Doan Foundation Arts Scholarship

Storytelling has always been an integral part of my life. It was the way I navigated the world around me, allowing me to both interpret information and, more specifically mentalize, how I wanted my life to be. Storytelling, however, comes in many forms. Throughout my life, I’ve explored storytelling through different mediums, whether it be writing, dancing, or acting. My passion for the arts started when I was young through my community. Living in City Heights, there was a beautiful blend of cultures at every corner. Every weekend, my mom and I would walk to our local park, where they put on music and dance acts like baile folklórico, mariachi music, and jazz. There was a story everywhere, fueled by the many immigrant and refugee groups who had lived lives most people couldn’t even imagine. Listening to their experiences, both good and bad, ignited my desire to showcase their stories through the arts. In my freshman year, I joined my school’s theater class, Musical Production. This wasn’t an ordinary theater program—it focused on creating and performing original musicals. We analyzed scripts and screenplays to understand the writing process, collaborated on show ideas, and learned from professional actors and choreographers to develop our acting, singing, and dancing skills. I not only performed on stage but also became involved in scriptwriting and the process of putting on musicals. I was so involved that I helped write the script for The Last Princess Standing, a musical about delinquent girls placed in a survival show. My job was to develop the lead characters’ origin stories, and I had a fun time researching and coming up with silly ways teenagers get in trouble. Outside school, I worked on my own projects. My first-ever writing project was a screenplay titled As the Day Ends, about a dance team trapped in a Southeast San Diego school during a Saturday practice as aliens invaded the town. It centers on Dahlia “Day” Cruz-Morales, a kind, strong, intelligent girl who constantly sacrifices to save the dance troupe, even when her peers doubt her abilities. The inspiration came from a simple question: What if aliens invaded during a Saturday MP practice? Blind, slimy monsters with a mosquito-like thirst for blood. Believing I wouldn’t be very useful, I wondered what I would contribute to the group. Then the idea struck—what if the aliens weren’t interested in my blood type? The story eventually expanded into a short story, allowing me to dive deeper into the side characters, many of whom were inspired by my real-life classmates. One of the most important characters was Day’s best friend, Ella. Their relationship mirrored one I had with an old friend I once saw as a mentor. Over the years, our friendship became one-sided, and I felt stuck in her shadow. Writing the story gave me a way to express feelings I never got to share in real life. The arts have always been my way of expressing how I truly feel about life, my family, and my community. As they say, life mirrors art, and my experiences in writing and performing have reflected how I wish to step into my next chapter, pursuing my passion for storytelling.

Growing up in a town, where I am one of the very few out gay kids is difficult. People hold prejudice towards me before even speaking to me. I have heard all of the nasty comments, from "dyke" to the f slur. I present myself masculinely, and I was the only girl to wear a suit at prom. But even with the backlash from people at my school/within my community, I wouldn't trade my identity for the world. I found the right people, and those who didn't have the capacity to accept me didn't deserve me. I curated my community and inspire people daily to dress how they want and to be loud about it instead of hiding. Life is so much more meaningful out in the open. Last year I read a memoir by Leslie Feinberg, called Stone Butch Blues. A book that changed my life. I will never take for granted my freedom to be exactly who I want in the open, because my LGBTQ+ ancestors weren't able to. They fought for my freedom and I hope to continue their journey of advocacy with my voice and art. I have been shooting 35mm film photography since freshman year. I am mostly self taught. I bought a point and shoot camera my freshman year, just to try it out and each time I got back my film, I felt so inspired. I began shooting film regularly and invested in a new camera. I bought a canon ae-1 camera and use it everyday. I bring my camera with me everywhere. It’s a way for me to capture people as they want to be captured, and commemorate nostalgia. I’ve also noticed it's a way for me to talk to people I normally wouldn’t. My camera is where my conversation starts. Without my camera I wouldn’t have known so many names. So many stories. That is why I bring my camera everywhere I go. I honor my camera, as I honor my voice. With every roll of film I get back, a new story, memories I'll have forever. I started the photography club at my school to encourage my peers to express themselves creatively and foster a sense of community within my school. I also am the Student Body's photographer and attend events capturing memories. Over the summer of 2024 I signed up for a Dark Room photography class at Art Center College, working in state of the art facilities being taught by a college professor. Every weekend I worked in the dark room, and met so many new faces and stories. My experience in the dark room led me to work as a film intern on a pride documentary called Sanctuary in New York City, taking stills on my 35mm film camera at pride events and interviews. I went to the place where the StoneWall riots took place and saw the StoneWall museum. A slice of our history in front of my eyes. At the pride events, I was surrounded by people who I shared something with, I felt accepted and seen. That is why I hope to attend a 4 year university in a city surrounded by diversity and culture. My dream is to work as a political photojournalist documenting the global march towards true equality, acceptance and representation. My work on the documentary gave me a glimpse into my future, I hope to use my arts (photography) as a means to inspire LGBTQ+ youth to embrace their own journey towards authenticity.

It’s a lazy weekend afternoon. I run up the stairs behind my brother, to our room, to the creaky desk with the old macbook on top. We open the laptop, settle ourselves on the floor with our blankets and pillows and innumerable stuffed animals, and the cartoons start playing. Every time I am asked why I value art so much, I am taken back to my childhood and the memories it holds. Of movie nights with my family, watching Disney and Dreamworks with bowls of popcorn, to cartoon afternoons with my brother. I cannot imagine a world without the media that shaped my formative years and cultivated my love for silly little creatures on a silly little screen that tells silly little stories. And it is from these cartoons that I learned many important lessons a child should know. From Little Bear, I learned how to care for others and show compassion. From Little Einsteins, I learned to explore and accept new ideas and unfamiliar places. From the many superhero and action shows I learned bravery and teamwork. All of these cartoons teach their important lessons, which cannot be ignored as superficial entertainment. After all, they are what inspired me to pursue a career in the arts. What’s sad is that lots of people think all animated cartoons and shows are shallow and childish. That’s what I used to think. But as I’ve grown, I’ve grown more deeply intrigued by animation and the art behind it, as well as the intricate stories that artists weave for their viewers. Sure, the ones geared towards children might not have as complicated or profound a story, but that does not dismiss animation as a viable storytelling medium. Not only do animators tell a story with multitudes of images, they give underlying meanings and metaphors to express a message or emotion. I love studying the compositions of movies or TV shows and how they indicate emotion, circumstances, power, or what conflict will arise. I love looking for little “easter eggs” that artists hide in the background of their works. I love searching for hidden meanings that artists put in the way they draw a character’s expression. Art is full of metaphors and symbols, hidden and scattered throughout the background. And it always carries a hidden meaning or lesson the artist wants the viewer to know. Animation is no exception. It tells its lessons, not just through visuals but auditory storytelling as well. Because of this, I believe that art, specifically animation, is an integral part of our lives and must be fostered. One day, I want to create animations full of hidden meanings, subtle nuances, and overarching lessons for my viewers. I hope that one day, there will be another child who will spend their lazy weekend afternoon learning and enjoying cartoons. They will also learn important lessons from the characters and they will also be inspired by the artists who put all their efforts into creating what they see on the screen. And one day, maybe they will take that inspiration and pour it into their own art as well.

