- April 28, 2024
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Crystal, a junior at PACE School for Girls, used art as a way to get her through dark times — and she wants to show others how to do the same.
When Crystal* was 8 years old, she had a situation that led to her needing therapy. Due to her family’s financial situation, she couldn’t stay in therapy for long. Instead, she turned to art for her healing.
“I feel like if I was able to stay in therapy longer it would have helped,” Crystal, now 17 years old, said.
“Most people use social media or go out and smoke. I’d rather draw. I started when I was really young. My sister would draw, so it started out as a competition things. I wanted to do better than her.”
Crystal grew up in Ormond Beach and until recently attended Seabreeze High School. Her grades dropped after she had to deal with some harassment from her peers.
“There were a lot of things going on a Seabreeze that I didn’t like,” Crystal said. “People were just ignorant. There was this one guy that just wouldn’t leave me alone every day. He was harassing me, and I reported it to the principal and my teacher, but no one did anything. So I stopped going to school.”
The teen continues to use drawing as an escape to her stress so she can focus on getting her grades back. She eventually wants to go back to Seabreeze where her sister attends school, and graduate.
“We get along really well,” Crystal said. “She’s my other half.”
After she graduates, Crystal wants to study psychiatry, so she can work in mental hospitals and teach patients the therapy of art.
“All of those people are ignored, and just fed medication to keep them quiet,” Crystal said. “I want to be the one that listens. I want to show them how art can explain how they are feeling.”
Until the 17 year old gets to that point, she’ll continue to further her art.
“I like realistic things,” Crystal said. “When I can draw things that kind of look real, it’s like ‘Yes!’ I like to try to draw out of my head because when you’re looking at something, it kind of takes away from your imagination.”
*PACE Center for Girls does not identify students to comply with its Florida Department of Juvenile Justice mandates.
