It’s Future Leaders Day on 94.1 myFM presented by the St. Thomas Home Show. We are shining a light on five individuals, 25 years of age and younger who are inspiring the next generation in St. Thomas-Elgin.
For Emma Barnes, a local artist, perhaps the greatest lesson she can teach to the youth of tomorrow, is to believe in your own abilities.
You see, Barnes has had a passion for art for as long as she can remember. The only issue being, she used to keep her work hidden from the world, out of fear she wasn’t good enough.
But much like she hopes to encourage others to break out of their shells and believe in themselves, all it took was for someone to see her potential.
Now she credits the same person who gave her a chance, as one of her biggest inspirations.
As far as advice she has for others struggling to find confidence in their work, Barnes says the biggest piece is to not give up on something you’re passionate about.
With a number of new challenges such as social media playing a major factor in the lives of youth, Barnes adds that you can’t let the negative get to you.
Looking ahead, Barnes hopes to make a career out of her art. With plans to attend Fanshawe College for the Fine Arts in the fall, she sees herself being a life long learner.
Currently, you can check out the work of Emma Barnes at Romantic Designs Studio in St. Thomas.
You can listen to our extended interview with Emma Barnes below…
Written by: Kennedy Freeman
