Blooming at the League
By Eric Muñoz
Throughout my life I’ve experienced moments that altered my brain. Those same moments that completely changed me. From bright burning flames inside my house, to grief being all that I knew, I continued to bloom like a flower. My vibrant petals were as bright as the golden sun. The other flowers say I’m magnificent in every way and shape. They didn’t know that my petals were continuously falling off. I made sure that I reattached each piece back on until the following day of perfection. I wanted to continue being vibrant and beautiful even if that meant having to cover the truth. I refused to let people see the real me underneath. Struggling to cope with the trauma I carried, I hoped that if I hid the imperfections, I would continue to shine. I never realized that would be my biggest regret. From one petal falling each day to two, to three, to four, to five, until all of them came off. I was no longer me. I didn’t think that not facing the imperfections or trauma would damage me and my mental health. Until I realized that it did at the very end. I accepted that although I will never be a perfect flower, or gain all of my vibrant petals back, I learned to love myself and for that I’m very thankful.
After years passed, I went to Millennium High School and later transferred to a school called City As School. City As School is not a traditional high school where students stay in class for the entire day, everyday. City As School is an internship based school where students have the chance to choose an internship based on their specific interests. Being a new student here, I was worried about choosing an internship that was both beneficial and enjoyable. But with the help of my advisor Rebecca, I was able to have an internship at The Art Students League. While nervous at first entering the building, I was immediately greeted by a positive atmosphere. I found that The League is a place where people come together from different backgrounds as a whole, spreading nothing but positive vibes.
At The Art Students League, I took a waxing class and I immediately fell in love with the idea of being creative. Waxing class was, and still is, the biggest motivator for me to further continue my journey. From learning how to measure proportions, to working with others, it was an incredible experience. I also met people there who changed my entire life, such as Denise Greene, founder of Seeds of The League, who inspired me to actually continue my education after high school. Oscar, the wax teacher, showed me that I have so much potential and skills to be anything I want to be. Trudi, the wax monitor, taught me that I don’t need to fit into social standards when I am special and worthy.
Without the Art Students League, I wouldn’t have improved my art or my success. The Art Students League is an amazing community that is filled with love, talent, and peace. I now proudly want to continue my education to become a Registered Nurse. All of the pain I went through as a child doesn’t phase me because Seeds of The League has given me a chance to explore more of my fun and creative side! I’m so thankful for the Seeds of The League for being an incredible resource for anyone who is interested in art. I grew as an artist but most importantly I grew as a person.
