Life as an art student is pretty hectic at times.

Though we may not be cramming for exams that require us to look through hundreds of pages in big expensive text books or even have two or three binders full of notes to go over, we know a different type of struggle.

The number of projects that end up on our plates in one semester from several studio classes have us pulling out our hair and literally questioning our capability as an artist. Not only that, but we forget those around us. We forget that we are among some of the most creatively intelligent people this school has to offer, and that what we all are doing will bring us to our goals.

This semester I have had the opportunity to take VSAR 302: Digital Photography with Professor Nancy diBenedetto. Yes, this class is fun and interesting and yes, I am taking photos that I am so proud of. However, this is not the reason that I believe this is the best class that I have ever taken at CSUSM.

The reason is that diBenedetto has made this class personal, and not just with our own work and the amount of time and dedication we put into it, is that she has made us lift our eyes off of ourselves and focus on those around us.

About a month into the semester we were told to bring a book to class. This book contained letters to a young artist and we were to have read at least one excerpt from the book. At one point in this class meeting, we sat in a circle and began to share what we had read and why we connected to it. As I sat and listened to the struggles, moments of joy and self‐ realization of my classmates, I was moved to the point of tears. There is such a profound deepness that we all share taking the path of an artist. We know that the work we display is often literally putting our hearts and souls out there to possibly be rejected.

Another realization that came about was the support of family and friends. Not everyone understands why we have chosen what we have, and it is a hard pill to swallow when you have to realize that not everyone’s family supports the career path they are choosing.

Not only would I recommend this class, but I would also highly encourage anyone in the School of Arts to take this course with diBenedetto. If you decide to, you will come out encouraged and determined to do exactly what you have set out to do as an artist while falling in love with photography for the first time, or all over again.