We recently connected with Caycee Roth and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Caycee, so excited to have you with us today and we are really interested in hearing your thoughts about how folks can develop their empathy? In our experience, most folks want to be empathic towards others, but in a world where we are often only surrounded by people who are very similar to us, it can sometimes be a challenge to develop empathy for others who might not be as similar to us. Any thoughts or advice?
Empathy is truly a dominant emotion that I hold dear to my daily life. To me, it is the very center of the human experience that we all go through, whether it’s waving to your neighbor or smiling at a stranger. Each of us live such unique moments every second and, when you think about it, it is an astounding thing. Empathy is my compass each day that guides my attitude, actions, work, and emotions. I try, with the best of my ability, to lead with kindness first and foremost, especially in my work. I live under the idea that you never ever know what someone is going through, and under the assumption that everyone is an unsuspecting victim. I also use this philosophy to guide my creations in a way that will make the world a better place, or even just make someone smile.
There were a myriad of conditions in my journey to empathy that led me there, primarily in my childhood. I grew up poor in a small town of people who were all different from me. We didn’t have much money, so I was either outside playing with my sister in the pond and mud, or I was drawing. Luckily, crayons and colored pencils were affordable. From the time I was little, I was also riddled with social anxiety. Making friends at school was a wearisome process, especially in my big blue glasses and Walmart clothes. I was, and have always been, terrified of judgment from my peers; That’s why, oftentimes, I was alone, with my nose in a sketchbook, scribbling away.
Even after my awkward childhood, I retained a sense of creativity and independence that has guided me from college and beyond. My anxiety improved with age, as did my awkwardness, but neither completely left me. I was able to make fast-friends at the start of college. I got my first tattoo around my nineteenth birthday, the word “sonder” on the side of my wrist. I wanted to be perpetually reminded of the beauty of the human experience, and how it doesn’t necessarily require the act of sharing it with someone else; perceiving the world around you is enough. This is something I learned slowly with my social anxiety, and it led me to my passion for empathy. College cornered me into some of my first genuinely positive social connections, and I was having the time of my life when the pain started. Somewhere deep in my muscles was a rumbling pain that no Ibuprofen or sleep could lull away. After over a month of emergency room visits and being poked and prodded for different tests, I was finally diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. Fortunately, my medication miraculously cured all of my pain, and I live a very normal day-to-day life.
All of this to say: you never, ever know what someone is going through. Every day has the potential to be the happiest day of your life, or the worst moments imaginable. Even with what I shared above, I feel deeply and truly lucky to have lived, and continue to live, the life that I have. Without the hardships, I would have not learned the way I have. Empathy for me is a daily internal practice that is rooted in love, kindness, and hope. The hope is to impact the world in some way, and make art that reflects others’ lives. I have never been very good at connecting with people the old-fashioned way; I tend to get nervous and stumble over my words. But my art: my art speaks for itself. I hope that it has and can continue to inspire people and make them feel a little less alone in the human experience.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Howdy! I’m a young creative in mid-Missouri. I graduated Summa Cum Laude in May 2023 from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a BFA in Studio Art – Graphic Design and minors in Art History and English. After earning my degree that spring, I spent all summer job searching, finding my home as a remote Graphic Designer for Vibrant Emotional Health. Formerly known as the Mental Health Association of New York City, Vibrant is a non-profit in the mental health space that works with other companies and associations to preserve, share, and promote mental health awareness and programs throughout the US and beyond. I never could have imagined that my first job as a creative would serve multiple of my passions at once, and I feel so incredibly lucky every day to create what I do in the hopes of saving lives.
In addition to my full time job, I am an avid creator; I draw, design, sketch, paint, embroider, weave, etc. My brand exudes love, empathy, wellness, confidence, and color for a modern, unapologetic feminine aesthetic. I can design for an array of needs, but I have a specific personal passion for fashion, music, literature, etc.
