Mrs. Thompson has had the burden of teaching me for all four years of my high school career. I had always had a love for creating art, but when I came into high school I had no intention to continue choosing Mrs. Thompson’s art class for my elective every year. I still remember my first day of freshman year, I got put into the ceramics class even though I picked art as my main choice. The moment I found out, I met with my councelor to transfer into Studio Art 1. I didn’t care that my schedule would be switched around and that I would get transferred out of my friends' classes (S3). The concept of sitting in an art class developing a lifelong skill enticed me. 

Looking back at my old sketchbooks and comparing those drawings to my current pieces makes me feel proud of myself, and witnessing my own improvement motivates me to continue creating. It’s extremely fulfilling seeing all that time spent making art was not in vain, and it did indeed help me get better (S2). Pushing myself to get better has encouraged me to pursue fine arts as my major in college (S4). I look forward to seeing where my skills can go, and I truly value the resources and opportunities I was given by being a part of SLV’s art program. 

To tie it all together, I feel as though this year I have finally found a subject that intrigues me. Towards the end of last school year I began studying perspective and architecture, and it is somewhat of my main theme with my pieces this year. I enjoy sketching out buildings and cityscapes because it requires critical thinking skills to determine what perspective is physically possible (S1). 

I will forever be grateful to Mrs. Thompson for her dedication to helping me improve, not just as an artist, but as a person too.