By: Alicia Otto<\/p>\n
For most people, third-grade curriculum included reading, writing and arithmetic. Some of the lucky ones even had recess. For Jillian Beauford, third-grade lessons included learning how to draw.<\/p>\n
When a friend received a \u201cHow to Draw Horses\u201d book, Beauford decided to try to learn, as well. However, when her friend\u2019s drawing was better, Beauford found her artist within and determined to draw better. PTA1 = Part-Time Artist.<\/p>\n
A native of St. Joseph,<\/a> Missouri, Beauford attended Central High School and Western<\/a> after graduation. Now Beauford is set to graduate from the Physical Therapist Assistant program in May 2019. PTA2 = Physical Therapist Assistant.<\/p>\n \u201cIt seems so simple what we do, but it really helps so much,\u201d Beauford said. During clinicals, when a patient would come back and say, \u201cI\u2019m feeling better than I have in a long time,\u201d Beauford knew she was on the right path.<\/p>\n Beauford thoroughly enjoys helping others through the Physical Therapy Assistant program at Western and looks forward to a future in that career. At the same, she feels she is also helping people through her artwork. Beauford works mainly on commissions, and most of her commissioned drawings are of people or animals. Beauford recalls one of her favorite commissions.<\/p>\n \u201cA French Terrier Bulldog, but [the client] wanted to look like a queen,\u201d Beauford said. It was the bust of a queen with a French Terrier Bulldog head. Both the artist and client loved it.<\/p>\n After graduation, Beauford will relocate to Manhattan, Kansas. to be with her fianc\u00e9 Eric who has two more years before he receives his degree in architectural engineering.<\/p>\n \u201cI saw him the first day of freshman year and I said \u2018ooh, I like him,\u2019\u201d Beauford said about first meeting her fianc\u00e9.<\/p>\n But then she didn\u2019t speak to him the entire first year. After her mom was tired of listening to her talk about him, Beauford made the first move and texted him. They are now planning their summer 2019 wedding and their future.<\/p>\n \u201cI would love to make art my career, but I know feasibly that\u2019s a really difficult thing to do,\u201d Beauford said. With a love of physical therapy, Beauford hopes to always continue doing art on the side.<\/p>\n\n\t\t