Coming into this program, people told me that it was going to be hard…this was true. I let these words have control over my actions coming into Arts & Culture. Walking into the classroom, we had assignments within the first week and I was really hesitant to let myself do any of the work. I was continually questioning myself, hearing the voices of my family saying, “How are you going to get a career in art?”or my mother saying, “How will you be able to make  a living in doing this program?” Then sitting in a room with strangers at the time, Professor Fiori said that we were going to be a family; of course not knowing anyone there yet, her statement seemed pretty crazy to me. As annoying as it was, this process was going to be taxing if I did not at least try and let the knowledge sink in. I stood so strong on what I believed, but at the time, it did not make sense to let go of those thoughts or at least develop them.

When the second semester came around, it was like things were slowly beginning to make sense. Professor Jalovick constantly saying “Context, Context!” helped me to find the meaning in life. Over time, Professor Fiori kept talking about different cultures, and this made me see the arts and its context as two separate concepts; I had to look at art as the framework for context. Context was important because without it, we’re just all lost in the wind; however, finding context gives meaning to our lives and provides more substance. Applying that to the arts means that the arts are all about building on culture, establishing identities, and being connected.

Something that I learned while being in Arts & Culture is context

adds to the imagery of beauty. Sometimes a picture alone does not fully reveal what is necessary to be able to fully understand a piece or wrap your mind around a concept.  For instance, Whistler Nocturne in Black and Gold is an abstract piece during the time of 1875. Many people did not understand what he was trying to display with his work because he did not give any context to the pieces he created. Likewise, I felt like coming into the Arts & Culture Program I was being pushed to understand something that I didn’t have much context on. I had to figure out what it was going to mean for me personally. Now after going through many trials throughout the academic school year, things couldn’t be more clear for me.

As things began to click for me, I knew this year was not just about Professor Fiori or Professor Jalo

vick explaining these things to me, but the two of them being guides to help me make my own conclusions and help me to find out what I do believe. The four strangers that I mentioned earlier, Abby Day, Becca Roland, Erin Neff and Kyra Miller became like sisters to me. Professor Fiori treated us as if we were her children. She was right: we did become a family. What I’m taking away from this program is that sometimes you just have to push through the doubts and a huge workload and you will possibly be able to find your own meanings to life.