Have you ever heard of the anime about a duck who likes ballet? In the vast realm of anime series, there exists a gem that personally raises the bar of conventional storytelling, and it's caught my heart with its mesmerizing blend of fantasy, ballet, and profound narrative depth. "Princess Tutu," is an anime series that unfolds like a delicate ballet, has etched its place in the hearts of this enthusiast as a spellbinding tale that resonates with the soul. At its core, "Princess Tutu" is an emotional symphony, a visual storytelling that weaves threads of destiny, magic, and self-discovery. The series follows the journey of a duck turned into a girl named Ahiru, or Duck in the dubbed version, whose destiny becomes intertwined with a twist on the classic tale of Swan Lake. As she transforms into the elegant and enchanting Princess Tutu, the audience is swept away into a world where the boundaries between reality and fantasy blur. One of my favorite aspects of "Princess Tutu" lies in its ability to blend the art of ballet with a rich narrative seamlessly. Although I practiced ballet in my younger years, I didn't believe ballet would have any importance to me or my passions. The ballet sequences, choreographed with precision and grace, elevate the storytelling to new heights. Each dance becomes a poignant expression of the characters' emotions, conveying a depth of feeling that transcends mere words. To put an idea of what these dances mean to the characters, one of the earliest dances is between Duck and an anteater ballerina - appropriately named "Anteaterina". Anteaterina dances in offense, spinning continuously and quickly. This repetition and static dance create jagged rocks and sandy winds around her. Duck isn't able to dance through hers until she understands Anteaterina's perspective of being told she will never dance as well as others. Once Duck dances with Anteaterina so she can dance without worry, it shows the freeing nature of ballet, allowing negative feelings to transform into expressive movements. The integration of classical music, coupled with the fluidity of animated ballet, creates a similar theatrical resonance as live ballet would. The characters in "Princess Tutu" are not mere archetypes but vessels of profound complexity. Ahiru's transformation, for example, from a humble duck to the ethereal Princess Tutu is a metaphor for the universal journey of self-discovery and empowerment, a common theme from its inspiration "Swan Lake". The characters grapple with themes of destiny, free will, and the transformative power of love, adding layers of emotional depth that resonate with viewers of all ages. The series challenges preconceived notions of traditional anime storylines and is still able to balance suspense, action, and reflection. Beyond its narrative of a girl restoring her love interest to himself again through ballet, "Princess Tutu" stands as a testament to the timeless power of storytelling. It reminds us that stories can shape destinies, rewrite fates, and unlock the latent potential within each of us. The series encourages viewers to embrace their narratives, acknowledge the strength within, and dance to the rhythm of their hearts. I could choose many classic animes for this essay prompt. "Spirited Away" or "Demon Slayer" might be the anime chosen by the winner. But in my mind, "Princess Tutu" is an underrated gem. It celebrates the magic inherent in storytelling, the beauty of self-discovery, and the transformative power of love. It leaves an indelible mark on the hearts of those who embark on this enchanting journey, and rewatching it over and over again only enforces that reflection of the viewer's personal self-discovery and empowerment in their destiny.

