personal statement

Life is the illness, art is the medicine. Art has helped me survive life’s most harsh moments from failing

my first drivers test, to getting my first, second, and third driving ticket. When I was younger I never

understood how to express myself or to release the anger that was building inside me. When life

knocked me down, I would cry, and allowed the frustration to be bottled up. In my darkest hours art

became my outlet. I painted, drew, and took pictures of images that expressed what I was feeling. I

learned that if I needed comfort or relief, art was my permanent release. Art reminded me who I was

when I didn’t understand who I was becoming. It didn’t matter how big my problems were, art was, and

is my personal cure. Creating art for the rest of my life is my dream and, when you have a strong dream

you have no option except to chase it. Whenever I feel as if I cannot push myself any farther, or do any

better, art hears my soulful cries, and wipes away my tears. Art is forever evolving never causing

boredom within its expanding boundaries. Life can bruise our innocent souls, and knock us down just in

the midst of our breakthroughs, but art is there to nurture us back to life’s battle field. Art truly is the

medicine to our diseased filled lives. Art gives us the chance to express what we suppress; the moment

of justice is met with art. Before the introduction of this new found medication, called art, I was

somewhat of a quitter. Everything in my life that I began, I quit, when things became challenging, or

didnt captivate my imagination long enough I would quit the task at hand. I have always been very

athletic, Ive dabbled in several different athletic activities. When I was younger I was truly destined to

be a basketball player, so I thought, I was only eight years old when I discovered I could dribble all my

frustrations away. The older I grew the more intense the sport became, the players became more

serious, and more aggressive. I knew all the basic skills to basketball, yet basketball simply wasn’t able

to confine me. Next I fell in love with Tae Kwon Do, which is the most popular form of martial arts in

Japan. I was superb in Tae Kwon Do, I advanced to the next colored belt one after another. As soon as

I earned my half red and black belt the feeling of boredom began to creep upon me once again. Tae

Kwon Do was no longer exotic or different, it was now repetitive. I quit Tae Kwon Do before I became a

black belt, and the only reason I had for quitting was illogical, I was becoming bored. What I didn’t

understand at the time was, even though things become boring, or difficult, it should never give me the

right to quit, because there will be things that I don’t want to do, but I will have to do. I’ve quit several

things however the only thing I have never given up on, is art, and I never will. My hunger for art will not

be fed, nor satisfied with any other college, it would only amount to its fullest potential at Columbia

College Chicago. I believe, everyone reaches a certain stage in their life, when they understand its

time for them to change, it’s time for them to begin something new. The college search is an imperative

moment. The college that a prospective student of higher learning chooses to attend says a lot about

who they are, and who they will become. I, for one, searched long and hard, before finding the school I

truly knew I wanted to attend. After reading the history and majors Columbia offered, I know Columbia is

where I belong. No other school will adhere to my creative side like Columbia will. Columbia is my new

beginning. It is for this reason, and having a strong passion that I know I would be the best asset for

Columbia College Chicago. Several colleges question the student as to what they can bring to their

particular college, and I know I can bring a positive attitude, an even wider range of creativity along with

my drive and focused personality.