Ava Park

Tell us a little bit about yourself …

- My name is Ava Park, and I am a junior at the Orange County School of the Arts with a focus on the visual arts. As a staff writer on my school’s news publication and a member of the arts and photography team, I tie in my passion for art with my adoration of sharing things with my community. I love listening to music; my favorite genres are folk, jazz, and soul. As an art student, I have been given countless opportunities to further my passion for art. I hope to share the gift of art with others—especially by raising awareness about the therapeutic qualities of art in youth communities.

What’s your connection to Orange County?

- I have lived in Orange County all my life. I consider OC my home, so I always look for ways to contribute to this diverse community. The people here are inviting, proactive, and inspiring. I hope to foster greater arts awareness with the youth of OC and initiate positive discussions about overall well-being.

Share a little bit about your outlook on life …

I seek to cherish the little things in life, namely the moments that aren’t monumental occasions/ milestones. My favorite moments in life have more often than not, been the times I spent by myself or with my family. These moments have never been characterized by thrill, excitement, or novelty. I enjoy getting the time to simply pass the time with the people I care about. I also view life as a constant and ever changing journey in which every interaction and experience has value. I view my failures as opportunities for growth, and my successes as indicators that I am on the right path. I think it is important to recognize that everyone has flaws, mistakes are inevitable, and life is hard, so you should not feel dread in the face of adversity, you should use mistakes in your favor, and maintain an optimistic position on life.

What’s your favorite book?

- My favorite book is Little Women by Louisa May Alco=. This book, and its many movie adaptations, struck me because of its timelessness. The characters are all so loveable, and distinct, and I appreciate how we almost grow with the characters. Although I do not have any sisters I loved seeing the realistic bond between Jo, Amy, Beth, and Meg, fights and all. This book is so valuable as it has and will continue to pass the test of time since its themes resonate with readers from all ages, genders, and backgrounds.

What’s your favorite self-care activity?

- My favorite self-care activity is journaling. Ever since I was young, my thoughts found their sanctuary in the spirals of a colorful diary. I find that the best way for me to connect to myself— is through my words. By giving myself the space to reflect on the things that I like and don’t like, what brings me joy, and so on, I feel like I am enabling myself to grow as a person.

What drew you to the arts?

- When I was younger, I felt more of a connection to art through music. From playing in the school band, teaching myself how to play the ukelele, and being the family’s reigning karaoke champion, I never expected to pursue visual arts. I felt drawn to the visual arts mostly because I wanted to be “better” at it. Growing up I was never an “art” kid, but I always admired the way a painted canvas could evoke any kind of emotion from its viewers. So, the summer before entering high school I decided to revisit a previous goal of mine, to a=end an arts school. After an intensive summer of immersion in the fundamentals of visual arts, I created a portfolio I was proud to submit to my school. This moment of spontaneity has opened so many doors for me in the visual arts, allowing me to pursue my artistic aspirations.

What role have the arts played in your life, especially your mental health/wellness?

- As an arts student, I am constantly surrounded by art. At first, being in such a creative environment was overwhelming as I felt like I was falling behind my peers. I realized this was taking a toll on my wellness and was negatively impacting my relationship with the visual arts, therefore I decided to distance myself from the competitive aspects of arts and devote myself to creating art that spoke to me. This helped me rediscover my passion for art and I started to understand myself better, allowing my mental health to rebuild.

What is your preferred art medium (for example: writing, drawing, painting, graphic design, etc.)? How did you begin using it?

- My preferred art medium is painting, specifically oil painting. My experience with this medium began in my beginning oil painting class at school and I immediately fell in love. I’ve always loved to paint but didn’t like how quickly acrylic paint dried, which is why I love oil so much, it dries very slowly. The colors of oil paints are much more vibrant, and it is easier to blend because the paint stays fresh.

What role does art play in supporting your own mental wellness?

- Art keeps me grounded. I tend to daydream a lot and get lost in hypotheticals, but whenever I sit to work— I feel present in reality. Art gives me a space to express all of the conflicting emotions I have which accumulate throughout my days. This is why, whenever I feel overwhelmed with my emotions I like to doodle or work on an unfinished painting. Art ultimately helps me cope with a negative headspace, which allows me to approach hardships more efficiently.

Tell us a little bit about how you plan to bring art therapy into your high school and potentially high schools around Orange County.

- For my Girl Scout Gold Award Project, I have been working on an arts therapy initiative focused at my school. Our school recently opened a student wellness center called the Serenity Center, and I have worked closely with school faculty to provide art therapy resources. My conditions for these resources were to be: 1. Accessible. 2. Portable, and 3. Arts-based. Through discussions with my advisors, it became apparent that kits, focused on the therapeutic qualities of art would be an incredibly meaningful resource for students at my school. This free resource aims to foster positive conversation about student wellness and advocate for art as an efficient tool in managing mental health. My ultimate goal is to share this resource with other schools in Orange County.

Why should youth or young adults like yourself attend community mental health events, like those hosted by Connect-OC?

- Many people fail to address mental and emotional well-being as a part of their self-care which is detrimental. Youth/young adult communities should a=end community mental health events, like those hosted by Connect OC as they advocate for greater discussion about the importance of mental well-being. These events provide people with a safe space to understand that their feelings are valid and heard. They also fight the stigma against critical conversations about mental health which commonly goes unaddressed and remains a wrongfully taboo topic.