I love to win. In middle school, I discovered volleyball and decided I wanted to try out for my school’s team. I arrived at tryouts wearing a reversible dress with a star pattern on one side, and a rainbow pattern on the other. I did not know what to wear or how to play, but the sport looked fun, so I was determined to at least try out. I did not make the team in sixth grade, or even seventh grade, but I still did not plan on giving up. Eighth grade arrived, but there were no volleyball tryouts due to the pandemic, so I asked my parents to sign me up for volleyball lessons. This determination proved to be worthwhile because once I started my freshman year of high school, I was the only freshman to make the junior varsity team. Win or lose, my love for volleyball never faltered. I continued to grow as a high school athlete, playing on the varsity volleyball team for my remaining three years. Eleven year-old me would never believe it if I told her that my passion for volleyball began to fade, but it did. Naturally, I hated losing, but even my victories no longer brought me happiness. I became overly-critical of myself. I no longer played the sport because I truly wanted to, but because I was expected to. To walk away from volleyball would make me a failure in the eyes of others. I was supposed to play in college. I was supposed to make volleyball my one and only focus. I was supposed to be a winner, not a quitter. When I am creating art, my failure brings me excitement for the experimenting, improvement, and beauty to come. There is a saying that art is never finished, only abandoned. My interpretation of this statement is that there is always room for improvement and perfection is unattainable. Rather than wasting my time chasing perfection, I am choosing to chase happiness. I have already allowed my perfectionism to destroy my passion for volleyball, I won’t allow the same to happen to my lifelong dream of becoming an artist. After coming to this realization, I now know that I want nothing more than to have the opportunity to make mistakes and learn from them over and over again because if I can do this, it means I am winning. I love to win.

I still remember the glisten of it when my sister first opened the case she brought home. Since my sister was a flutist, I was intrigued as to why she had brought a large case home. I watched every movement as she put the instrument together until she played. At that moment, I swore that I was going to learn how to play saxophone. Fast forward to my freshman year, and I was a percussionist in marching band and saxophonist in the wind ensemble and jazz band. Nonetheless, I decided I was going to be the best musician and student I could be all year. When the second semester came, there was an event for my band program where students played as soloists or in chamber groups in front of judges. This excited me because it meant that I could get help on how to become a better musician. So, I signed up for four performances. Those four included an octet, a quintet, a duet, and a solo. I learned about how to balance volume depending on the different group sizes, the importance of having good tone, how to subdivide, and how to play musically. Then, at the end of the night, my band director asked me to come see him. There in his office was him, the assistant band director, and all four judges I played for. Then, they all congratulated me for working so hard throughout the day and taking advantage of the opportunity to not only share my music but expand upon it. But, not everything came so easy, later that year, I had to quit playing percussion and switch to marching tuba.I was no longer enjoying the people I was with because they were drama-queens and the tuba section needed more numbers. Et voila, I was learning a new instrument. This came with a challenge. I’m a woodwind player and tuba is a brass instrument so the mechanics and the embouchure are different. But, after a lot of practice, I was able to play well and easily switch between the two. While it meant that I had to sacrifice half of my time I usually spent practicing saxophone, it helped me gain a better understanding of time management and expanded my capabilities as a musician, which came in handy my junior year. In my junior year, my school’s drama club decided they wanted a live band to play music for their musical. This responsibility was left to the jazz band. But, theatre music isn’t like jazz band at all. I had to learn two new instruments: flute and clarinet. Luckily, I already knew how to learn a new instrument because of my time as a tuba player, but this time I didn’t have four months to get good, I had a month. So, I hit the grind and every day after school I’d pick up either the flute or the clarinet and I’d start practicing. By the time the musical was in full motion, I was playing the part comfortably. In some songs I was playing saxophone, in others I was playing flute, some I had to play clarinet, but in most of the songs, I was switching between all three. While it took a lot of focus and effort, it was exciting and enjoyable, as well as a great learning experience for me. Now, I’m choosing to pursue a degree and a career in music. I would like to make my own music and teach. I know that it means I have to continue working hard, but it’s something I’m looking forward to accomplishing.

From what I recall, ever since I was 4, I liked drawing and painting over any other activity and growing up, I always took school electives involved in the arts. I have taken ceramics, advanced art, and digital illustration all leading up to high school as well. But initially, I didn’t know what I wanted to pursue when I was in middle school, my family constantly pestered me with questions about what I wanted to do with my life, I was only 13, and I knew I wanted to do something involving art, but my family wanted a lawyer, a doctor, or someone who would guarantee economic stability and success. My family saw art as a joke, as a Latina growing up in a Latin household, art was, in their terms, “not going to bring you success.” During that time, I polluted my mind thinking maybe I shouldn’t do art, give up my dreams, and listen to my family. Back then I didn’t know how to respond and today I don’t respond at all due to fear of misjudgment and them not understanding that art is growing and becoming more successful than ever before. Today, I am more confident than ever, it is because of my contribution in high school that I am more confident than ever before! In my sophomore year, I took digital illustration, and through this class, I learned how to draw with a stylus and on an iPad, I have been so used to paper and paint, that this opened new doors for me without even realizing it. Eventually Junior year, I participated in my school's sticker design prom fundraiser. Eventually, my teacher, who was in charge of the fundraiser, contacted me and told me that she loved my designs and wanted me to make more. I gladly accepted and I became a part of the prom committee for some time. This experience exposed me to something I never would have imagined doing. During the process of my designs, I discovered graphic design through that same teacher who included me in the prom committee. I did some research, and that opened my eyes to a different level of design. I have never been so passionate about anything in my life. I thought to myself, this could be it, this is where I am meant to be. I knew that this was what I wanted to do because of my work for the past 4 months I volunteered to design stickers. My state of mind has thus solidified, and I was able to confront my family, saying loud and proud, I know what I want to do, I want to be a graphic designer! I have come so far and built my skills, no longer that lost 13-year-old girl doubting her ability to pursue an art career. My mind is made up and I won’t let anyone change that, I won’t let others make me believe something I am not. I look forward to college, and I hope to get into the school of my dreams to continue this path. However, through this process, I couldn’t do it all alone. I am grateful to the teacher who supported me along the way, and I am grateful to my favorite musical artist whom I looked up to and who has inspired some of my artwork. Especially the people who purchased my designs, I am forever so grateful to see those smiles, and I hope to make others around me happy and inspired through my art.

