Hardships of an artist by Ary

Hardships of an artist by Ary - July 2023 Scholarship Essay

Becoming the graphic artist for the school newspaper was an unexpected and eye-opening experience that tested my diligence as an artist. Initially encouraged by my yearbook teacher, who runs the newspaper to join my junior year, after receiving positive feedback on my drawing of a famous musician.
The workload began to overwhelm me as the co-editor-in-chief requested over 10 drawings per week, most of which never made it into the final print. Despite expressing my need for more time and a manageable workload, my request were ignored. I felt drained, missing deadlines, and losing the joy for drawing I once had. I decided to quit, and learn to regain my love for art once again.

Experiencing the business side of the art world truly showed me how challenging it can be to work for others, facing the hardships of not being listened to and dealing with high expectations. This eye-opening experience has led me to envision myself as an entrepreneur. I have come to realize that I prefer to work for myself rather than for others. Entrepreneurship would provide me with the creative freedom I desire and allow me to create a peaceful work environment without unnecessary stress.

Although it was a stressful experience at the time, I am overall grateful for the journey that shaped me to be resilient when facing hardships. I learned that I don’t deserve the treatment I was given, and my art has worth, and to enjoy my time drawing, and to set boundaries. This has motivated me to continually push myself further and find a career path that I genuinely love for the rest of my artistic journey.