] taken by her aunt, Anna Episheva, poses in front of the school ruins.
Shane Mecklenburger, a remarkably insightful student in an Honors class I taught years ago, offered these words from Albert Camus’ Almond Trees :
Our task as [humans] is to find the few principles that will calm the infinite anguish of free souls. We must mend what has been torn apart, make justice imaginable again in a world so obviously unjust, give happiness a meaning once more to people poisoned by the misery of the century. Naturally, it is a superhuman task. But superhuman is the term for tasks we take a long time to accomplish that’s all [....] The first thing is not to despair.
[As Shane noted, Camus titled the essay The Almond Trees because they blossom in winter.]
This is one of those rare photos that perfectly captures the nuanced complexity of a deeply significant moment in our lives. Years from now, it will still evoke all the contradictory thoughts and powerful emotions it does now.
It is an unforgettable image that deserves to be shared now (which is why I have posted it here).