We were lucky to catch up with Nela Steric recently and have shared our conversation below.
Nela, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Have you ever had an amazing boss, mentor or leader leading you? Can you us a story or anecdote that helps illustrate why this person was such a great leader and the impact they had on you or their team?
A Tribute to Carole: A Wise and Unwavering Boss and Friend’s Influence on My Life
Wise. Unwavering. Loving. Mother. Patriotic. Patient. Persistent. Stubborn. Carole was all these things and more. She was a source of strength and comfort; I will never forget her. Her influence on my professional and personal life was profound, and I am forever grateful for her friendship.
She was a second mother to me and many others, although a VERY STRICT second mother, a for-life department chairperson, trusted friend, advisor, counselor, critic…
I owe her everything for choosing me among other great candidates to teach beside her and helping me adjust to the private high School. She picked me out of several good candidates for the Studio Art Teacher position at Chaminade College Preparatory High School in 2003. I was a relatively fresh European newcomer with a family. Many years later, she said she liked me because I had a “nice foreign accent,” looked “foreign,” and had a knowledge of European art; most importantly, I could shut up and listen when she spoke and did not have any programs to bring to School; she already had programs. The other candidates could not pass that test. That’s how we started. She set herself up as an absolute authority for everything art department-related; an absolute boss, a matronly department chair; using her soft voice, she made everyone listen to her, especially me. She became my mentor; I was her devoted mentee regarding everything from teaching visual art to grading, classroom management, and ordering supplies. The private Catholic college preparatory high school was a corporate workplace, and Carole taught me how to navigate it. She assisted me in adjusting, speaking up, being confident, and making my voice heard, hopefully without stepping on anyone’s foot in the corporate food chain of the School.
She was present through my personal and family struggles and knew much about my life. She would never lose her wisdom and class: she could see things through, see further, farther, and analyze problems in a clear, logical way, but still give hope and love. She mentored me, related to my family life, giving me advice and the confidence to move forward. She was also there to support me when I was feeling down, helping me to stay focused and motivated.
Carole was an example for me: an example of strength, the power of family, and the power of God’s love, an example of human possibilities and persistence in adversity and hopelessness.
As a child, she had polio which left her feet and hand joints disfigured, but she did not let the illness defy her. Her family did not support her, so she left them as a young adult and became a nun in a convent. She spent some time there, but when she realized the convent life and the problematic nuns that occupied it were not a good influence for her, she fled it. Later, she met her future husband, who was in the Navy, got married, and had two children. Due to her husband being in the Navy, Carole had to relocate with the family several times, including living overseas for some time. With all this going on in her life, she got her master’s degree in art education from San Diego State.
Along with raising a family, she taught art in schools. In her early fifties, she landed an art teaching job at Chaminade. Further, her family was a handful, having to deal with a lot while teaching full-time the events that she went through with her family had a lot in common with mine, so I found comfort that she managed to live through it, which gave me hope and example that I would do the same. She inspired me and reminded me that we can all reach our goals if we stay determined and keep faith in God. She said that at some point, when one does everything humanely possible, and there is nothing else, to “let go, and let God.” I’m thankful for her guidance and support; in many ways, God sent her to guide me.
She did not want my praises; as soon as I’d say something nice about her, she would act like something was wrong with me. She was humble and never wanted to be seen as more than she was. She loved helping people, and that was all the recognition she needed. She was a true example of selflessness and kindness.
Carole showed me how to be a real example of a personal, creative, and intellectual independent thinker and doer. She would not try to “belong” to a clique or a pack; when everyone sat together and laughed in a queue at someone’s joke, she would sit quietly if she did not like it; When gathered among the other school faculty, everyone would usually hurl to get together in their own little friends’ circles, Carole was content to sit by herself. People would usually come by to join her, not vice versa. I do the same in the School where I am now, knowing that people would come to me to sit, and it would be fine. She was a rare breed in a world that values conformity and would not let anyone else define her worth, and she inspired me to be brave and independent.
Carole’s friendship showed me how to be supportive of someone, and then when a person is ready, leave and let them “fly away” independently. She retired later, and from her mentorship, she became a close friend. I was also her connection to the School, so she would learn all the latest news and gossip, but I did not mind. Her weakness was that she wanted to have some control over some decisions, no matter how small, school-related, or not. It kept her busy and cognitively active, so I supplied her with the school gossip, and she would give me bits of her advice related to my teaching and life, which I always welcomed. I needed a seasoned professional with legacy knowledge about everything to guide me. I almost felt dependent on her support; I felt unprotected without her to affirm my decisions and give me the courage to face any challenge. Carole taught me lifelong tips and nuances about living and thriving in this culture. She did all that, but then, she gave me her greatest gift: she slowly faded away and let me make me realize I had the strength to stand up for what I believed in, shape my future and be unapologetically true to myself – on my own.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I am a reborn Angelino, an artist originally from Europe, living in Ventura and Los Angeles counties for twenty-seven years. To support our craft, if we are lucky, we artists usually stick to the industries that relate to our creative efforts. I have always known I was most successful and loved teaching art, so I continued growing my career.
Creativity is like a mold: it never goes away, which is good. Contemporary life does not make time for one’s imagination; the person must make that time. Do not look for reasons you might have to make art; do it; everything else in your life will have to conform. Western societies do not pay attention to the “right brain” abilities, the visual, spatial, and non-verbal source of spiritual guidance side of our brains. The “right” brain power works when you sleep, without verbal interference and noise; untieing and finding solutions for your daily problems; setting up your mental balance, and giving you the spiritual path to your future.
I am happy to offer art lessons and creative coaching in the direction of visual art and developing your own life’s creativity in person or online.
I base my knowledge of teaching art on the legacy knowledge of my older colleagues, continuing professional development in contemporary art education, and my creative power.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
Having a clear purpose or mission for my creative endeavors provides me with direction and motivation. It gives me something to strive for, pushing myself to explore new ideas and push the boundaries of my creativity. Whether it is to inspire others, raise awareness about important issues, or bring joy to people’s lives, having a goal in mind helps me stay focused on what truly matters. Channeling emotions properly through art is the path to using creative power professionally.
Moreover, artmaking provides a safe space for the emotional release and processing of daily mini-or-maxi traumas. I teach the processes that can channel one’s feelings and thoughts onto a canvas or paper through artistic expression. This process helps people gain insight into their emotions and better understand themselves. A person can alleviate stress and anxiety by externalizing their inner struggles through art.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
Artists possess a remarkable ability to see the world differently. They have a keen eye for detail and can find beauty in the mundane. By capturing their observations through various mediums, artists provide new perspectives that challenge our preconceived notions.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://teachergallery.com/
- Instagram: @nvsart
Image Credits
The photo of Carole Salak was published in the 1994 Chaminade College Preparatory Yearbook issue.