I hope it's okay for me to add a second introduction here... so much has changed since I posted my old one back in December 2005, and I would like to link to something more current about myself...
Anyways, hello again!
My name is Chava, I'm 26 (almost 27) years old and I live in Canada. I'm a professional studio artist and illustrator. I primarily do portraits, but I've also illustrated several children's books and I'm currently working on a comic book series with a friend of mine. I have a B.A. in Fine Art, and also a B.Sc. in Zoology. Initially I was comtemplating medical school (hence the science degree), but I decided I preferred art, illustration, and writing.
I had an interesting childhood in that both my biological parents had severe mental illnesses... my mother, paranoid schizophrenia, and my father an undiagnosed delusional disorder. I spent most of my childhood as a Crown Ward (you would call it a ward of the state in the US I believe). I was in several foster homes, a couple of group homes, and then luckily went to a very good Catholic boarding school for the upper grades. That basically "saved" my life in that the nuns took a special interest in me and my artistic and writing talents. They helped give me direction as far as university, and for the first time I felt I had a "home".
Right after highschool and my emancipation from the foster care system, I attempted to re-establish relationships with my biological parents. My mother unfortunately died of cancer just as I was getting to know her. My father murdered his girlfriend and committed suicide, and I witnessed this. Afterwards I was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Luckily I went into treatment soon afterwards and am currently about 90% symptom-free. Basically I turned okay, considering everything!
Up until a year ago I was speaking to highschool students about my experiences all over my province, probably a total of about 200 times in 2 years. I am currently working on a book about my childhood experiences. I have also been an advocate for foster children, poverty rights and the mentally ill, voluteering in those capacities, as well as working for an AIDS organization and an STD clinic while attending university.
Today I am grateful that things are so much better and different. I have adoptive parents who I met when I was 19, and they have been a real blessing and support for me in my life. I am married to my wonderful husband Alex, a family physician who is currently working on his specialist degree in neuro-psychiatry. We have three children, a 4 and 6 year old adopted nephew and niece, whose parents died in a tragic car accident, and a baby biological son. In the future we hope to be foster parents and/or adopt more children.
Other than my 2 degrees, I try to give answers based on my life experience, since considering my age I have a lot of it! Thanks for letting me share
again.
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