 |
| November 2019 ANC Student Snapshot recipient, Krislyn Hollis |
𝗔𝗡𝗖 𝗡𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥 𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗦𝗡𝗔𝗣𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗧 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗙𝗜𝗟𝗘
𝗞𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗹𝘆𝗻 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗶𝘀, 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗴 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗠𝗢
Krislyn Hollis of Bragg City, Missouri, brings her “uniqueness” to Arkansas Northeastern College and has been named one of its Student Snapshot recipients for November.
ANC Instructor In Art Holt Brasher nominated Hollis for the Student Snapshot distinction for many reasons including her dedication to the arts and her academic drive. Hollis is currently managing a heavy course load, which she manages while broadening her artistic skills by creating her own pieces of art.
“Krislyn spends hours of free time in the studio working on her own independent work and finding time to clean the studio to help myself and other students,” said Brasher, adding, “I’m very proud of the work Krislyn puts into her studies, her art and her future. Her witty banter with fellow students and her instructors have made many enjoy her presence as much as I do in my own classes.”
Because of her artistic abilities, Hollis’ family encouraged her to major in a field where she already excelled. “I am a Fine Arts major. Most of my reasoning for choosing this major was
because my family has always wanted me to be an artist, but I also chose it because with a fine arts major, I'm not limited to just being an art teacher,” said Hollis.
During her time at ANC, her artistic skills have flourished and even her preferences have evolved. Brasher certainly has had an impact as his expertise in printmaking has brought that art form to ANC so students can explore a different type of art.
“My favorite medium used to be pencil, but I've now fallen in love with printmaking. At first, I didn't really want to take the class, but my anxiety made it impossible to tell my advisor to
drop me. So the first day I went to printmaking expecting the worst. Now, if I lived in a print room, I'd probably be happy. It's an amazing medium that can tell so many different stories
in their own unique ways, just like life,” added Hollis.
Hollis recognizes that she does not always conform to the norm and has embraced her differences. “My teachers have always described me as ‘unique.’ I'm always a bit unpredictable, and I always have been. A lot of my personality comes from surviving a few misfortunes and realizing I can either let them consume me or try and use my own short-
comings to better the lives of those around me. This helped a lot in high school when I moved from a rather large town to a school with only 200 kids k-12. I was already unique enough, but now I was a catfish in a koi pond. While it was a little difficult being so different, both in personality and upbringing, from my peers, I found that being different is the best thing to be. My weird upbringing and personality have made me shine through a lot in my life, both in good times and bad.”
At ANC, students like Hollis can find acceptance and the opportunity to utilize their differences to excel in almost anything. Because of ANC’s size and its helpful faculty and
staff, Hollis says she feels a communal sense in attending. “Even if I don't know everyone, I feel like I do. The classes are the perfect size to get to know every person, without even talking to them directly. As someone who adores observing others, ANC is a perfect spot to do it.”
Additionally, Hollis appreciates that she can continue her education at a reasonable cost and cites its closeness to home and affordability as primary factors in choosing ANC, adding, “I decided I wasn't ready for a four-year university just yet, as well as not having the money to cover a four-year tuition. ANC was perfect because while it is a two-year and
affordable, it offers enough variety in classes and majors that it almost feels like a four-year university.”
In all, ANC has provided Hollis a place to feel at home while gaining a wonderful education and enhancing her artistic skills. ANC has enabled her to do more than go to class, it has provided a wonderful platform for her artistic expression.
