In Olivia Rodrigo's song "Vampire" from her album *GUTS*, the lyric "You can’t love anyone 'cause that would mean you had a heart" resonates deeply with my own teenage experience. Reflecting back on my high school years, I struggled to show my emotions. While I was generally happy, I felt this pressure to always wear a smile, as if it was a mask I had to put on to survive the chaotic world of adolescence. During my teenage years, I often felt like I had to adopt a different persona to fit in and navigate the awkwardness of growing up. This period of my life was filled with uncertainty, as I grappled with figuring out what the future held and discovering who my true friends were. Adding to this complexity were the family dynamics I faced. My parents were going through their own challenges, and I felt the need to be strong for them and my siblings. As a result, I avoided being vulnerable, thinking that showing emotions would make me seem weak. Interestingly, I had never experienced romantic love, which further contributed to my emotional detachment. I didn’t feel the need to express feelings, even when watching sad scenes in movies—I wouldn’t cry. There was this strange desire within me to be cold, believing it would protect me from being hurt. I thought that if I built walls around my heart, no one could step on me. However, after graduating, I took a step back and began to examine myself. I realized that this persona wasn’t who I truly was. I started to open up about my feelings, and while I might have cried more than I laughed, it felt liberating. Surrounding myself with a different crowd made a significant difference; they understood and accepted me for who I was. A pivotal moment came when my parents and I had a heart-to-heart conversation. They expressed that they appreciated my desire to comfort them but emphasized that it was time for me to focus on my own happiness and emotional well-being. They encouraged me to embrace my feelings, reminding me that it’s okay to have tough days. Those challenging moments only serve to make the good ones feel even more precious. In conclusion, the lyric from "Vampire" captures the essence of adolescence and the internal battles many of us face. My journey through high school taught me the importance of vulnerability and the beauty of expressing emotions. It’s okay to feel deeply, and embracing those feelings has allowed me to live a more authentic and fulfilling life.

In a world where self-expression is essential, the fashion industry offers a vibrant canvas for creativity and connection. My career in art will be rooted in fashion, where I believe clothing can empower individuals and foster confidence. Through my designs, I aim to create a space where everyone feels included and valued, regardless of their background or challenges. By combining my passion for fashion with my desire to inspire self-esteem, create adaptive apparel for individuals with disabilities, and share messages of love and faith, I envision a brand that not only transforms how people dress but also how they feel about themselves and their place in the world. My career in the fashion industry, I see fashion as a powerful form of expression. Clothing isn't just about what we wear; it’s about how we feel when we put it on. I want to create designs that help people feel confident and comfortable in their own skin. Imagine someone stepping out in an outfit that not only looks good but also makes them feel unstoppable! That’s the kind of impact I want to have. One of my main goals is to focus on adaptive apparel for people with disabilities. Fashion should be accessible to everyone, and I want to break down barriers that often leave some individuals feeling excluded. By designing clothing that caters to their needs, I hope to empower them to express their unique styles and personalities. It’s about making sure everyone has options and can find joy in getting dressed each day. In addition to fashion, I’m also on a journey of spiritual growth. I believe that love and faith are powerful emotions that can bring people together. I want to incorporate these themes into my work, creating pieces that evoke feelings of warmth and community. Perhaps someone wearing one of my designs will feel inspired to explore their own faith or find a sense of belonging in a world that can sometimes feel isolating. Ultimately, my vision is to help the world become more vulnerable, helpful, and supportive. I want to create a brand that serves as a beacon of hope for those seeking a sign to grow in their faith or for those who struggle with mental or physical challenges. Fashion can be a transformative experience, and I want to be a part of that journey for others. By blending my artistic vision with my desire to uplift and inspire, I believe I can make a meaningful impact in the fashion industry. With each piece I create, I hope to spark conversations, evoke emotions, and encourage people to embrace their true selves. Together, we can build a community where everyone feels valued and celebrated for who they are.

Sincerely, reading a book has not always been my priority, however, I encourage myself to pick up a new reading and expand my vocabulary as well as imagination. I read a book called "Paper Towns" by John Green. It is indeed my favorite book. The story is composed well and the characters are great. The author made sure to emphasize the life of a teenager embarking into his/her adult life. There is some adventurous situations throughout the reading. I enjoyed feeling the connection of hanging out with friends and finding the meaning of your life. The book makes you think deeply and appreciate what you have. Those are some of the reasons why Paper Towns in my opinion is one of the best books written.

Childhood is one of the best phases is life. I would do anything to go back as being a kid again. I would not change the story just re-live the running around like crazy, going over to my friend’s house and getting in trouble for playing with mud. Life was much “careless” and easily. Life took me on a great path whenever I was told we would love to the U.S. It was scary but exciting. We moved after my dad. I only knew the basics of english, so anywhere I went it was intimidating. I started school and made a couple friends. The environment was different from my passed schools but I did like it more. I joined sports and all of a sudden it felt like I could be myself again. I went from an energetic person to a shy/scared girl to finally adapting to this bug change in my life. I was happy again and my new best friend would come over to play. The new girl who had come from Guatemala not knowing how to properly speak english had one of the highest GPA’s was involved in clubs and sports. That is exactly how I started to make my mark and growing up as person and literally since high school as approaching. My parents have always been by my side, they are supportive. Gladly can say that my home is a happy place and I appreciate the manners and the life lesson they have taught me. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life on the long run. They would try to give me ideas but nothing caught my attention. As soon as I started high school there was a sewing class and I impulsively decided to take it since basically my whole family is into making things. I fell in love with the history, the making, process everything about fashion. I took fashion class all four years in high school. Best decision I have ever made. Excitingly applied to fashion schools and got accepted to all of them. Everything felt like it was happening fast, no breaks. In High school time flies. Now I look forward on going to College and study Fashion Design. A big dream that I certainly know I will achieve. I have this one last vision that I am going to help my family as a thank you for being by my side. I want to travel and make the best out of life. Definitely look forward on being in more fashion shows as well. Life takes you on unexpected paths but that is destiny and sometimes you just have to go with it.

Fashion Designer

“Live life to the fullest” is my favorite quote. Trying new things is always a yes for me. A couple years back, I went to Seattle, Washington and my family took me to “Stevens Pass”. Side note; I had zero experience snowboarding. They thought it would be a nice family activity, they were right. I was nervous but had all this excitement inside of me at the same time. I decided to go down the “beginners” mountain and it went better than expected. I fell more than I can remember but it was a life changing experience.