Page 11 - Child Art Magazine Transformative Experiences

2011WCF

Teodora Lazar

Art as Actualization

A sheet, a pencil and a guitar getting accepted to multiple universities with scholarships, but
outlining a vague silhouette regardless of how important these are for my evolution, I do
according to the verses of not count them as the greatest. The moments that I call real
a poem, I am a drawing in accomplishments are those when I do something for others, for
grayscale. My colors are out the community, for the world. My prizes and my education are
in the world waiting for me to of no help if I use them for myself alone.
find them.
Winning the Arts Olympiad proved to me that being passionate
I discovered my primary about something and working hard is the recipe to what people
colors at my high school, call success. As for me, passion for art was not something I
where I was continuously chose, but rather something that chose me at some point in my
crisscrossing between life, and shaped me ever since. The moment I stepped onto
rooms, information, ideas so the National Mall and saw the World Children’s Festival
I could find my basic scale. happen right in front of me, all of my insecurities and fears
Once I discovered it, most of of being in that new place faded away. I realized that it
my grays became colored, wasn’t a competition of talents anymore, it was a world of
and I began striving for children, a place of knowledge and most of all, a nation of
something else to complete friendship. That festival helped me evolve as a young artist.
my self-portrait. I started
to volunteer. My education Imagine my surprise when, a few years after the event
helped me find my basics, that changed my artistic and personal life, I was invited to
but what amazed me more participate in the 2015WCF as a Youth Board Member and a
than finding my colors, workshop leader. I chose to teach children one of my dearest
was giving them to others. handicrafts, painting on ceramics. I had the unique opportunity
Through the activities I was to speak on the ‘world stage’—where groups of talented
involved in as a volunteer, musicians and dancers performed right in front of The White
as a youth worker and as a House. As for me, I realized that no story is the same, even if it
tutor, I could share my reds, is told twice. I had the opportunity to live the WCF experience
yellows and blues. in two distinct ways: as a participant and as a workshop leader
and Youth Board Member. Each time, after the festival, I had to
Even though my self- make a choice about my future, and I chose art every time.
portrait was still incomplete,
I will make it my life purpose to help others finish theirs. That I admit that I am not even halfway from where I want to be,
is my dream for the world, my personal ambition, because but step by step I am building my own way. Some of the steps
I know that, in a way, this is exactly how I will get my most might be insecure and some decisions may not be the
beautiful shades. right ones, but I am sure that actions, hopes, passion and
enthusiasm are more than just words and can influence our
path in a great way.
As I became more conscious of the things I fear or the
Paarth situations I run from, I do my best to face them directly. Whether you want to finish your self-portrait first, or you feel
Probably, my shyness is and always was my worst enemy,
because challenges that come from the inside are much harder
like helping others create theirs, is your personal choice. What
Koushik to face than the ones forced from the outside. Since this little really matters is using all your creativity in order to make the
ordinary exceptional, to shape the world how you like best.
aspect became a real impediment at some point along the way,
I decided to push myself to the limits in order to expand my
Winner of the 4th Arts Olympiad in Romania and ICAF Youth
horizons and grow.
College London, studying history of art and material studies.
I have had some accomplishments, those that made my family Board Member, Teodora Lazar is a freshman at University
feel joyful, like winning art competitions, publishing articles,

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