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Tom Dorsey, a retired man of the arts in his 70s, has been diligently volunteering at Atlanta Public Schools’ East End Academy to help inspire troubled teenagers. The teenagers are either dropouts or those having problems with classes. Dorsey began to have ideas about reaching out to these teenagers as he began to recover from cancer while undergoing treatments. He wanted to guide these young adolescents who needed a role model. But most of all, a prime goal of his was to inspire. Using his own artwork, Dorsey inspires other teens to keep on going and hang on to their studies no matter how hard things get. As Dorsey recovered from cancer, he discovered a fruitful way of helping others while helping him self at the same time. Not only did he realize that he could use his art to inspire adolescents but he also gained from the feeling of reaching out to the teenagers.
"These are students that otherwise would have dropped out," says Nona Franklin, director of programs for Communities in Schools.
 Others have described the sessions as emotionally releasing as well as reassuring.
Studies have been made observing troubled teens undergoing art therapy as a release of pent-up emotions and an opportunity for self-expression of any negative energy that they may be keeping or holding within. During a period of confusion for which adolescence is frequently noted for, art therapy may bring a certain calmness a teen’s defiance.
Through trying new methods one may be surprised as to what their troubled teenager will positively respond to. As Dorsey has shown, art therapy may be just the new way to help your teen discover him self all over again. It may be just what he needs to discover himself in a whole different way. As a mentor, Dorsey shows these teens that hope is there.
"I'm going to talk to them, and they are going to talk to me about character building," he said. "I want them to think they can make a difference. And that each one of them has value." Dorsey utilizes his own artwork and photography in order to inspire the teens and put across the points he wishes to make. Not only is he an art photographer, but he also owned Dorsey Photography, a studio known for its student and family portraits. |
