When I was asked what I wanted to be as a kid, I answered, "A Designer!" with excitement and joy. Adults always encourage that because, when you are a naive kid, anything seems possible. However, as I got older, I realized that childhood dream was often frowned upon and not recognized as a legitimate career. I don't feel apologetic because it motivates me to work harder to prove to myself and my family that we are so much more than what people expect of us. Growing up I've always noticed the intricacies within the design and how it shapes the world around us. It's remarkable how much design has changed our everyday lives. Examples can be seen from signage or simply packaging and without the right design, it doesn't communicate its original intent. Even if people don't notice it, design is everywhere and everything, and I want people to notice that. I want to challenge societal norms of pursuing art and showing others that they can pursue their dreams too. Most people wonder why I want a career in design if I aim to be successful. I always emphasize that being a designer is a valuable and necessary career for the future. Design has given me a creative outlook on life and a voice to inspire and share my vision with the world. Design is constantly changing and involving and each designer brings a unique touch to our changing world. As a designer, I strive to contribute to inclusive, representative, and sustainable solutions to our everyday problems. My work in design can challenge existing norms, address social issues, and advocate for underrepresented communities. Design is a powerful tool that bridges the gap in bringing the representation of diverse perspectives to the forefront. It allows me to express my cultural heritage and personal experiences in a way that resonates with others and inspires them. Being a woman of Latinx origin, I am particularly passionate about using design to highlight the stories and talents of marginalized groups, showing that success is achievable regardless of background. It helps me achieve my goal of spreading a positive message about following one's dreams. I am driven to push for change for students like me and hope to give back to my community for future generations. It brings me joy to foster representation, starting from a low-income background and becoming something bigger. As a woman of Latinx origin in the design world, I want to show other little girls of color that they can achieve their dreams too.

I am dedicated to my education and aspire to build a future as a self-employed artist. I am deeply motivated to advocate for students from low-income and Latinx backgrounds, serving as a role model for future generations, much like the figures in my own Hispanic heritage. By challenging societal norms and financial barriers, I aim to demonstrate that pursuing dreams is possible for everyone. I understand how discouraging these obstacles can be, but I want to show that nothing is impossible. I am willing to take risks to foster change and bring about greater representation. My culture has given me a broader perspective and a deep sense of pride in my roots, which inspires my art. Embracing and showcasing my heritage empowers others to find their voices. Creating art that reflects who I am and where I come from not only empowers me but also helps others feel represented. This sense of identity and representation is vital. I approach my artwork with abstract thinking and fearlessness, always striving for what I believe is right. When faced with challenges, I problem-solve with dedication, always pursuing my dreams and seizing opportunities. I take pride in my Hispanic identity and aim to lead by example, showing what can be accomplished through hard work and determination. My rigorous academic journey is a testament to my commitment, and I want to shed light on the hardworking community that has supported me. I aspire to be a role model for my siblings and other Hispanic youth, proving that success is attainable despite societal challenges. I hope to inspire them to pursue their goals, make our families proud, and embrace the opportunities before them. By taking risks and advocating for change, I aim to enhance representation and show the world the strength and potential of our culture. My heritage has taught me to see the big picture and to be proud of who I am and what I can achieve. I plan to collaborate with schools and local organizations to integrate visual arts into their curricula, ensuring that art education is available to all students, regardless of their socioeconomic status. Through these efforts, I aim to provide a platform for young voices to be heard and to highlight the importance of representation and cultural pride in the arts. My commitment to education and my dedication to being a role model stem from my Hispanic heritage and the desire to challenge social norms. By taking these steps, I hope to make a meaningful impact and inspire the next generation to dream big and achieve their goals in the world of visual arts.

My chosen artist is Frida Kahlo and forever will be. Whenever someone asks me who is my favorite artist or who inspires me, Frida will always be my answer. I personally feel connected to Frida's work and story. I am a Latina artist myself, and seeing Frida's work makes me feel seen as a woman of color. Although some of her personal choices I do not support, I do still love her surrealist art. To add to this I love how Frida Kahlo paints portraits to make the composition look like a photograph because the subject is looking at the viewer. Lastly, the surrealism of Kahlo’s paintings is beautiful because each portrait has a story behind it. The symbols she paints are meaningful to her and her experiences while also adding indigenous artifacts present in Mexican culture. I found the motivation to show those motifs I feel strongly about and use the symbolism of my Hispanic heritage. Just like Frida Kahlo, I feel being Hispanic is a big part of my identity, and painting symbols of Hispanic culture shows others where I came from. Frida Kahlo is known for her paintings that have Mexican artifacts in her paintings in a naive folk style. Frida Kahlo's paintings have strong symbolism and a mix between realism and surrealism. I love that and that's what I want to have abstract to others but deep and meaningful to me. All of Frida’s artworks feel like a personal message for herself that is abstract to others but deep and meaningful to her. Evidence of this is a quote in a letter made to Antionic Rodriguez in 1952, "I paint self-portraits because I am so often alone; because I am the person I know the best." According to Frida’s biography, the letter was written by Frida to express how her paintings and ideas may not be worthy to people but it’s meaningful to her. My dream for the future is to be represented in all arts and media. As a low-income Hispanic artist, I believe I can bring representation. Art education is not prominent in low-income areas and children are not exposed to the wonders of not just art but dance, theater, and music. Growing up I felt embarrassed to express that I wanted to be an artist out of fear. I aspire to be a leader and express my concerns and fight for access to art education.

I am dedicated to my education and my future business to be a self-employed artist. I am motivated to push and change for students of low-income and Latinx origin. Being a role model for future generations is similar to my Hispanic heritage. I challenge the social norm and barriers created by money showing others to pursue their dreams. I know how it could discourage people, but I want to show that nothing is impossible—Risk-taking myself for the sake of continuing change in bringing representation. My culture allowed me to see the big picture of myself and why it's important. It's powerful to show your roots and embrace them fully and it inspires me to create art. Showing who I am and whom I come from with my culture empowers others to be heard in the process. Allowing my voice on behalf of my heritage inspires me to create my future art career. It shows who we are in the world and why representation is essential. I am abstract thinking and fearless in my approach to my artwork to get to what I believe is right. When I am faced with a challenge I problem-solve and show dedication to get through it. I continue to pursue my dreams and take advantage of the opportunities I have been given. I am proud to identify with the Hispanic community. Leading the individuality of my culture shows what I can accomplish. With also am a role model for future generations with my heritage to reach for their dreams. I pushed my education to get rigorous classes to show what I can do. Coming from that background allows me to push toward my very best in my education. Shedding light on my hardworking community to get me where I am today. I want to be a role model to my siblings for being Hispanic and successful. Take advantage of opportunities and be open-minded to work hard toward the future. Also inspired others of my youth being of Hispanic origin that accomplishing your goals is not impossible and touching others to reach their dreams. Making my family proud of my success in an unfair world. Risk-taking myself for the sake of continuing change in bringing representation. My culture allowed me to see the big picture of myself and to be proud of who I am and what I will succeed in.

