‘Trick R Treat 2’ is one of my favorite recent artworks. As the title suggests, it was part of a small series consisting of four spot illustrations showing children chronologically going through the steps or 'phases' of Halloween. I wanted each to represent one of the memorable moments of a Halloween night for a kid; getting ready, taking pictures, going door to door, and being tired at the end of the night. ‘Trick R Treat 2’ depicts the second phase of Halloween; picture taking. A lot of my artwork naturally incorporates the views and thoughts of young children and with this series I wanted to lean into that intentionally. I looked at a lot of my old family albums to gather inspiration, as well as collected reference/inspiration images from Pinterest. Even the phases of Halloween depicted are taken from my memories of Halloween. I realized that although there was variation throughout the years, there were four constants that became the ideas for each of the illustrations. I'm very proud of ‘Trick R Treat 2' specifically for many reasons. Firstly, it started as my weakest element in the series but through a lot of revisions and problem solving, I feel it's the strongest out of the four now. As an artist who is always trying to improve and innovate, I try to use every piece as a space to learn and experiment. With this piece, that came in the form of Spot Illustrations. While I have a good number of pieces that are full illustrations and others that are motif illustrations, I have never really bridged that gap in my art. It was very challenging, trying to convey an environment without showing much of it. I also experimented with line-less art, using the line-less art only for the background elements to help show a separation between the foreground and background. I feel so grateful that I was able to create a piece that I feel so proud of, despite all of my struggles this past semester. In late September I fell and broke my ankle while on my way to class. I had to go to the hospital many times due to complications and even had to move back home with my mother because I couldn't even bathe myself in my apartment due to the fall risk. I ended up needing surgery in mid-October. When all was said and done, I was out of school for almost two months, and on a knee scooter for much longer. Getting around took extra time, physical therapy took time, it felt like everything was taking too much time and I was running out of it that semester. There were many times that I would find myself so frustrated that I would begin to cry, healing was exhausting and couldn't be rushed, and to heal I couldn't push myself too hard with school. I was thankful to my Professors and other staff members at my college who truly went above and beyond to help me finish my semester. In a semester where I couldn't help but feel I was falling behind, working on this art piece brought me peace and a sense of accomplishment.

The biggest inspiration and support I've ever received came from my Grandma Gloria. She was a high school drop out and the oldest of seven. She started out as stay at home mother to four children and developed an addiction to alcohol. She said those were some of her lowest days. After her divorce, she decided to get her GED; then after that a Bachelor's in Science. With that degree she became a Substance Abuse Counselor, helping thousands of persons with addictions over the 25 years of her occupation. There are so many stories I've heard from her past patients where she went above and beyond for them; hoping one day to have a world where nobody has to suffer with addiction alone. My grandma was always my biggest fan and advocate; she was the first person to support my decision to attend college. My mother at the time was not supportive of my decision to attend college due to her personal beliefs about education. It was difficult to navigate, as besides my grandmother, nobody in my family had been involved in getting higher education. I was so lost, not even understanding what FAFSA was at the time. When it came time for classes I didn't realize how they were scheduled and ended up in back to back classes from 7am to 8pm four days a week. My Grandma always made sure I had what I needed, helping me get to campus, finance a laptop, she would invite me over for dinner and make sure I wasn't studying on an empty stomach. During the years I attended classes for my Associate's, I was experiencing mental and physical health related issues as well as home life issues. I came so close to dropping out multiple times. Each time, I would have my Grandma there to listen to me, talk with me, cheer me up and give me faith that I could make it through. It's because of her I was able to graduate with my Associate's degree and I only wish she could have still been alive to witness me getting accepted into my dream college for my Bachelor's program. I wish that I could have shared that joy with her on that special day. I've always greatly admired and looked up to my Grandma. Despite all of her struggles throughout life; alcoholism, domestic abuse, COPD, the death of her youngest brother, Cancer and so on; she never stopped loving and caring for others. She was the matriarch of our family and a second mom to me and my siblings. I try my best to carry on her values in my own actions to help keep around the memory of the woman I admired so much throughout my life and hop I can use my Degree in Illustration to bring love and happiness to others.

