I decided to devote my junior summer to exploring three things: 1. Creative pursuits, 2. Oral histories, and 3. Working with my hands instead of my brain.
Creative pursuits: After having my art exhibited in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in the months prior to this summer, I focused intense creative time into developing my painting style and portfolio.
Oral history project: I was awarded funding by Claremont McKenna College to undertake an oral history project, where I interviewed people with unusual or overlooked vocations.
Working with my hands instead of my brain: Being put off by the culture of frantic intern hunting among many of my peers, I decided to do the exact opposite. I worked in a coffee and gelato shop.
Highlights
Took advantage of the space and silence this time afforded me to think deeply about my passions, strengths, and goals
Cultivated sustained, mutually advantageous relationships with thoughtful and interesting people
Developed an understanding of the experience and pain points that arise from working in customer service
Challenges
Systematizing my creative process into something organized and with a concrete goal
Finding and convincing people with interesting vocations to meet with me and discuss their life stories
Discovering rather quickly that I did not love the tasks of being a barista
Success Stories
My summer’s art work served as the basis for my submission to Claremont McKenna’s Council on Public Art, which led to me being awarded the chance to create a public art exhibition. My public art remained up at my alma mater for 18 months
I established and deepened connections with many people in my community - from a nun, to a retired Subaru distributor, to other very interesting people
I learned I hate working as a barista, and I prefer mentally engaging work
Time spent on personal project, at ECCO, and focusing on painting: June 2022 - August 2022
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico