"Sanctuary is defined as a place of refuge and protection. But what does that even mean? In the modern political landscape, sanctuary is a big topic. A topic so big that sometimes it feels unreachable. You can find sanctuary in many places. Let’s bring it closer," -- Amara Deanes, 8th Grade
Sanctuary is defined as a place of refuge and protection. But what does that even mean?
In the modern political landscape, sanctuary is a big topic. A topic so big that sometimes it feels unreachable. You can find sanctuary in many places.
Let’s bring it closer. For 7th grade Oakland School for the Arts (OSA) student Leo Pyskacek, he finds sanctuary in his headphones, his friends, and nature. It’s a way of having his own personal space away from the stressors of life.
Pyskacek’s biggest refuge is his headphones. “For me, my headphones [are a sanctuary], like I have a little mini walkman that I use to listen to music a lot… I feel isolated from the other world, kinda like a personal space bubble,” he explained. While using them, he feels like he can enjoy being himself, free of judgement.
“It’s like I’m free from judgement of other people. It just makes me feel a certain way. I feel good and happy and complete… don’t have to be afraid. I can just enjoy everything myself,” he said when asked how he feels in a sanctuary.
When in a sanctuary, Pyskacek usually listens to his favorite type of music, a cross between rock and mainstream pop. His favorite artists are Rush, Justin Bieber, and Sabrina Carpenter.
Noise is a big part of his sense of sanctuary. Pyskacek describes the sound of being around his friends as comforting. “It’s just like, low chatter and that’s really comforting to me.” Friends are another important part in his safety.
“. . .lunch [is]a big sanctuary for me since I just get to be around my friends and the people that I feel safe around,” he explains.
It wasn’t always like this. When he was younger, he related the word sanctuary with his love of birds. Nature is another long standing secure space for Pyskacek. “When I was little I used to be really obsessed with birds, so what [comes] to mind is like bird sanctuaries, just being around nature. Going on hikes is a big sanctuary for me too. It just feels so calming to have fresh air.”
We’ve talked a lot about what a sanctuary is for Pyskacek, but what exactly is he seeking sanctuary from? Well, it’s mostly the stressor of life that feels unsafe for him. “Just, like drama, like if stuff happens a lot at school,” he detailed, “And also like, my parents… I have to do a ton of chores, and when I wanna take a break my headphones are very good for that. And also just the world right now with the current president… not very good.” The current administration is a stressor for many, and refuge from that is extremely important.
When it comes to OSA, Pyskacek has mixed feelings on whether it’s a sanctuary or not. “...certain classes I feel safer than others in. So, for example, my English class doesn’t really feel like a safe space, since I have to be like on my toes…” he described. His feelings about OSA aren’t all bad though.
“It comes to mind as both a sanctuary and the opposite of a Sanctuary, but mostly a sanctuary,” he said, “Because all of my friends are here [...] Math is my favorite subject, so math class is a sanctuary for me. I just get to do math in my brain and have no troubles.” Like he described earlier, friends are a safe space for him. Favorite activities, such as math, can also serve as a refuge.
Pyskacek has many different places to find sanctuary, including OSA, his headphones, and nature. This is only one example of the many ways people find mental and physical safe spaces from the hardships of life. Now, it’s easier to see what this sanctuary can mean, and how to find it.
In fact, in spring, OSA is having an all-school show centered around the topic. The show will feature many different art forms, including instrumental music, dance, and vocal music. As demonstrated in Pyskacek’s love for music, the arts can be a safe space for many. Sanctuary is everywhere
In the modern political landscape, sanctuary is a big topic. A topic so big that sometimes it feels unreachable. You can find sanctuary in many places.
Let’s bring it closer. For 7th grade Oakland School for the Arts (OSA) student Leo Pyskacek, he finds sanctuary in his headphones, his friends, and nature. It’s a way of having his own personal space away from the stressors of life.
Pyskacek’s biggest refuge is his headphones. “For me, my headphones [are a sanctuary], like I have a little mini walkman that I use to listen to music a lot… I feel isolated from the other world, kinda like a personal space bubble,” he explained. While using them, he feels like he can enjoy being himself, free of judgement.
“It’s like I’m free from judgement of other people. It just makes me feel a certain way. I feel good and happy and complete… don’t have to be afraid. I can just enjoy everything myself,” he said when asked how he feels in a sanctuary.
When in a sanctuary, Pyskacek usually listens to his favorite type of music, a cross between rock and mainstream pop. His favorite artists are Rush, Justin Bieber, and Sabrina Carpenter.
Noise is a big part of his sense of sanctuary. Pyskacek describes the sound of being around his friends as comforting. “It’s just like, low chatter and that’s really comforting to me.” Friends are another important part in his safety.
“. . .lunch [is]a big sanctuary for me since I just get to be around my friends and the people that I feel safe around,” he explains.
It wasn’t always like this. When he was younger, he related the word sanctuary with his love of birds. Nature is another long standing secure space for Pyskacek. “When I was little I used to be really obsessed with birds, so what [comes] to mind is like bird sanctuaries, just being around nature. Going on hikes is a big sanctuary for me too. It just feels so calming to have fresh air.”
We’ve talked a lot about what a sanctuary is for Pyskacek, but what exactly is he seeking sanctuary from? Well, it’s mostly the stressor of life that feels unsafe for him. “Just, like drama, like if stuff happens a lot at school,” he detailed, “And also like, my parents… I have to do a ton of chores, and when I wanna take a break my headphones are very good for that. And also just the world right now with the current president… not very good.” The current administration is a stressor for many, and refuge from that is extremely important.
When it comes to OSA, Pyskacek has mixed feelings on whether it’s a sanctuary or not. “...certain classes I feel safer than others in. So, for example, my English class doesn’t really feel like a safe space, since I have to be like on my toes…” he described. His feelings about OSA aren’t all bad though.
“It comes to mind as both a sanctuary and the opposite of a Sanctuary, but mostly a sanctuary,” he said, “Because all of my friends are here [...] Math is my favorite subject, so math class is a sanctuary for me. I just get to do math in my brain and have no troubles.” Like he described earlier, friends are a safe space for him. Favorite activities, such as math, can also serve as a refuge.
Pyskacek has many different places to find sanctuary, including OSA, his headphones, and nature. This is only one example of the many ways people find mental and physical safe spaces from the hardships of life. Now, it’s easier to see what this sanctuary can mean, and how to find it.
In fact, in spring, OSA is having an all-school show centered around the topic. The show will feature many different art forms, including instrumental music, dance, and vocal music. As demonstrated in Pyskacek’s love for music, the arts can be a safe space for many. Sanctuary is everywhere
