Chelsea’s art teacher Carrie Hillis didn’t ever plan on going into education. Looking back on her degree in Graphic Design and her early career, one would struggle to accurately guess where her career would end up. Yet, Hillis’ journey was not so simple as artist to teacher, and her path in life offers a powerful reflection that growing and changing does not always mean leaving the past behind.
After graduating from college, Hillis worked in online design for a start-up website. Then, before long, she switched over to working for the University of Michigan Press. There, she worked on marketing– creating flyers and book catalogs for the publisher on campus. While she enjoyed the work that she did, she eventually realized that she was looking for something more.
“I didn’t ever think about teaching until my 20s,” Hillis said. “Education just kind of hit me out of nowhere. I just felt a little bored, to be honest, sitting in a cubicle doing things for people I’d never see or meet. The connection was missing for me. And so I did a lot of thinking of what I wanted to do, and teaching just presented itself.”
Art was, and still is, a huge part of Hillis’ life. The realization that she felt bored in her work changed how she wanted her art to influence the people around her. As she grew older and developed as a person, she eventually decided to change careers.
“I thought I wanted to be an artist or a designer and do my own thing,” Hillis said. “I wanted my art to be the thing, but like I said, I was kind of bored. And I felt a calling to do something bigger than myself or something to give back. I know that sounds very cliche, but I felt some kind of connection like I wanted to make a difference in someone else’s life with art.”
So, in front of Hillis, there was more than one option. She knew she wanted to change something and make an impact, but it was still unclear how that would take form.
“I did, for a minute, think about art therapy,” Hillis said. “I was kind of going in between education and therapy. But what I realized is that here in the classroom is art therapy. I mean, that’s how I kind of go about my teaching. It’s a place for you to release and get into your own happy place.”
It would be simple to say that Hillis changed careers and never looked back. But, reflecting on life, she chooses to look back on her work in college and her early career with admiration and gratitude for shaping her into the person she is today.
“I loved getting my bachelor’s in art,” Hillis said. “I got to explore who I was– who I am– through art. I feel like, as you mature, you become a different person. I’m literally not the same person as I was when I was younger. There’s still part of me that’s the same, but I’m adding and growing and becoming different people as well. I never like to put myself in a box and think that, just because I got my Bachelor’s in art, I can’t do something else.”
Just as pieces of her are still the same, parts of her career haven’t changed either, simply taken another form. Even now, Hillis is not just a teacher. She continues to do her own artwork and to work as a freelance artist. Now, though, can make room for both passions– educating and creating– in her career.
“I take my own illustrations and I sell them– Joanne Fabrics has bought a couple of my patterns to put on fabric,” Hillis said. “That’s what I’m doing now. I’m kind of combining my illustration and design skills. I love taking what I’ve learned in the working world as a freelancer and imparting that to my students, hopefully combining the worlds.”
Combining both worlds does seem to be the theme of Hillis’ life. To her, one of the most attractive aspects of teaching is its capability of change. As a teacher, Hillis can mix her passion for art and her passion for her students. It’s more than just a job– it’s a mindset, too.
“I feel like teaching is like an organism,” Hillis said. “It’s always growing and changing and never the same. Teachers are humans and we have interests and we want to impart things that we know and love, but we also grow from our students, right? What my students feel about my lessons is important to me. So I want to adapt to the students’ needs. Every trimester I’m changing things.”
One of the great things about life is that it is not a simple thing. Too often, change is used to indicate regret of the past, but change can also indicate moving into something more right. For Hillis, especially, there is no regret for her degree or her past career. Her path to teaching is a perfect example that there is room in life for more than just one passion, one thing, and one job.
“I would never change anything,” Hillis said. “I’m a different person now, but I’m just different layers. You know, you don’t have to be one thing or another. You can do a lot of different things and have them overlap in your life. You don’t ever have to stay the same.”
