Makaela Ramirez-Faisca, a senior Photography & Digital Arts major who is also president of Student Government at Moore, welcomed the Class of 2023 at the Fall Honors Convocation August 22, 2019.
Hello friends, and welcome to the beginning of your future here at Moore College of Art & Design. Now, before I get started here, a show of hands, how many of you are super chill right now and have no worries about your experience as an art student?
For those of you who did raise their hands, I applaud your confidence and your mindset.
Alternatively, a show of hands for those who live in a persistent state of worry about their abilities as an art student. Yes, as I'd expect, and I applaud you just the same for being so open and honest about your emotions.
Let's be real: college is a huge step, and being thrown into an unfamiliar environment with people you’ve never seen before is going to feel overwhelming. And spoiler alert, that nervous feeling never completely goes away, no matter what year you’re in. Instead, down the line, it’s paired with a more positive outlook.
During your time here at Moore, you will hear the phrase “the power of yet” thrown around occasionally. It’s a mantra celebrating growth and typically refers to your work ethic. It’s the belief that if you can’t do something now, you will learn to do it eventually. Eventually is the key word there. Now, I've adapted this mantra, and made a few adjustments. Friends, I present to you, the power of “But.”
Yes, it sounds silly and of course, you may laugh because deep down we’re all still a bunch of 5-year-olds.
So what is the power of "but"? Well, It’s a tactic that validates your concerns, with the added promise of a better tomorrow. So maybe you’re sitting in your room, freaking about your first-ever critique and binge-eating a pack of Oreos to try and distract from that incoming panic (this is not a real-life example, of course) and you’re saying to your roommate, “I am so nervous, what if they hate my art and they all laugh at me, I'm going to die.” (Again… not a real example.)
Well, instead of ending a thought on the negative, the power of but forces you to see the more generous outcome. “I am so anxious for my first critique tomorrow… but i’m also really eager to hear the constructive feedback of my professors and peers that will help me grow as an artist.” “I had a really awful day today… but I know it will pass because I have great friends to help me through it.” “I am SO MAD at the school for doing this one thing… but I know there is a school-wide meeting about this exact topic where I can address my concerns to the proper personnel.”
You are in charge of your future here at Moore, and when you put heavy focus on the bad things, you’re putting your mental health and your college experience at risk. So my advice to you is to bask in the good things. Be giddy about the good grade you got on your art history paper. Stare in awe at the natural light that covers the school like a warm hug from the sun. Feel proud of yourself for helping your neighbor with a problem that only you knew the solution to. Do good recklessly. And lastly, know your worth. Know your power. You have a voice, use it to make everlasting change to our community for the better.
Good luck, and from me to you, I leave you with these final words of encouragement. From the bottom of my heart, I want you to always remember… to check your Moore email. Have a great year!
