As I began my college career as a graphic design major, I craved an understanding of how design originated. Taking art history classes has begun to give me confidence in understanding my place as an artist in history. I think the same concept applies to the whole of humanities. I want to understand the tides of thought over the centuries and how these influenced lifestyle, religion, and art. During high school I found history to be dry and repetitive, full of meaningless memorization. However, as I stared at the paintings in my art history courses, I began to enter into the story of humanity. Each painting serves as a time capsule, a peek into the mind of a man or woman in the past. To say I was fascinated would be an understatement.

I appreciate the way humanities seeks to understand the deepest parts of our nature. Our bodies and minds are the masterpiece of the living God. We are a shadow of Him, and therefore understanding ourselves helps us understand God. Broken as we are in this world, we are His art. Just as a piece of art hanging the Louvre speaks volumes about the heart of its artist, our very essence is a reflection of God. I think this is why it is so important to study humanities.

Simply traveling to another country is eye-opening. Tasting and living in another culture teaches more humanities than any textbook could. Even more so, being here in Paris is a key part of my career as an artist. Paris was the center of art for a long time, and it helps me understand myself and my desires to create. I am thrilled to have this opportunity, and I plan to delve fully into humanities this semester.