The first area that I have grown in is congruence. This is not only shown in the graph (an increase by 0.15), but it is also shown in my exploration of my relationship to Arts for the Heart. From a bird’s eye view, I have noticed myself start to implement artistic practices more into my daily life. I am a creative writing minor so I am tasked with completing poems for academic credit, however my journey with Arts for the Heart has encouraged me to write for leisure. In my research, I have gathered evidence of the therapeutic effects of artistic practices and discovered instances in which real stress relief and self discovery was accomplished. Not only have I written more poetry on a day-to-day basis, but I have also started dabbling in other arctic activities such as drawing and collage-making (via Canva). Exploring how these activities benefit my mental health has drawn me closer to my project and cultivated a stronger sense of authenticity when I am sharing my project with others. If I know how artistic expression affects me firsthand, I am ultimately closer to my cause and can share my genuine personal experience. In addition to authenticity, I have also fostered a greater sense of consistency in my behavior toward Arts for the Heart. We hosted three events during the first semester. During the second semester, we hosted five, all of which were joint events with another organization, along with several meetings with members. Each event required the completion of a purchase form for materials, the creation of an artistically-appealing flyer, an enthusiastic message to our GroupMe, and communication with the organization or individual with whom we were collaborating. The process for each event was usually the same, so a dedication to consistency was required to successfully plan and execute each event and meeting. Finally, consistency shows members and stakeholders that I am a leader who can be relied on to accomplish tasks and reach successes time and time again.
 

Another area that I have grown in is controversy with civility. In addition to being shown in the graph (increase by 0.09), it is also exemplified in my leadership journey. Being seasoned in the controversy with civility competency requires the recognition of different (sometimes contrasting) viewpoints but the ultimate respect for these differences and appreciation for the conclusions that may arise from them. The first part of this competency is the recognition of everyone’s unique backgrounds and perspectives. Hannah, Amy, and I are all from different hometowns and are all pursuing different career paths. Starting off as strangers with different backgrounds and interests, naturally, I was reluctant to trust them. Throughout this past year, releasing control and opening up my project to Hannah and Amy has proved difficult. Admittedly, I felt as though I should have the most control over the direction of the project, as I am a psychology major and creator of the idea. However, this journey has encouraged me to set aside my ego and release the sense of control that I felt was necessary. Our workshop in which we completed our piece for CARE’s art show is an instance where I felt I had truly grown in my ability to trust them. The piece was a mirror which we shattered and covered in colorful flowers to help break down the stigmas that women face when they are victimized by domestic and sexual violence (see image below).

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​We created a space for vulnerability and opened up about our own experiences with relationships and empathized with each other in ways we had not done before. This allowed us to trust one another better and I am confident that whenever conflict arises next semester, that we will show the utmost respect for one another even if our viewpoints clash. Hannah and Amy are no longer strangers to me; in fact, I consider them to be two of my closest friends and I admire their individual interests, as well as our joint passion for social impact leadership. Recognizing and synthesizing diverse perspectives will be one of our strongest tools in continuing to develop our new organization, as novel ideas and pathways can be created through this process.
 

The last area that I believe that I have shown growth is collaboration, which is why the data in the graph surprised me (decrease by 0.37). As mentioned above, the five events that I helped organize this semester were collaborations, in contrast to the three events held last semester (no collaboration with a stakeholder). The first collaborative event that we hosted was “Paint your Story” with Tiffany Botsford-Samuels from CARE. This event yielded around 25 attendees, three of which heard about the event through a friend, a detail which we considered to be a small (although very great) success. Tiffany showed a strong interest in our initiative from the start, so I knew I had to nurture this with tight communication through periodic emails and a Zoom meeting. Following the event, I expressed deep gratitude for her volunteerism and an excitement for future collaborations. When asked about her experience with Arts for the Heart, she said it has been “nothing but positive” and expressed “feeling full” supporting our project. She concluded with “Working with Arts for the Heart has been a true pleasure, and I cannot wait to see what next year brings them as an organization.” I am happy to report that Tiffany’s positive experience has led to her willingness to serve as our advisor for this upcoming academic year. Our collaboration with Dr. Kaimal yielded a similar, if not better, success. Along with fostering a strong sense of communication, another big strength I have gained is how to truly connect with people in an effort to form a long-lasting relationship. Prior to Dr. Kaimal’s visit, I read the entirety of her novel. During her stay, I picked her up from the airport, had a meaningful conversation over dinner with her regarding my interest in a career in art therapy, and I had the pleasure of personally introducing her for her public talk. My efforts exemplified my keen interest in forming a relationship with her. During a follow-up interview, she said, “I loved your questions, our meals together, and that you had read my book. Truly amongst my all time favorite visits ever.” This taught me about the importance of appealing to common ideals, showing respect for others’ initiatives, and showing excitement for the future. Reading Dr. Kaimal’s book is a small action that showed her that a) I respected her and her work, b) I was dedicated to pursuing a relationship with her and c) I would foster our relationship with consistency and excitement in the future.