Growing up, I was a victim, now a survivor, of child abuse and neglect. Throughout all of the hardships and trials of my life that this circumstance has presented me, I've always had art. Art, simply put, is my lifeline. When I had nobody to turn to, I could find solace in creating new worlds with crayons and markers. When I didn't know how to mourn my mother and the childhood I would never have, I could fill my page with the feelings that once filled my head. To this day, my youth affects me. However, it is no longer a weight I carry that slowly drowns me, but rather a spark that fuels my creativity in the world of the arts. As an artist, I crave to spread inspiration and curiosity through my work more than anything. I have had many experiences sharing my art through various competitions, galleries, expositions, and more. Nothing can ever compare to the feeling I get when people are genuinely happy to see my work, when they discuss it, and especially when they exclaim how I helped inspire them. My mission to share art is multi-dimensional. I hope one day to have my own exhibitions, my own shop, even a gallery, but ultimately I want to share my art in the classroom. However, to achieve these goals, I need to pursue a form of higher education. I am currently on the path to becoming an art educator, continuing to grow my passion for art of all mediums through the coming generations. My experiences growing up have provided me with a unique perspective on many children's current realities that go overlooked by many educators. This gap between many educators and students with a life that I once shared is not due to neglect or any ill intentions, but rather a fundamental gap in understanding. Even with the utmost care and attention, many educators do not have a grasp on the realities these children are living. I hope to bridge this gap between myself and my future students. My art and experiences will help me to truly understand my students, allowing me to have a special influence on their day-to-day lives. I want to foster an environment in my classroom that allows them to process emotions, be themselves unapologetically, and shed their daily burdens, fully immersing themselves in the world of art. Many of these children don't know what it's like to have a space to be themselves. Art is medicine like no other, healing parts of the mind that might otherwise go overlooked. Thus far, my journey as an artist has mostly been about me: my accomplishments, my talents, my awards, and my galleries. But as I continue my educational journey, leading to the seat in the front of the classroom, I want to turn the tables. My art and experiences will be passed on to my students, flaunting their accomplishments, showcasing their talents, and for all students, regardless of their passion for art or background, letting their true selves shine. That is my mission as an artist and educator.

Growing up, I was a victim, now survivor, of child abuse and neglect. Throughout all of the hardships of my life that this circumstance has presented me, I've always had art. Art, simply put, is my lifeline. When I had nobody to turn to, I could find solace in creating new worlds with crayons and markers. When I didn't know how to mourn my mother and the childhood I would never get, I could fill my page with the feelings that once filled my head. To this day, my youth affects me, but it's no longer a weight I carry, but rather a spark that fuels my creativity in the world of the arts. As an artist, I crave to spread inspiration and curiosity through my work more than anything. I have had many experiences sharing my art through various means, and nothing compares to the feeling I get when people are genuinely happy to see my work and when they exclaim how I helped inspire them. My mission to share art is multidimensional. I hope one day to have my own exhibitions, my own shop, but ultimately I want to share my art in the classroom; however, to achieve these goals, I need to pursue higher education. I am currently on the path to becoming an art educator, continuing to grow my passion for art through the coming generations. My experiences growing up have provided me with a unique perspective on many children's current realities that go overlooked by many educators, not due to neglect but from different perspectives. My art and experiences will help me to understand my students, allowing me to have a special influence on their day-to-day lives. I want to foster an environment in my classroom that allows them to process and let go of their burdens, immersing themselves in the world of art. Art is medicine like no other, healing parts of the mind that might otherwise go overlooked. Thus far, my journey as an artist has mostly been about me: my accomplishments, my talents, and my awards. However, as I continue my educational journey, leading to the seat in the front of the classroom, I want to turn the tables. My art and experiences will be passed onto my students, flaunting their accomplishments, showcasing their talents, for all students, regardless of their passion for art or background, letting their true selves shine.

