From a young age, I’ve always had a sense of motivation and creative passion driving me forward. Young children demonstrate an innate, spontaneous ability for artistic expression. Before children learn to read or write letters they are able to make animated marks with a crayon or marker. My role as the art teacher is to maintain childrens' inherent artistic confidence. Through art- making and creative thinking, students can gain a better understanding of themselves and their immediate worlds. Connecting personal meaning to art helps build self-confidence and student agency. Art opens doorways to learning about many cultures and provides opportunities for fostering empathy and respect for human differences. Art enhances imagination, creative thinking, and problem solving skills. Creating and critiquing visual art helps students to form opinions, to predict, and to use evidence to explain thinking. Art class prepares students for success in the 21st century.