Graduate School & Life Challenges
Donation protected
If you don't ask, the answer is always no. During my time with the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship, they harnessed the idea in my head to never be afraid to ask. The worse that can happen is they'll say no. And with me asking and providing evidence that I am motivated, determined, and dedicated my questions favored the answer I was hoping for.
So here I am asking for you all to join me in my adventure towards graduate school. Don't forget support comes in many forms. I love encouraging comments! Send me a message, and I'll create it into a word art quote to post as an update and acknowledge your kind words. Like my photos and articles and updates. Share my pages on social media. Talk to me, ask me some questions if you're curious about my endeavor.
Most of all, I feel like my social media documentation of my progress is a life of its own. I am thrilled to have entries to quickly show my challenges that maybe someone else will go through. Plus I want to be forward in my honesty in how I'm getting to where I want to go. Whether it be for school or the bigger picture of life.
I plan to keep this account running even after to continue to share this incredible journey of becoming an Art Therapist.
Some information about me:
My name is Crystal P. Yanez, and I'm an artist! I was born and raised in Yakima, Washington. I graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts with interest in Psychology in December 2015. I'm currently in a Clinical Mental Health Master's Program at Lesley University.
I'm basically an only child as I call myself. Tragically my big sister, was murdered in the Yakima Valley. The creation of art was my self-therapy. I was thrilled to finally discover Art Therapy as a field so I can spread awareness of harnessing creativity for healing. This world needs more mental health options that are attainable for everyone.
Art saved my life. That's the short version of my story. Dealing with anxiety and depression, as many knows, is never an easy challenge. Especially after my sister's murder, the illness took a more significant hold of me where I finally went to my primary doctor and was diagnosed. But before all that, I used drawing as my primary medium as my emotional outlet to my hectic family life. Being in a dysfunctional family of alcoholics, drug users with some gang affiliations never brought peace and good karma in my adolescence. So, I drew. I drew anything and everything that I could focus on. Focusing on creation while I felt my outside world was crumbling, I believe driven me towards my own version of self-therapy.
I'm raising money to help my journey of continuing my higher education and earn a degree in Art Therapy and Counseling. I believe I'm also raising awareness of art as therapy, art is therapy, and through art, there can be healing!
On this page, you'll see posts about my home life that isn't strictly academic. For instance, I am married, and my spouse is not a US citizen. And with Presidents Trumps lack of support towards immigrants and same-sex marriages, some of my updates/posts will be political. It will be describing our challenges of renewing her DACA, hiring lawyers, and eventually filing for residency. The money raised here will/could go towards legal fees because this is half of my life. My wife is my rock and one of the most prominent supporters in my future, which is OUR future. Without her, attending graduate school would have been very unlikely.
Every little bit helps. And I am and will continue to be, open and honest with my fundraising goals and accomplishments. I frequently post updates to show my journey. I love to post events I attend. And of course, I'll be posting articles related to art, art history, psychology, and other related fields.
Purchase my first book here:
http://www.lulu.com/shop/crystal-yanez/an-art-therapist-in-progress/paperback/product-24112222.html
So here I am asking for you all to join me in my adventure towards graduate school. Don't forget support comes in many forms. I love encouraging comments! Send me a message, and I'll create it into a word art quote to post as an update and acknowledge your kind words. Like my photos and articles and updates. Share my pages on social media. Talk to me, ask me some questions if you're curious about my endeavor.
Most of all, I feel like my social media documentation of my progress is a life of its own. I am thrilled to have entries to quickly show my challenges that maybe someone else will go through. Plus I want to be forward in my honesty in how I'm getting to where I want to go. Whether it be for school or the bigger picture of life.
I plan to keep this account running even after to continue to share this incredible journey of becoming an Art Therapist.
Some information about me:
My name is Crystal P. Yanez, and I'm an artist! I was born and raised in Yakima, Washington. I graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts with interest in Psychology in December 2015. I'm currently in a Clinical Mental Health Master's Program at Lesley University.
I'm basically an only child as I call myself. Tragically my big sister, was murdered in the Yakima Valley. The creation of art was my self-therapy. I was thrilled to finally discover Art Therapy as a field so I can spread awareness of harnessing creativity for healing. This world needs more mental health options that are attainable for everyone.
Art saved my life. That's the short version of my story. Dealing with anxiety and depression, as many knows, is never an easy challenge. Especially after my sister's murder, the illness took a more significant hold of me where I finally went to my primary doctor and was diagnosed. But before all that, I used drawing as my primary medium as my emotional outlet to my hectic family life. Being in a dysfunctional family of alcoholics, drug users with some gang affiliations never brought peace and good karma in my adolescence. So, I drew. I drew anything and everything that I could focus on. Focusing on creation while I felt my outside world was crumbling, I believe driven me towards my own version of self-therapy.
I'm raising money to help my journey of continuing my higher education and earn a degree in Art Therapy and Counseling. I believe I'm also raising awareness of art as therapy, art is therapy, and through art, there can be healing!
On this page, you'll see posts about my home life that isn't strictly academic. For instance, I am married, and my spouse is not a US citizen. And with Presidents Trumps lack of support towards immigrants and same-sex marriages, some of my updates/posts will be political. It will be describing our challenges of renewing her DACA, hiring lawyers, and eventually filing for residency. The money raised here will/could go towards legal fees because this is half of my life. My wife is my rock and one of the most prominent supporters in my future, which is OUR future. Without her, attending graduate school would have been very unlikely.
Every little bit helps. And I am and will continue to be, open and honest with my fundraising goals and accomplishments. I frequently post updates to show my journey. I love to post events I attend. And of course, I'll be posting articles related to art, art history, psychology, and other related fields.
Purchase my first book here:
http://www.lulu.com/shop/crystal-yanez/an-art-therapist-in-progress/paperback/product-24112222.html
Organizer
Crystal P. Yanez
Organizer
Grandview, WA