Illuminated by Cher
Cher's entry into Varsity Tutor's December 2019 scholarship contest
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Illuminated by Cher - December 2019 Scholarship Essay
I bought my first how-to-draw book when I was 12. My mom immediately shot for the stars, saying how I could become an artist with DreamWorks, Disney, or Pixar. It was sweet, but it didn't last. I quickly realized the struggles of being a beginner. I couldn't draw anything. As I practiced more, furthered my studies in art, it became easier to see where I went wrong and harder to fix the mistake. Every line was a display of doubt, every shade was a scream for help. I compared my art to those around me, wondering how they became so "perfect" despite us being the same age. I was slipping into an endless abyss of self doubt.
My friends always thought I was good, but I told myself that's because they can't see what I can, they can't see the shaky handwork and the questionable color scheme. I gave them empty thank you's as I looked down at what I considered worthless.
Then, the summer of 2013 I made an art account on a photo editing app, knowing that my friends and schoolmates wouldn't find my work. I amassed support from artists and non artists alike. They gave me tips, listened to my doubts, related to my struggles, and most of all let me know that it doesn't take genius to be good at art. You don't have to be born blessed to have skill. I was surrounded by a community of professional and beginner artists who wanted to see others grow and flourish before it became a popular sentiment. When social media was popularizing the down-bringing of others, the art community had been uplifting them.
As my jealousy towards other artists dimmed, and my admiration and drive to work harder brightened, I learned that the negativity I had been building up in me was the thing that had been holding me back. I don't have to be Picasso today, or tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow either. I don't have to be Van Gogh before I'm 30, art is about constant growth, constant learning. You are never a master, yet as long as you know that, you always will be.
I've learned that this doesn't just apply to artists, it applies to everyone. Nothing in life can ever be perfectly mastered, so strive for constant growth in anything and everything. Strive to be happier knowing that you'll be a step ahead tomorrow. Strive to live a life that's always illuminated.