My Mission

As an educator, my mission is more than teaching content and making a living. What drives me to wake up every morning is not just Art, but my students. Not everyone loves Art class, school, sports, etc. But if I could be the person in a student’s life who listens, provides advice, and teaches them to have passion, confidence, and a will to learn and succeed in life, then my mission is complete as an educator. I believe that there is no other profession that allows for this type of opportunity to change the trajectory of someone’s life. I also believe that the subject of Art allows for this type of relationship to occur. Art is expression, observation, critical thinking, problem-solving, and originality all in one class. Through Art, you learn so much about a student and their abilities, interests, and spirit. The strong feeling of accomplishment generated by creating a work of art can translate into a positive outlook on their self-worth and inspire them to succeed. I had a student approach me at the end of class and tell me “I saved her”. She proceeded to tell me I showed her that life is worth living and she has more to give. That was the proudest moment of my life. As a teacher, I think we sometimes forget what the youth of today goes through and it is moments like those that turn the tables from being the teacher to being the student. She opened my eyes to the seriousness of my job, as I opened her eyes to who she is.

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