My name is Danielle Fish and I am a Junior college student in pursuit of my BFA. I come from a single-parent low-income household and am a first-generation college student. I was given a tremendous opportunity when I was accepted as a transfer student to Minneapolis College of Art and Design soon after I finished my Associate's Degree at my local Community College. But with this new venture comes the added weight of paying for tuition. I have been lucky enough to get a partial scholarship from my college, but I am still responsible for covering a lot of the tuition myself. From my first semester at Community College to now at MCAD, I have not received financial support from my family towards school for the simple fact that they cannot afford to. To afford tuition this year I will be taking out the maximum student loans as well as working 3 jobs. While I know this is just what needs to be done given my circumstances, it also means I have to spend most of my time focused on making money instead of developing skills for my profession and missing out on a lot of the opportunities this College provides to its students such as clubs, internships, mentors, peer to peer review nights and their study abroad program. I want to become an illustrator with a focus on surface design. Though that is what I hope to do for a day job, my real passion is in the personal projects I hope to take on- including a graphic novel that I have already scripted. I excel at drawing digitally and though I love to draw traditionally, digital allows me to have a faster output of artwork. What I want to do with my artwork is bring joy to people's faces. Whether it's designing kids' pajamas that they refuse to change out of or publishing my graphic novel. What I want to do is bring joy and give back as much as I can. Growing up as a child of a single parent with substance dependencies, I know what it's like to look outward for happiness or guidance. I am interested in exploring the psychological and sociological struggles of contemporary people. I am also interested in using my work to better the world through laughter and gaining knowledge. My Graphic novel called “Teo the Greatest Skateboarder in the World” - follows a young boy through his years in middle and high school and the societal/ psychological barriers he and those around him face. Some examples include jealousy, nepotism, racism, homelessness and bullying. Though these are all big heavy topics, these are things that pre-teens and teens face, often without a roadmap on how to navigate the situation or their feelings. This is why writing this graphic novel is so important to me. What would receiving this money mean to me? Being awarded five thousand dollars means a lot to me- the biggest of which means I don't have to worry about food or housing insecurity. This scholarship would allow me to take fewer hours working and be able to focus on my craft and grades. I would be able to transform from a grade-passing student who struggles daily to an exemplary student that thrives. Thank you for offering this scholarship and taking the time to read my entry.

I think one of the best tips I could give when going back to school is to find a set of tools that you like, and use them a lot! For me, They're my laptop, Decomposition notebooks (college ruled), Zebra Mildliners and a good black pen. I always have these with me when I'm at school. Using the same standard notebook for all of my classes helps me find a universal note taking process that works best for me. I prefer the Zebra mildliners because they come in less vibrant colors, which to me makes it easier to focus on the important details and is not as harsh on the eyes. Currently I'm using an Olive colored one and it not only is easy on the eyes but makes me excited to take notes because of how aesthetic they can turn out (with little effort). I think everyone will have a different set of tools, depending on your major, your way of learning, and wether you're a tactile person or not. But figuring out what those tools will be for you are one of the easiest most helpful things you can do to get yourself prepared for back to school.

My favorite piece of art is "The Swing" by Jean-Honore Fragonard. While taking a class on Art History, I instantly fell in love with the Rococo style. Particularly, the Salons. I loved the intricate work on the ceilings, the attention to detail and the use of soft, vibrant colors. That same intricacy and colors can be found in "The Swing." There's movement in the woman's skirt, which flutters softly in the air as she's pushed on a swing by her caretaker. The caretaker who is smiling, is unknowingly allowing the woman to flirt with a man hiding in the brush from the caretaker. the interaction between the man and woman is very sensual and playful, as she kicks off her shoe in his direction, giving him a flirtatious smile. There's lots of greenery, almost completely concealing the Cherubs in the background. The Rococo was a time period where artists moved away from the dark themes of the Baroque and focused less on symmetry, moving away from religious iconography and in some artists cases, creating more sensual material. I find this time period and style to be aesthetically pleasing and a great deal of interest.

