Epoch Times reporter Yu Weijun of Brooklyn, New York went into a little room before the classroom, looking at a wall of the children's paintings. It is difficult to imagine what these art pieces that sent three foreign students to Princeton, Yale, and Harvard have in common. However, there is a commonality: diamonds in the rough are cut into precious stones by master artisans. It is precisely this studio that has a master artisan.
Graduating from the Art Institute to become a designer, then becoming a professional trader on Wall Street earning a lot of money, and later going back to open a private school through artistic ways to teach children, the adversities of Anna's life trajectory inadvertently was the life drawing of a circle.
Life is like a roller coaster - with ups and downs. Anna begins, "I was just with my mind, doing what I love to do because of the meaning of life lies not in how great you are when you die, but how well you live every day."
In 2000, she was living in Paris when a friend, a very famous artist and professor, called her. What really made her determined to pick up the brush and teach children was his words on his death bed, battling advanced stages of cancer, "Anna, you should pick up your brush, because that is your God-given gift."
Anna started to cry and her friend continued, "You can be rich and famous. That's easy but I have to run hard around for a living, too. Anna, do not be selfish. Your passion, intelligence, and talent should be left to the children of the next generation." That moment became a turning point for her and Anna began her teaching career.
Initially, Anna never thought about teaching children. She aimed to teach University students. But three or four years ago, when her studio opened, there were many parents looking for help and they wanted Anna to help their children get into the best high schools and colleges with art pursuits.
The first group of incoming students were classmates of Anna's youngest daughter. "They all wanted to go to Mark Twain Junior High School. I taught them for three months and they are going to Mark Twain. Since then, business got out of hand. People flocked and I taught children in powerful Jewish communities and from Manhattan's wealthiest families."
Anna continued, "After the rich kids I taught, I felt a little lost. I'm Chinese, I still want to come back to help the Chinese community. So Anna began a Chinese-language newspaper advertisement."
Anna knew that the promise to her friend was not a joke. A commitment to honor is not easy but fortunately, after years of effort, this commitment turned into a blossoming reality.
Finally, Anna wants to give Chinese parents a suggestion: "respect your child, give them room to grow, do not force them, but help them to have a really happy life." If you would like Anna's help and mentorship, you can contact her at (347) 739-3384.
