True happiness It takes hardships to know what true genuine happiness is. I remember always saying “everything’s good I’m happy” but never really meaning it. A few years back I was in a dark pit of depression and anxiety. I couldn’t see the next day it felt like a dread just waking up in the morning. I was so far lost that I couldn’t even picture my 18th birthday. Until I found my faith. Jesus saved my life and I am forever blessed and grateful. I now fine pure genuine joy in the smallest things in life. The trees outside my window in the morning. My eyes opening in the morning. Being able to get out of bed in the morning. I’m so happy that I went through my struggles because without it I would not find this much joy and happiness in any little situation. It takes hardships to know what true joy is and once you make it out of those hardships I’m sure you will be thankful for those trials.

It takes hardships to know what true genuine joy is. I remember always saying “everything’s good I’m happy” but never really meaning it. A few years back I was in a dark pit of depression and anxiety. I couldn’t see the next day it felt like a dread just waking up in the morning. I was so far lost that I couldn’t even picture my 18th birthday. Until I found my faith. Jesus saved my life and I am forever blessed and grateful. I now fine pure genuine joy in the smallest things in life. The trees outside my window in the morning. My eyes opening in the morning. Being able to get out of bed in the morning. I’m so happy that I went through my struggles because without it I would not find this much joy in any little situation. It takes hardships to know what true joy is.

A while back I had to complete a my senior project for high school. I thought about what my interest were And realized art has been my escape for so many years. I put together both of my interests and decided to put art and elementary curriculum In one. I volunteered at para los ninos charter located on skid row in Los Angeles and decided to do my work there. I got in contact with one of the teachers and asked what they are learning in class. She mentioned they are learning the layers of atmospheres. From then I went to work and brought in art tools for the students to use. I decided to let the teacher know to not worry about teaching the students any thing about the layers of atmospheres and let the art work do the teaching. The students worked hard on the art work for a week straight. Once the art was completed I worked with the teacher to put together a quiz to see if art alone was a beneficial teaching strategy. The quiz was around 4-5 questions and to our surprise every child passed with no lecture of the layers of atmospheres ever being taught in class just strictly the art work itself. This art piece was my turning point. The joy and education it brought to the students made me realize that I want to pursue my degree in art teaching. Art is more than fun it’s educational, inspirational, and a form of self expression. This piece of art has been my influence to continue my education and when I start questioning if this is the right path for me I remember the joy this assignment brought me when I seen those quiz results

I remember sitting my little sister down on the table and making packets of homework for her to complete. The packets were made of coloring pages and made up numbers stapled together to be “fake homework” When she was done I made sure to draw a big smiley face and put a stamp on it just like my teachers did. From a very young age I’ve always dreamt about becoming a teacher. My cousin who is now a teacher would do the same for me and make me “summer packets” from workbooks we bought at boarders. It was all play back them but as years continued the love for teaching never changed. I volunteered at the park across the street and co-taught a dance class. It was so much fun seeing the joy kids got from learning a dance routine I came up with in my bedroom. It didn’t matter what I would be teaching I just knew deep in my heart I wanted to teach kids new skills. I ended up picking up a love for art. It was my escape and I think I was pretty decent at it. The summer of my with grade year I was asked if I wanted to volunteer and teach an art class at a elementary school. Of course I took up the opportunity. From there I knew I was hooked. Here I am now years later I am on the road to becoming a teacher. Teachers are much more than just what society thinks they are. Teachers are supporters, they are creators, listeners, companions, loving friends to students. A teacher can be a parental figure to a child. My dream is to be that person for any child. I want to be their advocator, I want to be their supporter. I want to become the teacher I wish I had as a young student. I want to change the definition of what society thinks a teacher is. When students think of teachers they automatically think of long homework and boring class days. I want students to hear the word teacher and think support system, friend, trust worthy, family member, guide, a creator or even a shoulder to cry on. I hope that one day whenever I become a teacher God willing, work to make an impact on the education system and help children have the opportunities that I didn’t have as a grade school student.

I’ve been volunteering at a charter elementary school on skid row in Los Angeles. This school has very low income students that don’t get the same opportunities as others. I started volunteering there the summer right before high school. I loved giving my time to students just to listen to them and advocate for them in any way. I’m an art lover I always brought art with me with my volunteer work. We would draw together and just make “messy art” as I like to call it to express our feelings without words. Since covid it has been hard to find volunteer work around my community I’m hoping things will open up soon! Volunteering has helped me fight my anxiety and keep me from spiraling down to that mental dark pit I’ve been in. Volunteering work is something I love to do way more than an actual paid job. I was raised knowing that I have to share my God given gifts with others I can’t charge for something I was freely given. Outreach has also been a passion of mine I’ve performed for women's homeless shelters as well as children hospitals in Hawaii and veterans home on the island of Oahu. I don’t ever think I will stop volunteering. It makes me happy and brings me pure joy.