The Significance of Artist Trading Cards

Growing up in the large urban community of Des Moines, I have encountered a wealth of diversity in life and livelihood. Iowa has quite a few significant things to offer that I have come to appreciate in life, from quality educational programs to the rolling hills of prairie grasses that greet the sun at day in and day out. I value the adversity I have experienced living here over the years, because without all those obstacles to overcome, I would not be as wise as I can say I am today. In all difficult things, there has been beauty to be sought. It was my goal to express that idea in the artist trading cards I am working on. I wanted to portray my gratitude for opportunities and support others to relinquish the fears or doubts that inhibit their self-expression and living a life rich in meaning. My artist trading cards reflect many of my personal values that developed under the circumstances of my upbringings. Regularly, I embrace the necessity to evolve, compromise, or contradict my values to bridge understanding between my past, present, and future. We are all objects of change and require nurturing guidance to broaden our horizons. A strong spirituality and connectedness with nature frequents my work.

The issues I foresee secondary students to be encountering relate to identity issues and interpersonal relationships. At that age, we all seek acceptance by our like-minded peers. We want to figure out who we are, why we are here, and what are we going to make of our lives. At the same time, we are strongly guided by our emotions to make complicated decisions that impact our daily relationships with others, including our peers, families, and authoritative figures. During the secondary school years, change is rapid and sometimes dramatic. Strong insecurities erupt during this time, as personal image is influenced and challenged by the media and our surroundings. Life for students at this age can be fairly complex. Social structures within schools and communities both confine and uplift students. Relationships with others can be debilitating or progressive. My job as an educator is to guide students towards better decision making and a greater sense of purpose in life.