Institution

Thank you,

Gratefulness is the way I have gotten through this experience. It has not been an easy-flowing journey, but the appreciation is high. As a person and artist, the growth is provident.

Now that is out the way, let's get to the practical, existential aspect of the experience. It has been mentally traumatic and uncomfortable at times. A professor said, "Oh, good presentation, but don't be so cocky during the first year. "After that was said, the class collectively said, "ooooooowwwwwwww!" As a human being, I felt humiliated for doing what was asked of me well. I couldn't help but feel bad about the negative connoted remark in the back of my head.

Another disturbing dynamic is the one to fifteen ratio of students who look like me in class. At times I felt always watched or judged. Sometimes laughed at for my minority perspectives or overly questioned. Those misunderstandings often provoked discouragement.

There were many more passive/micro/macro aggressions, but let's not dwell on the negative. Many more professors encouraged/nourished my educational experience through the hardship along the way. I'm thankful for that. All in all, with plenty of resilience, the journey is complete, and another will begin.

Dionna Sharay Smith has made history as an "African American" fine arts graduate.

Correctively speaking, EDUCATED AND BLACK, BLACK EXCELLENCE that they could never take away no matter what.