I’m not doing art full time. I worked a lot of jobs where I don’t do any art or design at all. I spent thousands of dollars and years dedicated to pursuing art as a career. As soon as I graduated, I found myself deathly afraid to pursue art seriously. It was just a hobby…
Indigenous People + Alcohol
It is said that alcoholism has been more devastating for Native Americans than any other tool that was introduced during European colonialism. For a variety of reasons, alcohol has had devastating effects for indigenous people, often affecting this population more profoundly than other substances. In this post, I will focus on the adverse effects of…
Let Them Eat Kale: My Struggles with Overeating
I’d like to share some about my journey to a healthier me, but first I must tell you why I’m not already healthy. Comfort food and overeating are, unfortunately, the definition of “love” in my family. In American culture it’s common to see people not only eating more than the recommended serving size but binging…
Improving Empathy
Sometimes, people are so caught up in their day-to-day lives that they lose a crucial part of themselves, something many people might call “empathy.” Empathy doesn’t just measure how much you care for others – it encapsulates an ability to navigate a variety of social cues. For example, being able to read someone’s facial expressions…
Silenced through Sexual Assault: Part 3
In parts 1 and 2 of this blog post, I shared the story of my preteen and early adulthood experiences with sexual assault and how I began to heal from both. In this post, I finish the story. On March 31st, 2017, it was brought to my attention that the man who assaulted me as…
Silenced through Sexual Assault: Part 2
In part 1 of this blog post, I shared the story of my preteen experiences with sexual assault and how I began to heal through connecting with a friend. Here I continue the story. My relationship with my mother became strained because of the secret I was keeping from her. I was ashamed that I…
Silenced through Sexual Assault: Part 1
I was an extremely shy, yet creative child. In fact, the only times I spoke was when I wanted to share a new song that I’d written with my family, or to explain the intent behind my visual drawings and creations. I’ve never been one to speak unnecessarily, though there is a defining moment when…
