I've found fulfillment in life from artistic expression. In my teens when I entered the workforce I came into work that mostly didn't align with my expressions. I split my time between earning income to support myself and my art. I struggled with this contrast to what I was used to, being free to express my values in new imaginings and artistic experiments. It was a new challenge to learn responsibilities I had to myself and others.
I decided to take a risk and I move away from my hometown and known community. Living below the poverty line taught me that my interests were rooted in people's dialogues with themselves and the world. I invested more time in organizing, both in my workspace and with the people around me. My focus evolved from my self expression to our self expression: from my physical sculpting, to social sculpting. At this point I lived in Madison, WI and had a job designing jewelry and managing a local shop: I no longer lived below the poverty line. I had independant projects too, that not onl