I am dedicated to my education and my future business to be a self-employed artist. I am motivated to push and change for students of low-income and Latinx origin. Being a role model for future generations is similar to my Hispanic heritage. I challenge the social norm and barriers created by money showing others to pursue their dreams. I know how it could discourage people, but I want to show that nothing is impossible—Risk-taking myself for the sake of continuing change in bringing representation. My culture allowed me to see the big picture of myself and why it's important. It's powerful to show your roots and embrace them fully and it inspires me to create art. Showing who I am and whom I come from with my culture empowers others to be heard in the process. Allowing my voice on behalf of my heritage inspires me to create my future art career. It shows who we are in the world and why representation is essential. I am abstract thinking and fearless in my approach to my artwork to get to what I believe is right. When I am faced with a challenge I problem-solve and show dedication to get through it. I continue to pursue my dreams and take advantage of the opportunities I have been given. I am proud to identify with the Hispanic community. Leading the individuality of my culture shows what I can accomplish. With also am a role model for future generations with my heritage to reach for their dreams. I pushed my education to get rigorous classes to show what I can do. Coming from that background allows me to push toward my very best in my education. Shedding light on my hardworking community to get me where I am today. I want to be a role model to my siblings for being Hispanic and successful. Take advantage of opportunities and be open-minded to work hard toward the future. Also inspired others of my youth being of Hispanic origin that accomplishing your goals is not impossible and touching others to reach their dreams. Making my family proud of my success in an unfair world. Risk-taking myself for the sake of continuing change in bringing representation. My culture allowed me to see the big picture of myself and to be proud of who I am and what I will succeed in.My dream for the future is to be represented in all arts and media. As a low-income Hispanic artist, I believe I can bring representation. Art education is not prominent in low-income areas and children are not exposed to the wonders of not just art but dance, theater, and music. Growing up I felt embarrassed to express that I wanted to be an artist out of fear. I aspire to be a leader and express my concerns and fight for access to art education.

When I was asked what I wanted to be as a kid I answered," An Artist!" with excitement and joy. Adults always encourage that because when you are a naive kid anything seems possible. However, as I got older I realized that childhood dream was frowned upon and not recognized as a legit career. I don't feel apologetic because it motivates me to work harder. To prove for myself and my family we are so much more than what people expected from us. I want to challenge the social norm and barriers created by money showing others to pursue their dreams. Additionally being first-generation and having a teen mother who is low income, compels me to work hard in my college and future career. I am dedicated to my education and when I am faced with a challenge I problem-solve to get through it. In college, I plan to get my degree in Bachelor of Fine Arts and major in Graphic Design + Digital Media w/ illustration Emphasis. This is because I like having this challenge where I can creatively communicate a message through my art. For graphic design there are so many positions there that I love having these options. Being specialized in a combination in graphic design, digital media, and illustration I can gain so many skills for my job goals. After getting the creative experience of working with companies my life goal is to start a business and be self-employed. From the college experience and work experience, I can create this business of my artworks with stickers and go global. Most people also wonder why I want a career in the arts if I want to be successful. I always want to stress being an artist is a valuable career needed in the future. Art showed me a creative outlook on life. But also gave me a voice to inspire and give my vision to the world. Being an artist helps me achieve my goals of a positive message in following my dreams. Due to me wanting to push for change for other students similar to me and hope in the future to give back to my community for future generations. As it brings joy to bring representation from starting from low-income artists and becoming something bigger. Especially me being a woman of Latinx origin in the art world. It shows other little girls of color achieving dreams.

Positivity and laughter are always something I value when I create as a designer. One of my most cherished achievements is the joy of creating something special and gifting it to my grandparents. Although some might not see it as a substantial achievement, for me it meant the world. I love to design, it makes me fulfilled I can help ignite the imagination and curiosity. As a child, I was always tech-savvy and found it easy to use computers. Compared to the rest of my family I seemed like a computer genius. Although I had basic knowledge I felt like a hero to my grandparents. As I got more accustomed to spending my time on the internet I was able to discover that I could create art. This was a defying moment in my life as I never knew how much I would enjoy doing this. Each week I created dozens of digital art and showed them to my grandparents who were shocked I could create something using the computer. Which they normally used for browsing eBay for their antiques or catching up on news. After that, I never stopped with art and that developed into a passion for me. Growing up in a low-income area, it was hard for me to dream big and accept my artistic side. Although art was something I loved, I never thought of it as a career I could pursue. As a Latina, I felt the need to make my family and grandparents proud, to honor their sacrifices. I bite my tongue about pursuing art and tried to find other things I was passionate about in hopes of impressing my family. I was so focused on the fear of disappointment and judgment that it clouded my decision-making. When I finally did choose a career that was suitable but not truly what I wanted. My grandparents took me aside and told me to follow my dreams. Through all that fear I didn't realize they are proud and happy for me no matter what I pursue. That taught me that no matter what the circumstance you should choose something that brings you joy and happiness. It guided me to never give up and try my best through determination and hard work. As I developed my artistic skills in college, I decided on one of my final projects to do something special. To give back to the people that allowed me to stand where I am today. I decided to create a design that reflects my Guatemalan culture, paying homage to my roots. With my skills, I engraved the design on wood. Although my grandparents are supportive it's hard to explain what exactly I do. It was a special moment for me since I saw how much they appreciated it and there was a brief bridge of understanding of what I do. Now every time a visitor comes my grandparents love to show it off. Like it's a look at how far our techy savvy computer kid has come. It brings me joy that I can make my grandparents happy with something I created. I'm appreciative of the support that allowed me to be determined and push for my place despite the barriers I had. Ultimately, my journey as a designer is driven by the desire to spread positivity and contribute to a more inclusive and diverse world. In the future, I hope to make others feel seen as who they are. I want to be able to show representation with my designs of those nonrepresented in the media. I want to create a place to uplift the youth who needed support just like me when I was a kid. To make sure they follow their dreams and know anything is possible for them to pursue.

