Week of October 5th, 2015

My ARTED 308 professor challenged us to think about why we as individuals chose to pursue art education, as well as asking us to think about what our best characteristic is. 

I did not come to choose art education initially when I began my college career at UW Stout.  Originally I was a Studio Art major, and after taking classes for little over a year, I kept thinking, "Is this what I'm really meant to do?" I still loved art, but I didn't think I could be competitive enough as a commercial artist as well as financially support myself after school.  I decided to speak with the program director of Art Education and she recommended attending a few Children's Art Club meetings, a weekly event where local children, both attending public school and home-school, learn about art from art education students.  As I began attending meetings, I met new people and worked with children, and I became a happier person.  Every time I came home to visit, my parents told me that I looked happier and I was more excited to talk about art education than I was as a studio art major, and at that point, I knew I belonged in Art Education.  Ever since changing majors, I have not regretted it for one single day.

As a child, I was very shy, and many times art was the only way I could express my thoughts, feelings, and ideas.  Art does things that many other things can't, and if I can help one child discover how art helped them come out of their shell like it did for me, then it would mean the world for me.

Because of my shyness as a child, I feel that my strongest characteristic is my ability to listen.  My grandma was always one for listening to others before she expressed her opinion, and I believe that characteristic was passed down to me.  I believe that this personal trait is especially beneficial to a teacher because teachers need to be able to listen to their students in order to be respected.  I believe that respect is a two-way street and in order to get respect, you need to give respect, and I believe that begins with listening.