Cultural Expansion: Creating original artwork (5 points) - Class of 2028

 Creating original artwork provided me with an opportunity to explore culture, identity, and emotional expression through a visual medium rather than traditional academic formats. Through this process, I used art as a form of storytelling—one that allowed me to reflect on themes of healing, imagination, and self-understanding. Engaging in this creative practice challenged me to communicate meaning through art and painting rather than words alone.

One of the most significant aspects of this experience was the freedom to express internal thoughts and emotions visually. The artwork I created incorporated symbolic elements that represented growth, reflection, and inner worlds that are often unseen. Using imagery rather than text encouraged me to think critically about how meaning is constructed and interpreted, and how art can serve as both personal expression and cultural communication. This process reminded me that creativity is not separate from intellectual engagement, but another way of producing knowledge and understanding.

From a reflective standpoint, this experience deepened my appreciation for art as a cultural tool that preserves emotion, identity, and lived experience. Creating original artwork allowed me to slow down, be intentional, and engage with my own perspective in a way that is often overlooked in fast-paced academic environments. It reinforced the idea that cultural expansion involves not only learning about others, but also understanding and expressing oneself. I plan to continue incorporating creative expression into my academic and personal life as a form of balance and reflection. This experience affirmed that art plays a critical role in cultural awareness and personal growth, complementing my interests in science and health.

By Kandace N. Bryant