As cliche, as it may sound I struggled with my self-identity as a Latina with backgrounds of being Mexican, Guatemalan, and American. Sometimes it's hard not to compare yourself to others and This sentiment became a recurring theme in my artwork during that period. Art helped me discover who I wanted to be and who I am. To give context, I grew up in a low-income area that is promptly Hispanic-oriented and that stays with you. However, living in the community came with its challenges, such as facing bullying for not looking stereotypical. I felt at the time, I was not Latina enough or culturally rooted enough. I was bullied because my skin was too light or didn't fit the same stereotype. I found myself having to prove to others that I was Latina enough and it became exhausting. However, when I went to my art college it all changed. Suddenly I'm too Latina and too culturally rooted and all of a sudden people ask me what am I eating and don't know how to paint the color of my skin. I went from the majority in my community to a minority in an instant. In my portrait “Red Line” I couldn't afford a canvas at the time so I created a cardboard canvas and used old oil paints from a swapmeet I found. Even though at the time I wasn't skilled with the medium I still wanted to paint what I felt with my identity. It made me happy to paint my own truth and own identity without people telling me who I was. My bloodline is represented through the red string coming out of the thumbprint-like pattern on my forehead. It was sowed into cardboard while the bloodline was freely placed. The swirls express my descent from Latinx origin Guatemala (right) and Mexico(left). The next portrait “Connected” is a recent digital artwork inspired by the first portrait as a reflection of my growth as an artist and identity. Since coming to college I have learned so much about art and myself that the younger me would have been proud. This artwork is a testament to how much I changed and grown since then. But also how comfortable I am with my identity as Latina and how proud I am to show it. The ribbons express my descent from Latinx origin Guatemala (right) and Mexico (left). This is because these are the colors of the flags associated with that culture. The ribbons are because it's a very traditional hairstyle in Hispanic culture. As a low-income Hispanic artist, I believe I can bring representation. Art education is not prominent in low-income areas but I aspire to bring it to them. So they can have the outlet needed to express themselves. I am motivated to push for change in low-income areas to find their inspiration and pursue their dreams.

My life is like an oil painting. At first, the stages are terrible, slow to dry, And unrecognizable, But as the painting keeps pushing forward, with strokes, And patience, That's when the painting comes to life. If you told me four years ago I would be owning my small business and going to the art college of my dreams, I wouldn't believe you. I used to not think highly of myself. I had the pressure to prove myself as a Latina low income, first-generation student in life. Our community fights for representation every day and I want to contribute to that goal. I feel it is my duty to my people and ancestors before me to show the world that even with my “obstacles” I can thrive. Being low-income meant I was focused on finding a job that can bring me out of poverty. I couldn't afford to fail and I understood I can't accept anything less than perfection. I had a horrible mindset on how to achieve success and the ways I would get there. My family always wanted the best for me but I still felt I wasn't enough. I felt unrecognizable to whom I wanted to become because I let the expectations and pressure define me. The more I worked and studied I still felt empty because I wasn't partially passionate about most subjects. All except one, Art. Art always comforted me and allowed me a creative outlet to express myself. My art felt special to me and brought me happiness. Art allowed me to be a kid again and was something I didn't need to be perfect at. All the worries and pressure disappeared in one brief moment. But it was short-lived. I was ashamed of my ambition to become an artist. Although it was my passion, art didn't click as a successful job for me. I've always focused on academics, I felt the need to impress my peers, teachers, and parents. Most of the people around me influenced me that art is just a hobby. I never considered art to be a job or a stable one at that. I was always told it was a waste of time and that I would be a disappointment if I become an artist. I believed it, I fell for those negative words. All the opinions of who I should be instead of what I wanted to be hurt me. I didn't want to let people down by being an artist because everyone knew I would fail. That's when I realize that is not necessarily the case. All those opinions on artists not being successful and a waste of time is wrong. A career path doesn't determine your success, it is ultimately you and what you do with your career. These questions in my head made me realize the criticism and struggles I brought upon myself were other people's expectations. Your ambitions are your own and you decide your journey and path in life. No matter the odds and the barriers in life, you must keep pushing forward. Life has a funny way of showing you how to get there. I am now empowered to do and choose my own decision. I'm now in a better place of self-acceptance and love toward my art. Currently in art school and I'm loving every second of it. Nothing feels bland and each day it's an exciting new feeling. My life is like an oil painting Although not complete just yet The painting is shining with promise.

Cultural Inspirations My chosen artist is Frida Kahlo and forever will be. Frida will always be my answer whenever someone asks me who is my favorite artist or who inspires me. I personally feel connected to Frida's work and story. I am a Latina artist myself, and seeing Frida's work makes me feel seen as a woman of color. In my struggle as a low-income artist, I felt inspired by Frida's story to pursue my passions. surrealism of Kahlo’s paintings is beautiful because each portrait has a story behind it. I feel strongly about and use the symbolism of my Hispanic heritage. Just like Frida Kahlo, Being Hispanic is a big part of my identity, and painting symbols of Hispanic culture shows others where I came from. I replicated Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird, 1940, By Frida Kahlo. But in my style and cultural significance to my ancestors. This artwork represents how much I grew with my identity as an artist. Before when I was starting my art journey I didn't have many supplies or art access in my low-income area. So I was very much self-taught and improvised my supplies by creating canvases out of cardboard. My first cardboard painting was inspired by Frida's art as well. This is a full-circle moment for my new favorite artwork I decided to create. It's a representation of how everything I ever wanted to do is now realized. Since I'm an art student I have been able to use more conventional supplies and learned new art techniques along the way. It's everything I wanted to become when I wasn't able to at the time. In my artwork, I used a portrait because I liked how Frida Kahlo used central compositions. For example in the portrait the subject is placed in the center, to emphasize the symbols around her (Me). Many details that are in this work are recognizable by people who are familiar with Hispanic culture. For Instance, the ribbons express my descent from Latinx origin Guatemala (right) and Mexico (left). This is because these are the colors of the flags associated with that culture. The ribbons are because it's a very traditional hairstyle in Hispanic culture. The pink earrings are a symbol of my generation. These earrings have been passed down to me and my family for years. I am wearing them in the portrait to show that I am ready and feel proud of myself to wear them. My black Bunny represents a feeling of peace and calmness while the Cat represents freedom and determination. I soon want to hang this in my house to have a daily reminder of how hard I worked to be where I am today.

When we think of Creativity, we think about art but we can also apply it to how we think act, and live. Every day, we create and innovate new ideas. When we use creative solutions and problem-solving that's when the world is beautiful and full of color. My dream for the future is to be represented in all arts and media. As a low-income Hispanic artist, I believe I can bring representation. Art education is not prominent in low-income areas and children are not exposed to the wonders of not just art but dance, theater, and music. Growing up I felt embarrassed to express that I wanted to be an artist out of fear. I aspire to be a leader and express my concerns and fight for access to art education. When most of my classes were online during the pandemic it was very stressful. I was a low-income student and had a lot on my plate. I hardly found anything motivating me at this time. But even being online my school still found ways to keep students creatively thinking. And I could say this was a great defining moment of my life In my art journey because this was when I was the most creative and found myself. I had support from my art teacher Mrs. Barfield, who introduced me to many art-related opportunities. I am forever grateful for that. Because it allowed something to switch within me. It kept me consistently going and gave me the mindset that anything is possible The support of my educators allowed me to push myself and the possibilities within my artistic journey. With all this combined, it inspired me to take risks and finally go after the things I wanted. I was able to get confidence not only as an artist but individual. This left a lasting impact on my career and even now I still want to be a part of this community. I continue to advocate for what I believe in. I take what I learned from my time in the SAUSD district to my college. Using my creativity to spread awareness of art education. SAUSD made me prepared for my career and future pursuits. Now I'm the first in my family to go to college. & despite being low income. I was able to get scholarships to pay for my education. I am currently creating my brand and have a small business while going to school. I have learned so much in my college and connected with the future of the artist in the community. To end on a good note, Art showed me a creative outlook on life. But also gave me a voice to inspire. Don't let the obstacles and challenges stop you from taking a risk and going for what you want.