My name is Sara Joshi but I go by Anjali. I'm an 18-year-old high school senior at Western School of Technology and Environmental Science, under the magnet of Culinary Arts. However, I've been doing an internship with the Graphic Print and Design magnet for my senior year, since August 2022. I have been interested in artistic expressions such as comedy, culinary art, writing, painting, and so on for up to 8 years. Since middle school, I've been honing in on Digital Art. I've developed a strong passion for specifically Character Design and Storyboard Animation. I hope I can use my skills to work for an Animated Film company such as Pixar, Dreamworks, and Sony Animations. But in the meantime, I plan on attending Stevenson University for Graphic Design, minoring in Film and Moving Images. I've always connected to the community that raised me. Kids Making A Difference, for example, was one of my proudest moments in giving back. Our organization wanted to prove that regardless of age, we would still be able to make changes, and help others. Someone can always make a difference regardless of their age, race, gender, and more. Ratatouille, for example, was the token of my childhood - as it probably was with many others my age. When I watched a rat become a chef, defying expectations and disbelief, I felt a spark happen. I wanted to give people something to chew on as Ego did with Remi's ratatouille. I want to cause that same spark in the next generation. After experiencing the Culinary field, I realized my true passion wasn't in food for the stomach, but food for the eyes. I see children's films as something that can change the course of a life. The future generations' morals and exposure to situations with solutions are key in their childhood, for it affects every choice they make in the future. I want to make a change in the future generations to make good choices for themselves and others, intertwining education with an interesting and emotional story. I've found that art is fluid; it can mean painting, writing, sculpting, composing or anything that uses skill, creativity and imagination. I want to be an animator/character designer and with both, I need to be able to tell a story visually. The stories I want to tell are educational and fun, teaching the younger generations about the mistakes that can be made, but knowing there are solutions to them. It is the task of the author or producer to show which way is wrong and which way is right. Words can be much more profound when given visual context. Being an artist allows me to assist that producer who decides what is right and wrong and how the scene portrays it. With the power of words and visuals, I can put that concept and moral onto paper. I will always aim for my characters to demonstrate diversity, emotions and changes are all normal. I can create stories and characters that everyone can relate to and enjoy. If everyone can learn positive lessons from my work, from birth to old age, or even the spark of an idea, then I know I'm making an impact. The uploads of artwork are pieces that are reminiscent (but abstract versions) of the 7 stages of grief. I felt it would give you more food for your eyes, especially showing my variety of works.

“NO, several means seven! I FAILED!” I sobbed and wailed in my high-pitched voice, virtually silent to the world, excluding a dog perhaps. My art class was loudly shuffling to line up at the door, all excited to go to recess. Meanwhile, I sat in my seat, tears dripping down my face, with Ms. Erin kneeling next to my chair. “No, no Anjali,” she spoke in a soft tone. “Several means more than one, and you drew three circles! See? You didn’t fail at all.” Ms. Erin stood up and walked away for a moment, leaving me to look at the line as people held their papers. Even a toddler could see that the rest of the class had drawn seven circles. She’s mistaken, lying to save face I considered. She returned within a few moments with a sheet of the cheap brown paper towels every elementary school has, and asked me to blow my nose. The paper scratched at my nostrils, painful but did the job. She tossed the paper into the trashcan next to me and held up my paper to eye level. “It doesn’t matter what everyone else does. You’ve put more effort into these three circles, and I personally think they’re the best three in the class.” My eyes no longer were welling with tears, the validation was a welcomed comfort. Ms. Erin took me to the line and handed me my paper. “You’re going to make quality art when you grow up.” As I walked out of the class and followed the line, I looked at my paper and circles. How did everyone else draw seven? Blasphemy, I would’ve thought if I knew the word. Looking back, the “circles” were more appropriately polygons, ovals at best. But the crayon I had used was put to good work. The lines were bold and deep in the paper, and they filled the page completely without overlapping. I went home and set the drawing up on my fridge, newly proud of my work. Because it was quality art. I’m thankful my teacher talked to me about my artistic perspective. I was certainly not fast at making circles then. But I put effort into those three circles, more effort than I would’ve with seven. I learned that the number of circles correlated with how much effort went into each one. The fewer circles, the more quality time spent with them. In the present, I tend to spend copious amounts of time on something I’m passionate about making it perfect, but when I have a big project like a game or animation, I tend to hone my problem-solving skills, finding effective ways to finish faster. My image of myself also depends on areas I’ve put more quality to. Is my physique something I should focus on? My personality? Both? How can I distribute time to them? What can I do to make myself more valuable as a human being by my own definition? After learning how society treats people like me, women like me, and mixed-race families like mine, I have an unconscious social preference. I naturally gravitate to people who think character is important. I naturally deviate from people who think numbers are everything. What’s the point of personal image, work ethic, relationships, etc. if I’m not going to push the areas I know I need to improve on? I’ll strive to be a quality person in several areas, not a person who’s only a little good at everything. I’d rather draw three really good circles.

A woman who works, lives, and breathes for the happiness of herself and her family, and the future generation's spark of education through her creative animation media.