If I had $1,000 right now I would use it to pay off some of my student loans; I currently have a little over $10K in student loan debt and my goal was to pay this off before the end of this school year. To accomplish this goal I have been working full time at my job, selling art commissions, my photocard collection and my books. I have walked dogs, babysat kids, renovated houses, had a garage sale and even washed car windows. One of my main goals this year is to be completely debt free. Part of this goal is what has lead me to filling out scholarships. With rent, groceries, school payments, inflation and other important bills, the progress has been slow. I've had to reassess my goal and extend my completion date to June 2023. I still have 3 years of schooling left and need to work as hard as I possibly can. Anything that can help me finish my schooling with as little debt as possible is something I have to give my all to. I would love to meet this financial goal as soon as possible so I can start working towards a healthier mind and body.

One of the most important financial lessons that was given to me was from my grandmother. When I was younger she was someone I often came to for advice, and one day I was asking her how do I take care of my money. Up until that point I had not had a take-home pay large enough to do any major investing or savings, but with my first fulltime job at 17, I knew I had to make the right decisions going forward. She told me, "Don't keep all of your eggs in one basket." She continued to tell me about how diversifying your money is the key to a successful start. "Don't just listen to me, do some research. I can help you with my own experience, but it's up to you to back it up with your own legwork." That's just what I did, I looked into diversifying my funds, I asked those around me how they handle their money, and I finally came to a conclusion of how to invest my own money. Because of the advice that my grandmother gave me, I've spent the past few years building my investment portfolio and feel much more financially secure for my future.

While growing up, I didn't have a lot of memories of my dad. He'd been an addict since his teens and wasn't around a lot. But this drawing I've submitted is of a great memory I have of him. When I was little, I liked to play in the snow. It was an especially cold evening and I'd trudged up the hill on the side of our house. Supper was called and I was making my way down with my pocket full of pinecones. As I made my way, my purple little Barney boot slid into the snow and when I pulled it out, all I had was a sock. I panicked and un-coordinatingly missed as I tried to put my foot back into the boot. I felt the cold and pulled my foot out, this time with no sock! I fell, foot into the snow and just stood there, cold. I screamed like someone had died and my dad came running out in his long johns and no shoes. He asked me what was wrong and I pointed to my boot. He scooped me up and carried me inside, warming my feet with his hands before putting me by the fireplace. It's a small little memory for some- but for me it's one of the only times I remember feeling like my dad was my hero. I hope to continue my career in art at MCAD and become a graphic designer, working on projects for youth in need. It's also a dream of mine to possibly further my education later in life as an Art Therapist and help children learn how to cope positively with negative situations and mental health, just like Art helped me.

A lot of the world's current issues can be traced back to poor education and support services, which is why I think focusing on an increase in support of students in educational facilities can solve a multitude of issues facing the world right now. To start, there's a lack in tolerance for those who aren't neurotypical. Children are reprimanded for fidgeting or drawing, when for many, a lack of movement under-stimulates the brain and makes it much harder to learn. There are children who can't can't focus because they don't have enough food at home, or are too tired because of home life circumstances. How can we expect them to care about school when their most basic needs aren't being met at home? Public Schools need to become more active in student support services. The counselors at most schools are there for minor academic support, and not much else. I think that having more counselors per school would help by opening up windows of time students could come and see their counselors for issues more regularly. By adding more student support staff, we could reduce the amount of students each staff member is assigned to, allowing them to focus on each student more. It would allow more check-in's with students, and a greater sense of support outside of the home. I knew many students growing up who never once met their counselor, from elementary all through graduating high school. I feel like that lack of interaction was a wasted resource that many of them could of benefited from. if we could find a way to increase student support staff, we would see an increase in student morale/behavior as well as an increase in graduation rates. Which in turn would nurture enthusiastic good-willed and educated citizens with empathy.

