Exhibit Flow Story Board
My Unicorn Pillowpet
How one unicorn stuffed animal crossed borders of change, conflict, and states.
Tessa Aten
start
Works Cited
How it Began
Click the hotspots to learn more information about the Pillow Pet
Click below to see the evolution of the Pillow Pet
Add 11 Years
Home
Click to add 11 years
Home
Click to learn more about the current Pillow Pet
Home
How it's going
Click the hotspots to learn more information about the Pillow Pet now
Next
Home
Click below for a short video
Into the future....
As I continue the transition into college, I can take the autobiographical memories and knowledge of life experiences that I have learned and apply them to my life now. As the Pillow pet holds so many memories and lessons that have learned throughout the past 18 years, I can use these memories to build my own identity in this new lfie adventure. I have been crossing borders my whole life, and now it is time to take those lessons and cross the border into adulthood.
Feelings
While my mom and I were moving around, I was feeling as any young child would feel, a little nervous, but excited all the same. Many things around me were changing, however one thing that wasn't changing were my stuffed animals, especially the Pillow Pet. One thing about me as a younger child is that I loved my stuffed animals. When going through change, many people turn to a common object for solace or comfort, and for me, it was my Pillow Pet. Furthermore, across cultures, family is a human universal, meaning that no matter what culture you are from, people find family to be a source of importance. While the Pillow Pet is obviously not family, the association with my mom and her giving the stuffed animal to me gave it even more meaning.
Memories
Often, objects can hold memories as well. While I did cross a border by moving to college and away from my house, I still find comfort in the memories that I have from my house. Objects such as my Pillow Pet can "form connections to experiences in a person's life", such as the memories from my home that I hold dear (van den Hoven). Many people find comfort in their memories of home, and I find mine in the Pillow Pet. Furthermore, the study found that the connections that can form between specific objects and experiences can "form part of their autobiographical memory", which are people's memories of their life events and knowledge of themselves (van den Hoven).
The Moves
As a young child, I moved to many different houses. I was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, but then moved to Illinois, then back to New Orleans, and the finally to multiple houses in Georgia. I chose my Pillow Pet as my border crossing artifact because of its literal and figurative nod to the topic. For one, the move between states was a huge change, especially for a young child. Moving, “particularly [...] for children” can be “trying” (Warnick). Additionally, my mom and I would drive back and forth to Illinois to see my family, and I consistently used my Pillow Pet as a pillow for the long car rides. For me, my Pillow Pet represents change and transition, whether it be just for a visit, or even for moving states entirely. Many people, when faced with large amounts of change, resort to objects that cause them peace and comfort when everything seems to be changing.
A Deeper Connection
My mom was the original person who gave me my Pillow Pet, so on a deeper level, the stuffed animal reminded me of my mom. In my life, my mom has not always been a constant, but also a role model, someone who I can look up to. I like to think of my mom as the most resiliant person in my life, and I have seen her cross border after border, always making it through to the next challenge. Seeing her face all of her battles, many of them with me by her side was inspirational. Still having the stuffed animal she gave me over 10 years ago reminds me of all she went through during those years and how I can reflect her resilience in my own life.
An emotional connection
Oftentimes, when people are going through dramatic changes, they attach themselves to an object because it gives them comfort during uncertain times. For example, recently I made the transition into college life. I don't live at home anymore, however as I crossed the border into dorm life, I still have my Pillow Pet. Psychological studies have concluded that "certain [...] objects can [...] hold [...] power to reassure us" (Bell). When I first moved to college, everythibg was feeling very unsure. I was homesick, I missed my mom, and everything had changed. However, objects such as the Pillow Pet can even "connect us to loved ones", says one study, which I found to be true as I held onto that small piece of home (Bell).
My Unicorn Pillowpet
Tessa Jane Aten
Created on September 18, 2025
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Transcript
Exhibit Flow Story Board
My Unicorn Pillowpet
How one unicorn stuffed animal crossed borders of change, conflict, and states.
Tessa Aten
start
Works Cited
How it Began
Click the hotspots to learn more information about the Pillow Pet
Click below to see the evolution of the Pillow Pet
Add 11 Years
Home
Click to add 11 years
Home
Click to learn more about the current Pillow Pet
Home
How it's going
Click the hotspots to learn more information about the Pillow Pet now
Next
Home
Click below for a short video
Into the future....
As I continue the transition into college, I can take the autobiographical memories and knowledge of life experiences that I have learned and apply them to my life now. As the Pillow pet holds so many memories and lessons that have learned throughout the past 18 years, I can use these memories to build my own identity in this new lfie adventure. I have been crossing borders my whole life, and now it is time to take those lessons and cross the border into adulthood.
Feelings
While my mom and I were moving around, I was feeling as any young child would feel, a little nervous, but excited all the same. Many things around me were changing, however one thing that wasn't changing were my stuffed animals, especially the Pillow Pet. One thing about me as a younger child is that I loved my stuffed animals. When going through change, many people turn to a common object for solace or comfort, and for me, it was my Pillow Pet. Furthermore, across cultures, family is a human universal, meaning that no matter what culture you are from, people find family to be a source of importance. While the Pillow Pet is obviously not family, the association with my mom and her giving the stuffed animal to me gave it even more meaning.
Memories
Often, objects can hold memories as well. While I did cross a border by moving to college and away from my house, I still find comfort in the memories that I have from my house. Objects such as my Pillow Pet can "form connections to experiences in a person's life", such as the memories from my home that I hold dear (van den Hoven). Many people find comfort in their memories of home, and I find mine in the Pillow Pet. Furthermore, the study found that the connections that can form between specific objects and experiences can "form part of their autobiographical memory", which are people's memories of their life events and knowledge of themselves (van den Hoven).
The Moves
As a young child, I moved to many different houses. I was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, but then moved to Illinois, then back to New Orleans, and the finally to multiple houses in Georgia. I chose my Pillow Pet as my border crossing artifact because of its literal and figurative nod to the topic. For one, the move between states was a huge change, especially for a young child. Moving, “particularly [...] for children” can be “trying” (Warnick). Additionally, my mom and I would drive back and forth to Illinois to see my family, and I consistently used my Pillow Pet as a pillow for the long car rides. For me, my Pillow Pet represents change and transition, whether it be just for a visit, or even for moving states entirely. Many people, when faced with large amounts of change, resort to objects that cause them peace and comfort when everything seems to be changing.
A Deeper Connection
My mom was the original person who gave me my Pillow Pet, so on a deeper level, the stuffed animal reminded me of my mom. In my life, my mom has not always been a constant, but also a role model, someone who I can look up to. I like to think of my mom as the most resiliant person in my life, and I have seen her cross border after border, always making it through to the next challenge. Seeing her face all of her battles, many of them with me by her side was inspirational. Still having the stuffed animal she gave me over 10 years ago reminds me of all she went through during those years and how I can reflect her resilience in my own life.
An emotional connection
Oftentimes, when people are going through dramatic changes, they attach themselves to an object because it gives them comfort during uncertain times. For example, recently I made the transition into college life. I don't live at home anymore, however as I crossed the border into dorm life, I still have my Pillow Pet. Psychological studies have concluded that "certain [...] objects can [...] hold [...] power to reassure us" (Bell). When I first moved to college, everythibg was feeling very unsure. I was homesick, I missed my mom, and everything had changed. However, objects such as the Pillow Pet can even "connect us to loved ones", says one study, which I found to be true as I held onto that small piece of home (Bell).