Since I was a kid, I always loved drawing things (especially characters and outfits). Drawing always helped me feel better and get things out of my mind. Throughout elementary to high school, it always brought me peace.

When I first got diagnosed, I felt like I had nothing to do and that everything just stopped.That’s when I realized that all this free time (whether it was during treatment or waiting for results) was the perfect opportunity for me to enhance myself doing what I loved most and attempt new things in it (I started practicing more with watercolour and digital art!). It helped me get through a lot because it made me feel capable of doing the things I love and create a peaceful world for me that had all my stories and characters together without thinking much about what’s happening in the real world.

I felt proud and somewhat happy because I was getting better and expanding my abilities in something I always loved but rarely had time for. It made me feel like I was still kinda “me” even after all these changes and events . Art makes me happy ‘cause it makes me feel freer and more “in control” of my life! 😁

Creative Corner is a feature of the POGO School and Work Transitions Program newsletter that showcases the many creative strategies childhood cancer survivors use to cope, heal, and navigate their journeys, shared in their own voices.