My Fellowship

Alicia Gautreaux
August 17, 2014

I want to be an art director, and that is why I chose a fellowship at the Southeast Museum of Photography. I am a photographer working on finishing up my bachelor’s degree in photography currently at the University of Central Florida.

One the best things I have been able to add into my life is teaching art through my fellowship at the Boys and Girls Club of Daytona Beach, Florida. There are about 60 to 70 kids in the club, so on a weekly basis I teach about a dozen students. They rotate each week, giving each child the chance to do something with art.

I really like doing this because they all have a chance to learn each curriculum. Each week they constantly ask me when I can come back. They enjoy the art classes; they let their minds flow to create something reflective of themselves. It’s a real joy to see them expressing themselves.

One day, I noticed one of the regular students was not very happy. I asked her what was the matter and she said that she missed her mommy and daddy. I asked her why that was, and she said that she will never see them again because she is going to a new family. I asked the other students to give her a hug and they responded. I was  impressed that they all reached out to her to reassure her and keep her spirits up. It was a tear-jerking moment for me.

The museum recently offered to hang the kid’s art as part of a local exhibition. It’s a chance for their art to be displayed and express themselves to the community.