In the work shown along with the essay below, the Procreate app was used to create a digital illustration of an Ankylosaurus with the ball point pen textured brush. When I was six, my first real introduction to the Ankylosaurus was through Dinosaur Train. I remember seeing one and immediately thinking it was one of the coolest dinosaurs I had ever seen. Later on, my interest in dinosaurs grew more because of Pink Fong's "Dinosaurs A to Z" and all of their other dinosaur songs. I would listen to them over and over, and somehow those songs inspired me to learn more about all the dinosaurs I could. Out of all the dinosaurs, the Ankylosaurus stuck with me the most. I chose the Ankylosaurus to be my favorite dinosaur simply because I liked how they looked like giant Armadillos with a war hammer attached to their tails. As I got older, I started to learn more about them, and my reasons for liking them changed a little. They started to seem like me behaviorally. They usually tended to keep to themselves and often displayed a "Don't start nothing, it won't be nothing." kind of attitude. So, when someone did try to start problems with them, that's when that clubbed tail comes into play. Now, I'm not saying I'm swinging hammers at people, but I learned to be relentless when it came to the defense of myself and those, whom I care about. I'm pretty laid back and would rather observe things rather than jump into the middle of them. Learning to keep my cool helped me build my own kind of emotional armor, yet I can still be rather stubborn and passionate when I need to be. I would never source out a fight, but I definitely like knowing that I have a metaphorical tail club to rely on when things get serious. So, what started as just an infatuation from six year old me, eventually became something I connected with. I'm glad to say that I never grew out of my favorite dinosaur, I grew into it.

Growing up with my mom as a single parent taught me lessons I did not always realize I was learning. From a young age, I became resilient, observant, responsible, and understanding. My elders and teachers often told me I had an “old soul” and was wise beyond my years. As I got older, I realized this came from noticing when people were struggling, understanding their behavior, and recognizing my own patterns so I could grow. Watching my mother raise four children showed me how much strength and sacrifice it takes to provide for a family. I saw private moments when things became overwhelming and she would break down, but she always found a way to pull herself together and keep going. She taught me that being strong does not mean never struggling. It means learning from those struggles and continuing forward. I also spent much of my after-school time and summers with my grandmother, helping care for her and her five dogs. This taught me patience, responsibility, consistency, and compassion. My grandmother also taught me the value of listening and learning from others. These experiences prepared me for adulthood and college. Pursuing a degree in Metalsmithing has taught me to manage responsibilities, handle setbacks, and keep going when things become difficult. In metalsmithing, failure is part of the process. Pieces break, designs fail, and sometimes hours of work do not turn out as expected. I have learned to try again instead of giving up. Over the last three years, I have built a community through my major, campus job, events, and residence hall. I try to encourage others because I know how much support matters. My experiences taught me that resilience means growing through hardships, helping others, and continuing forward.

For many lifetimes, art has always been used as a way to unify the world. It opens the world to different perspectives and allows others deeper understanding one another and how each of our life experiences could be so different yet, join us together in relatability. Through sculpture and jewelry, I have the opportunity to contribute something meaningful to the world. While I know its probable that one persons' work isn't enough to solve global issues, it can still make a positive impact on others and introduce them to different ways of thinking, feeling, and expressing themselves in a way that helps showcase their originality. Sculpture allows me to create physical forms that communicate my emotions and ideas and portray my life experiences. Sculpture helps me form a story that I wasn't always able to relay through words. I often make work that inspires its viewers to pause and reflect the possible point of views or intention behind each piece. No matter how personal a work of art may be, interpretation will always be a varying subject to those who come across it. It holds the potential to move the viewer on a deeper and personal level. Jewelry on the other hand, offers a glimpse of a more personal connection between the work and I. Jewelry is typically something that becomes apart of a persons daily life, so its often tied to memories and aspects of identity. Through jewelry, I can create works that allows the wearer to display important aspects of their individuality and identity to make the jewelry more than just decoration. Even if my work does not change the world on a grand scale, it can still change individual lives. Sometimes making one person feel understood and represented is enough. Small moments of community and connection can affect many communities in ways we may never fully see. By creating unconventional, thoughtful, and personal pieces, I can inspire others to embrace their own uniqueness. Inspiring authenticity can have a broader impact on the world, creating work that sparks connection and encourages self-expression to enhance the value of individuality to make a more genuine world.