Growing up, I was a victim, now survivor, of child abuse and neglect. Throughout all of the hardships and trials of my life that this circumstance has presented me, I've always had art. Art, simply put, is my life-line. When I had nobody to turn to, I could find solace in creating new worlds with crayons and markers. When I didn't know how to mourn my mother and the childhood I would never have, I could fill my page with the feelings that once filled my head. To this day, my youth affects me. However, it is no longer a weight I carry that slowly drowns me, but rather a spark that fuels my creativity in the world of the arts. As an artist, I crave to spread inspiration and curiosity through my work more than anything. I have had many experiences sharing my art through various competitions, galleries, expositions and more. Nothing can ever compare to the feeling I get when people are genuinely happy to see my work, when they discuss it, and especially when they exclaim how I helped inspire them. My mission to share art is multi-dimensional. I hope one day to have my own exhibitions, my own shop, even a gallery, but ultimately I want to share my art in the classroom. however in order to achieve these goals, I need to pursue a form of higher education. I am currently on the path to becoming an art educator, continuing to grow my passion for art of all mediums through the coming generations. My experiences growing up have provided me with a unique perspective on many children's current realities that go overlooked by many educators. This gap between many educators and students with a life that I once shared is not due to neglect or any ill intentions, but rather a fundamental gap of understanding. Even with the up-most care and attention, many educators do not have a grasp on the realities these children are living. I hope to bridge this gap between myself and my future students. My art and experiences will help me to truly understand my students, allowing me to have a special influence in their day-to-day lives. I want to foster an environment in my classroom that allows them to process emotions, be themselves unapologetically, and shed their daily burdens, fully immersing themselves in the world of art. As many of these children don't know what it's like to have a space to be themselves. Art is medicine like no other, healing parts of the mind that might otherwise go overlooked. Thus far, my journey as an artist has mostly been about me: my accomplishments, my talents, my awards, and my galleries. But as I continue my educational journey, leading to the seat in the front of the classroom, I want to turn the tables. My art and experiences will be passed onto my students, flaunting their accomplishments, showcasing their talents, and for all students, regardless of their passion for art or background, letting their true selves shine. That is my mission as an artist.

Being a kid sucks. It's a slur of confusion, emotions, and a constant tug-of-war between fitting in and standing out. Growing up is a universal challenge, but for some children, life deals an especially tough hand. I've been one of those children, and I know firsthand the pain of neglect and faced challenges that no child should endure. But within those struggles lies an opportunity – a chance to transform pain into purpose, confusion into clarity, and isolation into connection. As a future educator, I'm determined to be the difference I needed when I was young, to make this challenging experience a little brighter for the next generation of kids. Growing up, I was gifted with some of life's most challenging circumstances. I felt like a third-party player in my own life, my story unfolding in front of me with no way to control it and nobody to turn to. Being adopted, while a change, brought its own set of struggles, dictating my sense of self. These early experiences permeated every aspect of my being, including school. It created a great divide between myself, my peers, and especially my teachers. I felt misunderstood, like an alien, where teachers couldn't fully grasp my reality. I know thousands of other children felt, and continue to feel this way. This disconnect wasn't due to a lack of care or effort on their part, but rather a fundamental gap in understanding. I'm driven by a powerful purpose, to bridge this gap for all students. In my classroom, I want to create a sanctuary where children can shed their burdens and rediscover the joy of being young. My class will be a break in their day, a unique space where they can breathe, explore, and simply be. Art has been my lifeline, my voice, and my story – and now, I'm eager to share this transformative power with my students. I'll open doors to endless creative possibilities, offering them a palette of mediums to express themselves freely and find solace. By sharing my own journey and passion, I hope to bridge the gap between teacher and student, fostering genuine connections that heal and inspire. Seeing that spark of creativity ignite in a child's eyes, would heal a part of me, connecting deep within to my younger self. It would be a beautiful reminder that my experiences weren't in vain – they've led me to that moment. Where I can hold a child's hand, share my love for art, and be the friend and mentor I once needed. That's why I want to be an art educator. Despite those around me disapproving, wanting me to go for “more”. What is more? There is nothing more than human connection. Art is the ultimate way of expression and connection, and children are the future. Even in my year of being a teaching intern for an elementary art class, I have never felt the way I did in that classroom. I continue to chase that feeling. I will mend the gap with my kids, maybe not with world reforming movements, or a big business, but with paintbrushes, crayons, and my own tears.

