Why Art Education?

I've thought about this countless times before but never too deeply. I always knew that I wanted to work with kids and I've wanted to work with art. It just so happens Art Education brings both those things together. But today, my Intro to Art Ed professor asked us why we wanted to Art Ed: a familiar but unexplored question. So, I thought about it. I was second to last of 12 people in the room so I had a lot of time. And in that time, I figured some of it out.

I thought about where it started...when I was a little kid. I watched my brother draw and he was my hero; I wanted to be just like him. So, that's what I did. I drew and made art and I loved it.

Then I got three little sisters and they saw Chris and I drawing and wanted to venture into the same field. All of us love to draw while our parents are hardly artistic.

I discovered music in middle school and dance in high school. I've learned to love singing, making music, movement, and visual art making. The creative arts is so fascinating and lovely to me and I couldn't see myself doing anything else.

In high school, I started working at Marbles and for Artspace's Summer Arts Camp for kids. I got involved with my NAHS and with different community art organizations around Raleigh including ArtReach 4 Kids and different library events. I loved being part of a like-minded creative people and even just people who were just starting to try their hands at creativity.

I loved working with art and my little sisters and I wanted to be more. I want to bring all the arts together to all walks of life from the young to the elderly and make sure no one is left without a choice to dance or sing or create. So many people say "I can't do that!" when it comes to these different arts...but in reality, it isn't a skill set, it is an experience. Whether someone is good at something or not...does NOT mean that a person shouldn't be able to express themselves creatively.

I'm excited to learn more about teaching and take one step closer to my goals.

xxx

Beth