Personal Statement

When I was 5 years old, I wanted to be a chef. At the time I lived in New York City, the food capital of the world. My parents took me to the city to experience many different cuisines and cultures, but I quickly became bored. My parents noticed my knack for entertaining, violin, and speaking after a family reunion when I was seven years old. My father knew I would be on stage later in life, and treated me to several Broadway plays and trips to Radio City Music Hall. Although I grew to want to be a doctor, the exposure to the arts that I had as a child greatly influenced my upbringing and future goals. Because I lived in a metropolitan area, the opportunities I had were limitless. For children in rural communities, this is the opposite. In

Students are taught the basics in several areas, including art. However, in other areas of study, there seems to be a more focused and in-depth approach to these subjects. For example, business. In high schools in rural communities, students are required to take at least three business related courses to graduate. These may be in a range of fields, including, but not limited to, CTE (Career & Technological Education), Advanced Placement, and JROTC (Guilford County Schools). Rural communities tend to focus on business related classes because of the farming culture that surrounds many suburban cities. Business skills are important to have for those who may want to go into the agricultural or pastoral fields. However, if students are taught more art skills, they can use the ability to be creative in any facet or field of work. Students with backgrounds in the arts can use their talents to develop new business methods in pastoral settings. For example, using music to promote fertility in farm animals, or using Fibonacci’s sequence in art to plant. Incorporation of the arts into every-day life will create well rounded citizens who are able to practically use their skills in the

And so, is there a substantial want for outside exposure to art for children in rural communities? In pastoral settings, many children inherit their goals for the future from their parents. When there is no exposure the arts and children don’t know that it exists, they often follow in the path that their parents guide them on. Therefore, said introduction of arts into their world is necessary. At early ages children exhibit artistic tendencies. It is only right to allow them to experiment with said talents to see if they have a true talent for it. Even if the child does not like their experience, it will give them knowledge and they gain a skill set to apply to other