Why I Chose to Become an Art Teacher
All of my life I have been surrounded by innovative artistic women: my mother a commissioned sculptor, my grandmother a hand embroiderer and arborist (A.K.A lumberjack), my aunt a photographer and business owner, and my cousin a photographer and local recording musician. Watching each of these women develop artistically throughout my life has always inspired me to work in the field of visual arts.
However, it wasn’t until high school that I began to understand my potential. My senior year I won a place in the 2011 Governor’s Traveling Show of the Top 15 High School Art pieces (presented by the MAEA). I also created the Roseville school district’s board of education’s 2010 Christmas Card. During this time I became president of the Roseville High School Art club and bgean teaching fellow students how to draw and tap into their artistic abilities. Thanks to my mentor and art teacher, Eugene Randolph, I realized how fulfilling my ‘teaching’ position was and quickly changed my major to education upon entering Wayne State University.
More recently, my work was chosen to be displayed at the gallery entrance for the Wayne State University: Visual Arts Education & Art Therapy Exhibition in 2014. I am steadily finishing up my Bachelors of Art in Art Education with a minor in Spanish Language Education and I am due to graduate in December 2016.
My Long-Term Goals and Ambitions
As a teacher, I feel my first and primary goal should always be directed at what my students are getting out of thier education. That goal is to instill in all students,whether or not they choose to actively pursue an art career, the recognition and appreciation of art and its integral role in the foundation of society.
Allow me to explain the importance of this goal. Many historians believed that agriculture gave rise to society. However, the latest archaeological findings in Southern Turkey have discovered an ancient temple (called Göbekli Tepe) which is the oldest example of monumental architecture. In fact, it is far older than the famous Stonehedge. Its elaborate carvings and pillars suggest the need for nomads to come together as a civilization to create it. No writing system existed so the art served as a connecting symbol for this early civilization.
My other goal, is as much for me as it is my students: to continue in my endeavor of personal artistic growth. As a teacher I understand that I am a life long learner. Showing my students that I am an active artist and still learning will help them to realize the importance of being life long learners. In addition, my ambitions are to lead my students into community involvement through humanitarian causes, volunteering and community beautification.
(A current photo of Göbekli Tepe.) (An artistic rendition of the temples appearance.)
Click on the link below to discover more about Göbekli Tepe
https://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/06/gobekli-tepe/mann-text