Growing up I always loved to draw; I drew on anything I could get my hands on although my mom wasn’t too happy when she saw Crayola markers all over the walls and my siblings' faces. My mom still encouraged me to continue drawing but rather on a sketchbook. As I got older I continued to use sketchbooks to express myself and to practice my drawing skills since I still lacked in many areas. Once I got to high school I decided to take art seriously that was where I discovered that my practice does pay off after drawing a realistic still life. I would create still lifes with character figures so the composition was interesting and this led to a newfound love for drawing things that I see. Most of the pieces I made during my years in high school are of these figures or my cello since I like seeing my improvement over the years. Seeing my skills improve left me wanting to do better and continue practicing realism. I first started only using graphite but then moved to using charcoal which was full of texture and made my drawing have more depth. I kept experimenting with new techniques and mediums after trying them out they would leave me with excitement about what I could do with them next. I would create self-portraits every school year to see my improvement each year. Painting was something I found challenging for me ever since the first I tried it in 7th grade. I decided to continue to build up my drawing skills for a while longer before I try to paint again. In high school was the next time I painted and all my hard work paid off. I realized that skill translates between mediums since drawing is the foundation of art making. Although I have been on the verge of giving up I always remember that there is failure just means that there is an opportunity to improve and it will always end in an improvement to the skills I have been cultivating throughout my life. I am someone who hasn't been able to experience actual love for something until I was in my third year of high school. I realized that art was the only thing making me happy even with all the obstacles I have gone through. I have been struggling with depression leading me to slowly loss the will to live but art was the only thing that has been a light to get me through it. I have started taking medication for it and I feel a lot better.

Coming from a Mexican immigrant household, creativity was seen as a waste of time. When my parents and older family members asked what I planned to do in the future I would respond with “teacher” or “nurse” to meet their expectations of success, knowing the real answer was “Artist.” I think my love for art first developed with my admiration for murals from my neighborhood in East Los Angeles. Particularly, “Inner Resources”, a mural painted in my local park depicting the history of Latin american people and culture. I would stand staring at it in awe as a kid; the mural spread across a series of intricately drawn symbolic images that meld into one another, all to celebrate our community’s cultural pride. I believe this is when my unspoken dream to become a painter was cemented. During high school I immersed myself in art through every way I could; I won scholarships to attend art programs free of cost such as Otis Summer of Art, led the Visual Arts Club of my High School, and took AP studio Art. For my AP drawing class, I made pieces centered around the rich culture of East Los Angeles and chose to paint Matilda, a family friend and Mexican snack vendor who sells in my neighborhood street for my piece “La Nievera.” Yet the more I created, the more disapproval I received. My family members encouraged me to stop spending so much time making art. “Los dibujos no pagan ni la renta ni los billes,” (Drawings don't pay rent or bills) my mom would say to me. Despite basing much of art around my culture, I felt alienated from it. The judgment I received from my family for wanting to pursue a “white person career” made me feel like I was somehow less Mexican. When my painting was posted on my school’s social media website, I was recruited by the local Eastern Projects Gallery to exhibit two of my artworks in their “Blossom” Chicana Women Artists Group Exhibition. I was suddenly surrounded by a group of successful Latina artists and learned from them that art was in fact an option for me. I was able to sell my art to none other than Paul Botello, the muralist of “Inner Resources.” Meeting Mr, Botello, the artist I had long admired, inspired me as he expressed he believed I would thrive as an artist and acknowledged my work. My family has begun to be interested in what I make and even ask me to draw things for them. While they are worried that I have applied to study Illustration in college, they no longer express discontent towards art. “Si de veras mucho quieres esto, tienes que echarle muchas ganas” (if this is really something you want, you're gonna have to give it your all) is what my mom has recently started saying. Although it isn’t a passion that is encouraged in many families, art is a human practice and I believe it's time for people like me to be allowed to love art. Convincing my parents to allow me to apply to art school was a long process, with years of proving my dedication to what I love, and though I will only be able to attend if I receive a lot of financial aid and scholarships, I am willing to work for it. I want to show my parents that I can succeed in what I have set out to do and show them that it is possible for someone like their daughter to do what she loves for a living.

From a young age, I was an avid reader, taking virtually any moment of free time to read whatever new book I had just bought from the thrift store. The words leapt off from the pages creating vivid images in my head that only I could see. When asked by my teachers or parents if I enjoyed my book, I could hardly describe my love for the story to them, unable to communicate the colors and movements the book invoked. While reading, I wouldn’t envision the scenario that the author had written for me, instead, stories were full of what seemed like meaningless shapes. Each letter and number had its own color, and as I would read, these colors would swirl together in a nonsensical dance of swirling and swaying, but explaining this to people was frustrating. Making sense of the fact that the letter U was a bright yellow color, or that the word “immediately” was a sharp green that turned red was utter nonsense to anyone curious. My inability to get others to understand what I could so clearly see caused distress in my young, irrational mind and made me question if I would even be able to navigate life correctly. However, I came to find out that the colors I saw glowing within each letter was a phenomenon called synesthesia. I randomly stumbled across this information when I came across an online video of an artist who also had the same thing. They talked about how people’s names evoked different colors and they had created a series of paintings, each painted with the colors in reference to the selected name. This sparked my interest. Maybe I could use art as a medium to express what I could see. Prior to this realization, art had been just a hobby. I had enjoyed picking up new skills such as sewing, crocheting, painting, and drawing, but had never seen them as anything more. But with this, my entire outlook on art widened, I could create works that could show people what I so deeply desired to share. By the time middle school came around, I began experimenting with sculptural elements in my art. This piqued my interest in a way that nothing else had. I realized that I wanted the rest of my life to be filled with art, I wanted to learn as many possible mediums as I could and turn it into a career to sustain the rest of my life. I was hungry for an art education, but the fact that it was inaccessible to me in my middle school made my tiny pre-teen heart ache. Thankfully however, I ended up moving to California right in the middle of my freshman year of high school, and the new school I was enrolled into gave me a plethora of options. I explored digital arts, delved into a more comprehensive painting class, and by then, I knew that no part of my future could make me happy in a different career field. By now, my scope of the arts is broadening and what was once an indescribable mashing of colors can now be shown through my hands. Even with what I have learned now, I still crave to learn. As a senior in high school, accumulating my work into a portfolio has assured me that art college is the next step in my life, a place where I can further grow my understanding, to share to people how I perceive the world and to also see how others do as well.