The most inspiring book I've read is "Home Body" by Rupi Kaur. It's a collection of poems written during the pandemic. Split into 4 even sections; mind, heart, rest and awake. I love that you can open up to a random page and read a single poem, but that it's organized in a way that if you read cover to cover, tells a story as well. Lots of her poems voice the fears of many women, ex: "My mind keeps running off to dark corners and coming back with reasons for why I am not enough." A lot of the poems in 'mind' are about mental health, not feeling good enough, over thinking and her personal journey after being raped. It's raw, and vulnerable; and she published it in a book for all to read. 'Heart' talks about love in such a melancholy way, it shines light on the bad, the ugly, and the moments you'd rather pretend didn't happen. One excerpt from a poem reads " sometimes I love you means I want to love you....Sometimes I love you means I have nowhere else to go." I think this highlights the types of love poems she writes about in this section of her book. A lot of this book reads almost like diary entries, which just brings us closer to this feeling of intimacy. Rest and Awake sections start to see hopeful passages that show resilience, such as " I will never be quiet about the way my people resisted so I could be free" and " I am not interested in a feminism that excludes Trans Women." Her thoughts echo those of many other women's, and It inspired me to be more open with myself. I admire Rupi Kaur for her tenacity.

One of the most important financial lessons that was given to me was from my grandmother. When I was younger she was someone I often came to for advice, and one day I was asking her how do I take care of my money. Up until that point I had not had a take-home pay large enough to do any major investing or savings, but with my first fulltime job at 17, I knew I had to make the right decisions going forward. She told me, "Don't keep all of your eggs in one basket." She continued to tell me about how diversifying your money is the key to a successful start. "Don't just listen to me, do some research. I can help you with my own experience, but it's up to you to back it up with your own legwork." That's just what I did, I looked into diversifying my funds, I asked those around me how they handle their money, and I finally came to a conclusion of how to invest my own money. Because of the advice that my grandmother gave me, I've spent the past few years building my investment portfolio and feel much more financially secure for my future.

I'm the oldest of 3 to single parent, we lived in a broken home for most of my childhood. There was alcohol and drug abuse, my mom had a manipulative and controlling partner for 11 years. I went through some very dark moments in my childhood. Spent a lot of time with my grandma or watching my siblings. As I entered high school life still seemed bleak and there were many instances where I could of easily turned to drugs or other substances. But I always had Art, and I believe that having that creative outlet to work through my emotions and make it into a positive outcome is the reason I didn't turn to substances. I've worked with young children in many of my hours of community service as well as my years as a teacher at a childcare center. I want to give back to my community with a focus on children. I want to give others the tools and opportunity to create and have that creative outlet to turn to. I want to be able to offer them an opportunity to take the negative and turn it into a positive. I'm interested in this field because I believe it's the future of the art world, it's a medium that is just so versatile and instantly sharable. I know it will help me in my goals to give back to the children in my community someday. There are two books I've been reading as of late that have taught me invaluable life lessons. One is called Into the Magic Shop by James R. Doty MD and the other is Home Body by Rupi Kaur. Into the Magic Shop is about a child from unfortunate circumstances who meets a woman in a Magic Shop who changes his life. She teaches him exercises that begin to change his way of thinking, ultimately setting his life on a new, positive course. I deeply relate to his childhood and have found his book to be an invaluable piece of literature I will read many times over in the future. This book has taught me that I am more than my past and that I have the ability to control my mindset, and shape my future. Home Body is a series of poems written during the pandemic by Rupi Kaur. She is vulnerable, raw, and each of her poems not only tells a story of her life, but is written in a way as if it is a letter to her past self, or perhaps a future daughter, maybe even just the other women in her life. It can be read as a warning, as sadness, as regret or as triumph. The greatest thing about her poems is that as a women, I can relate to every one, weather it be a small truth, or as if I had written the poem myself. I deeply can connect with this piece of literature, which has taught me of self reflection, speaking my truth, and loving myself and my body.