Being a kid sucks. It's a slur of confusion, emotions, and a constant tug-of-war between fitting in and standing out. Growing up is a universal challenge, but for some children, life deals an especially tough hand. I've been one of those children, and I know firsthand the pain of neglect and faced challenges that no child should endure. But within those struggles lies an opportunity – a chance to transform pain into purpose, confusion into clarity, and isolation into connection. As a future educator, I'm determined to be the difference I needed when I was young, to make this challenging experience a little brighter for the next generation of kids. Growing up, I was gifted with some of life's most challenging circumstances. I felt like a third-party player in my own life, my story unfolding in front of me with no way to control it and nobody to turn to. Being adopted, while a change, brought its own set of struggles, dictating my sense of self. These early experiences permeated every aspect of my being, including school. It created a great divide between myself, my peers, and especially my teachers. I felt misunderstood, like an alien, where teachers couldn't fully grasp my reality. I know thousands of other children felt, and continue to feel this way. This disconnect wasn't due to a lack of care or effort on their part, but rather a fundamental gap in understanding. I'm driven by a powerful purpose, to bridge this gap for all students. In my classroom, I want to create a sanctuary where children can shed their burdens and rediscover the joy of being young. My class will be a break in their day, a unique space where they can breathe, explore, and simply be. Art has been my lifeline, my voice, and my story – and now, I'm eager to share this transformative power with my students. I'll open doors to endless creative possibilities, offering them a palette of mediums to express themselves freely and find solace. By sharing my own journey and passion, I hope to bridge the gap between teacher and student, fostering genuine connections that heal and inspire. Seeing that spark of creativity ignite in a child's eyes, would heal a part of me, connecting deep within to my younger self. It would be a beautiful reminder that my experiences weren't in vain – they've led me to that moment. Where I can hold a child's hand, share my love for art, and be the friend and mentor I once needed. That's why I want to be an art educator. Despite those around me disapproving, wanting me to go for “more”. What is more? There is nothing more than human connection. Art is the ultimate way of expression and connection, and children are the future. Even in my year of being a teaching intern for an elementary art class, I have never felt the way I did in that classroom. I continue to chase that feeling. I will mend the gap with my kids, maybe not with world reforming movements, or a big business, but with paintbrushes, crayons, and my own tears.

Being a kid sucks. It's a slur of confusion, emotions, and a constant tug-of-war between fitting in and standing out. Growing up is a universal challenge, but for some children, life deals an especially tough hand. I've been one of those children, and I know firsthand the pain of neglect and faced challenges that no child should endure. But within those struggles lies an opportunity – a chance to transform pain into purpose, confusion into clarity, and isolation into connection. As a future educator, I'm determined to be the difference I needed when I was young, to make this challenging experience a little brighter for the next generation of kids. Growing up, I was gifted with some of life's most challenging circumstances. I felt like a third-party player in my own life, my story unfolding in front of me with no way to control it and nobody to turn to. Being adopted, while a change, brought its own set of struggles, dictating my sense of self. These early experiences permeated every aspect of my being, including school. It created a great divide between myself, my peers, and especially my teachers. I felt misunderstood, like an alien, where teachers couldn't fully grasp my reality. I know thousands of other children felt, and continue to feel this way. This disconnect wasn't due to a lack of care or effort on their part, but rather a fundamental gap in understanding. I'm driven by a powerful purpose, to bridge this gap for all students. In my classroom, I want to create a sanctuary where children can shed their burdens and rediscover the joy of being young. My class will be a break in their day, a unique space where they can breathe, explore, and simply be. Art has been my lifeline, my voice, and my story – and now, I'm eager to share this transformative power with my students. I'll open doors to endless creative possibilities, offering them a palette of mediums to express themselves freely and find solace. By sharing my own journey and passion, I hope to bridge the gap between teacher and student, fostering genuine connections that heal and inspire. Seeing that spark of creativity ignite in a child's eyes, would heal a part of me, connecting deep within to my younger self. It would be a beautiful reminder that my experiences weren't in vain – they've led me to that moment. Where I can hold a child's hand, share my love for art, and be the friend and mentor I once needed. That's why I want to be an art educator. Despite those around me disapproving, wanting me to go for “more”. What is more? There is nothing more than human connection. Art is the ultimate way of expression and connection, and children are the future. Even in my year of being a teaching intern for an elementary art class, I have never felt the way I did in that classroom. I continue to chase that feeling. I will mend the gap with my kids, maybe not with world reforming movements, or a big business, but with paintbrushes, crayons, and my own tears.