"I hate reading. You're telling me I have to imagine the story? Aren't the authors meant to do that for me? I might as well wait for a good book to be made into a movie and then watch it on the big screen." I scoffed at the idea of reading something with no pictures, suggested by my middle school Literature teacher. Frankly, I hated reading something that was all text. The most complex books I had read at the time were Tinkerbell adventure books that still had pictures in almost every chapter. Mrs. Sprinn knew I had a complicated relationship with books - anytime she would assign one, I simply watched the movie instead of reading the book. And as a result, on most quizzes, I had inaccurate adaptations. So when she suggested I go to the library and pick out a book myself, I had one main objection. "What's the point in using my imagination when I could just watch?" Mrs. Sprinn - by the powers of teacher tenacity - could handle my snarky comment, and replied, "So you can watch it for free." I decided on The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle for my book begrudgingly - after all, I certainly wasn't going to take the other options of Pride and Prejudice or The Hobbit Trilogy. As I read Charlotte's story, I found it extremely difficult to envision the faces of all the characters and ship. I was so quickly infuriated that by the second chapter, I slammed it onto my bed and went to my mom. "I need your highlighters." "Oh, why?" "It is vital for me to not massively flunk my next quiz." My mother swiftly gave me the highlighters knowing my grades were terrible. Using the highlighters, I drew what I believed the characters looked like. Charlotte had hot pink hair with a green dress. The Capitan had neon yellow hair and a blue shirt with blue pants. I tacked it onto the wall and continued to read. Every sentence or so, I'd look up and imagine the characters moving to what I had written. I noticed Charlotte's dress is more white than green, and her hair is browner than hot pink. Over time, I fixed the characters to my interpretation of their descriptions from the novel. Towards the end of reading the novel, my head wasn't bobbing up and down from the book to the wall anymore. I was suddenly able to see the characters in the back of my brain acting as they did in the book. And like the movies, it was vividly epic. Mrs. Sprinn was very satisfied with my sudden increase in reading and literature. I read every day and grasped the understanding of plot interpretation and meaning. But I was proud of myself for a slightly different reason. I was able to see why my imagination was so important to reading. And now I use it every time I read, and equally when I write my poems. But I still find one thing infuriating - Charlotte isn't on the big screen. I've made it my life goal to become a character designer and storyboard artist in the hopes of bringing impactful stories to life on the big screen. Not because I want people to pay to skip their imagination, but because I want to spark the imagination in storytelling everyone has inside their hearts. There will always be stories to tell, but it's the interpretations of our minds that truly bring them to life. I suppose I didn't hate reading; I hated being unable to spark the image.

Is it stereotypical for me to love art as much as Baltimore loves crabs? I'm a born and raised Baltimorean. Baltimore already has several stereotypes - and no, I do not like crabs. But, the most humorless belief is the amount of violence depicted in media like The Wire. But I've never watched it. I was watching the fish in the Natural Aquarium at the Harbor - drawing them in my sketchbook and always showing them to my teachers who said I need to keep drawing things. I was watching the trees in my bike rides around the friendly suburbs - where in the summer are strikingly vibrant palettes of Emerald and Shamrock, then beautiful shades of Scarlet and Tuscany in the fall. I was admiring the street art that you can find on almost every building, all telling a story or expressing a belief. How is a place so bursting with charm, color, and creativity seen as violent? I see a city of passion. The same passion inside anyone who puts their mind to it. I want to bring that same creativity and energy to the table of animation. Animation is already bursting with new ideas every day. Growing up surrounded by art, I've grown accustomed to being more attracted to fields with outlets to express myself. Much like the street art, I see every day, or the trees when they blossom in the spring. Who wouldn't want to embrace that chaotic beauty? While I've already taken several classes in character animation and screenwriting, I still want more. Animation and Digital Art are such diverse fields, which many paths to choose from. I'll need to know what those paths are, and when can swap from one to another. I want to learn everything I can and be as diverse in my options as possible. There will always be an obstacle - but there will always be a way to cross it. I need those options to find ways around challenges as I contribute to the artworks I dream of. I don't plan on working alone. Working in a team combines not only my few hundred ideas but the thousands of others a team has combined. To create movies for the next generation of children to enjoy. To cover topics that are underappreciated, and underrepresented. Challenges that have yet to be taught to the younger generations. Movies are a medium for both creativity and education to paint harmonically. Showing children how to react in stressful situations, how to treat strangers and family, and how their not alone in their experiences. I want to put out into the digital world animated films. Films that evoke validation to the deserving demographics and topics. The art of film and animation can and will spark the child within everyone, like the one inside me. The one who strives in a city that is filled with life and love. Sparked by the artists and teachers surrounding her, encouraging her to move forward with her dreams. No matter what obstacles or stereotypes I face, I still love my hometown. Baltimore raised me into who I am today - an artist, through and through. Films and Animation are my passion, my outlet for creativity - my own Baltimore. And while I create what I love to create, I'll have the time to order some crabs...because I love crabs.

