In this article, the author describes a choice-based art unit she designed for her 7th-grade students, discussing how choice impacted student motivation and how this relates to playful exploration, meaning making, and sharing. With the implementation of a personally meaningful found-object unit, students' motivation increased because of the following factors: (1) choice led students to playfully explore materials and feel more confident about their artmaking; (2) choice led to engaged meaning making; and (3) sharing choices through dialogue led students to have a voice and feel validated. Students built stronger relationships with their peers and their teacher, which improved the classroom culture. Freedom motivated students to express their creative impulses. The author discovered that she could empower her students by letting go and listening to their voices.