During my elementary school years, my father struggled with heavy drug addiction and my mom would have outbursts of rage. Their conflict forced us to move closer to family, most of which seemed to only make matters worse. Being closer to my grandmother was the exception to this. I didn’t know how to process the trauma going on around me. My grandmother noticed this and took me under her wing by having me over after school, allowing me a safe place to learn and explore many more avenues than I would have ever thought possible. She introduced me to self-expression through the arts. I put my all into everything she showed me. We wrote music, short stories, poems, painted using watercolor, and utilized paper mache. Learning these activities with her gave me this overwhelming and fulfilling sense of purpose. The rush of finishing a project and sharing our creations with others inspired me to push myself in not only the arts but in every aspect of life. It was at this time I knew all I wanted to do was create. A few years later my grandmother was diagnosed with cancer and passed away less than a year later; this devastated me. The one adult in my life who I trusted and who inspired me more than anyone, was gone. The only thing I could think to do during this time was to create anything to help me remember her. It felt like the only way to move forward. I created little angels of her and portraits. I designed a tattoo in honor of her. It was an angelic clown, her two favorite things. Eventually, I started making paintings for everyone I knew, and seeing their reactions gave me an unbelievable rush of satisfaction and motivation. My freshman year of High School I had my first opportunity to compete with my own art, placing first in creativity, professionalism, and overall grade. The following summer I entered two more competitions and placed first and second place. After these competitions, I received a few commissions from church and family members. These experiences helped me build my confidence, revealing to me that I could make a career in this field. I want nothing more than to do just that. Junior and senior year I joined a trade school, Meridian Technology Center, and competed in the BPA (Business Professionals of America) program for 3D animation. My team and I created a 3 minute long film which taught me how to communicate to my peers, delegate tasks, and how to work with tight deadlines. After seven months of hard work in and out of the classroom, we submitted our animation. We placed 1st in state and 2nd in nationals. This accomplishment helped me build my confidence and love of expression. Expressing myself through various art-forms allowed me to heal, grow, and to separate myself from tragedy. I would love to share that passion with others, and the opportunity to improve my abilities. I believe that I can bring people together with my art. I want to design pieces that inspire others like my grandmother inspired me. Whether I find my future job in freelancing, graphic design, or teaching my own art class; I know I can use my talents to help others if I were honored with this scholarship, I know I can make a difference in not only the lives of others, but also, understand myself even more deeply. Grandma would be proud just knowing I’ve taken the foundation she laid in my life, and turned it into a way of living, and remembering.