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<\/a>\u201cI put a lot into my work, and it\u2019s exciting to see other people interested in it and liking it as much as I do,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Occhino, 22, moved from Murrieta to La Mesa to attend Platt College, where she is working on earning an associate\u2019s degree in graphic design. She plans to stay in school and eventually earn a bachelor\u2019s in multimedia. Her ultimate goal is to become an art director.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve learned a lot,\u201d Occhino said. \u201cBeing in a group of students who are all very creative, who have a similar mind, and the teachers pushing you \u2014 it led me to a higher level in my own expectations of what my art can be.\u201d<\/p>\n When Occhino started, she struggled with some of the software programs \u2014 such as Adobe Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator \u2014 that are standard in the industry, but her skills have improved dramatically.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m starting to realize that I\u2019m actually good at these programs,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Nicole Lewis, a writing instructor who also serves as the school\u2019s head librarian, organized and curated the exhibit at the Lyceum. The exhibit is meant to tie in with the theme of the play, \u201cViolet,\u201d which focuses on a girl who was disfigured at a young age and dreams of being beautiful again. In keeping with that theme, the student art exhibit highlights various forms of art inspired by each student\u2019s awareness of their own identity, Lewis said.<\/p>\n \u201cI really love getting the students\u2019 work out there,\u201d Lewis said. \u201cI\u2019m all about the resume-building and the experience for the students.\u201d<\/p>\n Lewis was motivated to put on more student exhibits after curating her first show at the Spring Valley branch of the San Diego County Library in February. That show was a celebration of Black History Month and featured work by African American students.<\/p>\n Platt College Chairman Bob Leiker said the exhibits serve as examples of what students need to succeed in the real world.<\/p>\n \u201cAt Platt College, we are always creating opportunities for students to show their work and get feedback from the public, because this helps prepare them for success after graduation,\u201d Leiker said in a press release. \u201cWe are committed to providing a rigorous curriculum that includes real-world experience that prepares students to gain meaningful employment and excel as multimedia arts professionals in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n The exhibit at the Lyceum will be up through Sept. 13, which is also closing night for \u201cViolet.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/a>