When thinking of a career to pursue in the future many people do not know what to pick, and that unknown future factor gets people scared. There are many career choices in life and picking one that you are good at tends to be nerve-wracking, especially if you are not specifically passionate about anything. But what do you do when you feel enamored by art and inspired by a good art teacher?
Welcome, Ms. Melissa Willet, Visual Arts Teacher at Greenwood High School; someone very creative and insightful who can teach many things in both academia and life.
Her passion for art existed ever since she was in elementary, and only grew onward.“ It’s something I’ve done as long as I could remember, probably since elementary.” In itself, it is amazing how someone could find their purpose or something they felt passionate about from a young age. But that was not all of it as she continued “I was always drawing or doodling and I didn’t realize I had any kind of talent until middle school, when a teacher gave me a little feedback.” Interestingly it seems like art brings people together and is close-knit with
emotions and people.
“ When I got to high school, I had just made my way from middle school, and my high school art teacher, I was really impressed with the way that he handled the classroom and how much fun he was to be around, and it kinda put it in motion for me.” Based on the stories told by Ms.Willett, It seems that art teachers inspire each other and other people in different ways either subconsciously or otherwise.
Teachers have a way of impacting students in ways no other person can and honest feedback from teachers definitely shapes the students and their overall outcome, for the better or for the worse. With that said, Ms. Willett’s art teacher was mentioned many a time, so could he have shaped her future or what she wanted to do? “He did,” she said without hesitance, “I liked the way he taught, I liked ya know just the fun he was having.” Proving that teachers inspire and shape our view, just as her teacher helped open hers to a world of teaching.
Considering there are many studies in academia with some being more “prestigious” than others and some studies or careers that have more of a standing compared to others. To some art is a career that gets people nowhere and is a waste of time, while to others it is a career that lets them be as free and creative as they wish to be, without anyone having a say in what they do.
Despite everything or anyone did she ever have any doubts as to where art may lead her? Or if she should consider anything just to be safe?
“I was nervous at first ya know?” “Can I really do this?” These two lines alone made me think of how pressuring picking a career for the future really is, nevertheless what was said afterward was inspiring. “I also thought about interior design and social work but I didn’t really understand everything a social worker did. I knew wanted to help people in some way, then when I got to college I took a couple of classes that were outside of art ed and I realized that this was where I needed to be. I had a few different options but I came back to this really fast, like I came back to art ed really quickly.” As someone with different options in mind, she decided to go through them but realized that he passion was for art, and she felt so strongly about it that she stuck with it and saw it through. This is an inspiring lesson because it can be used in many contexts, such as future career studies, picking something to wear, finding a significant other, looking for jobs that best suit your interests, going out to eat, and much more.
Bearing in mind she wanted to help people, could her art career allow her to accomplish helping others? “For sure” further stating “Sometimes I answer life questions and obviously I’m dealing with art-related questions.” Helping others does not have to be physical, you can also help people verbally by answering their questions and giving them advice. This alone is something that may help other people pick a career in the future where they can help others. “There is a lot of different things, I feel like it’s the best of both worlds.” Continuing on that you do not always have to pick one thing or the other, you can combine two things you love doing and have them work together. Ultimately she mentioned “I actually ended up going to get my master’s in school counseling so one day if I decide to do that, that would be another venue.” demonstrating how she could help others in a different way while also pursuing art.
Some people, unfortunately, have to pick a different career because their original career did not work out, as for Ms. Willett she just banked on her plan of pursuing art, with doubts in the back of her head making her second guess herself like “I don’t know”… “maybe I could work in a bank or something.” Though, she was dead set on art that she did not make a solidified plan B, and was determined to make plan A work, and so she would not let negative thoughts effect her.
Continuing on, parents are people who raised you for the most part, they taught you morals and life lessons, dealt with your mood swings, tantrums, sicknesses, most painful, and most happy moments, and have been your stability rock for anything you are going through; So making your parents proud and pleasing them, and having them accept your career decision is important. So did her parents accept her career in art, considering many families would be disappointed if their child pursued art and not a degree for becoming a lawyer or doctor?