Throughout my whole life, I've had a harder time talking about or expressing how I feel than other people would. I feel like I had so much to say, so much to let out, yet nothing would. Bottling up my emotions like that affected me for a long time, I knew there was something I had to do about it. Then I realized that art was a perfect outlet for me. These images flowed out from my pencil so much easier than words ever could. I feel like it got my point across, it let out a release. Drawing has made me express myself more than anything else could. Over the years I still use drawing to show emotions, whether it's digital or traditional, but not just negative ones anymore. For example, I always draw for my boyfriend, it can be a silly doodle or a full portrait of him. These pieces I make for him are gifts of love, to show that he is my muse, my favorite person. My sketchbook is filled with drawings of him, he has brought so much joy into my life since I met him and I love to draw the happiness and love he gives me. I also enjoy drawing stuff for my family and friends as gifts to show how much I love and care for them too. This experience made me want to let other people know how much art can help and let you release these bottled emotions. This started my passion for wanting to become an art teacher. I want other individuals to know that art is an option and that no one should have to hide how they feel. What I love about art is that it's all selective and personal. No one draws identically, I love seeing different versions of how people express themselves through it, scribbles, thin lines, thick lines, bright colors, dark colors. It's fascinating. My dream of becoming an art teacher would let me see this every day and I'd treasure every single second. Even when I feel alone, I know art is always there for me. I know I can always rely on it when I can't really get the words out. Art has made me improve my mental health and even learn how to communicate better. I wouldn't be the person I am today without it and I can't wait to accomplish my dream of sharing this discovery with other people.

My background in music starts off as a 10 year old who is inspired by my brother who plays the piano and introduced me to music. Since then I’ve been playing the piano at my local church and started to get more into the musical part. From there I’ve fallen in love with music and started to create some with my brother and is now a huge part of my family. My goals in pursuing a musical degree is to make christian music and influence others during tough times. Piano is a way where I can express my feelings and impact others through my music. By using my talent and creating songs with the piano I can encourage other people I know about music. Another goal is being a piano teacher and encouraging others to pursue their dream of music. My career aspirations are to give comfort through music and relieve stress from the world through music. It has impacted me greatly and I would like to share my experiences with others. Through my experience with music I faced challenges like feeling lonely or having stress and anxiety but music help me get through it. I use Music to express my feelings and help me get through many challenges. It’s a way where I can feel safe and free from stress in my life. Music has affected my life in a very positive way because it helps me get through the tough seasons in life. Loosing my grandpa during COVID was a very hard time for my life. One way that help our family overcome the sadness was through music. It has impacted our family because today we continue as a family band. My hopes for my career is to influence young people to get involved with music and have a great experience with it. From the help of scholarships I could achieve my goals to teach children and adults the piano and give lessons that will inspire them. This college will help me achieve my career aspirations by learning more about music and increase my skill of the piano and other aspects of music. My dream school includes music which is my passion and I believe that this school will help me achieve my dreams. It would be an honor to be accepted to this school because I grew up with a musical family and it’s very important to me. With all being said I would appreciate this opportunity to be a part of this scholarship and have a bachelors degree that will help me with my career. Kind Regards, Emely Vasquez

Ever since my first day of kindergarten, I’ve been buried neck-deep in the realm of art. At the time, I didn’t know the significance of my mom enrolling me in dance, music, and traditional drawing classes. All I knew was a pure feeling of eagerness. An itch in my hand to grab my dance shoes, my instrument–the YangQin, my paintbrush, and let loose a child’s imagination. As I made my way into adolescence, I gradually lost interest in taking the art classes that once used to motivate me to wake up on Saturday mornings. Classes were repetitive and I no longer felt the newfound excitement, as if a piece of me had faded; yet, that eagerness lingered. I started challenging my definition of creativity by exploring new creative outlets in high school. As I expanded into each activity, I realized each had a connection to my individuality and expression. I found the world of creation in Minecraft and spent hours building extravagant and detailed structures. I filled my closet with new clothes and found joy in matching garments with the weather, my mood, and each other. I discovered new genres of music like R&B, Korean, and Japanese pop, reigniting my passion for mastering my instrument. I became entranced with the art of film and found an immersive learning opportunity to fuel my interest. A year ago, I started watching more films, variety shows, and music videos and formed an interest in film and media. It was like I discovered another branch of artistry and creative expression. The same stunning emotions I felt on canvas left me in utter awe on screen. “Mom, this is what I want to do.” However, there were no film or media opportunities at my school. As a result, I applied and attended a film summer internship after my junior year. I was introduced to the world of production. From cameras to Adobe, I learned and created my own films. I tried multiple roles and pushed my creative expression to new limits. I produced promotional videos for local businesses and directed cinematography for narrative films. I worked as a lighting gaffer for some and an editor for others. I absorbed as much technical skills and experience as I could to turn them into my own. After the internship, I started photographing and creating reels of my daily life, finding an artistic career field I want to pursue. I want to leave an impact on others, just as artists have left an impression on me. To achieve this, I will bring my voice, as an Asian American girl, and my artistic skills to advocate for causes and issues that matter to my community of people. My goal is to create relatable media that reassures a new generation they are not alone through film. Through these experiences, I realized my creativity was not restricted to traditional techniques or something meant to be perfect. I learned that it allowed me to express messages that I wasn’t able to say in words. Expressing my authentic self through my creative side is something I yearned for as a kid, rediscovered, and strive to continue doing as I enter college.