Creativity does not just apply to art but to how we think and act. Every day, we create and innovate new ideas and problem-solve in today's world. The world is beautiful and inviting when we use creative solutions. Creativity is an outlet and freedom for me. Growing up, I felt embarrassed to express that I wanted to be an artist out of fear. Creativity allowed me to express the many problems I faced. Being Hispanic and low-income, I didn't get the same opportunities many have. In our community, our art access was limited due to budget cuts. Our school system valued creating machines than people with individuality and creativity. For many of us, it was hard to manage the noise of the reality of taking care of siblings, working, and school. Low-income students, including myself, have to grow up so fast and suppress feelings of anxiety and depression. Every minute I wanted to do something creative because it was an outlet for what was going on in my life. Being creative was the only freedom I had, and that's what I loved about it. I created art inspired by my experiences and my background. Even though art made me the happiest, I only viewed it as a distraction. I never imagined a career out of it because of someone from my background. But when I discovered the many creative careers, it brightened my senses and gave me hope. As I go into graphic design I continue to advocate for what I believe in. Using my creativity to spread awareness of art education. Diversity is important when it comes to creativity to show the many perspectives people have in art and in life. Creativity is not just for one group but for everyone which is what I love. Art showed me a creative outlook on life and how to navigate through it. But also gave me a voice to inspire and give my vision to the world. Being an artist helps me achieve my goals of a positive message in following my dreams. Due to me wanting to push for change for other students similar to me and hope in the future to give back to my community for future generations. Especially me being a woman of Latinx origin in the art world. It shows other little girls of color that achieving dreams is possible. I want to set an example that art is important to others who are in my position.

Positivity and laughter are always something I value when I create as an artist. My interest in the arts in general like music, theater, and art came from my childhood. I am dedicated to my education and future business as a self-employed artist. I am motivated to push and change for students of low-income and Latinx origin. Being a role model for future generations is similar to my Hispanic heritage. I challenge the social norm and barriers created by money showing others to pursue their dreams. I know how it could discourage people, but I want to show that nothing is impossible—Risk-taking myself for the sake of continuing change in bringing representation. My culture allowed me to see the big picture of myself and why it's important. It's powerful to show your roots and embrace them fully and it inspires me to create art. Showing who I am and whom I come from with my culture empowers others to be heard in the process. Allowing my voice on behalf of my heritage inspires me to create my future career in art. It shows who we are in the world and why representation is essential. I am abstract thinking and fearless in my approach to my artwork to get to what I believe is right. When I am faced with a challenge I problem-solve and show dedication to get through it. I continue to pursue my dreams and take advantage of the opportunities I have been given. I am proud to identify with the Hispanic community. Leading the individuality of my culture shows what I can accomplish. With also am a role model for future generations with my heritage to reach for their dreams. I pushed my education to get rigorous classes to show what I can do. Coming from that background allows me to push toward my very best in my education. Shedding light on my hardworking community to get me where I am today. I want to be a role model to my siblings for being Hispanic and successful. Take advantage of opportunities and be open-minded to work hard toward the future. Also inspired others of my youth being of Hispanic origin that accomplishing your goals is not impossible and touching others to reach their dreams. Making my family proud of my success in an unfair world. Risk-taking myself for the sake of continuing change in bringing representation. My culture allowed me to see the big picture of myself and to be proud of who I am and what I will succeed in.

As a creative advocate, I value the arts including dance, music, and art. In low-income areas, access to art education is limited due to budget cuts. I aspire to be a leader for a change to help kids experience the wonder of the arts. As a leader, I would express my concerns and advocate for those in need not just for my country but in all countries. For the next generation in 20 years I can make a change now and a difference in the future. Positivity and laughter are always something I value when I create as an artist. My love for being creative came from my childhood. For me, childhood is important, and my imagination is in the arts. Seeing young kids be impacted by what you do is beautiful. Being role models to those who are barely learning and finding themselves brings me joy. To create a positive impact in the world I plan to create childhood wonder. I would love to work with kids and grow their imaginations. Kids' creativity should be nurtured and valued making education and creativity the main thing children should discover. Unfortunately, children in low-income areas don't get as much art access as they should. I am planning to create a way for children from low-income areas to receive art education because I believe it would positively impact their childhood. I hope to bring awareness to this issue with the power of art and design. My art and design consist of imaginative themes and family-friendly content. As I would want to take an ordinary item like a pencil and give it design children would be drawn to. I hope to bring identity and wonder to kids because I always want to spread a message with my art and show my creativity. Eventually working with children to give them access to art resources in low-income areas. Most people also wonder why I want a career in the arts if I want to be successful. I always want to stress being an artist is a valuable career needed in the future. Art showed me a creative outlook on life. But also gave me a voice to inspire and give my vision to the world. Being an artist helps me achieve my goals of a positive message in following my dreams. Due to me wanting to push for change for other students similar to me and hope in the future to give back to my community for future generations. As it brings joy to bring representation from starting from low-income artists and becoming something bigger. Especially me being a woman of Latinx origin in the art world. It shows other little girls of color achieving dreams is possible.

