There are some people who leave color behind wherever they go. In Lebanon, many people know Deja Sandoval as the artist behind the painted windows downtown, bringing life and personality to storefronts throughout the community. But during a recent episode of Girl Power, hosted by Abbey Hoskins, viewers got to meet the woman behind the artwork and hear the deeply personal story that shaped who she is today.
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Deja, an art teacher and independent artist, spoke openly about her life growing up between Missouri and Miami, Florida. Raised in a large family with constant travel and changing environments, she described a childhood that was both adventurous and difficult. Her grandfather worked for American Airlines, which allowed her family to travel often, while summers with relatives in the military exposed her to different parts of the country. But underneath those experiences were hardships she says took years to fully understand and process.
Art became her constant.
From an early age, Deja found comfort in sketchbooks, painting, and community art programs. She recalled participating in local art projects as a child in Miami, even having artwork displayed publicly when she was still very young. While she once imagined herself going into sports medicine, art always remained her safe place, her outlet, and eventually, her purpose.
When she moved to Lebanon at 19 to live with her grandparents and figure out her future, she never imagined she would still be here more than a decade later. What began as a temporary stop slowly became home. Over time, she built friendships, rediscovered her creativity, returned to school, and started investing in herself again through art classes, teaching, and eventually the window paintings many people around town recognize today.
But the most emotional part of the conversation came when Deja shared the grief that transformed her life forever.
She spoke candidly about losing her fiancé to suicide in 2021, describing it as the most painful experience she has ever endured. Through tears, reflection, and honesty, she explained how surviving that loss changed her understanding of mental health, grief, and joy itself. She talked about the guilt that can come after tragedy, the difficulty of allowing yourself to be happy again, and the challenge of continuing to live fully after unimaginable heartbreak.
Deja described herself as a “suicide survivor,” meaning someone who survives the loss of another person to suicide, and used the opportunity during Mental Health Awareness Month to encourage people to stay, even through their darkest moments.
“Just stay another day,” she said during the interview. “You never know what tomorrow is going to give you.”
That message carried throughout the entire conversation.
Despite the grief she has endured, Deja spoke with warmth, humor, and hope. She credited her son as one of the biggest reasons she kept moving forward, explaining that motherhood gave her a reason to fight for a better future and a healthier life. Today, she is married, expecting a baby girl this summer, and continuing to build a life she once never thought possible.
As a teacher at Lebanon High School, she says her goal is to create a classroom where students feel safe to express themselves creatively without judgment. She believes art gives students a voice, especially those who struggle in more traditional environments.
“If you’re here to create and let your brain do cool stuff in my class, you’re going to be fine,” she said.
Abbey Hoskins guided the conversation with compassion and curiosity, allowing Deja’s story to unfold naturally through moments of laughter, vulnerability, and reflection. Together, the two explored topics ranging from motherhood and creativity to trauma, healing, and finding purpose after loss.
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What stood out most was not just Deja’s talent as an artist, but her ability to speak honestly about pain while still choosing kindness and joy. Throughout the interview, she returned repeatedly to the importance of giving grace to others because no one truly knows what another person is carrying.
“I don’t like to live my life in a place where grief is the sum of me,” she said. “It’s part of me, but it’s not who I am.”
That perspective seems to define everything she does today, from teaching students to painting windows across downtown Lebanon. Her art may be what first catches people’s attention, but it is her resilience, openness, and compassion that leave the lasting impression.
Girl Power is sponsored by Covell Flowers, Espresso, Bakery and Gifts, Hairy’s Salon and Spa, Kim Breeden with Shelter Insurance, June and Beyond Women’s Boutique, and T's Tees Custom Apparel.
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