IDENTITY

I'd say my identity from a high school to college student has changed in the sense that I am more aware of the world around me. High school was a world in itself with each day presenting a new challenge. But once I found my place there I was reluctant to look elsewhere for confirmation. As a college student I am constantly looking to resources both within and outside of the University to confirm my ambitions, my goals, and essentially my identity.
In high school my artwork was more of a release for me. Whether it was through poetry, hand-sewing, sketching on notes, or my bedroom wall (started behind the door so my parents would not see)making art was my alone time to express what was going on in my life, how certain events made me feel even though my pieces do not come out and say just that. Constantly busy with sports and friends I rarely had time to evaluate my emotions and really think about what was going on and I liked it that way. But when I began to notice that something just did not feel right inside of me I would look to some form of art to get back to that balanced state.
Becoming an art student in college allowed me the time to tap into my emotions and portray them through even the dullest of objects, a rat/cat/squirrel plastic form is coming to mind. My artwork now reflects not only the time I have to reflect, but also the technique and skill I have learned from many talented influences. I'd definitely say that my artwork in college has led me to more breakthroughs in my identity than it ever did in high school.