Rachel Rodriguez '20, an artist at heart, wants to study architecture and interior design in college so that she can become a catalyst for females in the industry. "Hopefully beyond college I will be able to open my own for women by women building and design company," Rachel says. "I would really like to see more women in the field of building / construction. Only 40% of architects are women and I feel like if I had an all women company it would be a truly astonishing business."
"Ever since I was younger, I always knew that I had a knack for art," Rachel says. "My mom always enrolled me in pottery classes, dance classes, music classes. I feel like I was bound to do something with art."
Dancing for almost 12 years, Rachel decided to explore her art more this summer. She found that abstract art came naturally and is teaching herself about landscapes by watching Bob Ross tutorials on YouTube. Rachel recently had her artwork displayed at
Mindbuilders Creative Arts Center on Gun Hill Road
, the same place she dances and teaches younger students to dance. Within a week, all her paintings had been purchased at the gallery and she needed to bring more for display.
Rachel credits her classmates with helping her find her future path. "I feel as though my friends who I've been with for all four years and some for two, inspire me to be the best young woman possible. Having such a strong bond with my friends, makes a strong push and pull factor to make each other great."