SLOVENIA'S 5 CORE VALUES

When I think back to those years, my mind reels with hardships, complexes, violence, bad grades ...

The primary school I attended resembled a real Wild West. Many pupils have/had serious behavioural problems. Even the teachers were afraid of the wildest among us. Physical, verbal and psychological violence were commonplace in our school. All this rebellion was nothing but a cry for help; especially from children and adolescents who came from difficult family situations. Because they were not receiving sufficient support at home or elsewhere, the situation did not improve, and our school became a place of crisis areawhere you always come prepared for anything.

But despite the circumstances, many good things happened. Good friendships, first loves, a creative writing course, trips and, of course, art lessons. It was a bright spot that helped me through the challenging childhood and teenage years.

In the fifth grade, my grades dropped very badly. Suddenly, I could no longer follow all the subjects, even the ones I had no problem with before. The exception was art. I was able to express myself in the most natural and familiar way. I was successful in art lessons, which gave me confidence. 

I must mention here a slightly eccentric but exceptional teacher who taught art and history at that time. His encouragement and guidance really made me fall in love with drawing and painting. He recognised my talent and joy for creating and sometimes with praise and other times with healthy criticism guided me to grow.

At the end of primary school, we started a bigger project. My teacher came up with a large painting, an adaptation of Botticelli's Births of Venusto adorn the lobby of our school. I found the project big and challenging. I had my doubts that I could do it successfully. But my teacher believed in me and insisted that I was the right person for the job. Of course he was right; the big picture Birth of Venus was a successful project that gloriously adorned the school lobby for many years after my departure.

Soon after, it was time to choose the secondary school to which she would dedicate the next four years of her life. I myself, following the principle of the line of least resistance, was inclined to enrol at the gymnasium closest to my home, while my art teacher encouraged me to enrol at the Ljubljana Secondary School of Design and Photography. Somewhere deep down I knew that this was the right choice for me, but without his persistent encouragement I probably would have ended up at the high school.

In the end, I made the decision and enrolled in the Fine Arts Gymnasium at the Ljubljana Secondary School of Design and Photography. It was the right decision! Today I cannot imagine going to any other school. Because that's where I found myself, my creative mission and my tribe people with whom we have had many unforgettable adventures.

As an adult artist who draws almost every day, I would like to thank my teacher, who recognised my talent and set me on the right path. 

Sincere support can change a person's life. I want every child, adolescent and adult to have it.

Tavi Šifrer