My life is like an oil painting. At first, the stages are terrible, slow to dry, And unrecognizable, But as the painting keeps pushing forward, with strokes, And patience, That's when the painting comes to life. If you told me four years ago I would be owning my small business and going to the art college of my dreams, I wouldn't believe you. Though I always loved art, it was hard to accept my own choice to become an artist. Learning to accept myself showed me how to be confident and achieve my ambition. I had the pressure to prove myself as a Latina low income, a first-generation student in life. Our community fights for representation every day and I want to contribute to that goal. I feel it is my duty to my people and ancestors before me to show the world that even with my “obstacles” I can thrive. Being low-income meant I was focused on finding a job that can bring me out of poverty. I couldn't afford to fail and I understood I can't accept anything less than perfection. I had a horrible mindset on how to achieve success and the ways I would get there. I felt unrecognizable to whom I wanted to become because I let the expectations and pressure define me. The more I worked and studied I still felt empty because I wasn't partially passionate about most subjects. All except one, Art. Art always comforted me and allowed me a creative outlet to express myself. My art felt special to me and brought me happiness. Art allowed me to be a kid again and was something I didn't need to be perfect at. Despite all the pressure and work I had, my artistic skill is something I was proud of the most. I was the happiest when I put my pencil on the sketch pad I carried with me. Beyond the expectations and pressure, art truly brings out the true side of me. All the worries and pressure disappeared in one brief moment. I was ashamed of my ambition to become an artist. Although it was my passion, art didn't click as a successful job for me. I've always focused on academics, I felt the need to impress my peers, teachers, and parents. Most of the people around me influenced me that art is just a hobby. I felt that my passion for art was an unrealistic approach to my ambition to succeed as a low-income first-generation student. I have always thought my path was to succeed for my ancestors and community. But to succeed it meant I needed to sacrifice my true passions and what brought me happiness. That's when I realize that is not necessarily the case. All those opinions on artists not being successful and a waste of time is wrong. A career path doesn't determine your success, it is ultimately you and what you do with your career. These questions in my head made me realize the criticism and struggles I brought upon myself were other people's expectations. No matter the odds and the barriers in life, you must keep pushing forward. Life has a funny way of showing you how to get there. I am now empowered to do and choose my own decision. Not influenced by peer pressure and the need to be perfect. I'm now in a better place of self-acceptance and love toward my art. Currently in art school and I'm loving every second of it. My life is like an oil painting Although not complete just yet The painting is shining with promise.

If you told me four years ago I would be owning my small business and going to the art college of my dreams, I wouldn't believe you. Though I always loved art, it was hard to accept my own choice to become an artist. I had the pressure to prove myself as a Latina low income, a first-generation student in life. Our community fights for representation every day and I want to contribute to that goal. I feel it is my duty to my people and ancestors before me to show the world that even with my “obstacles” I can thrive. Being low-income meant I was focused on finding a job that can bring me out of poverty. I couldn't afford to fail and I understood I can't accept anything less than perfection. I had a horrible mindset on how to achieve success and the ways I would get there. My family always wanted the best for me but I still felt I wasn't enough. I felt unrecognizable to whom I wanted to become because I let the expectations and pressure define me. The more I worked and studied I still felt empty because I wasn't partially passionate about most subjects. Art always comforted me and allowed me a creative outlet to express myself. My art felt special to me and brought me happiness. Art allowed me to be a kid again and was something I didn't need to be perfect at. I am happiest when I put my pencil on the sketch pad I carried with me. Beyond the expectations and pressure, art truly brings out the true side of me. I felt that my passion for art was an unrealistic approach to my ambition to succeed as a low-income first-generation student. I have always thought my path was to succeed for my ancestors and community. But to succeed it meant I needed to sacrifice my true passions and what brought me happiness. That's when I realize that is not necessarily the case. All those opinions on artists not being successful and a waste of time are wrong. A career path doesn't determine your success, it is ultimately you and what you do with your career. Your ambitions are your own and you decide your journey and path in life. No matter the odds and the barriers in life, you must keep pushing forward. Life has a funny way of showing you how to get there. I want to create a positive impact in the world I plan to create childhood wonder. I would love to work with kids and grow their imaginations. Kids' creativity should be nurtured and valued making education and creativity the main thing children should discover. Unfortunately, children in low-income areas don't get as much art access as they should. I am planning to create a way for children from low-income areas to receive art education because I believe it would positively impact their childhood. I hope to bring awareness to this issue with the power of art and design. I hope to bring identity and wonder to kids because I always want to spread a message with my art and show my creativity. Eventually working with children to give them access to art resources in low-income areas.

Sometimes we have tunnel vision and want always to work and be the best. But you must learn that is okay to have time to yourself to check out that new movie or read a book. Don't get stuck in your work, but learn to balance your school life and personal life. @_iitschloe

My life is like an oil painting. At first, the stages are terrible, slow to dry, And unrecognizable, But as the painting keeps pushing forward, with strokes, And patience, That's when the painting comes to life. If you told me four years ago I would be owning my small business and going to the art college of my dreams, I wouldn't believe you. Though I always loved art, it was hard to accept my own choice to become an artist. Learning to accept myself showed me how to be confident and achieve my ambition. The shift to who I am now was not fast but in stages of growth. I had the pressure to prove myself as a Latina low income, a first-generation student in life. Our community fights for representation every day and I want to contribute to that goal. I feel it is my duty to my people and ancestors before me to show the world that even with my “obstacles” I can thrive. Being low-income meant I was focused on finding a job that can bring me out of poverty. I couldn't afford to fail and I understood I can't accept anything less than perfection. I had a horrible mindset on how to achieve success and the ways I would get there. My family always wanted the best for me but I still felt I wasn't enough. I felt unrecognizable to whom I wanted to become because I let the expectations and pressure define me. The more I worked and studied I still felt empty because I wasn't partially passionate about most subjects. All except one, Art. Art always comforted me and allowed me a creative outlet to express myself. Art allowed me to be a kid again and was something I didn't need to be perfect at. Despite all the pressure and work I had, my artistic skill is something I was proud of the most. I was the happiest when I put my pencil on the sketch pad I carried with me. Beyond the expectations and pressure, art truly brings out the true side of me. All the worries and pressure disappeared in one brief moment. I was ashamed of my ambition to become an artist. I've always focused on academics, I felt the need to impress my peers, teachers, and parents. Most of the people around me influenced me that art is just a hobby. I never considered art to be a job or a stable one at that. I was always told it was a waste of time and that I would be a disappointment if I become an artist. I believed it, I fell for those negative words. All the opinions of who I should be instead of what I wanted to be hurt me. I didn't want to let people down by being an artist because everyone knew I would fail. I felt that my passion for art was an unrealistic approach to my ambition to succeed as a low-income first-generation student. That's when I realize that is not necessarily the case. All those opinions on artists not being successful and a waste of time is wrong. A career path doesn't determine your success, it is ultimately you and what you do with your career. I am doing things for myself and what I want matters only to me. To prove to others it's okay to achieve your dreams. No one could interfere with the process of who I decided to be or become. Realizing this was the best feeling and I stopped feeling sorry for who I was. I learned that people didn't get to decide who I am and what I do with my life. Of course, self-acceptance was not overnight and took long care and conflicts to be resolved. I had a talk with my parents about doing art as a career. With words that brought me to tears, they knew all along my passions and supported my choices 100%. That's when everything clicks into place. Those final strokes on the painting were being set and I became complete. Your ambitions are your own and you decide your journey and path in life. No matter the odds and the barriers in life, you must keep pushing forward. Life has a funny way of showing you how to get there. I am now empowered to do and choose my own decision. Not influenced by peer pressure and the need to be perfect. I'm now in a better place of self-acceptance and love toward my art. Currently in art school and I'm loving every second of it. Nothing feels bland and each day it's an exciting new feeling. My life is like an oil painting Although not complete just yet The painting is shining with promise.

