As part of a school project our English teacher, Mrs. Steglich, asked us to search the internet for people with unusual collections. We came across a website of an elderly lady who had been collecting banana stickers for 30 years. What sounds like a bizarre and amusing discovery quickly turned into a heartwarming and unforgettable experience. In today’s digital age, the internet has made it possible for us to connect with people from all corners of the world. While it gives us knowledge and incredible opportunities, it also opens doors to the unexpected things.

Presenting a woman who has been collecting banana stickers for decades seemed strange and funny to us, so we decided to reach out to her with an email. To our surprise, Becky Martz, the collector, responded promptly with a YouTube video. We were excited to watch it and see what she had to say. She was so enthusiastic and passionate about her collection. Inspired by her video, we decided to create our own response as we presented her story in our classroom.

This entire experience showed again the incredible power of the internet. The fact that we could stumble upon a strange collector, connect with her via email, and receive a personalized response in the form of a YouTube video was truly astonishing.

This project taught us to appreciate and respect people’s unique interests and passions. We realized that even the most unusual hobbies can bring happiness and fulfillment to someone’s life. It also reminded us that behind every online profile, there’s a real person with their own stories and experiences.

                                                                                                    Laura Mayr und Julia Wimmer, 4B