I called him "Mr. Old Jerk Face" as a child. But I've learned his name is Carl, so I will sadly not be calling him my way better name. Usually, the heroes in movies are young, strong, and ambitious. A long life ahead of them. However, a short square-shaped man with a fickle personality isn't what most consider to be a protagonist in Disney films. Due to his loss of Ellie, Carl lives alone, surrounding himself with keepsakes. He isn't able to accept her passing. In Disney movies, especially recent ones, death is something that's acknowledged as an accepted constant, outside of dramatic scenes. But in Up, Carl is heavily affected by death and has trouble acknowledging it. He faces intense grief with a selfish motive to live in the past. Carl decides to launch his house up with hundreds of balloons into the sky, to visit Paradise Falls - Ellie's dream adventure. Although ambitious, he took his "Ellie", the house, with him. Then there's Russell. Russell is very similar to young Carl. He likes exploring, he's wholesome, and most importantly, a child. Carl is overwhelmed by these attributes, reminders of his childhood when he met Ellie. Carl reacts by constantly berating Russell's naivety. However, the conversations between them are when the most character development can be seen with Carl. Russell doesn't have the best family life. While not confirmed, Carl might've had a difficult childhood too, considering his quiet nature. This was a deep bonding moment for Carl. At his lowest point, Carl learns Ellie wanted him to let her go. In order to save Russell, he first lets go of the keepsakes. After some action scenes, Carl lets the house float away, along with his attachment to Ellie. He fills in for Russell's father's spot at his Boy Scout ceremony and passes on Ellie's pin to him, completing his transformation. I'm surprised young me saw his difference from the rest. Carl is an extremely relatable example of metamorphosis and self-sacrifice. It shows best when Carl says "Don't swing around so much kid." in a hypothetical of holding Russell and dropping him by accident. But in the end on the blimp, he jokingly says it again, this time holding not only Russell but also Dug and Kevin. Carl has changed, found the strength to save his new family. He closes his story with Ellie, and starts new adventures.

I think connecting with your community should be a top priority when comes to clubs and acitivites. I take great joy in knowing I am bringing people together in lots of my clubs. I've been in the Wolverine Gaming Society at my school since I was a freshman. We normally play RPGs, and improving conversation with initial strangers was at first difficult. But now as the President of the club for my senior year, I watch others who were once in my place and encourage them to socialize and make friends with those who have common interests. I personally believe Dungeons and Dragons is an amazing icebreaker for many shy people because it uses imagination and social skills for maximum investment. Being a Dungeon Master (DM - Running D&D campaigns) also is very rewarding, because you control the topic of conversation, and watch the amusing quarrels. I quite literally see strangers become friends within minutes of playing, it's beautiful. I also have the pleasure of being Treasurer of the National Art Honor Society this year. Artists tend to be more reserved and introverted, but NAHS combines community service with art as the medium. Since I'm treasurer though, I get to hear new and old members' project inspirations. I always strive to make as many of them a reality, and when they can't be we still applaud the creative minds of the members who participate with such passion. This year's future is still undetermined, but we've already established that we'll be making sensory dolls for cancer patients, pet collars to advocate "adopt don't shop", and murals for our school to advocate for diversity. I want to ensure everyone feels like they've contributed to the greater whole, no matter how little or how much. Community starts with trust and connections, losing them would lose the community. In addition, I'm the Co-Leader of the Mindfulness Club, where we encourage attendees to take brain breaks and find ways of expressing their emotions/feelings in healthy ways, such as drawing, meditating, and helping others. I strongly believe knowing how to handle different emotions in ways that validate the emotion while not hurting others is a very healthy skill to learn. It's good to practice self-care especially when school and work get stressful. Hence I always promote the idea that self-care and expression are basic human needs that further bring us together. While being President of the Yearbook club, I realized how much community really matters for yearbook production. Everyone needs to have proper connections because we wanted everyone to be happy with as much as we could make. Pictures, designs, and quotes, all mattered to make the whole school happy to buy yearbooks and connect with classmates. Outside of those clubs, I've participated in others where people of different interests come together and work towards a better future. It's very endearing knowing that people want to be in these clubs with me not for the hours or time filling, but for the memories, especially seniors. We want to help the community that brought us to our school and gives back. I can't thank my school enough for having its own community of people who want to help others.

