Humanities

Music · Writing · Art

This is where the humanities are most important to me. Music, the written word, and visual art provide me with the opportunity to think, to reflect on my thoughts, and to share my thoughts in a way that feels authentic and true. This is an area that challenges me in different ways each time but continues to show me how to communicate with others in various forms.

Music

Music has always been a consistent presence for me in my life. Practicing the piano instills discipline in me and teaches me patience, but when I perform, that’s where the real connect for me happens—that’s where the connect with the music, as well as the connect with all the people I’m performing with and the audience out there. I enjoy the process of taking a piece and then trying to tap the emotion out of it.

Being in an ensemble has taught me the value of active listening, working for someone else, and playing for something greater than I am. Music assists me in upholding focus, poise under pressure, and conviction when speaking for something I believe in.

Writing

Writing is my way of structuring my thoughts and examining a subject further. I enjoy grappling with questions that do not have straightforward replies and editing until my thoughts are well-articulated and specific. The journey is important to me, as important as the product.

In whatever form – an essay, an article, a reflection – I enjoy using words as a means to say why something is important or as a way to tell a story that seems true.

It is almost as if writing is a process that allows me to pause and think as I choose about what I want to say from my perspective.

It is almost as if writing is a process

Art

Art gives me the ability to convey my ideas through my artwork when it is difficult for me to explain verbally. I appreciate the opportunity to experiment with colors, compositions, moods, and the concentrated nature required when completing a painting.

Additionally, I also like the act of giving back through art by creating artworks for school or community functions. This helps me realize the importance of art not just for myself but also for the people around me.