Mental health is no doubt an issue that college students learn to navigate, whether they realize it or not.  Four Skyline College students with differing majors and experiences have learned to cope with it the same way; through art.

When spring semester approaches, going back to school might be the last thing you want on your mind. While the fall provides an opportunity to familiarize oneself with the campus once more, the spring semester gives students a whole new schedule to figure out. Add personal life into the mix, and even stepping onto campus might elicit anxiety that can be hard to just “shake off.” New semester, new stressors, same school; how do you deal with it all?

For Alex Sto Domingo, 20 years old, art is a hobby that allows her to relax and destress. Majoring in Administration of Justice, Communications, Philosophy, and Law, Public Policy and Society, she aims to become a criminal justice attorney to be a voice for those who are too marginalized to speak up for themselves.

“I’m a quadruple major, and I come from a low income family, so I do have to work and find multiple jobs after school,” Domingo said. “It’s just been busy work… hindering me from all these goals that I have.”

Even if she only focuses on art for just half an hour a day, giving just a little bit of time for herself helps her balance all these goals and responsibilities. While she mostly sticks to digital art and traditional drawing, she likes to try new things. 

“I believe that there’s no such thing as a right or wrong in art,” Domingo said. “In school or at work, there’s always these really strict confinements and rules that you have to follow — art allows me to just do whatever.”

Doing paid commissions for art in the past, Domingo found that it didn’t really make her happy; experiencing burnout, she’s decided to keep her current career goals and art separate for now.

“I find that, at least for me, keeping those two separate is how I would be able to enjoy both in [their] own respective areas,” Domingo said.

In a similar vein, Andre Inobe, a 19 year old Computer Science major, wants to keep art as a hobby for the time being. While commissions are in the back of his mind, it’s not something he wants to do at the moment.

“I don’t feel like using art as work. I want to keep work and passion different, separate,” Inobe said.

Inobe likes to draw digitally, particularly characters from his favorite media such as anime, gacha games, and cartoons. With art being his passion, he uses it to get his mind off classes due to the nature of his workload in computer science. When asked about what about art helps him to destress, he thinks it’s a good option to help relieve the weight off of mental health.

“You get to just put out what you’re thinking into art form,” Inobe said. “It’s something that you could do at your own time, at your own pace.”

While he’s unsure of what he wants to specifically pursue in the future, he states that he still has a lot of time to decide who he really wants to be.

Gerri Gonzales, a 23 year old Psychology major, says that they used to major in Art but switched due to having trouble dealing with perfectionism.

“When I was taking [a] few Art classes, I had lots of difficulties with my perfectionism,” Gonzales said. “I [would] sometimes actually cry in class.”

Gonzales does traditional art sometimes, but mostly draws digitally. Even now when making it as a hobby, they still have difficulties trying to make it 100% perfect; in spite of that, they remind themself that they’re just drawing for their own enjoyment. 

“Even though it’s a stick figure, even though you’re not really good at it, it’s still [a] way for you to express yourself out there,” Gonzales said. 

On the topic of Artificial Intelligence AI, Gonzales expresses that more and more people are consuming it to get what they want quickly. They said that people should not be afraid of tackling a long journey when it comes to practicing something.

“When you’re putting… so much effort into what you really like, then [the] result will be more fulfilling and [long-lasting] for your happiness,” Gonzales said.

Korena Nygard is a 28 year old Skyline student still undecided on her major who dabbles in a plethora of artistic areas — journaling, making jewelry, goldsmithing, and designing things that you can functionally use. In contrast to the other artists, she doesn’t see art as a hobby and wants to have a career in it.

“It’s a way of making my mark in the world, like saying I was here,” said Nygard. “It’s just a way of… connecting with myself and expressing myself.”

Similar to Gonzales, Nygard also faced difficulties dealing with perfectionism in her Two-Dimensional Art class. Although she loves art, it’s not always fun; however, after talking with her professor, she realized that the process of learning will help her apply these skills to her own work later down the line.

“Failing and being uncomfortable is growth. That’s part of growing. That’s part of getting better,” Nygard said. “If you care about something enough, you’re gonna do it.”

Nygard disclosed that she has panic disorder, PTSD, anxiety, and is dealing with grief due to the recent passing of her mom. Seeing art as a lot of different things, such as the way people express themselves through the clothes they wear, she highly recommends journaling.

“I discovered journaling as being a really good way to [get] some clarity of what’s going on with me,” Nygard said. “It’s like having a conversation with yourself.”

Domingo suggests to other students who may be dealing with art burnout, to find the fun in it again.

“Stop thinking of art as something you have to do, but something you want to do instead,” Domingo said. “Have fun with your art… it’s not meant to be another thing you get stressed about.”

While Inobe doesn’t discount the importance of focusing on your work and figuring out what you want to be career-wise, he highlights the importance of checking up on your mental health along the way.

“While it’s important, [mental] health is also important as well,” Inobe said.

Gonzales recalls how hobbies used to be more joyful as a kid, and as a grown up, those same hobbies might feel less accessible. They compare the relief you get from venting out to a friend with the catharsis you get from art.

“There’s other forms of destressing yourself, not just verbally, and when it comes to colors — just going all out, scribbling — it’s a really healthy way to take out your stress,” Gonzales said. “It’s like you’re spilling out, venting to your friend… and you feel all that relief. It’s kind of the same thing with art, where you don’t really care [what you are drawing].”

Echoing the sentiment of everyone else, Nygard tells art students to do their best, but to remember progress over perfection.

“Don’t be too hard on yourself and enjoy this version of yourself right now,” Nygard said. “Enjoy this moment and the process… you’re already here. You’re already an artist, you know?”

Although the experiences of each artist differ and vary, art has provided a space for them to shine and express themselves. In a medium that allows you to create whatever world you wish off of a blank draft, tapping into your creativity and unfiltered thoughts may help you get through the chaos of a new semester.