Name: Janine Olshefski Age: 21 School: Pratt Institute of Art (BFA) (emphasis in drawing) Art has always been my own form of personal therapy, although when I was younger, I did not understand it that way. I just knew that when I was drawing, painting or creating, I felt calmer. When I had a hard time with anything, whether it was a school project, an emotional situation or anxiety, using my “words” in the form of art helped me through. Art helped me with my academic work. When I struggled at school, I was better able to absorb and retain the information if I could draw while the teacher was talking. I was finally diagnosed with dyslexia in seventh grade which is why writing book reports or papers would cause great frustration and anxiety, but when I was allowed to submit part of the project in art form, I was able to express my knowledge of the content. Having an art component with any writing project made me more excited about the subject matter and improved my grades. I was willing to do the reading so that I could express my conclusions in art form in addition to the written words. Art helped with my self-confidence. I was never an athletic girl, although I tried many sports, and academics were difficult, but with art, I felt confident. I knew I was more skilled than the average student and had been since an early age. I received national recognition for a picture I drew when I was six years old. When I started to get noticed by my peers and teachers, I knew I had found my passion. Several teachers asked to keep my academic art projects to use as examples for their future classes. I also realized that drawing pet portrait commissions for friends and family provided me with some income. Art gave me a path forward to college. I graduated from high school during the pandemic, so visiting colleges was not possible. I finally had the academic grades to attend a liberal arts college, but I knew that listening to lectures and writing term papers for another four years was not for me, so I chose to go to an art college. Although liberal arts classes are still required, they are taught with an art focus and typically require an art component in addition to written content and I knew I could do that. I was not sure of my career path when I started college, but for the past two summers I worked as a counselor at an art camp and discovered that I enjoy teaching elementary school age children. Teaching young artists allows me to share my passion. I love to see the excitement when a camper creates a piece they are proud to show off or works with a medium they have never used before. Art education is what I was meant to do and higher education is required. I am planning to take my passion and what I have learned in art school and supplement it with teaching credentials. I know this means I will have to take additional courses which will require more tuition, but I am ready for it because teaching will bring me fulfillment. At camp I saw many children who remind me of myself at that age … not too athletic, lacking confidence or feeling anxious. If having an artistic outlet during the school day can help them to bring some inner calm or a sense of accomplishment, that will be my reward.