My Background

      When I was eight, living in the Dominican Republic, I was given a homework assignment to draw my house. My father had some experience with drawing and he agreed to help me with a short drawing lesson. As he drew, my eyes were fixed to the lines he confidently made on the paper. Seconds after finishing his drawing, my Papi simply said “ termine (finished).” Watching him draw and witnessing the skill and passion he had for the act of the craft was so impressive it left me with few words. When he was done, the only thing I could say in response was "can you teach me more?" He did, and since then I saw myself moving up a ladder with my life in art, in which each time I drew or painted it was one single step that brought me closer and closer to becoming the artist that I want to be. From then on, I dedicated every afternoon making art, practicing my craft, as it was central to my life. 

 

      When I was 16 my life changed dramatically. My father wanted to live in the United States and eventually he received a letter from the consulate department. Carefully, he opened the letter and before he said a word, I noticed my Papi's eyes were shining. He did not stop smiling the rest of the day as we soon learned that we would have the opportunity to come to America. I was excited about living a new life in a foreign country, but leaving my country meant that I had to say goodbye to my Madre. Tears filled my eyes as I said goodbye to her. However, I had to do it for a better future and for more opportunities. 

 

      Living in a foreign country was very hectic and my father struggled to find us a permanent residence. As a result, I had to wait a month before entering a Boston Public School due to all of the paperwork. We were a Dominican family trying to be successful, but the language barrier was an extremely difficult hurdle to navigate in this new environment. I began to feel very isolated but eventually I realized art was my language. A pencil became my friend again, headphones made the silence vanish, and rhythms moved my hand. Just as I had spent afternoons drawing without taking a rest in Dominica, I did the same here in Boston. Being in a new place can fill one with a lot of anxiety, but taking refuge in art gave me comfort and reawakened my way of developing as an artist. 

 

      Now, I clearly see my path and the steps that I need to take for a career in the arts. Since I’ve been in the United States, I’ve attended several art programs such as Tufts Pre-College summer program, and I’ve also gotten the opportunity to work in the ICA. Throughout all these experiences I’ve met many different kinds of people who appreciate and share a passion for the arts like me. The same kind of passion my father had when he first taught me to draw. I want to continue to invest in this passion for the rest of my life and I feel that sharing my art works is that next step on that ladder for me.