Fine Arts Student Chases Dream of Becoming a Photographer
“She believed in me when I told her that I wanted to do photography,” DeAnda remembered. “She always told me to ‘just keep going,’ and she saw something in me when I first showed her my work.”
Before her grandmother passed away, DeAnda traveled to Mexico to visit her, and after seeing the impact her grandmother’s photography had on the small town of San Julian, Jalisco, DeAnda knew she too wanted to make an impact through photography.
“When I looked at her photography, I realized I wanted to do something like that,” DeAnda said. “I wanted to change the perspective of people in my community and make an impact.”
DeAnda has done just that. As an undergraduate student at the University of South Dakota, she has explored her talents as a photographer and has used her gift to make a difference in a community that holds a special place in her heart.
A senior majoring in photography and minoring in business administration, DeAnda embarked on a creative research journey in hopes of bringing more awareness and understanding to migrant workers in the Siouxland area.
“Migrant workers make up a large part of the agricultural industry in the United States, and the media often only tells fragments of the layered and complex stories of the workers and their communities,” DeAnda said. “My focus was to hopefully bring an added awareness and an overall element of understanding to the South Dakota community by photographing them in the context of their communities, in the places where they work and in the environments where they play.”
Aside from creative research, DeAnda has been involved in several organizations at USD that have enhanced her college experience.
“I have been involved in over 10 organizations both on and off campus over the last four years,” DeAnda said. “They have taught me a lot about myself: leadership, working with others and being able to interact with a diverse group of people.”
DeAnda has been involved in the Honors program, Sioux Falls Art Council, Alternative Week of Off-Campus Learning, President’s Senior Leadership Institute, Then Just Feed One, Mortar Board, National Society of Leadership and Success, and the College of Fine Arts Inclusive Excellence Committee. She also served as the president of the Latino and Hispanic Student Organization and a study abroad ambassador.
In addition to her involvement, DeAnda has received over 15 awards throughout her time at USD for both her academic achievement and photography, including being selected for an Undergraduate Research Excellence Award and presenting her work at USD’s IdeaFest.
“I am most proud of the number of accomplishments, awards and recognitions I have received and for being able to put myself out there as both an artist and a student,” DeAnda said.
While it is quite obvious that DeAnda has achieved success while at USD, her collegiate journey as a first-generation student did have its challenges.
“Before coming to college, I had no guidance, and I didn’t know what to expect,” DeAnda said.
However, when she faced challenges, she was met with support from USD.
“I realized that there’s so much help that was available to me here at the university,” DeAnda added. “The resources provided through TRIO have been very helpful to me. With the first-year seminars, I received a lot of guidance and learned about scholarship opportunities like U-Discover.
“USD has been a great journey since the beginning, and I can’t thank the university enough,” she continued. “It has given me a variety of opportunities to expand my knowledge, learn from others and make a statement. It has also provided me with the tools I need to be successful after graduation.”
When she graduates in May, DeAnda hopes to put these tools to use and work for a company that gives her the opportunity to work with professionals and show her skills as an artist. Eventually, she hopes to open her own photography business.
She also wants to enter her work into exhibitions, galleries and permanent collections to showcase her work and inspire others.
“I hope that I can make a statement in this world and change audiences’ points of views with photography,” DeAnda said.
Read more first-generation student stories.
