When waking up and getting ready for the day, for many students putting jewelry on feels almost like second nature. However, oftentimes the jewelry that students wear at Miami Palmetto Senior High holds deeper significance than just the gold and silver. Each piece often tells a story of family, tradition or personal connection that goes beyond its material value.
Like MPSH freshman Eric Gonzalez, many students’ jewelry pieces carry a long family history.
“My grandpa and grandma got married, they opened a hair salon and it was huge. It had like 32 chairs,” Gonzalez said. “My grandpa was a stylist for this guy that would make gold jewelry, and because of the excessive haircuts, he made these scissors for him as a necklace, and it just got passed down.”
The necklace has been in Gonzalez’s family for 50 years and has been a conversation-starter since Gonzalez’s grandpa was first gifted the necklace. The vast history behind the jewelry piece serves as a physical link to his family’s past. It is a small item that carries memories and achievements, making it an extremely meaningful piece.
For other students, jewelry is a form of self-expression and a way to commemorate loved ones.
“I have a bracelet that was actually from my aunt, and my uncle gave it to me on my birthday. She passed away, so he gave it to me on my sixth birthday. She always wore it so I’ve been really connected with that,” junior Brooke Goldberg said.
For Goldberg, wearing her aunt’s jewelry is a daily act of remembrance. It allows her to feel her aunt’s presence, and each time she looks at the piece, she is reminded of the love and memories they shared together.
Similar to Goldberg, sophomore Joslyn Sabina holds a deep attachment to her earrings because of the sentimental value they bring to her everyday jewelry choices. Her earrings were gifted to her as a newborn by her abuela who loved gold jewelry and made sure that her grandchildren were always adorned with gold accessories.
“I wear them all the time and they remind me of how lucky I am to have had my abuela in my life,” Sabina said.
Every student’s bracelet stack, necklace or earrings have different stories woven into their design. The attachment people feel is a reminder that fashion does not have to simply be what pleases the eye, but what brings comfort and happiness. Jewelry can be a memory of family, friends or even shared experiences.
