Spotlight

Anna Wang is all about MOCHA. The Larkspur Redwood High senior has been coming to MOCHA camp since she was in grade school. For the last two years, she has served as an Art Apprentice, assisting our Teaching Artists and guiding the young campers in rocket-building, printmaking and all the other creative activities she enjoyed when she was their age.

Anna took a quick break from reconstructing skeletons and wrapping mummies at Archaeology camp to reflect on her time at MOCHA—and the importance of creativity for students of every age.

How long have you been coming to camp?

I’ve been coming to summer camp since I was 7 or 8. I’ve done pretty much every theme there is at some point. I always like Space Week. When I was older I did the Printmaking Studio and I really liked that. I still have everything from the printmaking camp, and my mom has something from sculpture camp on her desk still.

What’s different about being an Art Apprentice?

It’s really different. It was fun going back and seeing all the things I did as a camper. I learned a lot about being around kids and watching them and helping them with art. It’s very different than helping with math homework—I’m a peer tutor at school and I help my brother. When you’re helping with homework it’s a lot about correction, and here it’s about encouragement and suggesting.

Why do you think that’s important?

I think it’s a different way to think, and I think it’s good to have a break from there always being a right answer.

Has being an Art Apprentice taught you skills you’re able to use outside the art room?

It’s helped me in Model UN because we do a lot of conflict resolution. Sometimes the kids get in arguments or aren’t getting along or they have a problem with liking their art. When kids get into an argument, you have to find a way to make them both happy. When kids don’t like their art, you have to help them figure out what they can do to make it something they like or just accept what they’ve done and enjoy it.

What do you like about making art? 

It’s relaxing. It’s a different process than most other work. Most things are really directed at the outcome, and with art you kind of enjoy the whole process. I enjoy my whole process with math problems too, but most people don’t.

Working with kids teaches you a lot about working with people. Kids really aren’t that different than grownups, except maybe their reactions to things are more exaggerated. You find out a lot about what people are like and how to get along easily with them and make lots of friends very quickly.

What MOCHA skills do you feel will help you as you move on to college and focus on biology and chemistry?

I think doing MOCHA projects starts teaching problem-solving skills. You get the materials you have and you have to figure out how to put them together to make what you want. You need creativity for that kind of thing.