I am Maria Elisa Barreras Torres. I am a Biology major at The Ohio State University. I live in Puerto Rico and traveled to Ohio to do my undergraduate studies. Here is a bit about myself and what makes me ME.

My exposure to the arts has shaped me into the person I am. My parents first exposed me to the world of art when I was a child. They showed me how I should be open and appreciative to all types of art forms. At the age of 6 I began taking violin lessons. I also spent time drawing and painting. My mother, being an artist herself, taught me the basics, and the rest I learned by watching her, practicing, and experimenting on my own. My fascination for the arts grew deeper the more I learned about different mediums, artists, techniques, and styles. Through the arts, I developed patience and dedication by practicing repeatedly a violin piece until I got it right; creativity and visualization by devising ideas for drawings and paintings; and perspective through the appreciation of music, graphic, and plastic arts. Experimenting in the arts has taught me to slow down and focus on a single task in order to attempt to perform it as close to perfection as possible. Paradoxically, it also taught me to appreciate imperfections, and to understand that true beauty lies not in perfection but in the endeavor of creation.

The arts have enabled me to have a balanced life. Throughout my school years I have worked hard and strived for excellence. As a result I place a great deal of pressure on myself, which can occasionally become a little overwhelming. However, I have realized that to achieve my goals I need to maintain a degree of equilibrium between work and pleasure, pressure and relaxation. In the busy, fast-paced, life we live it is difficult to slow down and reflect. The arts have helped me do precisely that. When I play my violin or paint, I become enraptured in what I am doing, nothing else matters at that moment. Performing these arts allows me to focus on a single task and block out anxieties, worries and mental noise. It enables me to organize the flow of ideas and emotions in my head.

Arts have also helped me connect with other people. Last April, I attended a Catholic mission trip to an impoverished community in the Dominican Republic. In serving others, I experienced how art can bring people together. Many children in the community we visited were very active and social, yet others were shy and did not interact with us. One day I decided to bring a notebook and coloring pencils to unite the children by giving them drawing lessons. The result was simply wonderful; all of the children became actively involved, even the timid ones, and were able to express their creativity in a constructive and cooperative manner. I also encountered a similar situation closer to home, in a public elementary school I volunteered in last year. The students exhibited short temperedness when facing small disagreements with each other. The last day I surprised them by bringing my violin. As I prepared to play, I saw some of them beginning to argue about something. But, as soon as I started, I was astonished to see how all the kids grew silent, ceased their little feuds and listened attentively to the melody. Through these experiences I learned how universal art is and how it can become an agent that links people together.

The arts have been an invaluable instrument in shaping my young life. They have taught me the value of persistence and dedication, served as the medium through which I have embraced a balanced life, and allowed me to connect with, and bring out the best in, other people. They encourage broader perspectives, which can greatly facilitate one’s grasp of new knowledge and development of analytical skills. These lessons I have learned through my exposure to the arts motivate me to continue to cultivate it in my future, as a student and as a professional.