Semester Reflections

Semester 3

Throughout my time in the Arts Scholars program, I've learned how art reshaped my understanding of what I originally believed in personally and socially. For example, during our Vogue dance session with Marquis Revlon Clanton in our very first semester, I realized that art is not just drawing, painting, or theatre. I grew up thinking those were the only forms of art, but Marquis taught us that art could be anything you want it to be, especially after practicing improv dancing, voguing from different cultures, and having his own creative spin to his dances. He showed us that art can be anything as long as you enjoy it.

Some theoretical models and practical strategies for initiating the creative process are preparation, incubation, illumination, and verification. First is preparation, where you gather ideas and sources. Then incubation, where you let your ideas sit and develop. Next is illumination, where you find a solution to your ideas, and lastly, verification, where you refine and finalize your ideas (Scott Jeffrey, 2025).

I've also learned how to effectively incorporate feedback to revise and refine my ideas by being open to new perspectives, actively listening, and even admitting mistakes have helped me strengthen my work and take it in directions I might not have imagined on my own. I've recently been researching for my capstone proposal, and I came across an article about mental health declining in college students, which has been a growing issue. It talked about art therapy, which drove me down the art therapy path and showed how art, such as drawing, painting, dancing, and even performing, could help students relax, improve moods, and even excite their brains. This all relates back to the Arts Scholars program because, in one of the very first colloquiums, we went over what makes things "art" and we even tied it back to a Walmart chair as an example, if I recall. Art could be anything that makes you feel an emotion. So seeing how art can relate to mental health made me realize it can also connect to so many topics, even news-related.

From my experience so far at UMD, an Arts supporting course I took was ENGL271, an introduction to poetry class. It has been my favorite class throughout the years here. The professor was extremely kind and helped introduce each student to the world of poetry. I noticed a big improvement in my writing from the beginning to the end of the class, and it was really enjoyable to write poems, and almost relaxing in a way where I didn't have to stress about my other assignments. This class connects to Arts Scholars because it taught me that it’s okay if your art doesn’t make perfect sense yet. As long as I build from my original idea into something that evokes a certain emotion and that I enjoy, it is seen as art.

Arts Scholars has always been my community, my family. I continue to make new friends from this program who are still my close friends to this day. At the beginning of freshman semester, I had a hard time fitting in because I was a commuter and it felt like everyone had already grouped together, but as time went on, the friends and place that I thought I didn’t belong to became one of my safest spaces. In my first semester, I had a phone call with my peer mentor, Katie, about life and college in general. I told her about the struggles of being a commuter since she is one too. She encouraged me and gave me advice, she said, "You can hang out with me and my friends." It was so inviting and warm, and I constantly think about it whenever I don't fit in somewhere. This experience helped my learning because it showed me the importance of community and support in academic growth. Feeling included and supported made me more confident to participate in class and share my ideas. It was a small moment of encouragement that taught me that learning doesn't always happen in lectures, but could also happen through mentorship. Through Katie, I was encouraged to become a peer mentor this year to support the freshmen. I was hesitant at first because I didn’t think I could take on a leadership role, but working alongside the other mentors (Colin, Daisy, and Damaya), who I also became close to this semester, made the experience much better. I met my mentees, who are now some of my best friends and study partners. One opportunity I wish I had been able to take advantage of was getting more involved in Arts Scholars events, as I've been busy this semester.

Being a part of Scholars has shaped me into the person I am today and has had a big impact on my perspective. I initially came into this program thinking of art mostly as hands-on activities like drawing and painting, but I came out learning that there's no definition of "real" art, or what makes "real" art because we make things art based on the way we view them. For example, last week, I was walking with a friend to my parking lot and noticed a garden. The colorful flowers blended together, and the way they were arranged made it feel like art to me. My friend disagreed and said it's not art, it's nature. This experience alone made it a good example of how art encourages discussion and lets us explore different perspectives.

Next semester will be my last semester of Arts Scholars, and as I look forward to it, a part of me will always miss walking up the dreaded Scholars hill to get into the CCC building. I am very grateful for my friends, the TAs, and for Harold and Irene, who have made this community feel like home, away from home. Arts Scholars has not only shaped my academic and creative growth but also given me amazing friendships and experiences.