A Moment of Reflection w/ ARTS @ Work

“Well… why do you do what you do?”

As we neared the end of the ARTS @ Work program, a 4-month-long youth program focusing on building technical and professional skills, the teens and I reflected on the meaning of our work and the overarching mission of our lives. We paused in deep thought together… asked ourselves what infuses our lives with joy… and wondered what values are at play when we complete our everyday tasks.

It was a difficult and complex idea to reflect on, but the ARTS @ Work kids, who had spent tens of hours engineering and welding huge installations for our Dia de Los Muertos festival, were not intimidated by the challenge! After a brief brainstorming period, many of them felt confident (or, at least, comfortable) expressing what they value and how they envision their future.

Many of the common themes in their answers included relationships, practicing religion, utilizing their artistic/technical skills, and pursuing a degree despite the challenges of being the first in their family to do so. Even the quieter ones took a part in sharing and mentioned how much they value their close friendships and mentors. It was an incredibly humbling and inspiring experience to hear the complexity of these youths’ answers and share their optimism. In the near future, watch out for these expert engineers, welders, and artists from National City!

Written by our Community of Care Coordinator, Ada Shido