By Lexy Perez
It can be normal for every college student to feel overwhelmed with questions about the future. Pressure can build on the necessity to feel as if you need to have an idea of what exactly it is you wish to do.
For Marilyn Huerta, the answer is quite simple. “Why must you do just one thing?”
Living a life based on the mantra of refusing to have life bounded by limits, Huerta is living proof that if you have passion for something, there’s nothing in life you can’t do. It is imperative to ensure that enthusiasm consumes your life that leads to ultimate happiness.
Aside from being a mother of four, Huerta serves in a myriad of positions important for our campus. Having begun working for the campus since 2006, she serves as the President of the San Marcos Art Council, a Student Arts Association Advisor for CSUSM, a Community Liaison for Charity Wings Art Center and co-teaches HeART Healing Retreats sponsored by the Palliative Care Institute. While these are just a few of her positions, it is evident that she has an impressive list of credentials.
Being raised amongst creative parents, her zealousness for art and innovation was conspicuous at an early age.
“When people would ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up, in my heart I always knew I wanted to be an artist, but I didn’t want to just decorate someone’s wall, I wanted to share it and give back with it. It had to be some kind of service,” said Huerta when describing what inspires her love for art.
What sets this woman apart from others is her commitment to making a difference in the community. She views art as not only a passion, but as something that can give the ultimate freedom of expression.
“We have so much structure in life and in art there are no rules,” Huerta said.
It is through healing of art in which Huerta found her calling to assist others struggling with the adversaries of life.
“So many people in the world think that art is not important. They think it’s just an extracurricular activity, but it’s not. It’s something that is needed. It’s used in all forms all over the world and people don’t recognize it,” she said.
An example of her community involvement is work done through an organization she is a part of called Art Miles. Huerta and other students painted 14 murals as a means of honoring the tragedy of Sandy Hook Elementary School. After sending these murals to Connecticut, she feels it exemplified how art can allow individuals to use their creativity as a means of making a difference.
One thing Huerta wishes people knew was that creativity isn’t something only meant for the “gifted.”
“You don’t have to have skills or be experienced in art to know the power of it. It can be a tool that can be used by everyone. It’s something to do for yourself,” Huerta said.
While she doesn’t feel as if women are truly represented enough in art, she believes that gender shouldn’t even be of any concern.
“It’s my hope that your art speaks for itself and you don’t pay attention to whether it’s a male or female artist,” she said.
Huerta doesn’t pay mind to the gender of an individual but rather the artistry they bring to the table, for all voices of art should be expressed and heard.
It is through the art process that Huerta has discovered not only who she is as an individual, but her purpose as an artist.
“I can be myself, without being forced to. Art shares our story. It provides a voice for those who sometimes don’t know how to speak,” she said.
Huerta has a hope for women who dedicate their lives to advocating what they believe in.
“We aren’t given enough credit for how strong we are. We should always be thought of as equal. There are differences about us and we should accept our strengths,” she said. “When I was growing up it was all about finding the prince but you don’t have to get married or have children to be successful. If men can be that and still be successful, we can do it too.”
Huerta is living proof that anything can be done if you believe in it.