Tracy Carpenter’s dream job is a career she made up.
“I am actually doing some research on how to write grants. I started a documentary project titled ‘People of Substance.’ I interview men who are currently in the process of transitioning from addiction dependence to recovery — documenting their process, seeing where they are. I’d like to expand that service to other non-profits as a way they can document their clients — not just for record purposes but for tracking purposes.”
A photography major, Carpenter’s goal is to earn a bachelor’s degree and teach art in elementary schools.
“Being in visual arts/photography requires double the time outside of the class you are taking. Supplies for art classes are so expensive,” she explained. “I received a scholarship the semester I took Large Format. I literally would not have been able to take the class because I couldn’t have afforded the supplies without the scholarship.”
For Carpenter, the scholarship was an affirmation of her decision to return to school.
“I am so grateful. Switching majors was a huge transition period in my life, so to receive a scholarship (something) that affirmed my work — to have someone tangibly see my work and see it worthy as an investment — was truly inspiring,” she said.
“It was also a motivation to try harder. I owe it to someone who saw something in me worth investing in to work harder.”