Someday soon, I would love to branch out and broaden my horizons “off-the-clock” and fulfill other passions of mine. I am seeking to open my own LLC where I can design loungewear, t-shirts, and other products and wearables for people to enjoy. Because I have not begun this process, I am really looking for some guidance on where to go from here. I would also love to partner with anyone that has similar goals or outlooks on design and art! As I am a recent grad, it has been difficult to build up my own portfolio of freelance clients. I am always open for commissions as well, as I create digital illustrations, realistic pencil drawings, and maybe even some painting. I am ready to learn and am excited for what the future holds with my creative ideas!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
The key traits that have shaped my journey are my passion for learning, my growth with empathy, and my devotion to the arts. These three attributes accurately represent me as a worker, creator, and learner of life, and they will continue to guide me through all future endeavors.
The most significant characteristic of mine that continues to impact my journey is my yearn for knowledge and passion for achievement. I pride myself on being a life-long learner who seeks new knowledge, no matter the topic. If there is a matter that piques my interest, I have a drive to learn about it until I am satisfied with enough information. From kindergarten on, I have always loved school, and I thrived in the environment where I was guided by my teachers to learn as much as I could about nearly anything I wanted. I still and will always have immense respect for educators, as many of my past teachers are the reason I am who I am today. Along with learning subjects in school, I have always strove to learn from the trials and tribulations of life, whether it is my past mistakes and how they lead me to the present, or how to improve at my job. I always remember myself wanting to improve upon my current state, being everchanging and malleable to experience and criticism. I personally believe that knowledge and the motivation to learn are some of the most crucial traits to success, because there are truly no limits to what I can do; nearly all information is available at the press of a button, so why keep myself asking questions rather than answering them?
Next, I have already elaborated on my devotion to empathy and kindness, but it has truly gotten me so much further in life as well as made it more enjoyable. It is a choice that I consciously make each day to wake up and pursue and distribute kindness, and it is always the most rewarding. When it comes to my artistic endeavors, I strive to make art for all, whether it pertains to accessibility, affordability, and socially. As human beings, we all have the need to relate to each other, and I seek to make that my primary goal in art-making. No matter how we identify, the color of our skin, our religion, sexual orientation, etc., we all seek to relate to others, in life and in art. And, to me, that is the epitome of living and breathing empathy.
Lastly, I have always been drawn to the arts. As a toddler, I was scribbling as soon as I could hold a pencil. I grew up drawing princesses from reference, each time gaining a new perception of the human body. This quickly developed into a specific interest in portraiture; by the time I was in first grade or so, I was attempting to draw realistic facial features. I loved art history too, and while other kids my age were competing in sports, I sought out art museums so I could see a van Gogh painting in real life. Although I always did well enough in school that I had a few career options, I always came back to the creative alternatives. I loved to draw, but my anxieties about job security meant I could not confidently pursue a general Fine Arts degree. Graphic design was truly the perfect career for me to pursue: it involved the creative imagination I have had since childhood and the practical task-completion that I enjoyed so much in school. Once I changed my major to graphic design in college, I never looked back. Since having my first job in the field, I can say I have no regrets whatsoever, and I am so beyond thankful to have my dream career.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I am always looking for new friends to collab with! As previously stated, I am finding it hard to gain my own freelance clients, so I am extremely open to anything new!
Specifically, I have passions for merchandise design, logo/branding work, album cover design, poster design, etc. for anyone who may need it. I would love to collaborate with small local bands to help create their logos, merchandise, posters, or social media posts to help boost their popularity. I also previously stated that I want to eventually have my own company to sell various items with my designs on it. Admittedly, I do not know much about this process or how one begins the process of starting their own company. I am unaware of all of the moving parts that it takes to get this large project rolling, so any collaboration or help from other small businesses or local artists would be greatly appreciated on that front.
I am always easy to connect! I have an art Instagram account, @creations.bycayceeroth or my website, www.cayceeroth.com has a contact page which will redirect to my email. If you just wish to email me directly, you can find me: [email protected]. I cannot wait to work with you!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.cayceeroth.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creations.bycayceeroth/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caycee-roth-51b958252/
