I think art is important because it is universal and everywhere around us; therefore, it is accessible. I think there is a misconception that art and the process are often expensive, but it does not have to be. It is something all peoples of the world can share. When I first moved from Thailand to the US, it was a hard transition to fit into the culture, but I got involved in theatre tech in my high school. The theatre community introduced me to people I would be afraid to connect with on the outside. It gave me encouragement and reassurance that everyone, despite cultural differences, can appreciate art and the creative process. As part of my academic focus in university, I am interested in how people interact, specifically in communities, so I became really interested in the importance of communities. The crucial aspects of communities are communication and collaboration, which are also all important for the creative process.

Creativity is important because it drives curiosity and exploration. When you learn creative process, you are trained to do design thinking, and often critical thinking. These skills are not only useful in this field, but in anything you do in life.

In working with The Creative Process, I hope to learn how to connect with creative individuals, locally or globally, in professional settings. I also hope to learn ways to share awareness and information about the arts to communities that are underrepresented or those that do not have access to it. Art should not be a privilege, but an option everyone has. 

In November of last year, I was hired as a costume designer for a theatre production called Vietgone at the University of Washington. I had always been involved in theatre production as stage manager, set designer and crew throughout high school; however, this was considered a more professional job. I designed costumes, which includes buying and doing alterations, for the 1960-1970 Vietnam era. This was a big time commitment as I had to attend weekly production meeting and rehearsal everyday for tech week leading up to the opening night of the production. During those times, I had the opportunity to collaborate with many talented artists and actors, who all contributed to the success of the show. I was the main costume designer, but I was able to do my job successfully because of the inspiration and encouragement from my peers. I have plans to join more productions in the future and take on more leadership roles, such as a stage manager or assistant director. I want to take on the bigger roles to learn and facilitate communication and collaboration of different groups of people.

I also recently decided to pursue Architecture as a minor, along with my major, Urban Planning. I am currently in a course for Architecture Light and color, where I learn how light and color play a role in architecture. I want to pursue this major because it offers me space to explore my passion for art and creating, which I do not get to do enough of in my major.