What years did you attend WAA?
I started with dance at the age of 4 and my last submission in the Student/Teacher Art Show my senior year in high school.
What program(s) did you participate in at WAA?
I took art classes, summer classes, dance, piano, theatre, submitted art for the art shows, and ran in the color runs.
How did WAA make a lasting impression and impact on you?
Woodlawn Arts Academy helped shape the foundation for everything I’m pursuing now. Studying visual art, theatre and dance gave me a strong sense of creativity, presentation and storytelling, which are all essential in the fashion industry. Visual art taught me how to think critically about design and aesthetics. Theatre gave me confidence in public speaking and presenting ideas, while dance helped me understand movement, flow and the body, which connects directly to how clothing fits and moves.
Now that I’m pursuing a degree in Fashion Merchandising with minors in Business and Graphic Design, I see how much those early experiences continue to influence me. The academy gave me creative discipline and a visual eye, but also taught me how to collaborate, take direction, and think outside the box. It’s helped me merge artistic vision with strategy, exactly what I need to succeed in fashion.
What is your current arts-related job?
I am currently working at a boutique in retail which includes some modeling, freelance graphic design, and for a creative agency that serves predominantly nonprofit organizations.
