I also saw on Instagram, you teaching a class? Maybe have an after school program? 

Yes. I'm learning how to do art classes and teach art lessons because my mommy has good classroom management and I think I've taken on some of that. 

Candace, Chelsea's Mom: At each distribution, she gets to do a little art lesson to help kids draw some of the characters that she makes it and she also talks to them about how art has affected her and life art why art is important to her. 

Yeah, and why do you think art is so important? 

It's a good tool for healing. It helps me express myself and communicate when I can't. And if I'm sad or upset at my little brother and I were doing something I'm not supposed to do... per se...I'll go to my sketch pad and it's always there for me. So yeah!

What would you tell another 10 year old girl that might be too nervous to try to do art because she thinks she's not good enough?

I tell tell kids this all the time, they always say, "Chelsea, don't waste all your art supplies on me." There's no such thing as bad art. Your art is your own, it doesn't have to look a certain way as long as you think it's good. And as long as you tried, it's better than not doing anything at all. 

Candace, Chelsea's Mom: She tell adults that too because we have overcome that as well. 

I hear that from plenty of adults. They just don't even want to try because I don't think they're gonna be good enough. 

Yeah, yeah, just really matter! 

Yeah, not at all. 

It's ok to mess up. 

Yeah, well, that's where all magic happens is in the mistakes.

Yes, and it's okay. It's okay to my teacher tells me this all the time. She says It's okay to not know, but it is not okay not to try. 

What's your typical day look like now that you're staying home because of COVID 19?

I have a schedule, usually in the morning, we'll work on math and writing and school work in the afternoon. We have a brain breaks, lunch, recess and snacks...all sorts of stuff. We tried to make it a similar school, as possible. 

That's nice. Is it hard trying to get your homework done or do you feel like you're in your routine and it's going well? 

I think it's going really well. 

And you wrote an April Fool's prank poem for your dad. Are you also a poet or a writer? 

My teacher says I am an exceptional in writing. I get straight A's every semester when it comes to writing. I have discovered I have a poet and I'm very good at rhyming. 

Have you thought about making songs like writing songs that rhyme? 

Em, I haven't really found like a rhythm like...

Candace, Chelsea's Mom: Yeah, it's coming.  

Yep, you seem you seem like a super positive person, so I love that we get to talk today. What advice would you give to another girl your age, that might not be so positive that might be feeling down during these times?

I'll give her some tips, like trying to make the best of its been time to family. These are tough times, but if stick together with your loved ones and do some art, run around outside and just enjoy yourself. I think everything will be better! And look at the glass as full and not half empty because that will really help.

That definitely helps, doesn't it? 

Yes, because when you look at it half empty, you kind of feel half empty inside. And that feeling is not great. 

That's great. But if you're looking at the glass half empty, you feel half empty inside. 

Yeah.

When you're teaching or delivering your art kits, do you ever feel little scared or nervous inside? And if so, like, What do you tell yourself to say, "Hey, I'm brave enough to get over this and do this?" 

I told myself, it's not all about you. Most times, as long as you're helping kids, everything will be fine, even if it's a tough crowd. I mean, tough crowd is a tough crowd, but, just be yourself. 

Have you had a tough crowd? 

Not really, but I've had some kids who just seem like a really cool. And I felt like I wasn't cool enough to be in their presence 

Candace, Chelsea's Mom: ...and they love you anyway. They were a little older than her. 

Yeah, that would be intimidating wouldn't it.

But I was also intimidated when we gave kits to veterans they seemed so big and mighty and respectable. But they they were way older than me and big and...

Candace, Chelsea's Mom: And they loved it too!

They were so sweet though.

Candace, Chelsea's Mom: They were.

How did you come up with the idea of giving them to veterans? The art kits to veterans?

On my mom's side, our families built off of veterans, like a lot of veterans! Most of our cousins are veterans, a lot of our relatives are...

Candace, Chelsea's Mom: from great uncles great grandparents. So we were trying to find a way to support veterans and so that's why we created the adult art kit. And that was that was such a wonderful experience. 

Yes

Candace, Chelsea's Mom: They actually called again and ask for some more. 

And they gave me cookies!  

Did they cook them themselves? Do you think? 

No, but I think the person who was like the boss of the program, I think his daughter it was selling cookies. 

Candace, Chelsea's Mom: Yeah, There were Girl Scout cookies.