The Arts & Me

I think that the arts was really what got me into school and learning growing up. The only vivid memories that I have of my early education are of art projects, songs I've learned, and anything that had to do with visuals or hands on making things! I remember that most of my teachers would give us big projects that had several options with them. You could write a paper, make a timeline, etc...but the ones I ALWAYS chose were the artsy ones. I'm sure my parents LOVED getting to help me with those every month! I made paintings, sculptures, dioramas, stories, and anything else you could trust to an elementary school student! This was the case throughout my entire life through high school. I never really learned something until I got to get in and create something for myself. It enabled me to go and learn things on my own because I wanted to and because I wouldn't be able to finish my projects without doing so. And even better, those are the projects that I remember to this day so that knowledge has remained with me all this time. It wasn't until my junior year though that I had a teacher in humanities that made me appreciate art on a worldwide and more specific level. Before I knew things that I liked in art but I never really sought them out or learned to appreciate them on a deeper level. Through her class I was able to take journeys through time and really appreciate music and art and culture. That has been one of the greatest influences in my life. Now, I seek out museums and plays on my own in my own town and whenever I travel. Art is how I learn and I hope to be able to integrate that into most things that I can teach!