Caroline Lord, a studio art and creative writing double major, will graduate in May with plans to attend graduate school in counseling and eventually pursue a career in art therapy. However, the Gate Scholar was unsure about this direction until a major life event her junior year reinforced the transcendent power of art to process emotion.
“Last year when my cousin passed away, all of my girl cousins spent the days leading up to his funeral making friendship bracelets with words describing him as well as memories of him — some of his most memorable sayings,” she remembers. “It’s a small thing, but it brought us all together and served as something we could do in his memory. I’ve also spent time in one of my classes writing about organ donors and recipients, as my cousin was a donor.”
Caroline’s coursework gave her the opportunity to explore the therapeutic value of creative expression. “In my Writing and Community class, I’ve been able to visit the Regional Youth Detention Center and teach writing classes to students,” she says. “I love the opportunity to sit with students in those classes and help them have a little bit of a creative outlet for a while. This is a small example that serves as further confirmation that I’m moving in the right direction.”
As Caroline honed her artistic skills, she continued to find opportunities to showcase her talents on campus, especially as an entrepreneur at Berry’s annual Mountain Day Market.
“Selling art sophomore year was a wild experience. It wasn’t just the fact that my business was successful. Selling my art was encouraging because I got to speak to people who noticed the details,” she explains.
Through Berry’s LifeWorks program, Caroline has received real-world job experience, solidifying her career goals. “As the online editor of Ramifications, I’ve had the opportunity to give artists and writers an audience to share their work with and encourage them in their Berry journey,” she says.
Art continues to be an outlet to connect with others emotionally. “As I’m painting something for someone, I’m thinking of them and trying to speak to the things that my words can’t reach,” Caroline reflects. “Whether that’s the symbolism that a flower holds or a Bible verse hidden on the edges of a canvas, my goal is always to make people feel seen in their grief.”
Caroline notes that Berry’s course instruction and creative freedom have made all the difference in her development: “Learning how to be invested in classmates’ work, give and receive criticism with grace and ask big questions are skills that will serve me in various aspects of life. I walked in the light I felt like I’d been given, and I have never regretted it, not even for a moment.”
Story by senior Audrey Bennett
