I love asking questions. My curiosity prompted a search for a community of conversation-holders who could broaden my perspectives. I found this through film. Joining FilmEd Academy of the Arts, an organization that provides high schoolers with professional grade film equipment and instruction, introduced me to an extensive community of passionate thinkers. FilmEd gives me amazing opportunities that help me harness my creativity in meaningful ways and connect with a broader audience. I learned to use film as a medium to ask questions and engage in conversations with my peers. I made a PSA regarding cell phone usage and the effects I see on my screen-addicted generation. This film spurred a discussion not only with my friends, who became more conscious of their lack of self-control, but also with my relatives, who gained foresight about raising their young children under the spell of technology. Recently, I made a short film following an young Indian-American woman and her experience growing up in the United States as a minority. After having several enlightening conversations with the indian women in my life, I found myself able to accurately portray the isolating effects that the internalization of white supremacy has on the development of minorities in Ameirca (particularly in women). This film spurred many questions with not only many of my relatives and other minority friends, but also with some of my white friends, who were looking to gain more information regarding how their actions might affect the people around them. This summer, after witnessing the protests firsthand, I made a documentary about the Black Lives Matter movement, in an attempt to combat its violent misportrayal by the media. My peaceful, optimistic portrayal of the protests gave many of my friends and family a new outlook on the hope that drives the BLM movement, and even encouraged some of my peers to attend protests. When my documentary was nominated at the Buffalo International Film Festival, I continued my engagement in the conversation while serving on the ‘Racial Justice In View’ Panel alongside my fellow nominees. This experience opened up a network of professional filmmakers who use their medium to represent marginalized perspectives and inspire me to continue using film to spark change. Film provides me with a platform to apply my intellectual curiosity to create thought-provoking content that I believe can affect the world around me. It gives me an outlet to share opinions and stories that would otherwise be confined to my head. Wherever my future takes me, I will continue using film to express my creativity by asking questions and stirring meaningful conversations.