It’s “Lisa” with an “R”
Hey y’all, I’m Risa! It’s been close to seven years since I first came to Auburn, AL., as a bright-eyed freshman, and if you had asked me then if I was going to be opening this section with “y’all” I would have looked at you like you had a million eyeballs. See, I’m a Yankee at heart, but after graduating from high school up in the suburbs of Boston, MA., I was ready for what the South had to offer me. So I drove the 18 hours down the East Coast of the country and arrived at the Loveliest Village on the Plains not knowing why Auburn has two mascots or a single soul in the area. But, I’ve never been one to shy away from a new experience, so I took this challenge head-on.
Covid Curveball Makes Accidental Panther
In August 2019 I left my temporary home with a shiny new diploma and 2020 vision of the future…. or so I thought.
We all know the devastation and social unrest that erupted during the global pandemic, COVID-19, but what I didn’t see coming was the complete change in life philosophies I experienced. I now had everything I needed for a successful career in Public Relations; creative foundations and the practical business knowledge to support me. All I was missing was the dream job.
So when unexpected life circumstances landed me in a 3-month stay at Skyland Trails, I quickly found inspiration in the recreational staff there. While helping me back onto my feet, Skyland helped me in exponentially more ways. I was encouraged to try a couple of art and psychology classes at Georgia State University in the summer of 2021, and the rest is history. Currently, I am in my second semester of prerequisite course work at GSU in pursuit of a potential master’s degree in Art Education or Art Therapy!