TL;DR: I express creativity through food, music, and drawing & coloring. How do you express your creativity? Are your sharing the uniqueness God put in you with the world?
Throughout my life, I have been privileged to do just about everything that I have ever had a remote interest in dance, Tai Kwon Do, music, sports, cooking, theatre, art, and probably more than I can remember. I have truly been blessed to be able to consider pursuing so many possible things. I am truly grateful for my parents providing these experiences for my sisters and myself. Honestly, I would not be surprised if this was, in part, a result of my mother not being allowed to pursue dance for her undergraduate field of study. And, also, in part that both of my parents are incredibly creative individuals in very different ways. I think all of these opportunities were just a way to find out what I love and where I thrive, but most importantly how I want to express my creativity.
Most of my after-school elementary years were spent at the babysitter’s, a daycare, or some after-school activity that my parents had put me in. Just looking back on all the different things I’ve done, it is quite surprising. I have done dance (ballet, tap, jazz, and hip-hop), sports (basketball, cheerleading, Tai Kwon Do, and track & field), music (school musicals, curricular ensembles, extra-curricular ensembles, marching band, private lessons, and music camps), and theatre (assistant-directing, “acting,” and singing/dancing). And, that’s not even everything that I have been encouraged to do. I was encouraged to do visual art (my dad is a phenomenal painter). I started baking and cooking over summers while staying with family members when I was much younger (I vividly remember baking peanut butter cookies by myself, with Grandma’s supervision). I have always been a bookworm (more so before university) and attempted writing short-stories and starting novels. I have always been intrigued by photography (my mother was a professional photographer). Simply, I had many opportunities to thrive in non-traditionally academic ways.
When asked what I wanted to study for my undergrad, I was prepared with my answer: Music Education. As a music educator, the one thing that I strive for in a music space is for students to be able to find and engage their creative voice! Creativity is important to me as an educator and as a person. And, I currently express my creativity through my music, my cooking, and my (visual) art. While I do not compose my own pieces, I am inherently intrigued by new-er music– music that challenges the boundaries of the Classical, Romantic, cookie-cutter music that I primarily studied. I am a classically-trained saxophonist, but I also sit in on a jazz big band. Currently, I am preparing for a performance at Jazz at Lincoln Center, a performance for Femmelody written by a living, female composer that challenges the notion of “listening music,” and my senior recital with a wide variety of compositional idioms and techniques.
I was “trained” as a baker first and after going vegetarian and then vegan, I quickly transitioned into a cook. I absolutely love being in the kitchen, no matter what size it is. Cooking is a great stress-reliever, a beautiful way to say “I love you”, and an amazing way to bond with others. While most people enjoy food, I love food so much I started a food business (Angie’s Spreads, specializing in nut butters and fruit jams). But, food goes beyond nuts and fruits. I absolutely cooking food that incorporates different styles of cooking and flavor profiles. I have a tendency to take cultural staples and put a twist on them, from sriracha chana masala to Thai peanut stir-fry, and everything is vegan.
Growing up with a closet painter (my dad), an out visual artist (my sister), and a photographer (my mom), visual art was held in high regard. While I would not consider my art worthy of public display or selling, I am pretty good at recreating references and lettering. I recently started a “journal” of sorts, a collection of Scripture-based art. I have found that collecting Scripture visually speaks to my soul and also has the potential to speak to others’. Recently, my journal has expanded to include the country flags that I will be traveling to during my WR…but each one will have a Scripture that I wish to meditate on for while I am there.
From baking to cooking, through music and drawing & coloring, I have many ways to express my creativity. But, most importantly I have many ways to express the creativity of God. God is a creative; He is the Creator of all of Creation. We, His Creation, are an expression of Him. I believe when we create we are recreating the creative power of God, in less grand ways than He. So, I challenge you with this: how do you create; how will you share the uniqueness that God put in you with the world?
Prayer Requests:
- Motivation to keep raising support over the next two weeks, and
- $2,500 total raised by February 15.
Prayer Reports:
- Many funding appointments have been set up for this week and next, and
- A lot of prayerful and emotional support by long-time friends.
