Since childhood, I have always had a strong attraction to the creative world and a real passion for art. I would spend hours drawing flowers or making an origami butterfly as a kid, while some of my other peers preferred playing video games or team sports. Art has always allowed me to experience serenity and connect deeply with my own thoughts in a meaningful way. More and more each day, I recognize the power of this creative asset as I pursue my college and career goals.
One of my most memorable experiences where I saw the power of creativity and artistic expression for reaching my goals was participating in the Third International No-Boundaries Art Exhibition at Columbia University. Even though I was nervous and hesitant about submitting my artwork to such a massive and prominent exhibition, I decided to give it a chance. The theme that year was “One Tree, One City,” which I interpreted as an exploration of the bond between the hustle and bustle of the city and the placid tranquility of nature. My train of thought led me to think about the trees that grow in a city. They grow at the same pace as the city evolves, as the days become nights and nights become days, as winter collides into summer and summer converts into winter.
With this concept in mind, I decided to divide my canvas into two equal parts and paint two different scenarios of the same tree, showing the evolution of its beauty. I dedicated a significant amount of time and hard work for this project and finally submitted it with my fingers crossed. To my surprise, I received an email a few weeks later letting me know that my artwork had been selected for gallery showings in Beijing, Paris, Nairobi, New York, and Rio de Janeiro, alongside art by students from 15 other countries.
Reflecting on this experience, I realize the value of having a passion and practicing it persistently. Most of the time, we tend to put so much emphasis on academics that we forget to make time for those areas of our lives that spark us creatively, thinking that they are less valuable.
However, one of the most important lessons I have learned as an OppNet Fellow is to consider our creative interests as one of our assets, as a powerful resource that we can use to grow as a person and move forward in our college and career journeys.
OppNet always encourages me to expand myself in all areas of life––academically, socially, professionally, and personally. This really became clear to me during one of our 11th grade weekly workshops, “Marketing Your Assets.” In that class, I was introduced to the concept of how extra-curricular activities, artistic and athletic passions, and even some pastimes might contribute to our personal and professional development and how we navigate real-world situations. This idea has shifted my perspective of seeing my passion for art as “less valuable” to seeing it as another opportunity for self-growth. And that’s exactly why I plan to keep exploring, experimenting, improving, and creating through art to cultivate the seeds of a successful future.
Nazifa is an OppNet Fellow and member of the Class of 2025.
