Personal Essay: What does it mean to call yourself an artist?

Personal Essay: What does it mean to call yourself an artist?

By Lama Alshami In a world that values stability, financial security and traditionalism, being an artist is often dismissed by societal expectations. To many, the arts are a hobby rather than something to make a long-term career out of. As a result, students find there is a strong pressure to pursue practical career paths in fields such as law, science or business—but the desire to make art remains deep inside.  For those of us from immigrant fa…