“They were just glad I was going to college” she replied “My dad started out taking college courses and he had to cut it short because my sister was little and then I was born so they both encouraged me.” Her response was a little saddening since her parents must have dealt with some sort of guilt maybe, that they could not complete their studies so they wanted their daughter to be able to do so, and were just glad she could. “They didn’t really mind that it was art ed and they probably asked me a few questions like do you think you’ll find a job?” “They were really supportive because neither of them had gone to college.” She described how her parents were supportive of her and her choices and were just worried whether she believed she would be able to support herself like any good parents would. Which is honestly very heartwarming.
I curiously wondered whether she considered art before or after teaching.- “-Art and then teaching” she responded “But honestly like I said, high school was the time I felt like I was really drawn to teaching; For whatever reason I loved playing school when I was really young.” Ironically Ms. Willett expressed how she enjoyed acting like a teacher and playing the role of a teacher, and that she had not thought about art and teaching simultaneously till she reached high school; which was both intriguing and funny.
Teaching definitely has many aspects, so there must be more than one thing or something specifically a teacher likes about it. To Ms. Willett it is getting up and interacting with people and being a part of something every day; which is a creative answer foretold by an equally creative teacher. She also liked being a part of something bigger than herself such as the school, and being in a classroom with students that may or may not have a ton of art skills. She also enjoys exposing kids to new and interesting things, which is sweet.
Does she teach so she can pursue art? A tricky question Ms. Willett had to respond to. She explained how in both ways she is teaching to pursue art and that she is also teaching to help others. However, she thinks that in retirement she would like to focus more on her art after she finished teaching so it would be a win-win scenario for her. “I have all these lesson plans and things; it kinda gives me inspiration and then being around students gives me inspirations so definitely things to look forward to.” Explaining how she can also get some inspiration and insight into the work of others and their creative ways just as they do with hers.
Retirement is something a lot of people look forward to, after years and years of hard work. A time for relaxation, spending time with families, and doing things for the fun of it or for side money. Subsequently, to Ms. Willett, what would be her plans after she retires from teaching? “I thought of making some small mass pieces of art and maybe selling them on Etsy but it wouldn’t be my sole or main income, but it would be something to do on the side.” Continuously proving how she can continue making art for fun and some side income.
Throughout all her years of teaching, how did she feel like she could pursue art and teach at the same time? Especially if she was busy with students, syllables, and many other things. “With the students, when they are in the classroom I create a teacher sample for every lesson-” A teacher sample is basically a small demonstration of the particular lesson just to get the idea across “-and that gives me the avenue to create because I’m doing things alongside the students.” Doing the samples allows her to dabble in art while teaching, a win-win situation for both the students and the teacher. “I do the student sample with all my students, and sometimes it gets completed, and other times it doesn’t” she continued, “Sometimes very seldom I’ll take things home, but I feel like I am able to carve out time here and there, ya know especially in the summer I’ll do something here and there.” Telling how she makes time to do her art, and how she uses the summer to make the most of it.
Finally, she had some advice to give. She noted how she sampled some other classes like Interior Design before she finalized her choice for art, and didn’t let her doubts hold her back; something people do a lot because of fear. “When I went out to pursue my career, elementary was where I thought I wanted to be, but then I started in middle school and then I ended up in high school and I love it.” Proving that it takes trial and time to figure some things out fully before you are completely satisfied with it. “I say you have to start somewhere, take that first class, take those first few classes, and that kinda opens the door, and either you feel right most of the time or sometimes you’re just like no this is not for me.” Demonstrating how if you do not try things out for certain you may lose your shot, and that it is better to try things out and not have them work for you, rather than not trying something that could have been better or could have worked for you.
Thank the wonderful, interesting, and insightful Ms. Willett, for her time and advice.
