Some people use art as a form of personal expression, others get lost in a dance or song as a way to escape from the stress of day-to-day life. Regardless of what it’s used for the arts play a large role in the lives of people world wide. New CHS art teacher, Demi Diquattro, would be one of those people.

From the time Diquattro was a child, art has had an impact on her life.

“I think from the time I was little I was always a creative kid,” Diquattro said. “I was always the kid that didn’t just want to play house, I would come up with this grand idea of things I wanted to do. So by the time I was in kindergarten, I was drawing all the time.”

Diquattro’s love for art stems from the fact that words aren’t needed to tell the meaning behind a piece.

“I love the way that it can bring people together and art is one of the only universal languages the whole world can understand. Art is a whole language in itself,” Diquattro said. “So there can be an art piece up on the wall and you don’t have to have a description to explain it for someone to understand the meaning behind it.”

To make it as a professional artist is hard to do. While many people aspire to make it on Broadway, only a few actually do. Diquattro had a dream of becoming a professional dancer in high school, but later focused her interest solely on art.

“I have been interested in art basically my whole life, since I was very little. In high school I was all over the place,” Diquattro said. “I was involved in dance, theatre, and art. I was probably 16 when I found a practical thing to do with my artistic passion.”

Every teacher has a different reason behind why they choose to be a part of the teaching profession. For Diquattro, it is seeing the progress her students make.
“I want my students to understand that being good at art isn’t something you are born with. There are prodigies of art and other fields; but just because you are not good at it the first time, doesn’t mean you don’t get better the next time you try,” Diquattro said.

Teaching the beauty of art is not the only reason Diquattro decided to become a teacher. Diquattro’s main goal is to be an outlet for her students.

“The one thing I hope my students take from my class is the fact that they always have a friend. If they need someone to talk to, if they need a place to eat lunch, I want them to know that they always have me.”