My Next Big Goal: Art or Therapy? by Ellie

My Next Big Goal: Art or Therapy? by Ellie - August 2024 Scholarship Essay

People always ask approaching seniors what their next big step is after graduating high school, and more often than not students have no idea how to answer this question. While some students might have no clue on what areas of study they would like to go into, I have a pretty good idea of what I want to do.
For a while I have jumped from one occupation to the next, not really having an idea on how to answer the question: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” After much deliberation, I have decided to combine my favorite hobby of creating art with my passion for helping people. This past year I discovered art therapy, an area of therapy that helps people process their thoughts through creating art. This immediately snagged my attention. I want to be able to help people in some sort of capacity, and I am so excited to be able to incorporate art into that. Before discovering this profession I had already decided I had wanted to pursue a career in the mental health field, but I was unsure of what area to pursue. Being able to become an art therapist has become my dream and I am so excited to start that adventure after I graduate.
Over the years, I have accumulated observations from the people around me. I have been told I have good listening skills or that I always know the right things to say, no matter the situation. I have also discovered that I really enjoy being able to listen to the problems of my friends and family, and then talking to them about how to deal with those problems. These comments and observations pointed me in the direction of the mental health field. Furthermore, I have also always struggled with anxiety, and it is something I am still trying to tackle today. Art is a medium I use to help me control my anxiety, and being a self taught artist has given me the free reign to explore different areas of that. This has had a lot of influence on my decision and I am only now coming to realize that.
Because of my passion for art in all mediums I had considered going a route to become a professional artist. I explained all of this to my guidance counselor, and she pointed me in the direction of becoming an art therapist. This discovery honestly solidified my choice before I had truly made the decision to pursue this path.
After high school I would like to pursue my license in mental health therapy, and then go on to earn a masters in Art Therapy. I am not sure what all classes that entails as of now, or what degrees I would need to earn in order to become an art therapist. This is something that I will hopefully be able to figure out over the course of this next year. I am also currently looking for colleges that would provide this type of program along the east coast. I am unsure of how long it will take to get a degree in this field, but I am willing to put in the time and hard work required to go into this field of study.
In conclusion, I have decided that going to college to get my license as a mental health therapist is my next big educational goal. From there I will pursue the classes necessary to become an Art Therapist. Thank you so much for taking the time to read my essay and for considering me as a potential candidate for this scholarship.