SPSCC Student Artist Profile: A Strong Soul For The Weak

Trésor de La Vigne
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By Jake Luplow

SCJ alliance logoEssayist Thomas Carlyle once wrote, “Permanence, perseverance, and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragements, and impossibilities: It is this, in all things, that distinguishes the strong soul from the weak.”

In June, Trésor de La Vigne graduated from South Puget Sound Community College with the highest honors. A week earlier I got the privilege of interviewing her and witnessing the tremendous journey of perseverance and academic endurance that got her to where she is today.  I have the honor of telling this story to you.

spscc graduate
With limited formal education prior to enrolling at South Puget Sound Community College, Trésor de La Vigne graduated with a 3.91 GPA, as a member of Phi Theta Kappa, and with the summa cum laude honor.

I will never forget the day she came waltzing into my fiction writing class wearing a gothic fairy costume–it was Halloween, of course. Or the time she persuaded me to drink some cucumber water that was absolutely repellent. Over the last two years, I have seen Trésor in the light of these certain rarities, but, on a normal day, she is an artist and an inspiration to those whom she helps.

Trésor grew up in San Diego, California. Raised in an unconventional environment without structured education or much social involvement, she found her upbringing went against the grain of society. She said, “Some people are born into privilege; others are not and they accept where they come from, making no changes. And, yet, others refuse to let their environment and circumstances define their potential.” She identifies with the latter.

Her thirst for education started at around the age of 14. Someone came to her front door selling books titled something like “Everything You Need to Know about College.” It was at that moment that she found herself really wanting to go to college to break free from the environment she was born into.

She used basic educational books to teach herself that which she needed to know in order to succeed in an educational environment. She taught herself how to be motivated to reach her goals. “That skill I later learned was essential to my success in college,” she said.

Without a curriculum, teacher, or any academic testing, she pressed forward, challenging herself and working hard to eliminate any chances of failure. She graduated with a 3.91 GPA, as a member of Phi Theta Kappa, and with the summa cum laude honor.

Although she is open to many possibilities, her professional goal is to work in the field of animation and illustration. She would like to pursue work along the lines of a social artist, creating art work that challenges and spreads awareness regarding social issues that confront society every day. And her long term goal is to be an art director. Already she has close to 200 of her own, original illustrative characters copyrighted with the Library of Congress.

Trésor de La Vigne Once she completes her bachelors degree, she plans to earn her MFA at an art and design college (possibly, Pasadena College of Art and Design).

Trésor is one of the most ambitious individuals I have ever met, but her ambitions do not stop at her own personal growth: They stop at helping others, inspiring them and giving hope to the hopeless. During the course of her life, she has logged in community service hours with over 21 different organizations and programs. She is currently working on a couple of art pieces for HeartStrides, a therapeutic horseback riding for disabled people.  Her projects will be auctioned off to raise money for kids with disabilities.

Specifically, she has been a great encouragement to her younger siblings. Her sister Nali says, “She [Trésor] is my inspiration. She reminds me that I can do anything I set out to.”

When considering the personal growth she has seen and the community outreach she has displayed, she expressed gratitude for the encouragement and support provided by South Puget Sound Community College and the various people who have helped her along the way. “Unexpected setbacks may have prevented early attendance to college, but these setbacks have made me more convicted of my purpose and direction,” she said.

When I asked her what advice she may have for an aspiring artist or for someone facing similar adversities, she said, “Keep pushing and persevere. Keep putting yourself out there. You have to show up in your own life in order for extraordinary things to happen.”

Just as Thomas Carlyle suggested, it is permanence, perseverance, and persistence in the face of all adversity that separates the strong souls from the weak. Trésor has a strong soul, and she is determined to use her gifts to strengthen the souls of others.

Trésor does not sell her artwork, but she does do pro bono work for non-profit organizations. Contact here at tresordelavigne@gmail.com.

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