Armene Galstyan’s Essay

Why I Want to Go to CSUN

Art has been my passion for as long as I can remember. I take every opportunity possible to improve my artistic skills. I believe that CSUN’s art department is the right choice for me not only will it help me see certain aspects of expression in a new perspective, but CSUN will also help me learn more about myself and what I can do with my talent and creativity. It gives me the chance to express myself in different voices and I appreciate how it gives a way for others to express things that cannot be expressed in other ways. In this way art promotes diversity and tolerance of all viewpoints.

I remember the time when I went on a class trip to UCLA and had the chance to participate in an art activity in the FowlerMuseum. We were given various arts and crafts supplies and we were told to think of a word and try to create or produce that certain word artistically. Many of my classmates struggled to create something with the strange supplies in front of them, under the limited time that was given to us. The word that first came to mind was inspiration. I quickly began to gather the supplies that I needed and began pasting several objects that seemed appealing to me. When the time had finished, I looked at my work and felt proud of myself. It did not look exactly like a masterpiece, but given the limited supplies and time, I had done a pretty good job. A few of my classmates commended me on my work. The end result seemed a little messy and the word itself did not show clearly. It was not in plain view. You had to look for it. However, I had done that on purpose, to represent how someone finds inspiration from different sources or from hidden places. We had the choice of leaving our work behind or taking it with us. At first I thought that I would leave it there for others to look at, but I thought otherwise and believed that it would be better if I kept my work, to show it to my friends and family members, and to be constantly reminded of the passion that has been my source of inspiration my whole life.

After that day I realized that art was what I should be doing for the rest of my life. I can’t see myself pursuing anything else. It is my dream to become an artist and to create things that are original and beautiful. I do not think that art necessarily copies reality, but art causes people to appreciate beauty in almost anything. I think that art gives people from diverse backgrounds and cultures the opportunity to express themselves. Art has always been a way for voices that have been traditionally silenced to gain recognition.   

I believe that by going to CSUN, I can do what I want to do and to pursue my deep passion for art. I also believe that CSUN will help me achieve my dream and open up many doors of opportunity.