I see myself as a determined, fun, and creative person. I apply art to my life by making it my future career. Currently, I am suddenly to be a graphic designer and illustrator. My love for being creative came from my childhood. For me, childhood is important, and my imagination is in the arts. Seeing young kids be impacted by what you do is beautiful. Being role models to those who are barely learning and finding themselves brings me joy. This showed me in my career I want to create children's related designs. I would love to work with kids and grow their imagination. Kids' creativity should be nurtured and valued. I hope to do this by creating this for kids. Making education and creativity the main thing children should discover. Kids should always be kids and not have to limit themselves. Acting mature and growing up is one thing but ignoring the kid within all of us is a problem. Childhood wonder and the imagination that comes with experimentation inspire me. I want to show the same to other kids who were forced to grow up too fast. As a child, I felt pressured to grow up and be an adult. However, age shouldn't be a reason to stop someone from their curiosity. My art consists of imaginative themes and family-friendly content. Including packaging and toy-making ideas. As I would want to take an ordinary item like a pencil and give it design children would be drawn to. I hope this brings identity and wonder to kids because I always want to spread a message with my art and show my creativity.

Positivity and laughter are always something I value when I create as an artist. My love for being creative came from my childhood. For me, childhood is important, and my imagination is in the arts. Seeing young kids be impacted by what you do is beautiful. Being role models to those who are barely learning and finding themselves brings me joy. To create a positive impact in the world I plan to create childhood wonder. I would love to work with kids and grow their imagination. Kids' creativity should be nurtured and valued making education and creativity the main thing children should discover. Unfortunately, children in low-income areas don't get as much art access as they should. I am planning to create a way for children from low-income areas to receive art education because I believe it would positively impact their childhood. I hope to bring awareness to this issue with the power of art and design. My art and design consist of imaginative themes and family-friendly content. As I would want to take an ordinary item like a pencil and give it design children would be drawn to. I hope to bring identity and wonder to kids because I always want to spread a message with my art and show my creativity. Eventually working with children to give them access to art resources in low-income areas.

My love for art came from when I was a kid and watched animated movies. I was starstruck and in awe of childhood wonder. This experience as a kid inspired me to do what I love now. I would love to give kids the same amazement as I had. I'm from Santa ana California and my community majority is low-income. Coming from a low-income background creates barriers as a student. Private universities are expensive and being low income affects me. It creates a circumstance in which I have to choose between my passion or cost. In my school, I had a lack of exposure to art due to the education I prioritized. I want to achieve my dreams but it hurts to put my family under a financial burden. Showing improvement of an artist's influence on the world is impactful toward me. Especially me being a woman of Latinx origin in the art world. It shows other little girls of color achieving dreams is possible. Challenging the social norm and barriers created by money motivates me. It motivates the push and change for students of low-income and Latinx origin.

I am a current student following my passion for learning graphic design and illustration. This piece is called, "Day Cycle" and it was inspired by a scene in a popular studio ghibli film named "the secret world of Arrietty". I love animated films and it fuels my creativity and childhood, honoring that I created this piece. The details in the piece embody what I love and hobbies such as movies, tv shows, or interests. An example of this is on the right of the page there is a table with drawing supplies to show my love for art. What is also special about this piece is that I combined my love for graphic design and illustration into this artwork. How I did this was, I created a full-length 18 X 24 using perspective techniques I learned in my illustration class. Then I used Photoshop skills I learned in graphic design to create a color version and animation. What I love about this piece is that it feels like an imaginative and colorful children's illustration. This is what I am inspired to do in the future as I would love to create childhood wonder.

When I was asked what I wanted to be as a kid I answered," An Artist!" with excitement and joy. Adults always encourage me because they thought I would grow out of it. However, as I got older I realized that childhood dream was frowned upon and not recognized as a legit career. Although that career had a lot of criticisms the only people who encouraged my passions were my parents. My parents influenced the way I thought about choosing a career. Since most people told me to get careers that would guarantee money but not if it would bring me happiness. Yet my parents told me the opposite and said the best thing in life is to spend it with what you love to do. Without this advice, I would have not chosen to become a graphic designer and follow my childhood dream. This is why I want to challenge the social norm and barriers created by money showing others that anything is possible. I always want to stress being an artist is a valuable career needed in the future. Art showed me a creative outlook on life. But also gave me a voice to inspire and give my vision to the world. Being an artist helps me achieve my goals of a positive message in following my dreams. As it brings joy to bring representation from starting from low-income artists and becoming something bigger. Especially me being a woman of Latinx origin in the art world. It shows other little girls of color achieving dreams. In college, I plan to get my degree in Bachelor of Fine Arts and major in Graphic Design + Digital Media w/ illustration Emphasis. This is because I like having this challenge where I can creatively communicate a message through my art. For graphic design, there are so many positions there that I love having these options. Being specialized in a combination in graphic design, digital media, and illustration I can gain so many skills for my job goals. In my art, I like to express my identity, and the person I have grown to be and still developing now. Art for me can never be mastered because there are so many things to learn and never gets dull. Having the opportunity to do art as my career has been such a blessing. The experience of my journey of becoming an artist influences my work to take a stand for positivity and change. To bring awareness for what is important and what needs to be talked about in the media around the world.

In 2020 the virus that stoped the whole world brought hardships, pain, but also led my family together. Our family relied on each other and got closer in the process. The everyday things we used to do like school and work didn't matter anymore. We as a family bonded and took care of each other. However, our hardships now are taken as a family as well. A selfish thing that was affected by covid-19 was my senior year. My senior year was the year for me to have fun since I worked so hard. But since an understandable closing of schools has prevented me from doing so. Not doing the things most other people have done made me feel upset. The senior year I have imagined won't happen and learning to accept that is hard. Knowing the fact you will miss out on something almost every in the world used to do. Nevertheless, I learned why this is that case and it's for safety. I also learned never to take anything for granted and appreciate all the is around me. Now I am grateful for my parents and the opportunities I have in education. This year made me more focused on my goals and aspirations of being an artist. Since I was at home I was able to reflect and focus on the future which was important. This shaped my way of thinking of not being productive in determining my future.