I want to show how natural diversity and change shouldn't be avoided. Things happen whether we like it or not, but what matters is how we handle those changes, preferably in a healthy way. Art is a broad term, it can mean painting, writing, sculpting, composing, or anything that employs skills, creativity, and imagination. If anyone wanted to be an artist, they probably are already an artist in their own special field. Personally, I want to become a storyboard artist/character designer, and with both, I need to be able to tell a story visually. The stories I want to tell are educational and entertaining, teaching younger generations about mistakes that can be made, but knowing things will be okay in the end. Movies and the like are great for showing real-life situations as fiction. It gives the viewer comfort that the dramatic version of a real problem can't affect them like that, but it helps them self-reflect on how they've been handling similar issues. Even children who haven't gone through any hardships yet can learn from movies and books different ways to handle situations. It's up to the author or producer to show which way is wrong and right. With the art of storyboarding, I can be that person who decides what's right and wrong, and how the scene will represent that. Maybe the words were said to make another character cry and run out of the room. Maybe they say the exact thing that makes the other character hug them in forgiveness. With a pencil and a postcard, I can draw that scene, and represent the story that the script wants to write. Words can be so much deeper when given visual context. I aim for my characters to show human emotions and prove diversity, emotions, and change are all normal. How to handle tough situations, when to ask for help, when you go too far, and so on. Currently, I'm taking a screenwriting class to ensure I can understand the relationship between what you see and what you hear. If I can master this, I'll show viewers a story that can make them laugh or cry. I can create stories and characters that everyone can relate to, and everyone can enjoy. If everyone can learn positive life lessons from my work, from when they're born to when they're old, then I'll know I'm making a difference.

My personal favorite piece of art would be "Girl with a Balloon". Bansky themselves being a hidden identity is already something that's extremely intriguing, but they're also impressively smart. Before getting into the true reasons for my fondness for this artwork, I will talk about its actual appearance, since that itself is a spectacle. The original graffiti had the quote "There Is Always Hope" which I believe is in reference to the painting. I believe it's a message to the viewer to keep hoping even when it's a long shot. The girl is clearly reaching for her balloon, but it's likely she won't grasp it in time. She's still hoping to do so, however, as her face doesn't show fret. She looks at peace with the situation, but still reaches for her goal. Now, I absolutely adore plot twists. But when a Bansky is shredded in front of an audience literally perfectly timed? That's art. Not just the physical art, but the art of timing - in my opinion, comedic timing - that shocks everyone in the room. Bansky was bold. I am inspired by that action taken, the risk to shred priceless work. It's not even about the actual piece itself to me, it's about Banksy's motivations and execution of one of the biggest news stories in 2018. One of the biggest contemplations I had about the event was this; why does Banky encourage holding onto hope, but then shred his own image of it? The initial point of shredding was to acknowledge the art industry, but why this message of hope? The fact this piece still has me hooked on learning more about Banksy and more about philosophical ideals is enough for me to say it's my favorite.