Ever since I was younger, I have always had a passion for art and design. I would always love to draw my favorite characters and make collages of my favorite things. This can be little flower petals on trees, cutting out magazines, and accessorizing with stickers. My love for art has never left, and I am now in my senior year of high school. During my middle school and high school years, I was told by adults around me what I should do with my life and what I should do on my career. My parents often pushed me towards the medical field, since it was deemed the best stable job in their eyes. This made me feel more and more pressured, since I didn’t know what I wanted to do then. During my 16-17 years of age, I realized that I found passion in design. As I explored and experienced more, I really enjoyed seeing other peoples' designs, and thought of doing something similar myself. I talked to my family about considering design as a possible career field. However, my father was disappointed, and my mother was strongly against it, as she always wanted me to do something in the medical field. I was often feeling down because of societal standards, and what is seen as stable careers such as engineering, law, or a doctor. This led me to feel trapped and lost about what I should do with my life. So, as I began my research within the design field, I found out about universities and colleges that have the majors that would help me for my career. I wanted to somehow put my artwork into the designs I create, and make unique creations that make me who I am. I overcame the obstacles in my way by speaking up with my counsellors, videos, and gain more experience with design. With inspiration from videos online, art, and things I see outside. I love to look at people and take references because everyone is so unique, different, and diverse. Everyone has their own stories and preferences, which I want to implement in what I do. Same with different stores, objects, and natures I get inspired. I created my own website with a theme of a fake cafe, by creating the logo, mockups, and designing the visuals. I also created countless art of my characters that gave me design ideas. I enjoy creating digital art and digital design since there are various of creativity and entertainment to explore. I was always more on the creative side and had a great imagination. I love to look up to some of my favorite artists and designers, by going to museums, online resources, and galleries that help inspire me for my career. I want to use my artistic and creative abilities in my designs where my work stands out. Although my family wasn’t exactly happy with the path I was taking, I knew myself and what I wanted to do in the future. I want to be able to show others I that succeeded, and even if there are many challenges that come my way, I am not afraid to face them. In the end, art is something I am very passionate about and want to pursue in the future. I want to not only make myself happy but to change peoples’ mindset and imagination when they view at my work.

My love for art is something that has followed me everywhere for as long as I can remember. It's something that's helped me grow into the person that I am today. It's been my most loyal friend, it's always there for me when I'm feeling anything. It's a part of everything I've ever known, it's in every aspect of the world if you know how to look for it and I've been fortunate enough to learn this at a young age. Since before I was born my dad has had an admiration and eye for creating art. It was a part of the culture of growing up in East Los Angeles. With graffiti, local murals, and prison art that was well respected throughout the community but never really seen as a career. So when I was born and my parents moved away, they were always very supportive of the arts and what they could teach me from it. I was drawing every chance that I got, coloring pictures with my dad while my mom was at work, or painting with him in our old garage. He's been one of my biggest supporters and is now a big inspiration because being an artist is his full-time job, breaking a stigma in our Latino household. My parents have been able to influence my expressive personality at such a young age and I've been able to find that passion rise in me slowly as I got older. A challenge I've had was being so insecure with myself so creating art has always been an outlet for me. It's been my biggest way of expressing myself and the way that I feel, even if that meant just picking out my outfit. Whether it was painting, collaging, or drawing, I used what I had learned my whole life to my greatest advantage. I pour my heart into every project I make, spending days if not weeks to perfect my vision. Originating your own art can teach you so much about yourself. It teaches you patience and kindness towards yourself. It showed me how to overcome my battles and to ground myself when I felt that the chaos of my brain was too much for me to handle. I love to not only make work of my own but to enjoy the work of others. Just being able to see how every good and every bad part of the world has pushed people to be inspired to use their voices. I think that creating something that makes people feel less alone is one of the most beautiful things that life has to offer. To know that art has made such an important impact and not just in my life but in all of history as we know it. And I mean this in every form of art. Film, music, and painting are all forms of it that have shaped the creativity that I hold so close to my heart. Seeing the works of others, the love, and the sense of community it gives to people makes me want to push my adoration for the topic toward my future career and study art history in college. I don't know the person I would be without the influence of art in my life. My parents' being supportive of the things I've gone on to show interest in is a blessing alone. I think art is something so complex and it's done so much for me. It'd be a dream to pass that love to other kids who have that spark of light as I once did.

Arts have had a positive impact on my life for the twelve years I have done it. At the ripe age of five, I started my true passion for dance and continue it now as a seventeen-year-old. Throughout my twelve years of dancing, I trained at local dance studios perfecting my craft and experiencing the idea of collaboration with many talented artists in creating beautiful pieces. I began sharing my art with the world by volunteering at her local studio called Adage Dance Center where I taught the young dancers ballet and tap, I also became a student representative at my arts high school called Lachsa. One challenge I overcame was breaking a bone in my foot which stopped me from doing what I love the most. It was in 2018 right before the most important competition of the year and I broke a bone in the most important part of a dancer's body. The 2 months I was sitting out felt like the longest months of my life. As a dancer, I wanted to get up and move every second of the day but I couldn't and it was truly heartbreaking. Luckily, I pushed and constantly iced my foot every night to make a full recovery just in time for the competition. Although it was a difficult experience, I overcame it and came back stronger and ready to learn and dance more. Dance has always been a part of my life and I may have had a few setbacks, but this is what pushed me to grow tremendously and allow me to continue my passion for the arts in college for my professional career. In my professional career, I am hoping to continue dancing, and working with artists in the industry, while also becoming a dance therapist, becoming this beneficial person to lean on when dancers need support for their foundation, moral, and overall physical selves. The arts have truly affected my life for the better, influencing creativity, well-being, cultural understanding, and social change. Dance specifically has become my whole world, the surrounding, the drive, and the overall passion I have for this art is everything. I am hoping to get into an amazing college to continue pursuing and excelling in my craft. Art as a whole gives me meaning and helps me with my understanding of the world. The appreciation I have for art improves my quality of life and makes me feel good. Creating art specifically in dance elevates my mood, improves my ability to problem solve, and opens my mind to new ideas in the near future.

It doesn’t matter that it’s a nightly tradition at my house, I never tire of the moment when I get to hop on the couch wrapped in a fuzzy blanket with a piece of cake, ready to embark on a new adventure. My family TV time is not only a loved practice for the three of us but has inspired my current goal of working in the animation industry. To me, art has always been about storytelling. Anyone from my third-grade class will recount with a groan how my friend and I spent every recess illustrating our own book series, Pip and Froggy. After that, it was comics that carpeted the floor of my room as I sketched out scenes from the chaos of middle school life. Now, I am drawn to the way a picture can dance across a screen, or clay can be moved one frame at a time to tell a story. As a lifelong creative, my artistic practice informs my outlook on life. On one hand, there are the technical abilities any great animator must master. So whether it's figure sketching on the train or plein air painting at the beach, I aim to constantly study from the life around me. This builds an immediate deeper connection between me and every place I go, as my perception of it is forever cemented in the sketchbooks I fill. It also motivates me to seek adventure as I jump at the chance to leave the house, always excited for unlikely subjects waiting to be discovered. On the other hand, it is narratives that drive any great piece of media. I collect stories daily from my own life like postcards, storing them in note apps and Google Docs on my phone. I jot down funny remarks overheard on the bus and deep conversations I’ve had with my parents. I sketch characters of the people I meet who are brimming with personality. Collecting these stories reminds me to look up from my sketchbook every now and then. It compels me to take risks and meet new people because I never know what may become my next inspiration. Taking risks has been a particularly important part of my artistic journey. It is with this skill that I learned to let my art be seen, an inevitable part of being a creator. When I started high school, my art was something I hid away from prying eyes. I was ashamed of every imperfection and self-conscious of my weird stories. In 10th grade, four other artists and I decided to collaborate on a huge mural for our school art show. Although we faced setbacks, and communication issues, in the end, we completed the project. The support I received from my teachers and peers inspired me to show my solo work at gallery shows for my remaining years of high school. Through this work, I told my own stories. I presented digital paintings of places in my life, often with an added magic touch. When I share my work, my hands still sweat and my voice still shakes, but it gets a little bit easier every time. As this year's Film and Media Arts Festival rolls around, I am excited to be submitting animation for the first time. I hope that someone in the crowd may look at my humble beginnings and feel a resemblance to the joy I get every night with my family in front of my TV. That magical moment when I watch a drawing come alive before my eyes and marvel at the cross between art and storytelling.