Being a kid sucks. It's a slur of confusion, emotions, and a constant tug-of-war between fitting in and standing out. Growing up is a universal challenge, but for some children, life deals an especially tough hand. I've been one of those children, and I know firsthand the pain of neglect and faced challenges that no child should endure. But within those struggles lies an opportunity – a chance to transform pain into purpose, confusion into clarity, and isolation into connection. As a future art educator, I'm determined to be the difference I needed when I was young, to make this challenging experience a little brighter for the next generation of kids. Growing up, I was gifted with some of life's most challenging circumstances. I felt like a third-party player in my own life, my story unfolding in front of me with no way to control it and nobody to turn to. Being adopted, while a change, brought its own set of struggles, dictating my sense of self. These early experiences permeated every aspect of my being, including school. It created a great divide between myself, my peers, and especially my teachers. I felt misunderstood, like an alien, where teachers couldn't fully grasp my reality. I know thousands of other children felt, and continue to feel this way. This disconnect wasn't due to a lack of care or effort on their part, but rather a fundamental gap in understanding. I'm driven by a powerful purpose, to bridge this gap for all students. In my classroom, I want to create a sanctuary where children can shed their burdens and rediscover the joy of being young. My class will be a break in their day, a unique space where they can breathe, explore, and simply be. Art has been my lifeline, my voice, and my story – and now, I'm eager to share this transformative power with my students. I'll open doors to endless creative possibilities, offering them a palette of mediums to express themselves freely and find solace. By sharing my own journey and passion, I hope to bridge the gap between teacher and student, fostering genuine connections that heal and inspire. Seeing that spark of creativity ignite in a child's eyes, would heal a part of me, connecting deep within to my younger self. It would be a beautiful reminder that my experiences weren't in vain – they've led me to that moment. Where I can hold a child's hand, share my love for art, and be the friend and mentor I once needed. That's why I want to be an art educator. Despite those around me disapproving, wanting me to go for “more”. What is more? There is nothing more than human connection. Art is the ultimate way of expression and connection, and children are the future. Even in my year of being a teaching intern for an elementary art class, I have never felt the way I did in that classroom. I continue to chase that feeling. I will mend the gap with my kids, maybe not with world reforming movements, or a big business, but with paintbrushes, crayons, and my own tears.

Being a kid sucks. It's a slur of confusion, emotions, and a constant tug-of-war between fitting in and standing out. Growing up is a universal challenge, but for some children, life deals an especially tough hand. I've been one of those children, and I know firsthand the pain of neglect and faced challenges that no child should endure. But within those struggles lies an opportunity – a chance to transform pain into purpose, confusion into clarity, and isolation into connection. As a future educator, I'm determined to be the difference I needed when I was young, to make this challenging experience a little brighter for the next generation of kids. Growing up, I was gifted with some of life's most challenging circumstances. I felt like a third-party player in my own life, my story unfolding in front of me with no way to control it and nobody to turn to. Being adopted, while a change, brought its own set of struggles, dictating my sense of self. These early experiences permeated every aspect of my being, including school. It created a great divide between myself, my peers, and especially my teachers. I felt misunderstood, like an alien, where teachers couldn't fully grasp my reality. I know thousands of other children felt, and continue to feel this way. This disconnect wasn't due to a lack of care or effort on their part, but rather a fundamental gap in understanding. I'm driven by a powerful purpose, to bridge this gap for all students. In my classroom, I want to create a sanctuary where children can shed their burdens and rediscover the joy of being young. My class will be a break in their day, a unique space where they can breathe, explore, and simply be. Art has been my lifeline, my voice, and my story – and now, I'm eager to share this transformative power with my students. I'll open doors to endless creative possibilities, offering them a palette of mediums to express themselves freely and find solace. By sharing my own journey and passion, I hope to bridge the gap between teacher and student, fostering genuine connections that heal and inspire. Seeing that spark of creativity ignite in a child's eyes, would heal a part of me, connecting deep within to my younger self. It would be a beautiful reminder that my experiences weren't in vain – they've led me to that moment. Where I can hold a child's hand, share my love for art, and be the friend and mentor I once needed. That's why I want to be an art educator. Despite those around me disapproving, wanting me to go for “more”. What is more? There is nothing more than human connection. Art is the ultimate way of expression and connection, and children are the future. Even in my year of being a teaching intern for an elementary art class, I have never felt the way I did in that classroom. I continue to chase that feeling. I will mend the gap with my kids, maybe not with world reforming movements, or a big business, but with paintbrushes, crayons, and my own tears.

