Dale Jr. High School Patch Work Totes

It has always been a dream of mine to teach and, hopefully, inspire kids not just to dream, but to dream BIG! My motto to them is: “If I did it, so can you, and even better.” In September 2024, I was asked if I’d like to teach art at a local junior high school in a very low-income area. I immediately said yes and began teaching in January 2025. From January through May, I taught 7 classes a day, 1-2 times per week, reaching roughly 250 students between the ages of 12 and 14. I knew it would be challenging, but I didn’t realize just how challenging it would be. My days were long, and from day one, I was exhausted yet invigorated. It felt amazing to engage and connect with the students, and to let them know that because of my own chaotic upbringing, I truly understood some of their struggles. The overarching theme for all of our projects was: “It’s okay to mess up, but never quit.” Every project was made using leather remnants from our atelier. Our first project was to make a leather wal