It’s only human to want to look forward to the future. Senior Dane Kennedy, however, believes there is beauty in looking back. Through this, he has discovered some of his most unexpected passions, like urban exploration and documenting abandoned buildings.
“[What interests me are] places being from a certain time and date and looking [at the] varying states of [organic] decay,” Kennedy said.
When exploring urban areas, Kennedy purposefully thinks about the history of the location. For example, when he looks at a lifeless classroom, he imagines what it must have been like years ago when it was bustling with people roaming the halls.
“A ton of people probably went to these classes, went through these doors, and now it’s just completely left behind… It’s just a place in everyone’s backyards that everyone has forgotten about,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy also sees a special meaning behind the drawings and graffiti he finds in abandoned buildings.
“[The abandoned barn I explored] was just a [normal] place. Then other people went through and graffitied all over it,” Kennedy said.“[I think it’s so interesting] how something so normal and almost boring attracts a crowd of people who can tell interesting stories in it.”
His interest in abandoned locations has led to another one of his passions: drawing. Kennedy has even made his own genre out of it. He likes to focus on a particular building and contrast what the structure looked like many years ago versus today within his drawing. For example, one of his drawings features an elementary school in the high desert. 
“I’m really interested in the concept of liminal spaces, or photos that look nostalgic and look like something you would have grown up with… All of the details I put in [my drawing] are supposed to resemble nostalgia,” Kennedy said.
While making his artwork, Kennedy focused on the school’s cracked sidewalks, unkept palm trees, and power lines. He says these are some of the details we notice as kids, but as we get older we begin to focus on other things. These intricacies stand out from the bigger picture and showcase Kennedy’s artistry.
“I’m able to express myself through the art I make… It makes up a lot of my [identity] as a person, and makes me a more nuanced and creative person,” Kennedy said.
Dane’s mother Morgana Kennedy believes that his passions for drawing and urban exploration come together naturally because of his interest in the contrast of time.
“[His art] makes me feel really happy. He’s just a really great kid,” Morgana Kennedy said. “He’s kind, and has this artistic strength to him that I hope will help in his future roles.”
Kennedy aspires to channel his interests into architecture, a career that would satisfy them both.
“[Most kids focus on] doing the traditional things like water polo, softball, or baseball,” Morgana Keller said. “But it’s nice to know that he has so many other interests … I support him 100% in whatever he wants to do.”
Kennedy agrees with his mother that his hobbies are more unique, and not everyone shares the same interests.
“I don’t really [bring up my passions] that often… I feel like other people wouldn’t see it the same way I do. When people play video games and things like that, I usually go on Google Maps,” Kennedy said. “Something that someone is dedicating their life to, another person [may not] understand at all… [Pursuing my interests] makes me feel special, but I’ve always thought everyone else was just as interesting as me.”