There’s always that dreaded situation in every art student’s mind: their parents will never accept their passion to pursue a career in the arts. It’s a job that sets you up for failure, there’s no money involved, finding employment is hard, art will burn down your house, pull a John Wick on your dog… every single horror a parent can imagine. However, it was the opposite for me. It was I who feared my own hobby. “Mom, dad, I want to be an English professor at some university… it’ll be good pay.” “Mom, dad, I want to be a dentist since it’s good money.” Year after year, I had been scrounging up the best-paying jobs to dream of and hope to accomplish for the sake of putting my parents in a better position for retirement–however, my true love, art, had been sitting in the back and collecting dust. That was until I stepped into my first figure drawing class that I applied to on a whim. When I stepped through those doors, my tide suddenly pooled into an ocean. There was something fantastical about it. The people there all loved art and had worked on their craft for ten, twenty, thirty, even forty years. They wielded jobs at Disney or Netflix, and passionately discussed the nuances of art and creation. This experience was a catalyst in my spiral down the art rabbit hole, and suddenly I wanted to create. There were worlds that I had stuffed down the drain, characters that had been locked away in closets, creatures shoved behind textbooks of math and science to never see the light of day again–but I wanted to bring them all out, my own Renaissance was at my fingertips. That was when I realized that I did not want to be a professor, a dentist, or a nurse. “Mom, dad… I want to be an artist.” I was prepared for their response. Art sets you up for failure, there’s no money involved, finding jobs is hard, and there’s no stable future in art. “I wish you had told me sooner. I would have enrolled you in many art classes,” my mother said. My parents were completely supportive of me in pursuing my dreams. This shook me to my core and brought tears to my eyes. My mother brought up some advice she had been repeating to me since I was a little kid. “Whatever you want to do, you will be the best at it. Even if you’re a janitor, or a waitress, or a McDonald’s worker, be the best.” From then on, art has had such a profound impact on my life. I worked hard, and eventually gained an art internship to pitch my ideas and experience the art industry firsthand, I applied to three art classes to help me along my path, and I wanted to expand this horizon further for others and myself, so I created a Discord server that houses 360+ young artists who connect, create, and share with each other on the daily. I’m very lucky to have such loving and supportive parents who will walk with me through my path, but we have many roadblocks, such as money. The only way they will allow me to go to some of my most wanted art schools is if I scrounge up enough money for a full ride–but if it means that I will get to do what I truly love as a job and give back to my parents in the future, then so be it. For art and for my parents, it is all worth it.

Whenever creative activities would come up at schools, teachers would arduously await the wacky creative endeavors I brought to school: From a hat made of rag dolls to a full cosplay of the Aztec God Mictlantecuhtli. Teachers would pat me on the head, knowing well enough that the mastermind behind everything was never this 10-year-old standing before them. Of course. And just like a hero in disguise, my father is a carpenter on the surface but an artist at heart, building replicas of cartoon structures, sewing plushies for me and my sibling, and making pyrography signs for his friends. My grandmother is an artist too, but contrary to my dyslexic father, she reads and writes poetry every morning and night. Then comes the third generation of the family. If she happens to be an artist, she is set up for greatness, backed up by her creative family support, right? One would think that. But, surprisingly, the answer is not quite so direct. Sure, they feel great that I have followed through with being creative as a hobby, but as a career? And digital? And Queer? I somehow came to disappoint them in every way possible. They do not consider digital art to be real art. Throughout my entire life, this disappointment has plagued my family relationships. 'Why not become a tattoo artist? Or a mural painter? If you like digital things, you should do computer science.' And as if my medium was not enough to make their hearts heavy, the subject of my art drove them further into this sad belief of failure. They consider activism to be ugly and Queerness to be taboo. They are not interested in learning about my community history and think of it as a waste of talent. In their eyes, that has been what hammered down my setup failure. It is not about my creativity but about my identity as their daughter. But all of their beliefs are what I am trying to turn upside down. They fuel my career as an artist and activist. I want to prove there is a place for artists like me; To have my identity as Queer and Latin American be worthy of representation in art. If it had not been for other LGBTQ+, Latinx artists that inspired me when I was young, I would have followed the path of my past generations: I would have stopped creating, and I would have stopped fighting. But I have not. Because now that I have grown as a person and a creator, I understand my responsibility to inspire other teens who are going through the same doubt about their identities or their success in pursuing art. Still, the odds are against me for being a low-income immigrant. So much doubt has made me stronger. I have placed myself in all types of creative leadership positions to prepare me for what will come in my career. I enjoy working with teaching artists that have walked the path I want to walk. Art has inspired me to reach for the stars, and people who doubt me push me higher toward my goal. But even through all this, I wonder what would have happened. What if my father and grandmother had not been discouraged from pursuing their passion for art? I hope they can use me as a vessel of their unaccomplished dreams and one day laugh off the doubt they ever had in me.