While growing up, I didn't have a lot of memories of my dad. He'd been an addict since his teens and wasn't around a lot after my parent's divorce. The drawing I've submitted to you is of a special memory I have with my dad. When I was little, I liked to play in the snow. It was an especially cold evening and I'd trudged up the hill on the side of our house. Supper was called and I was making my way down with my pocket full of pinecones. As I made my way, my purple little Barney boot slid into the snow and when I pulled it out, all I had was a sock. I panicked and un-coordinatingly missed as I tried to put my foot back into the boot. I felt the cold and pulled my foot out, this time with no sock! I fell, foot into the snow and just stood there, cold. I screamed like someone had died and my dad came running out in his long johns and no shoes. He asked me what was wrong and I pointed to my boot. He scooped me up and carried me inside, warming my feet with his hands before putting me by the fireplace. It's a small little memory for some- but for me it's one of the only times I remember feeling like my dad was my hero. Since producing this piece I've been lucky enough to cultivate a relationship with my dad and we are now quite close. I treasure this art piece more than any other I've created to date because not only was it of a fond memory from my childhood but now it stands as a representation of our relationship now. No matter how alone I may feel, and no matter how much trouble I may be in, I can count on him being there, just like he was on that day in the snow. He's been clean for two years and I'm so unbelievably proud of him and how far he's come after such a long struggle with addiction. I hope to continue my career in art at MCAD and become a graphic designer, working on projects for youth in need. It's also a dream of mine to further my education later in life as an Art Therapist and help children learn how to cope positively with negative situations and mental health, just like Art has helped me.

Growing up as the oldest child of a single mother often meant I had to take on the role of the second parent with my younger siblings. I was an ear for my mother and a diaper-changing-band-aid application connoisseur to my brother and sister. Right out of high school my mother started working full time and despite playing with the idea of going to college that never came to fruition. When I started high school I finally began to think about my future and what I wanted to do. My siblings were old enough to take car of themselves and I began to explore my own interests through electives, clubs and sports. I saw my grades go from C-'s and D's to C's and B's. I worked hard everyday to complete my homework and try to understand the concepts being taught to me. Despite doing better than I had previously in school, I still struggled. As I discovered who I was as a person, I realized that I wanted more out of my life than just working for a paycheck. I wanted to do something that was fulfilling and meaningful. This was when I first played with the idea of going to school for art. I was told by many people that it was going to be a waste of money, that all I'd end up being is a broke artist. I did my best not to listen to them and began sending in applications to schools. My senior year my grandfather died and it had a profound impact on me. I was stuck in a haze and my grades began to suffer. Because of my grades my senior year I was unable to get any scholarships and ultimately had to turn down going to a great school. For a long time I focused on working full time, but after doing that for almost four years I realized I was stuck. There was nowhere for me to increase my rate of pay where I was working unless I went to school for something I wasn't passionate about. As soon as I realized this a new fire was lit under me. I applied to all of the local community colleges in my area, and navigated the confusing sign up and FAFSA process alone. I was accepted to one of the colleges and began attending Fall of 2019. While attending College I became a new person. I felt hope, pride, enthusiastic and optimistic. I excelled like never before and brought home a 4.0 GPA my first semester. These feelings continued to thrive inside of me despite the pandemic arising with new challenges for me through online learning. through all that I was still able to graduate with an Associates and get accepted into my dream college for my bachelor's program. Coming from a single parent household, I had to play catch up with my education from the start. I had to do things on my own and became self sufficient at an early age. I think that these skills are what helped me succeed once I was able to find the motivation to chase after my dreams. I hope that one day I'm able to help out in my community by teaching art therapy to young children and help them discover a creative outlet they can use to deal with difficult situations throughout life; just as I have been so lucky to have discovered.