Growing up, I was gifted with some of life's most challenging circumstances. I felt like a third-party player in my own life, my story unfolding in front of me with no way to control it and nobody to turn to. I was living in a drug filled, abusive, and neglectful house. Growing up my family would constantly toss me between friends and family, they were trying to avoid me being with my biological family longterm, leading to me never actually having a home. Eventually, the state caught on and gave my family an ultimatum. I was soon permanently placed with a member of my extended family, simply placed into another form of a neglectful household. Being adopted, while a change, brought its own set of struggles, dictating my sense of self. These early experiences permeated every aspect of my being, including school. It created a great divide between myself, my peers, and especially my teachers. I felt misunderstood, like an alien, where teachers couldn't fully grasp my reality. I know thousands of other children felt, and continue to feel this way. This disconnect wasn't due to a lack of care or effort on their part, but rather a fundamental gap in understanding. I'm driven by a powerful purpose, to bridge this gap for all students. In my classroom, I want to create a sanctuary where children can shed their burdens and rediscover the joy of being young. My class will be a break in their day, a unique space where they can breathe, explore, and simply be. Art has been my lifeline, my voice, and my story – and now, I'm eager to share this transformative power with my students. I'll open doors to endless creative possibilities, offering them a palette of mediums to express themselves freely and find solace. By sharing my own journey and passion, I hope to bridge the gap between teacher and student, fostering genuine connections that heal and inspire. Seeing that spark of creativity ignite in a child's eyes, would heal a part of me, connecting deep within to my younger self. It would be a beautiful reminder that my experiences weren't in vain – they've led me to that moment. Where I can hold a child's hand, share my love for art, and be the friend and mentor I once needed. That's why I want to be an art educator. Despite those around me disapproving, wanting me to go for “more”. What is more? There is nothing more than human connection. Art is the ultimate way of expression and connection, and children are the future. Even in my year of being a teaching intern for an elementary art class, I have never felt the way I did in that classroom. I continue to chase that feeling. I will mend the gap with my kids, maybe not with world reforming movements, or a big business, but with paintbrushes, crayons, and my own tears.

Being a kid sucks. It's a slur of confusion, emotions, and a constant tug-of-war between fitting in and standing out. Growing up is a universal challenge, but for some children, life deals an especially tough hand. I've been one of those children, and I know firsthand the pain of neglect and faced challenges that no child should endure. But within those struggles lies an opportunity – a chance to transform pain into purpose, confusion into clarity, and isolation into connection. As a future educator, I'm determined to be the difference I needed when I was young, to make this challenging experience a little brighter for the next generation of kids. Growing up, I was gifted with some of life's most challenging circumstances. I felt like a third-party player in my own life, my story unfolding in front of me with no way to control it and nobody to turn to. Being adopted, while a change, brought its own set of struggles, dictating my sense of self. These early experiences permeated every aspect of my being, including school. It created a great divide between myself, my peers, and especially my teachers. I felt misunderstood, like an alien, where teachers couldn't fully grasp my reality. I know thousands of other children felt, and continue to feel this way. This disconnect wasn't due to a lack of care or effort on their part, but rather a fundamental gap in understanding. I'm driven by a powerful purpose, to bridge this gap for all students. In my classroom, I want to create a sanctuary where children can shed their burdens and rediscover the joy of being young. My class will be a break in their day, a unique space where they can breathe, explore, and simply be. Art has been my lifeline, my voice, and my story – and now, I'm eager to share this transformative power with my students. I'll open doors to endless creative possibilities, offering them a palette of mediums to express themselves freely and find solace. By sharing my own journey and passion, I hope to bridge the gap between teacher and student, fostering genuine connections that heal and inspire. Seeing that spark of creativity ignite in a child's eyes, would heal a part of me, connecting deep within to my younger self. It would be a beautiful reminder that my experiences weren't in vain – they've led me to that moment. Where I can hold a child's hand, share my love for art, and be the friend and mentor I once needed. That's why I want to be an art educator. Despite those around me disapproving, wanting me to go for “more”. What is more? There is nothing more than human connection. Art is the ultimate way of expression and connection, and children are the future. Even in my year of being a teaching intern for an elementary art class, I have never felt the way I did in that classroom. I continue to chase that feeling. I will mend the gap with my kids, maybe not with world reforming movements, or a big business, but with paintbrushes, crayons, and my own tears.

