Since seventh grade, Andi Rozelle has wanted to become a doctor. So it came as a surprise when she won a carpet design contest during her junior year of high school.
Last school year, Andi switched into an art class to try something new. She found she loved the new class, and when her teacher told the class about an upcoming carpet design contest, Andi decided to enter.
She was among 20 students from her school who entered the contest, and she did not expect to get far. When she became one of three finalists, she was happily surprised. Winning the contest was a shock.
“I remember when my art teacher ran up to me in the lunch room, and said, ‘You won!’ It had been a while since entering the contest, so I was confused and asked her, ‘Won what?’ She was like, ‘Your carpet!’” recalls Andi. “I was super excited and so surprised. I definitely never thought I would be able to say I was a winner of a national contest.”
The prize for winning the contest was 200 square yards of carpet made from her design. Now Andi gets to see her design every day in the school library. Carpet with her design also is offered for sale at The Home Depot.
Andi’s art teacher, Rockie Rondeau, is extremely proud of Andi’s hard work and positive attitude. “She’s the kind of young lady that brightens the room when she enters and this quality truly comes through in her art,” she said. “She only ever wants to put her best out there. It’s that desire to always do better that I believe won her this award. Not many high school students would even bother going the extra mile on a project like this, but that’s just how she is. She always does her best in everything she does.”
Andi says art now is her favorite class, and she is thankful for Rondeau’s support. “She helped me to love art and want to pursue it in my career,” says Andi.
Andi enjoys art because it allows her to express herself in a creative way and turn her ideas into reality.
Outside of art class, Andi is a cheerleader and a Girl Scout. She recently received her Gold Award. She focused her project on feeding homeless people by providing “snack packs” at locations around Atlanta.
“I want to make the world a better place in the ways that I can,” Andi said. “The reason I did this project was because I knew that my church did not do their lunches for homeless people during the summer, so I wanted to ensure they had alternatives. In addition, I think it is very important to serve those in need.”
What’s next?
Andi isn’t sure where she wants to attend college, but she plans to study math or science, and to continue her education in medical school in order to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor. Andi also wants to continue her passion for art through a minor in interior design.
This article was reported and written by Dori Balser, a student at Riverwood International Charter School.