My parents emigrated to this country from Mexico having limited education and opportunities. My mom was a housekeeper and could not afford childcare so during summers and after school, my siblings and I went with her. As my family moved from one house to another the only thing that cured my boredom was the cartoons I would watch. We didn't have sufficient money for cable, therefore I longed to go to my mom’s work as I found comfort in the cartoons I’d watch while I was there. It was during those moments, I realized that I wanted to pursue creativity in a career and became passionate about the creative arts. My parents thought of art as just a hobby, however, I later learned that art could be more than that. I have always had an inkling that I wanted to become an artist, but it wasn't until my sophomore year in high school that it was confirmed. Although the idea of attending and pursuing art was something my parents opposed, it was something I dreamed of. From watching accepted art portfolios and tutorials on how to draw or color pieces, I was able to develop and evolve as an artist. At the end of my sophomore year, I created an art account to push myself to draw more. I am passionate more specifically about animation in studio arts, and interested in stop motion and 2D animation due to my connection and admiration for this powerful medium. The artist's ability to manipulate something as simple as a character's eyes creates a great connection and emotion with the viewer. This form of art allowed me to grow, was a huge part of my childhood and sparked that want and need to pursue art. In an attempt to replicate the art I saw as I child, although I would get frustrated, creating art was something I could never get rid of and always picked up. The way I have used this medium and the creative arts, in general, to portray my opinions and showcase what I admire, allows me to grow mentally and stylistically. This form has become very essential in my life as it has allowed me to grow out of this shell I was in when I was younger and allowed me to truly admire and showcase what I like without the fear of being judged. I want to be able to continue to not only voice what I like but though this be able to help and be a voice for others, it is something I aspire to be able to continue to do for the rest of my life. I aspire to learn and be able to create something that allows me to express myself, communicate with others, and comfort people as cartoons did to me as a kid.

Last summer, my sister inspired me to start a rug-making business. Although we both knew that it would be kind of impossible because the supplies were too much money. I decided to watch some youtube videos about what to do as a beginner. It was a lot of time-consuming and money to go for it. My sister and I talked about what my first step would be. To start we had to find a way to save up money for the cost. I decided to gather some old clothes and send them to a thrift store in exchange for money. Though I felt like I gave too much and received 30 dollars for 5 pairs of pants and 8 pairs of shirts. But I couldn’t stop there, I decided to work with my mom over the week. Right after school, I had to change and eat in 30 minutes and head to work. We would clean some sorority houses in a university by my house. This took a lot of my energy and I had to figure out time management. I didn’t have much time to do my homework and study for the test. I would often hit an all nighter and wouldn’t get any rest. Until the 2 months, I was able to raise a sufficient amount to purchase my tools. There were a lot of calculations to add up like measuring my frame with wood that had to build for the base of my rug/cloth. A week later I bought all my materials and 4 different locations and successfully had everything. Now I had to complete a profile pic for my business. I had to come up with a variety of different looks for my rug profile and eventually posted my first-ever video customizing a rug. I was so proud of myself and even though I haven't blown up I am waiting for the time. I was very stressed with organizing the prices of the different sizes and colors and had to figure out the amount of time I was putting into each rug depending on the price. So I had to count down my hours and although I didn't have many buyers I was still happy with everything. I have learned that solving solutions takes mistakes, effort, passion and patience to find the key. Although I am just beginning I know the right time would come and I was able to find a solution to my problem.

Throughout my childhood, I had always said I was going to be a doctor or a surgeon when asked what I wanted to be in the future. Both my parents had always encouraged it, saying how proud they would be and saying that they knew they would be in good hands with me as a doctor. My parents would give me multiple play sets for playing doctor as a kid and my mother and father would always call me to get their pills and always say in Spanish, “Doctora” for years. 8th grade came around and we were given a presentation about what we were planning to major in for college. It suddenly hit me that I did not want to be a doctor anymore as I realized that I was not passionate about the job and did not want to deal with all the stress and issues that came along from working in the field either. I was then given the idea of becoming an animator or an artist as I had always enjoyed drawing and creating from a young age. When I announced that I was no longer going to pursue as a doctor or surgeon to my family, my brother was proud that I wanted to pursue animation as he had always complimented my artwork. My sister and second brother approved as they believed I had the capabilities of pursuing other forms of art careers and even starting my own business if I wanted to. My father was a bit saddened, but understood my decision and allowed me to work in whatever major I wanted as long as I could afford it. My mother, however, was shocked and disappointed as she believed that there would be a doctor in our family that achieved a high level of education who gained large amounts of money for our family, and was able to take care of them when they got sick. For years she would make small comments about how she would miss not having a doctor in the house or ask me if I was sure that I didn’t want to be a doctor. Years down the line however, she sat me down one day and said to me that I can do whatever I want and that she will be happy with whatever I choose as long as it makes me happy. Art has always helped me in many ways that I never knew it could. I could create another world and show it to people and let them be encapsulated in it and bond with our love for art. Art has helped me show others what I can do with my creativity and understand myself more as it is something intimate to me and a way to express my mind and thoughts. Art has always been special to me and has even helped me through life events, meeting new people, gaining new opportunities, and keeping me passionate about creating and being in touch with myself. Without art, it would have made my life more bleak and bland, but I am grateful for it and the fortunate things it has brought me, and hope I can continue growing with it in my life.

I never revealed to my parents that I wanted to pursue music, but when I did, they weren't very encouraging. They thought my voice was terrible and that I wouldn't get anywhere with music because it's not a major or minor that leads to a foreign life, so I chose to choose a different major and have the arts as my minor because I wasn't going to give up something I love just because they told me to. Since I was a young child, music has played a significant role in my life. I believe that everyone has a favorite song that they play repeatedly because it uplifts them. I want to create music in the future that people will associate with good memories rather than unpleasant ones. My goal is to give the song to a house, and I believe that music has changed me for the better. I was going through some really difficult times in my life; I was alone; I was over here looking for a job; and the only thing next to me was music; it was the one thing that made me happy because I knew that I always had it with me. I could hear a simple melody in my head and that would help me get through the day or night, no matter where I was. I could tap my finger on a piece of wood or a table and my mind is cleared art comes in different forms, and the way you perceive your particular form of art affects how you feel differently. For me, music has impacted me in a particular way, and it always will. I felt rejected not only by friends but also by my parents, who always told me I wouldn't amount to anything, but I vowed to disprove them and demonstrate that I was superior to them before moving on. Like her just as I look that artist when I was a little girl, I wanted someone to look up to me and say I want to be just like you please show me how to be just like you. I want to show him how to do it because it's all about making mistakes but never giving up, and I hope that someone could take that advice. i believe anyone can love art and i hope other people see it the way that i do.