I've been acting positively for my community for a large amount of my life. When I was in 3rd grade, I remember we had to do a simple project on someone we looked up to. My teacher said, "Except, Anjali gets to do Jim Henson, we all know that." Was I the only Jim Henson fanatic in school? Yes, unfortunately. But, I wouldn't have understood compassion like I do today if I hadn't. Jim's work put inspiration into my head, inspiration to help. My mother saw my interest in being kind and took me with her to a food drive for the homeless. Unfortunately, I was not allowed to partake due to my age. But why give up? I ran a food drive and necessities drive with my mother and friends and family. We donated $8,000 worth of supplies for Kids Making a Difference. In middle school, I didn't do many clubs. I spent most of my time volunteering at the Baltimore Humane Society. For 2+ years I gave future pets the love they deserved. Now in high school, I still am very active in my community. As the current Treasurer of the National Art Honor Society, I find new ways the club can both profit as well as support our community through forms of art. More recently, I donated half of my hair to Locks of Love to support the cancer-affected community. Nowadays, I go to school and think, "Who needs a pick-me-up?" I will never know those animals I helped again, nor the homeless people, or the cancer patients I care for so much. But it's not about knowing them, it's about making their days, and our world more than "bearable". Nothing can compare to how it feels to support my community, from friends to strangers.

1. I deserve this scholarship because I have lots of experience. I made myself my own boss by working for an MLM company! In fact, please go to www.notarealwebsite.com and buy some of my limited-edition jeggings. Anyway, I'm also highly educated in the art of watching youtube videos for hours on end. It's a daunting task for most, but I still stand strong. 2. I plan to become a professional toaster when I grow up, no matter the education. Apparently, toast and bread aren't the same things? What's that about? I'll be going to the National Institute of Toasters in Oklahoma, if possible. However, the tuition is $180,000. I indeed need this scholarship. If I study abroad, I plan to go to France to toast some baguettes daily. 3. While I've been through many obstacles in my life - like being born at such a young age - the most memorable is when I had to reach for a remote with my cat in my lap. It was traumatic when after spending over 5 minutes slowly shifting closer to the remote that she jumped out of my lap. My legs were so cold at that moment. I don't think I've ever fully recovered from it, but I'm still standing today.

Superfoods have been subtly in my life since I was a toddler. My family has Indian heritage, and from that comes different recipes. A vast amount of the Indian recipes my after uses involve superfoods. Ginger, garlic, turmeric, teas, and flax were all part of what my dad put on the table at dinner. These superfoods themselves are very healthy for my metabolism and lifestyle. But they also give me a personal connection with them. Every time I take a bit of something involving ginger or green tea, my memory goes back to my father. It reminds me of the scene from Ratatouille, where the critic is reminded of his mother's cooking. I have several favorite superfoods. For general taste, I adore garlic. The taste is like melted gold. Garlic turns anything into something savory and delicious. For my personal "acquired" taste, I have grown a fondness for Jackfruit. The particular reason is that I'm enrolled in the Culinary Arts Magnet at my school. We've used Jackfruit more than once to make vegan alternatives. Not only is jackfruit underrated in taste. It gets a bad rap for the confusion with durian, which is much worse smelling compared to jackfruit. Now at home, I ask to make Pulled Jackfruit (like pulled pork), because it was amazingly good. My culinary experience, combined with my Indian heritage gives me insight into which foods affect my body. Of course, every diet is different for different metabolisms. Throughout different phases of my diet, I've come to my newest meal plan. I'm currently incorporating coconuts, salmon, avocados, and dragonfruit into my daily diet. I love dragonfruit as a snack on a hot day. I also try to eat coconut flesh at least once a week, but I love drinking coconut water any day. Salmon is something I eat on special occasions to feel a bit fancier, but still watching my health. My favorite food in the world is in fact sushi, and I indulge in sushi whenever I have a bad day or need some comfort food. When it comes to superfoods, I not only have a intellectual knowledge because of my education. I also have a strong personal connection and memories that are thanks to the superfoods that have been with me my whole life. If it weren't for my dad, I would've never gotten interested in Culinary Arts, or wanted to learn about superfoods. Now, I want to incorporate superfoods into my friends lives, and encourage others to eat these beneficial recipes I use frequently.