Being a kid sucks. It's a slur of confusion, emotions, and a constant tug-of-war between fitting in and standing out. Growing up is a universal challenge, but for some children, life deals an especially tough hand. I've been one of those children, and I know firsthand the pain of neglect and faced challenges that no child should endure. But within those struggles lies an opportunity – a chance to transform pain into purpose, confusion into clarity, and isolation into connection. As a future educator, I'm determined to be the difference I needed when I was young, to make this challenging experience a little brighter for the next generation of kids. Growing up, I was gifted with some of life's most challenging circumstances. I felt like a third-party player in my own life, my story unfolding in front of me with no way to control it and nobody to turn to. Being adopted, while a change, brought its own set of struggles, dictating my sense of self. These early experiences permeated every aspect of my being, including school. It created a great divide between myself, my peers, and especially my teachers. I felt misunderstood, like an alien, where teachers couldn't fully grasp my reality. I know thousands of other children felt, and continue to feel this way. This disconnect wasn't due to a lack of care or effort on their part, but rather a fundamental gap in understanding. I'm driven by a powerful purpose, to bridge this gap for all students. In my classroom, I want to create a sanctuary where children can shed their burdens and rediscover the joy of being young. My class will be a break in their day, a unique space where they can breathe, explore, and simply be. Art has been my lifeline, my voice, and my story – and now, I'm eager to share this transformative power with my students. I'll open doors to endless creative possibilities, offering them a palette of mediums to express themselves freely and find solace. By sharing my own journey and passion, I hope to bridge the gap between teacher and student, fostering genuine connections that heal and inspire. Seeing that spark of creativity ignite in a child's eyes, would heal a part of me, connecting deep within to my younger self. It would be a beautiful reminder that my experiences weren't in vain – they've led me to that moment. Where I can hold a child's hand, share my love for art, and be the friend and mentor I once needed. That's why I want to be an art educator. Despite those around me disapproving, wanting me to go for “more”. What is more? There is nothing more than human connection. Art is the ultimate way of expression and connection, and children are the future. Even in my year of being a teaching intern for an elementary art class, I have never felt the way I did in that classroom. I continue to chase that feeling. I will mend the gap with my kids, maybe not with world reforming movements, or a big business, but with paintbrushes, crayons, and my own tears.

Growing up, I was a victim, now survivor, of child abuse and neglect. Throughout all of the hardships and trials of my life that this circumstance has presented me, I've always had art. Art, simply put, is my life line. When I had nobody to turn to, I could find solace in creating new worlds with crayons and markers. When I didn't know how to mourn my mother and the childhood I would never get, I could fill my page with the feelings that once filled my head. To this day, my youth affects me. But it is no longer a weight I carry, but rather a spark that fuels my creativity in the world of the arts. As an artist, I crave to spread inspiration and curiosity through my work more than anything. I have had many experiences sharing my art through various competitions, galleries, expositions and more. Nothing can ever compare to the feeling I get when people are genuinely happy to see my work, when they discuss it, and especially when they exclaim how I helped inspire them. My mission to share art is multidimensional. I hope one day to have my own exhibitions, my own shop, but ultimately I want to share my art in the classroom, however in order to achieve these goals, I need to achieve a form of higher education. I am currently on the path to becoming an art educator, continuing to grow my passion for art of all mediums through the coming generations. My experiences growing up have provided me with a unique perspective on many children's current realities that go overlooked by many educators. This gap between certain educators and students with a life that I once shared is not due to neglect, but rather a fundamental gap of understanding. I hope to bridge this gap between myself and my future students. My art and experiences will help me to truly understand my students, allowing me to have a special influence in their day-to-day lives. I want to foster an environment in my classroom that allows them to process emotions, be themselves unapologetically, and shed their daily burdens, fully immersing themselves in the world of art. Art is medicine like no other, healing parts of the mind that might otherwise go overlooked. Thus far, my journey as an artist has mostly been about me: my accomplishments, my talents, my awards, and my galleries. But as I continue my educational journey, leading to the seat in the front of the classroom, I want to turn the tables. My art and experiences will be passed onto my students, flaunting their accomplishments, showcasing their talents, and for all students, regardless of their passion for art or background, letting their true selves shine.

