Ragan Poplawski (Class of 2027)
Blogger Role: Art Education
Major: Art Education
I chose Marywood because it was a big part of my childhood. I played the cello in the Marywood String Project with Professor Sophie Till and attended Camp Crescendo here for many years, so from a young age I always imagined myself attending classes here later on in life.
I am majoring in Art because I wanted my career path to be something that I was passionate about and truly enjoyed. I decided to do art education specifically because it includes my two biggest passions: art and helping children.
When I’m not in class, I am usually working as a server/bartender or painting. I am a full time student and I also work part time so my schedule is usually very packed, but when I have free time I enjoy spending it painting or with my friends and family.
So far, my favorite art class at Marywood was Feminist Writing and Rhetoric. That class not only taught me how to be an intentional and successful writer, but also how to notice the rhetoric techniques in graphics, writings, and news I see outside of class. I was able to use what I learned in this class in my everyday life as well as in my other classes, and I believe that is what makes a college course enjoyable and useful.
The coolest thing I’ve done at Marywood so far was learn how to better my skills in art through learning techniques and receiving critiques. Before taking art classes here, I had not learned the developmental techniques of art such as oil painting. But after learning the fundamentals and receiving critiques on how to make my art even better, I am able to further my learning and better my art.
When I graduate I would like to become an elementary art teacher. I have always had a passion for both art and helping children ever since I can remember. In first grade I remember filling out a worksheet and writing that I would like to become an art teacher one day, and I would love to fulfil that dream!
I’d recommend the Art program at Marywood because not only will you further your art skills tremendously, you will also develop personal connections with your professors that will help develop those skills even further. There are many professors here who have such a passion for both the arts and their students, and that makes the art program here so successful.