'I Can't See Myself Going Without': Former Student Turns Teacher At Tulsa Girls Art School

A Tulsa woman is giving back to a program that helped to shape her.

For 10 years, Yamya Jackson was a student at the Tulsa Girls Art School, and now she's taking on a new role as a teacher.

With every little detail added to her canvas, Yamya Jackson is choosing to trust the process.

But the focus on her craft wasn't always in the foreground.

"Going to school on the north side of Tulsa, I was going to school when a lot of budget cuts were happening, so we didn't have art classes anymore, or they were starting to be condensed," said Jackson. "So, I was like, yeah, art is not going to be something I am going to do, but once I was introduced to this program, that's when it started, honestly."

The Tulsa Girls Art School, an afterschool art and youth development program, allowed Yamya to find her voice--not only on the page but in life.

"That's why I appreciate this program so much because the art is just the vehicle. It doesn't necessarily have to be your craft or your niche. The whole point is to draw in at-risk young women, you know what I mean, and to teach you the life skills. It's taught me to be a great public speaker," she said.

Along with giving her opportunities she wouldn't have had access to otherwise, the program is now giving her employment.

Last January, Yamya became a teacher.

"I wanted to pour into a program that poured into me. I really believed in serving, especially at a time when I didn't know what I wanted to do, but I knew to serve," she said.

Yamya couldn't have imagined the bigger picture would involve this smaller one, but she's glad she stuck it out.

"Sometimes it's bigger than life, bigger than you. To look back and think this was something I didn't really want to do and now I can't see myself going without. It goes to prove, once again, you just need to trust the process," she said.

For more information on the Tulsa Girls Art School, click here.

If you have Something Good you would like to share, email us at Somethinggoodnewson6@griffin.news