When I was asked what I wanted to be as a kid I answered," An Artist!" with excitement and joy. Adults always encouraged that because when you are a naive kid anything seems possible. However, as I got older I realized that childhood dream was frowned upon and not recognized as a legit career. Society overlooks people who are part of low income and Latinx community and many more. However, I don't feel apologetic because it motivates me to work harder. To prove for myself and my family we are so much more than what people expected from us. My Hispanic heritage influenced my motivation to continue my education and the career path of art. The reason is to prove the stereotypes of my heritage wrong and show my hard work. Leading my individuality of my culture showing what I can accomplish. With also being a role model for future generations with my heritage to reach for their dreams. I am dedicated to my education and when I am faced with a challenge I problem-solve to get through it. I had the pressure of being the firstborn and the first-year generation student. Coming from a low-income background creates barriers as a student. It creates a circumstance in which I have to choose between my passion or cost. However, I want to challenge the social norm and barriers created by money showing others to pursue their dreams. As me being an artist I feel I can bring ideas into a positive message from my individuality. I'm ambitious to continue my artist journey despite the stereotypical stigma of it. I want to push for change for other students similar to me and hope in the future to give back to my community for future generations. Art showed me a creative outlook on life. But also gave me a voice to inspire and give my vision to the world. In the future creating a business and be self-employed with my artwork. Which eventually I would like to expand my horizons. Especially me being a woman of Latinx origin in the art world. It shows other little girls of color achieving dreams is possible. Most people also wonder why I want a career in the arts if I want to be successful. I always want to stress being an artist is a valuable career needed in the future. It's powerful to show your roots and embrace them fully and it inspires me to create art.

Learning to accept mistakes showed me my self-worth & confidence as a person. My self-worth improved my mental health because of the recognition of my identity. Before I never understood my self-worth because the pressure got to me. I had the pressure of being the firstborn and the first-year student and being low income also impacts me to work harder. Also, the added pressure of my parents always wanted me to be the best and strive for it. I felt like I owed it to my parents to be perfect and smart. Being that if I want to achieve my dreams I have to work tirelessly. In my past, I was friends with the wrong crowd putting me down most of the time. Friends I had didn't care much about school and did things like smoke or drink. Often the pressure of fitting in sank in and my self-worth went down. To add to this I was in a toxic relationship that made me lose sight of my true friends and family. This relationship had me lose trust in my family and made me ignorant. This relationship made me stubborn and made me do things I didn't want to do. I was set on the wrong path and the only way to get out of it was to do something drastic. Since I always loved school and being academically challenged. But since I'm taking the most rigorous classes in my high school it made me feel useless. So I began to compare myself to others and why I couldn't be like them and why it was so easy for them when it wasn't for me. This made me insecure and doubted myself to the lowest level. If I were to even get a c in my class, It would destroy my mental state. This self-worth and perfection I had in my head did not line up. I felt that my passion for art was an unrealistic approach to my toxic mindset. Since I've always focused on academics, I felt the need to impress my parents. With this, I wanted to choose jobs that didn't make me happy like being a doctor or a lawyer. But for me, I can never get over the feeling that I'm missing something. I never considered art to be a job or a stable one at that. I was always told it was a waste of time and I always believed in a mindset of choosing a real job. The internal struggle I had with myself made me a question. Question of who am I doing this for and if this is what I wanted. These questions in my head made me realize the criticism and struggles I brought upon myself were self-inflicted. I brought expectations too high and realized my parents and peers were proud of me. They love me for who I am and loving myself is the key to my self-worth. No one could interfere with the process of whom I decided to be or become. Only then my junior year I became more focused and willing to change my behavior. Learn and grow from the person I was, to a better version of myself. Realizing this was the best feeling and I stopped feeling sorry for who I was. Of course, self-acceptance was not overnight and took long care and conflicts to be resolved. Not influenced by peer pressure and the need to be perfect. Knowing the right and wrong people in your life is essential. Learning that it's okay to distance yourself from the people who hurt. I am now empowered to be a self employed artist and pursue my education further.

Learning to accept mistakes showed me my self-worth & confidence as a person. My self-worth improved my physical and mental health of the recognition of my identity. Accepting the identity part of myself like my interest and passions. Helps me decide the pursuit of my passion fully and stop listening to the people who brought me down. The shift to who I am now was not fast but in stages of growth. My self-worth I never understood because the negative pressure got to me. I had the pressure of being the firstborn and the first-year generation student. In my past, I was friends with the wrong crowd putting me down most of the time. Often the pressure of fitting in sank in and my self-worth went down. This relationship had me lose trust in my family and made me ignorant. I was set on the wrong path and the only way to get out of it was to do something drastic. I began to compare myself to others and why couldn't be like them and why it was so easy for them when it wasn't for me. This made me insecure and doubted myself to the lowest level. Only then my junior year I became more focused and willing to change my behavior. Learn and grow from the person I was, to a better version of myself. However, my parents still saw me as irresponsible sometimes. My past actions have allowed a negative view of me as a changed person. The doors being open for me to grow into an adult are stopped because of my past. I felt also my passion for art was an unrealistic approach to my toxic mindset. With this, I wanted to choose jobs that didn't make me happy like being a doctor or a lawyer. But for me, I can never get over the feeling that I'm missing something. I never considered art to be a job or a stable one at that. I was always told it was a waste of time and I always believed in a mindset of choosing a real job. I had an internal struggle and brought expectations too high and realized the toxic mindset and loving myself is the key to my self-worth. No one could interfere with the process of whom I decided to be or become. Realizing this was the best feeling and I stopped feeling sorry for who I was. I learned the people didn't get to decide who I am and what I do with my life. Of course, self-acceptance was not overnight and took long care and conflicts to be resolved. I am now empowered to do and choose my own decision. I'm now in a better place of self-acceptance and love. Knowing the right and wrong people in your life is essential. Learning that it's okay to distance yourself from the people who hurt. I learned every day to be proud of who I am and pursue my goals in life.

My rescue cat Nova who happened to by my doorstep was welcomed into our family. Our family always wanted a black cat and all the cats in our area were nothing but orange. But it just so happened a silky black kitty wandered into our hearts. Nova is a meanie but underneath it all, she is a sweetie who is playful and loves to wiggle all over the floor. Nova is one of the main inspirations to my art and i love to draw her in her crazy way.

