Soyeon Park Embraces America
Soyeon Park came to the United States from South Korea a year and a half ago. Since then the Huntington High School senior has embraced life in America and has found her niche in the world of art. She will begin attending the School of Visual Arts in New York City in the fall.
Ms. Park is an artist. Her work is currently on exhibit in the Huntington Art Council's High Arts Showcase IX at the Art-Trium in Melville. It's a show that includes pieces from some of the best young artists on Long Island.
The teenager intends to study illustration at The School of Visual Arts. Ms. Park's classes this year include core courses such as chemistry as well as Fashion Design & Illustration and Ceramics and Sculpture II. She is an active member of Huntington's Art Honor Society chapter.
Ms. Park has earned the respect of her teachers. "Her drawings are incredibly well conceived and rendered for a high school student," said Amy Worth, a Huntington High School art teacher. "Soyeon is a sensitive, mature young woman and a true pleasure to teach. Her work ethic is outstanding. I look forward to seeing what the future holds for an artist as talented and dedicated as Soyeon".
"My favorite teacher is Ms. Worth because she is patient and lets me take my time," Ms. Park said. Art classes are clearly her favorite courses. "I like drawing and learning new skills," she said.
In her first year at Huntington High School Ms. Park took Living Environment, a science class taught by Nicole Cooper. "She is the most passionate science teacher I've ever met," the senior said. "She taught with an interesting method and was never boring."
Ms. Park also enrolled in geometry with teacher Michael Graziano. "He helped me a lot and his class is full of fun and his lecture is easy to understand," the teenager said.
Last May's Huntington School District art show was an exciting experience for Ms. Park. "It was the first time I've seen my work up on the wall," she said. Her work is so good that it seems a sure bet that more of the senior's work will be on display at many more art shows.
All of Ms. Park's most memorable school experiences involve art. "Because the subject of art in Korea is very general, we did not have many facilities," she said. "I was surprised and amazed that Huntington classrooms had kilns and sewing machines in them."
"When Soyeon first came to the school she was very quiet and didn't talk a lot," Ms. Worth said. "She found that when she opened up, people were there to help her."
Ms. Park has been busying making up a lot of courses that New York State requires for a high school diploma. It hasn't been easy and the language has been a challenge in her classes, but art makes every day a sunny one for the teenager.