stepping toward the future

Today is the day of our reception. Everything has been leading up to this point and it's very exciting!  Michelle and I worked very hard on our STEPS to get to where we are today. We have a lot of people to thank for helping us to get here. Some people were here just to help, while others really encouraged us. However, we chose to do this an we pushed ourselves. 

step 1: complete

Today, I turned in my College of Education application! Yayy! It was not a really difficult process, but I had to make sure that it was as perfect as it could've been. I am really excited about teaching! I talked to Jo when I turned my app in and it was a great conversation. I requested to teach in middle and elementary school for teacher assisting and student teaching. All I want to do is teach little kids to figure paint. That's what I tell everyone, but it is so true!

The next step is the reception on Thursday! We have everything pretty much done, everything is already set up, just need Thursday to be here. I cannot wait until I can say "we did it!" 

The Article

Fortunately enough, we have had a lot of "coverage" for our show. We have been receiving a lot of opportunities for this show! 

Below is the link for the online article in the Lanthorn from January 24th's issue

http://www.lanthorn.com/article/2013/01/students-step-forward-in-art-education

strength.

Not a Dr. Seuss quote today, but this seems very applicable to everything lately. 

Stress is always a factor in my life, especially lately. I've been going to the chiropractor to try to help with all the pain and headaches I've been having. I hope that everything is going to get better. After next week, a lot of pain and stress will go away (so I hope) and I can move forward. Usually I let everything bring me down a little bit at a time, and I need to learn that everything happens for a reason and eventually I will be strengthened because of it.  

One day I think I will realize how strong I really am because I have been through so much and dealt with so much. Maybe I just am stronger than everyone else because I hold onto it and don't express myself as much as I should. 

I am being the bigger and better person by accepting it and realizing how much more mature and responsible about most things. Who knows, we will see what will come of it in the future. All I can do is hope. 

Set-up

Today, we set up the show. It was a lot of work and the vinyl was awful to put up! The kids have a huge wall and I am so excited for their stuff to be exhibited and I hope they are as well. Every student and child should get the opportunity to "show their stuff. "

Of course, it is important for myself as well because, as an art educator, I do not get the chance to show my work. In classes we usually do not show works either, so no one really gets the chance to see what we have created. This could be the only show and the only time I ever get to exhibit my work in a gallery. 

 I wish and hope that everyone gets the chance to come to the show for at least a little bit to experience what we and the kids have created. Art is a powerful thing and everyone should be touched by it. Don't think about it, just let it hit you. 

Stressed OUT

So much has been going on. I love being organized, but lately it's hard for me even to be organized. 

We are setting up the show on Sunday and it will be a great sigh of relief when it is complete. A lot of work has gone into it for sure. So many things need to be taken care of! 
I have been printing everything so we can get it all posted when we set up. 

We have also had an interview with the Lanthorn and an article about our show and why we did it. We may also be going into the Grand Valley magazine! Very exciting. I hope everyone can see why we are doing this. It isn't for us, it's for the kids. At least, that is how I see it. The kids are so important in every situation. They are the future and they need to know that they are important to us. 

I am almost ready to submit my application to the College of Education. I have worked hard on it and I just hope it is good enough. I have had the "right" people look at my resume and I hope everything is sufficient enough for admission. Let's hope!

I am also working 4 days a week this semester so that is very stressful. Work, Babysitting, show, College of Ed. AHH Everything is piling up and classes are not helping. I have a ton to do in classes, and staying organized for those is especially important. 

New Semester

So, I've officially started my 2nd semester of my 4th year at GVSU. It has gone by fast for sure. This semester I am taking 5 courses, and for some reason they all seem that they are going to be heavily filled with writing papers. 3 of my courses are gen ed requirements and I am also taking capstone. Everything will require a lot of time from me, so we will see how it goes. 

Aesthetics will be interesting because there are 5 art majors in it and we already started an argument with the question asked of us, "what is art?". This brought up some issues and it was only the first day. However, this class has at least 5 papers that we need to write, so that'll definitely make it tough.

History, the main concern is my reading comprehension. I've never really been good at doing so, so it is hard for me to understand material. His reading quizzes are the hardest part and they are every week. He told me just to focus on the hints he gives us, so we'll see how it goes. 

All of my courses also decide to have major things due when I have everything else to do. The show is coming up on January 31st and my College of Ed application is due February 1st. Everything is due within that week. It is going to be stressful!

Art Education Exhibition

We are two aspiring art educators with a passion for printmaking and teaching. As Bachelor of Arts students, we are not required to have an exhibition of our works, but we found this is a great opportunity to not only showcase what we have created in our program, but to also educate the public on the significance of art education. 

This exhibition is not only to show our personal advancements in art, but also the creations of the students we have artistically guided. 

Exhibition: January 21st-February 1st
Reception: January 31st   5pm-7pm

New Year

Happy 2013 everyone!

 I hope everyone's 2012 was very exciting and full of laughter and love. This year will be a lot of work and very exciting! 

This semester I will have another 5 courses along with working my main job at COE and some other little jobs. 

Advanced Printmaking 2, Capstone, History, Aesthetics, and the Idea of Nature. It shall be interesting.