I have always been passionate about drawing. The first time I can remember drawing by choice is when I was about six years old. I would draw characters from the cartoons that I watched so that I could give it to my grandma. I knew that it made her happy, so I always made sure to draw something for her. Soon I would start to focus on other things that interested me, but I never forgot about art. It wasn't until COVID in which I gained an abundance of free time, and its during that time that I picked up drawing seriously again. I love seeing art because it makes me really happy and I want to share that with other people! 2021 marked the year of what I would call the start of my art journey. I would watch tutorials and join art competitions just so I could get better at my craft. Eventually, I was good enough at it that people started to notice. I gained followers here and there and they would always comment on how seeing my art made them happy. Those comments remined me of when I would make drawings from my grandma, so that's what I did for the people on the internet. I asked them what they liked and wanted to see, and I would draw it. I was happy just to have something to draw, and it made me happy that others were happy seeing my art. I love to draw because it makes people happy, especially me. I would later realize just how happy art made people, when my younger sister asked me to draw her favorite character for her birthday. I did it without hesitation and didn't think much of it. But when I gave it to her, I notice that she started to tear up. She ended up being happier with some lines that I put on a piece of paper than the toy she was begging for, for 3 days straight. That made me really happy. I love art because it makes people happy, principally me. Seeing art can bring forth many, many emotions. Most frequently that emotion ends up being happiness. People go through all sorts of things in life. There is an endless amount of struggle people face every day, and if seeing some silly drawings I make of some characters makes them happy, then I want to do it. I love when people can use art to brighten someone's day, specifically me!

What does it mean to be brave? The Pixar and Disney movie "Brave" actively changed my life from start to finish. The year was 2017, ten year old me sat in front of the TV ready to watch the next thing my mother decided to play for me and my younger siblings. At ten years old I usually wasn't as interested in the movies my mother wanted us to watch, but for some reason I was immediately drawn in. The movie opens with an aerial view of the woods below DunBroch kingdom where six year old Merida is playing with her mother, Queen Elinor. Seeing the amazing visuals and listening to the beautiful soundtrack instantly immersed me into the world of brave. Throughout the movie Merida is faced with many hardships, many of which I could relate to. Seeing Merida go against her parents' wishes and the roles bestowed upon her, in pursuit of happiness instilled a core value into my mind. That is, to do what makes you happy and fight for what you believe in, even if it takes a leap of faith to get there. For Merida's entire life she had been taught a way to live, and she tried everything to escape her presumed fate. In the process of doing that, she managed to hurt the ones around her. Even when the things could've been taken as a sign to give up, she continued forward. This mirrors the way life will sometimes feel like a raging sea, but it's important to remember to always have faith in yourself and to never give up on your dreams. In the end she rectified her mistakes, made a new future for all the kingdoms of Scotland and managed to accomplish the one thing that would make her feel herself. Watching that movie as an imperishable kid taught me that no matter of different you may feel or appear to be, you should always be yourself. Do what makes you happy and live life the way you want. We are constantly being molded by the world, so it important to always remain true to yourself. In today's world, we are steadily making strides towards progressiveness. Not too long ago, things were really bad for a lot of people. People of all races, skin color, backgrounds, identity and sex were oppressed, discouraged, and told they didn't belong or that they had a specific role. Those people of that time were brave and fought for what was right, even when it seemed like the entire world was against them. We have them to thank for the way the world is now. It's because of their bravery that our neighbors look the way they do, our friends love who they love, and that our society is more accepting. To live now and to continue living tomorrow is to be brave. Fight for what's right, do what you love, and express yourself to the fullest! We are always told to take the safe route and are scared to explore things that take us away from security, but if being secure means to passively live life then I don't want to be secure! That's why I am majoring in art, because I want to spend my life doing what I love! You should too! I think we all are due to be a bit braver in life. So, if you take anything from reading this... Be Brave.

I never knew the answer to the question "what do you want to be when you grow up?" It wasn't until I was in my junior year of high school that I realized I could turn my passion of art into a career. Before that, I would always ask my friends what they were putting down, so that I could answer that question. Japanese media influenced my degree of choice, specifically the art that comes from the many talented artists that reside in that country. When I watched and read my favorite shows that originated from Japan, I would dream about doing the things that I saw those creators do. Not only did I begin to appreciate and pay more attention to art, but I also started to incorporate it and recognize it within my life. I realized that art isn't just pretty pictures and cool animation; it is life itself and it surrounds humanity in all aspects of it. Its history, literature, films, images, music, and so much more. Seeing the endless possibilities of things that art could achieve, I couldn't help but wish to create the same prepossessing art that I had previously laid witness to. 2020 marked the year that I began my art journey. With the dangling carrot of becoming a future animator in my sights, I improved at a steady pace. No matter what happened in life, I always made time to draw. I would watch videos and read tutorials, so that I could grab on to my dream and make it a reality. I started animating in 2023, but it was on and off because I believed that my art had to be perfect first. Therefore, I studied art more, watched more tutorials, and drew from sunrise to sundown. I still draw to this day, and I practice animation from time to time as well. When I complete high school and college, I will use my art degree to join the animation industry. Not only do I plan on working in the states, but I am currently learning Japanese, so that I can work alongside the people who helped guide me to my newfound future career. I can confidently say that art has saved my life. Before art I had no real goals or ambitions, my main focused was to finish high-school and find well-paying job. Art has given me life and a passion that I pursue until my time on this earth is up. I WILL become an animator and that degree is just one steppingstone I will use to get there.