Being a kid sucks. It's a slur of confusion, emotions, and a constant tug-of-war between fitting in and standing out. Growing up is a universal challenge, but for some children, life deals an especially tough hand. I've been one of those children, and I know firsthand the pain of neglect and faced challenges that no child should endure. But within those struggles lies an opportunity – a chance to transform pain into purpose, confusion into clarity, and isolation into connection. As a future educator, I'm determined to be the difference I needed when I was young, to make this challenging experience a little brighter for the next generation of kids. Growing up, I was gifted with some of life's most challenging circumstances. I felt like a third-party player in my own life, my story unfolding in front of me with no way to control it and nobody to turn to. Being adopted, while a change, brought its own set of struggles, dictating my sense of self. These early experiences permeated every aspect of my being, including school. It created a great divide between myself, my peers, and especially my teachers. I felt misunderstood, like an alien, where teachers couldn't fully grasp my reality. I know thousands of other children felt, and continue to feel this way. This disconnect wasn't due to a lack of care or effort on their part, but rather a fundamental gap in understanding. I'm driven by a powerful purpose, to bridge this gap for all students. In my classroom, I want to create a sanctuary where children can shed their burdens and rediscover the joy of being young. My class will be a break in their day, a unique space where they can breathe, explore, and simply be. Art has been my lifeline, my voice, and my story – and now, I'm eager to share this transformative power with my students. I'll open doors to endless creative possibilities, offering them a palette of mediums to express themselves freely and find solace. By sharing my own journey and passion, I hope to bridge the gap between teacher and student, fostering genuine connections that heal and inspire. Seeing that spark of creativity ignite in a child's eyes, would heal a part of me, connecting deep within to my younger self. It would be a beautiful reminder that my experiences weren't in vain – they've led me to that moment. Where I can hold a child's hand, share my love for art, and be the friend and mentor I once needed. That's why I want to be an art educator. Despite those around me disapproving, wanting me to go for “more”. What is more? There is nothing more than human connection. Art is the ultimate way of expression and connection, and children are the future. Even in my year of being a teaching intern for an elementary art class, I have never felt the way I did in that classroom. I continue to chase that feeling. I will mend the gap with my kids, maybe not with world reforming movements, or a big business, but with paintbrushes, crayons, and my own tears.

Growing up, I was a victim, now survivor, of child abuse and neglect. Throughout all the hardships and trials of my life that this circumstance has presented me, I've always had art. Art, simply put, is my lifeline. When I had nobody to turn to, I could find solace in creating new worlds with crayons and markers. When I didn't know how to mourn my mother and the childhood I would never get, I could fill my page with the feelings that once filled my head. To this day, my youth affects me. It is no longer a weight I carry, but rather a spark that fuels my creativity in the world of the arts. As an artist, I crave to spread inspiration and curiosity through my work more than anything. I have had many experiences sharing my art through various competitions, galleries, expositions, and more. Nothing can compare to the feeling I get when people are genuinely happy to see my work, when they discuss it, and especially when they exclaim how I helped inspire them. My mission to share art is multidimensional. I hope one day to have my own exhibitions, my own shop, but ultimately, I want to share my art in the classroom. I am currently on the path to becoming an art educator, continuing to grow my passion for art of all mediums through the coming generations. My experiences growing up have provided me with a unique perspective on many children's current realities that go overlooked by many educators. This gap between certain educators and students with a life that I once shared is not due to neglect, but rather a fundamental gap of understanding. I hope to bridge this gap between myself and my future students. My art and experiences will help me to truly understand my students, allowing me to have a special influence in their day-to-day lives. I want to foster an environment in my classroom that allows them to process emotions, be themselves unapologetically, and shed their daily burdens, fully immersing themselves in the world of art. Art is medicine like no other, healing parts of the mind that might otherwise go overlooked. Thus far, my journey as an artist has mostly been about me: my accomplishments, my talents, my awards, and my galleries. But as I continue my educational journey, leading to the seat in the front of the classroom, I want to turn the tables. My art and experiences will be passed onto my students, flaunting their accomplishments, showcasing their talents, and for all students, regardless of their passion for art or background, letting their true selves shine.