I'm from Santa ana California and my community majority is low income. Coming from a low-income background creates barriers as a student. Private universities are expensive and being low income affects me. It creates a circumstance in which I have to choose between my passion or cost. In my school, I had a lack of exposure to art due to the education I prioritized. I want to achieve my dreams but it hurts to put my family in financial burden. Showing improvement of an artist's influence on the world is impactful toward me. Especially me being a woman of Latinx origin in the art world. It shows other little girls of color achieving dreams is possible. Challenging the social norm and barriers created by money motivates me. It motivates the push and change for students of low-income and Latinx origin.I am dedicated to my education and my future business to be a self-employed artist. I challenge the social norm and barriers created by money showing others to pursue their dreams. This is due to me knowing how it could discourage people but I want to show nothing is impossible. Risk-taking myself for the sake of continuing change in bringing representation. My culture allowed me to see the big picture of myself and why it's important. It's powerful to show your roots and embrace them fully and it inspires me to create art. Showing who I am and whom I come from with my culture empowers others to be heard in the process. Allowing my voice on behalf of my heritage inspires me to create my future career in art. It shows who we are in the world and why representation is essential. I am abstract thinking and fearless in my approach to my artwork to get to what I believe is right. When I am faced with a challenge I problem solve and show dedication to get through it. I continue to pursue my dreams and taking advantage of the opportunities I have been given. I am proud to identify with the Hispanic community. Leading my individuality of my culture showing what I can accomplish. With also being a role model for future generations with my heritage to reach for their dreams. I pushed my education to get rigorous classes to show what I can do. Coming from that background allows me to push toward my very best in my education. Shedding light on my hardworking community to get me where I am today. I want to be a role model to my siblings for being Hispanic and successful. To take advantage of opportunities and be open-minded to work hard toward the future. Also inspiring others of my youth being of Hispanic origin that accomplishing your goals is not impossible and touch others to reach their dreams. Making my family proud of my success in an unfair world. Risk-taking myself for the sake of continuing change in bringing representation. My culture allowed me to see the big picture of myself and to be proud of who I am and what I will succeed in.

I love art and especially graphic design because I'm a creative person. I like to be creative and express myself self and create things. Art isn't a hobby but my life work. It leads me to the path of graphic design. I want to prove to my low-income parents I can make it and provide for them. My goal is to show myself I can do it and just because I come from a low-income area it doesn't stop me. Eventually, I want to own my art business and share my designs with the world to cherish. In my art, I always want to spread a message and show my creativity. I'm from Santa ana California and my community majority is low income. We live with my grandparents and, my mother needs to provide for me and my 2 siblings. Also with my parents being separated, it creates more finical troubles. With my father not providing the money needed for child support. Coming from a low-income background creates barriers as a student. Private universities are expensive and being low income affects me. It creates a circumstance in which I have to choose between my passion or cost. Attending a private school catered to my interset but is expensive which is a sad reality. In my school, I had a lack of exposure to art due to the education I prioritized. In school, I took my studies very strictly and taking the required classes. Which left my passion for art left to the end of my high school career. Being barely able to pay for private schools is worrisome. I want to achieve my dreams but it hurts to put my family in financial burden. I feel being an artist creates serious stereotypes of being poor. Showing improvement of an artist's influence on the world is impactful toward me. Especially me being a woman of Latinx origin in the art world. It shows other little girls of color achieving dreams is possible. Even not traditional as a doctor or lawyer doesn't have to be the only option. Challenging the social norm and barriers created by money motivates me. It motivates the push and change for students of low-income and Latinx origin.I am dedicated to my education and my future business to be a self-employed artist. I am motivated to push and change for students of low-income and Latinx origin. Being a role model for future generations similar to my Hispanic heritage. I challenge the social norm and barriers created by money showing others to pursue their dreams. This is due to me knowing how it could discourage people but I want to show nothing is impossible. Risk-taking my self for the sake of continuing change in bringing representation. My culture allowed me to see the big picture of myself and why it's important. It's powerful to show your roots and embrace them fully and it inspires me to create art. Showing who I am and whom I come from with my culture empowers others to be heard in the process. Allowing my voice on behalf of my heritage inspires me to create my future career in art. It shows who we are in the world and why representation is essential. I am abstract thinking and fearless in my approach to my artwork to get to what I believe is right. When I am faced with a challenge I problem solve and show dedication to get through it. I continue to pursue my dreams and taking advantage of the opportunities I have been given. I am proud to identify with the Hispanic community.

I am dedicated to my education and my future business to be a self-employed artist. I love art and especially graphic design because I'm a creative person. I like to be creative and express myself self and create things. Art isn't a hobby but my life work. It leads me to the path of graphic design. I want to prove to my low-income parents I can make it and provide for them. My goal is to show myself I can do it and just because I come from a low-income area it doesn't stop me. Eventually, I want to own my art business and share my designs with the world to cherish. In my art, I always want to spread a message and show my creativity. I am motivated to push and change for students of low-income and Latinx origin. Being a role model for future generations similar to my Hispanic heritage. I challenge the social norm and barriers created by money showing others to pursue their dreams. This is due to me knowing how it could discourage people but I want to show nothing is impossible. Risk-taking my self for the sake of continuing change in bringing representation. My culture allowed me to see the big picture of myself and why it's important. It's powerful to show your roots and embrace them fully and it inspires me to create art. Showing who I am and whom I come from with my culture empowers others to be heard in the process. Allowing my voice on behalf of my heritage inspires me to create my future career in art. It shows who we are in the world and why representation is essential. I am abstract thinking and fearless in my approach to my artwork to get to what I believe is right. When I am faced with a challenge I problem solve and show dedication to get through it. I continue to pursue my dreams and taking advantage of the opportunities I have been given. I am proud to identify with the Hispanic community.

Accepting the identity part of myself like my interest and passions. Helps me decide the pursuit of my passion fully and stop listening to the people who brought me down. The shift to who I am now was not fast but in stages of growth. The personal event that sparked growth for me was realizing my self-worth. My self-worth I never understood because the negative pressure got to me. I had the pressure of being the firstborn and the first-year generation student. The socio-financial background being low income also impacts me to work harder. Being that if I wanted to achieve my dreams I have to work tirelessly. I'm from Santa ana California and my community majority is low income. We live with my grandparents and, my mother needs to provide for me and my 2 siblings. Also with my parents being separated, it creates more finical troubles. With my father not providing the money needed for child support. Coming from a low-income background creates barriers as a student. Private universities are expensive and being low income affects me. It creates a circumstance in which I have to choose between my passion or cost. Attending a private school catered to my interset but is expensive which is a sad reality. In my school, I had a lack of exposure to art due to the education I prioritized. In school, I took my studies very strictly and taking the required classes. Which left my passion for art left to the end of my high school career. Being barely able to pay for private schools is worrisome. I want to achieve my dreams but it hurts to put my family in financial burden. I feel being an artist creates serious stereotypes of being poor. Showing improvement of an artist's influence on the world is impactful toward me. Especially me being a woman of Latinx origin in the art world. It shows other little girls of color achieving dreams is possible. Even not traditional as a doctor or layer doesn't have to be the only option. Challenging the social norm and barriers created by money motivates me. It motivates the push and change for students of low-income and Latinx origin.

Most items in this piece are trash except the crystals & paint. I wanted to show the beautiful life of recycling & upcycling is. If we were to take care of our earth it would turn into a wonderful place. I wanted to show a lonely house in wonder like a world of beauty. The background is of my sky, grass, and dirt. It's connected to my world somehow. With edited flowers, lights & crystals. As to merged the piece with a different type of reality. I really want to come across a world of magic where recycling can lead you to be.