Visual Statement
Charles Bukowski once said, “Find what you love and let it kill you”, these are words that have I have implemented into my life and art today. I discovered this quote my Junior year at Western. Professor Melissa Myser wanted to know what made “us” as artists feel alive and gave “us” drive. I was unsure, I did a lot of thinking, and paraphrasing of what I wanted to show others through my art, and through the way I held myself. Then I found what Bukowski said, his words ring true. Regardless if I am an artist or not this is a quote I can live by and have implemented into my life. I remind myself if I do not love what I am doing then what have I become? How off my path have I strayed? I believe that once you find your passion, your career, that you should let it consume you, it should be a part of who you are already; that is also what Bukowski is saying. Through my last couple of years here at Western my idea of what I would do after college has changed drastically. I want to forever be an artist, that is a part of who I am, however it is not all that I am now. I have discovered a new passion of mine, one that has been there all along, English. Coming into this Communications program and emphasizing in film has always been a part of my life plan, I knew from the age of fourteen I wanted to be a filmmaker. However, by the age of seventeen I also discovered my passion to lead, guide, and teach others around myself. I soon adapted learning about film into the idea that one day I would want to share my passions with others and teach others how to find their passion and drive.
Growing up in a lower income high school in Texas, theater was the only art-form, besides painting and sculpting, that my school offered. I had no options of studying film in High School before heading off to college. So, I did theater, and I was blessed, because my theater Director—who is now a personal good friend of mine—Lacey Carnley changed my life. She showed me the abilities and talents I had. She guided me through obstacles within the art-form and with life. She was one of the people that showed me who I wanted to become later on—besides my parents. She showed me I had a passion and natural talent for leading, guiding and teaching others; she also showed me how much passion and drive I had for theater and film.
Remembering all of this my last two years at Western is what reset my thinking on where I wanted to go and who I wanted to be after college. I am still not one-hundred percent sure, however, I am more ready than I was. My life in college as an artist, a person both emotionally, physically and spiritually, has changed and grown into who I am now in my last semester as an undergrad here at Western. I know that I want to do what I love and let it “kill me”. I know I want to change others’ lives, so that is what I am going to do after I graduate this May of 2017.