The Art of Expression
“This is me. All these broken pieces, not understanding what’s going on. Lost, but once there is adhesive, glue, cement — everything is in one piece. I’m back together.”
As part of Comp Sci High, Ms. Medina brings out the creative and innovative aspect to our community. “Everyday I come in, I encourage students to dive deeper into themselves as individuals, helping them find their story.” Working in the Art Department, she hopes to inspire each artist and student to portray their story through art.
Ms. Medina's experiences before coming to work at Comp Sci High were not easy, but they contributed to her discovery of her love for creating and teaching art. It all started in 3rd grade, when Medina was inspired in creating an art piece highlighting water conservation in NYC. This piece she had created was then chosen to be housed in the mayor’s office. “This is when I realized that I loved creating art.” A few years later going into middle school, she struggled a lot. “I was diagnosed with a learning disability. Unlike other students, I wasn’t able to comprehend math, ELA, and history courses as easily as everyone else did.” An afterschool art instructor had heard about Medina and decided to create a mosaic piece with her, taking broken glass and pieces to create a full art piece. “This is me. All these broken pieces, not understanding what’s going on. Lost, but once there is adhesive, glue, cement — everything is in one piece. I’m back together.”
Medina went to high school in the fashion industry. She had originally thought she wouldn’t get into such a school due to her performance in middle school. She learned lots in this high school, and Medina was able to feature her artwork at Saks Fifth Avenue’s windows for an Italian Company. She even modeled to support fashion designers as a part of the program in The High School of Fashion Industries. “Maybe I want to teach this,” she thought.
Ms. Medina began her academic journey at Queensborough Community College with encouragement to strive for greatness in the art community and culture. She then graduated Queensborough and enrolled into Hunter College. At Hunter, the perspective her peers saw art as wasn't at a level she was taught or simply the way she wanted to do art. “I found myself in a sea of sharks. The people there had been doing it their whole life, my experience with art wasn’t as competitive as theirs.” Despite this challenge, she graduated with a bachelor's degree in Arts and Science, majoring in Studio Art. One of her professors had suggested Art Therapy as a career path. This would require learning about how to use art to help understand the minds of individuals as well as clients. This led her to go to Pratt Institute where she received a masters in Art Therapy.
With the knowledge of art therapy, Medina spent a year doing art therapy in Jamaica, Queens, before moving to Kingston, Brooklyn, to work with more schools. She then had thoughts about working in the Bronx. “I think I want to be at a school in the Bronx. Something about being in the Bronx felt like home to me, especially within the South Bronx.” She was educated as an art therapist and social worker and spent three years working at Early College Academy, a school in the South Bronx. Medina moved to Connecticut to live with some family. She continued to do art therapy over there, working at a small business. While over in Connecticut, she missed being in the Bronx. This is when she found out about Comp Sci High. “The Comp Sci High culture felt very inclusive. Teachers that interviewed me loved and appreciated the students. I have never seen anything like that before.” Because of the way the Comp Sci High community was portrayed to her, she wanted to be a part of it.
Ms. Medina is also active within our Comp Sci High community with the Art Expression Club. The original idea for this club was encouraged by Ms. Alder, after noticing how students were calmer and more focused after art classes. Because of her background in Creative Arts Therapy, Medina created the Art Expression Club, which felt like art therapy but wasn’t quite art therapy. Ones participating in this club are allowed to grab any art materials they need to create and express themselves through art. There are instances in the club where she will encourage individuals on if they would like to talk out anything that may be going on through their life. She creates a safe space allowing students to express themselves not in only art but through conversation as well. When it comes to choosing who can join the Art Expression Club, there is a survey sent out every trimester. Simple questions like “Why are you interested in art?” to “What is the definition of art to you and art in your life?” are asked. This allows for Ms. Medina to see who really needs to be in the club. It's based on who signs up for the club first, meaningful answers, and possible support. In Trimester 2 she had over 40 people respond, and she found it very difficult to push people away. “I wish everyone could be a part of it.”