Rozlin Opolka stands in front of a piece she created for her senior showcase depicting her grandmother.
KALAMAZOO, Mich.—No. It's a word that has the power to change the trajectory of someone's life. In
Rozlin Opolka's case, it gave her a blank canvas to paint a new vision of her future.
Initially intent on working in theatre, Opolka, who grew up in Fowlerville, Michigan, applied to Western Michigan University's stage management program her senior year of high school. She didn't get in, but instead of getting discouraged, she saw it as an opportunity to pivot and pursue visual arts.