Art and being creative has always played a valuable role in my life. Since I was young, it was how I expressed myself when I could not find the right words to form the right sentences. I am self-taught, so many of my early years meant experimenting with colors and shapes, proportions and compositions, adjusting my skills till everything looked right, even if I didn't understand why. My family was always supportive of my hobby because they saw the potential I had to grow into a great artist. Even when my upbringing was rocky and asking for new markers seemed like a burden financially, they always surprised me with new supplies every Christmas. Eventually, I could simply ask for supplies and their response remained the same,“ as long as you need it and it makes you happy, let's get it.” However, when high school began and my family became concerned about the career I was hoping to pursue, I finally decided on graphic design. I had tried to avoid this decision, claiming I wanted to be an engineer, but my skills in math and science could only support that statement for so long, so I gave in and told them what I truly wanted to dedicate my life to. At first, there was heavy skepticism from my family as none were familiar with a career in the arts. Being first-generation students, my siblings have paved the way as officers in the army and degrees in criminology or nursing. These fields were far beyond my dreams of being in the arts. Yet I explained to them how heavily drawing, illustrating, painting, and designing impacted my life every day and how it's a job necessary to the modern world. I pleaded to them how every day they need or see something that was designed by someone's hard work, whether it be the packaging of their favorite drink or their experience using an app. I learned how to use my skills in painting and drawing to become better in graphic design so I can one day create environmentally friendly products for a new generation of technology and innovation. I reminded them how proud I was of myself for painting a mural on my high school campus, one that I had designed and led others in completing. This was the type of work that fully complimented my leadership skills and creativity and it would have a positive impact on the community around us. After continuous discussions and conversations with people in the field, my dream was now a reality they too sought to complete with me. My dream of becoming a graphic designer is the best decision I will ever make because it not only will make me into a better person, skillfully and mentally, but it also means I have my family on my side through it all.

I grew up in a one-parent household, and my mom always ensured I had everything I needed, including art classes. She wanted to make sure that I grew up with some aspirations. Growing up, I was allowed to be a part of cheer, gymnastics, and different music classes, but none of them stuck with me as art has. I'm so fortunate to have my mom. Even if these classes weren't within our budget, she always ensured that I was there because she knew I loved art. I always took an art class during my childhood, no matter what school I attended. I have taken at least one art class every year throughout my high school career. And during my junior year, I won second place in the mixed media division in the GUHSD art show and walking off that stage and back to my mom, she couldn't stop telling me how proud she was of me, and that is what showed me that I wanted to study art. I had wanted to go into psychology because it interested me, and I also saw that it paid well. Still, it wasn't something I was passionate about, and I knew that if I studied that instead of art, I would be disappointed in myself. So I decided that I wanted to study either fine arts or art history because becoming an art curator is also a career that interests me. When I shared this with my mom, she was thrilled because she knew how much art meant to me. My mom has always supported me in all my artistic endeavors, allowing me to freely express myself without fear of disapproval because making my mom proud is something I aspire to do with all of my decisions. And being met with this overwhelming support from my mom has given me the confidence to know that I am going to study art because it's something that has always been there for me, even during the rough times growing up. Another dream of mine is to be able to study abroad to study art, and this is another thing my mom supports me in. She always tells me that no matter what I decide to do with my life in the future that it's something that I love and interests me. She has always wanted me to grow up and do everything I love, such as traveling around the world or becoming a professional artist, which I have always wanted to be since I took my first art class. And this is how art has become my life and why I wish to pursue it in my future and have worked hard to be where I am right now, but one thing is that my mom has always been there precisely, beside me supporting me with every decision I made. Thank you for reading about how art has left such a significant impact on my life.

My art obsession started from humble beginnings... Tracing anime pictures... Trying to impress someone... Wanting more character development because, frankly, my character was relatively one-dimensional when I was ten. After realizing how challenging yet fun art is, it took off as my number one hobby. I started drawing every day-- once I finished my school work and while doing my school work in school-- I was unstoppable. Then, one day a few years later, I was stuck on what to draw and asked my mother, who once did hyper-realistic art, what I should draw. She told me to practice body positioning and to just put my characters into random scenes and poses. This one suggestion set my hobby ablaze. In the next four years, I continued to grow my art style and ability, and I branched out into writing stories and planning comics for fifty or more original characters. I started looking for anything art related, from comic books to animated TV series. Drawing every day, filling up to thirty sketchbooks, making comics, posting comics-- All of it. My entire life was surrounded by art, and I loved every moment. I currently have three different universes, over ten unique stories planned out, and the confidence to enter art contests and display my artwork around my school. I have also stepped out of my digital and pencil comfort zone to expand into watercolor, acrylic, color penciled, charcoal, and other traditional mediums. Here I am now, with about seven years' worth of art practice, art classes every year of my school life, 2 AP art classes in my latest high school, and looking into scholarships, art colleges, and jobs that can help me pursue my dream of using my hobby as my career, no matter how long it takes me. If it weren't for that suggestion from my mother, I wouldn't be as skilled or fast as I am at art as I am today. I would have never tried to branch out into different mediums. I wouldn't be where I am today without that one suggestion. You can probably guess that my mother is very much on board with me applying to art colleges/universities. Everyone in my family is very supportive and willing to help continue my educational journey, no matter what. The only concern about my plans is the money issues we may or may not face. My family has always been low-class or lower-medium-class, so money has always been an issue for us, which is why I'm extensively planning the next stage of my life, looking for ways to pay for tuition and help ease any concerns or stress in my family.

Ever since I was a little girl I have wanted to pursue the arts. I was always told “They don’t earn good money” “Thats dumb, how are you supposed to survive in the real world”. They always thought it was a waste of time and that it wasn’t worth anyone’s time. They tried steering my path towards other careers like nursing, teacher, surgeon, or basically any of the science majors. They would’ve all just been happy with me pursing something I wasn’t happy in. None of those careers interested me. They weren’t me. My brother was the only one who was happy for me when I told him that I wanted a career in the arts. For a moment I felt accepted and it made me happy to at least have one person to support me. Having everyone trying to steer me into another career hasn’t been easy. It makes me feel unaccepted, like I’m the one that’s missing something. Not being able to make everyone happy made me feel so much pressure to find another career that would make them happy. In my mind it was like they thought I didn’t have what it takes to be an artist. Art has always been a great way for me to be me. It allowed me to express myself in ways I didn’t know I could. Till this day I’m still learning about new ways that I can create. Art was always an outlet for me. It allowed me to see the world through a new lens and take in its beauty, it’s true beauty. Having somewhere to be able to step away to when I’m hurting, confused, or just tired has been great, it’s allowed me to create many wonderful things that not just I get to see. I share my art with others and they seem to be able to find a connection to it too and I love that we’re able to share an experience through an art piece even if it wasn’t the same event. Art comes in so many didn’t forms and so many of them have been a part of my life. Art truly has made me a better person. I’m not someone who looks like they would create art so when I do mention that I do this as a hobby that is what they think and nothing more. They think I’m not good and that I have to prove to them just how good I am. For some time it did feel like I needed to do that because I was always trying to prove to my family that it was the right choice for me but after some time I stopped and I allowed my work to do the talking for me.