As I go about my senior year making college preparations, I’m slowly losing grasp on other things: Work, a decent attitude, any type of social life.

College is supposed to be the best time of your life. So why is preparing for it so stressful?

While deciding what my major will be, where I want to go, what I can afford, and, most importantly, what in the world will make The Boss (mom) happy, there’s been only one thing that’s kept me grounded, and quite honestly, kept me sane.

Art.

So far I’ve spent my final year carrying pieces of art from class to class, slipping through Johnson’s room to McCanlies’ to Janssen’s and back to Johnson. Between the 11-or-so art classes I’ve taken so far at good ol’ Maize High, all the information that will prove to be deciding factors on colleges and careers have been passed on from these three fantastic teachers.

Don’t get me wrong, all of the the teachers here are absolutely outstanding to say the least, but when you have a passion and you can share it with people who care about it as much as you, bonds are formed and a family-feel is established.

Whenever I have self-doubt, I have my art teachers to remind me why doing what I love is important. It not only gives me healthy outlet to channel things going on in my life, but it also allows me to do something I love for the rest of my life … if only I could decide what that’ll be.

Whether it’s from Johnson’s advanced graphics class when I thought I was going to be a digital animation major, or Janssen’s drawing special projects class when I wholeheartedly decided I was going to be a fashion design major, or even when I was in McCanlies’ class and was dead set on illustrating books– there are a few things I’ve realized: Things change, time goes on, but no matter what, you just have to keep going with the flow.

I know whatever career I choose will be art-related, and as this senior year progresses I’m aware that I’ll come across stressful situations that are 20 times worse than what I’ve encountered already, and you know what?

That’s fine with me.

I know that through it all I will have my artistic backbone and the encouraging teachers that I’ve been blessed with to urge me to keep on drawing and keep my passion alive just like they always have.

In times that I lose faith and times that I feel like giving up, my art reminds me why I can’t. I remember that I have goals to accomplish and challenges to take on that this hectic year will hurl at me.

And you know what I say?

Bring it on.