And so it begins...

Last week was the first week of classes and boy was it hectic. Although I am a junior, this is only my second semester on campus as I took all of my classes online due to a setback with my anxiety (as well as COVID), so I am still trying to figure out where everything is. Thankfully, I already knew where the studio was from last semester, so I did not get lost on the way to our first class like I did for all of my psych classes.

Now that everything is calming down (hopefully) I think I will be able to focus more on my ceramics. I was able to come in on Saturday and throw on the wheel just to get some practice in. I was afraid that when I got on the wheel I would have forgotten everything from last semester, but I remembered quite a bit! Maybe it is kind of like riding a bicycle, supposedly you never forget how to ride one after you figure it out the first time. Throwing on the wheel distracts my brain and slows down all of my thoughts, so I often come to the studio whenever I am having an off day...which is a lot!

I plan to incorporate a lot of my mental health advocacy into my art this semester. I am quite open about my mental health journey and I am always willing to listen to someone's story if they need it because even if it just makes one person feel less alone, it's worth it. My plan as of right now is to create a set of mugs that incorporate the chemical makeup of a few neurotransmitters. My very favorite psychiatrist that just moved states a few days ago always had funny pictures and neurotransmitters all around her office, so I want these mugs to be somewhat of a reminder of how much she meant to me and the impact she will forever have on my life. The grieving process of losing a member of your treatment team is a new feeling for me and it has been an extremely difficult process, so I am hoping that this will also be a healing process for me as well. Although I am a bit overwhelmed, I am looking forward to figuring out this project and working on it this week.

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