I think that change needs to take place in public schools- I can't speak for other nations, but in America- there's a lack in tolerance for those who aren't neurotypical. Children are reprimanded for fidgeting or drawing, when for many, a lack of movement under-stimulates the brain and makes it much harder to learn. There are children who can't can't focus because they don't have enough food at home, or are too tired because of home life circumstances. Public Schools need to become more active in student support services. The counselors at most schools are there for minor academic support, and not much else. I think that having more counselors per school would help by opening up windows of time students could come and see their counselors for issues more regularly. By adding more student support staff, we could reduce the amount of students each staff member is assigned to, allowing them to focus on each student more. It would allow more check-in's with students, and a greater sense of support outside of the student's home. I knew many students growing up who never once met their counselor, from elementary all through graduating high school. I feel like that lack of interaction was a wasted resource that many of them could of benefited from. I believe the lack of students utilizing their student support staff is due to how many kids are assigned per staff member, and that if we could find a way to increase student support staff, we would see an increase in student morale/behavior as well as an increase in graduation rates.

One of the most important financial lessons that was given to me was from my grandmother. When I was younger she was someone I often came to for advice, and one day I was asking her how do I take care of my money. Up until that point I had not had a take-home pay large enough to do any major investing or savings, but with my first fulltime job at 17, I knew I had to make the right decisions going forward. She told me, "Don't keep all of your eggs in one basket." She continued to tell me about how diversifying your money is the key to a successful start. "Don't just listen to me, do some research. I can help you with my own experience, but it's up to you to back it up with your own legwork." that's just what I did, I looked into diversifying my funds, I asked those around me how they handle their money, and I finally came to a conclusion of how to invest my own money.

1. Every year my county holds an exhibition for children's art work. One child from each grade (K-12) of each school is picked to showcase an art piece. When I was in third grade, my self portrait was picked to be in this exhibition. I was very proud and got my parents to take me to go see my art on display. Though I originally only went there to see my own work, I was quickly blown away my all of the other amazing artists on display. I ended up meeting quite a few of the high schooler's whose work was on display. They were kind and answered my many questions. I can't remember their names or faces, but their kindness and artistry left an impression on me. I wanted to grow up and make more art, I wanted to get better, I wanted to learn everything there was to learn about art. This community experience impacted me in a profound way and is part of why I never turn down the offer to new knowledge 2. My favorite teacher in high school was the art teacher who taught drawing 1, 2, 3 and AP drawing. Her name escapes me now, since It's been so many years since I've been in high school, but she made such a large impact on my life. I was failing her drawing 3 class, and she came to me and asked me what was going on. I hadn't told anyone at the school, but my grandfather had just passed away and I didn't have the tools to deal with his loss. She was compassionate and helped me get a passing grade in her class. She also taught me that it's okay to be vulnerable with people, and it's okay to not always be at your best when you're struggling. Though it was not an instant fix, and I hid my emotions and struggles for years after, I slowly learned to open up and admit when I wasn't okay, all thanks to her, who was the first person to open that door for me. 3. For as long as I've wanted to pursue art as a career, I knew I wanted to make an impact on lives. When I was younger my home life wasn't something I liked talking about, and I often tried to stay away from home as much as I could get away with. One of the ways I did this as I got into middle school was joining the art club. Through art I was able to find a safe space as well as a creative outlet to express myself freely. As I grew older and began to feel more internal turmoil, I turned to art again. A lot of my friends at the time had started drinking and doing drugs and I believe that if I hadn't had art, I might of turned to those avenues as well. As someone who grew up in a house of addicts, I truly believe in the arts and extracurriculars and I want to someday be able to volunteer my time to offer other children a safe place to create, think and just be themselves. 4. I've always been petrified by failure. It just wasn't an option in my eyes, and often lead to me not trying new things. I lived in a very small world where everything I did had to be more than good enough, or it wasn't worth doing. But as I grew older I realized I can't be perfect in everything I do, even if I'm selective. Sitting here now as someone who stumbles and falls constantly, it's difficult to talk about my failures because I see them as part of who I am. That is not to say that I don't fail, because I truly do so often. But I think my biggest failure was not believing in myself in those years I refused to make a mistake. It caused me years of anxiety and a life time of what if's. As I've grown as a person I've realized many of my faults and fears, but along with that I've realized that the only thing worse than failing is not trying.

Though I think that the saying "pick your battles" comes from a place of wisdom, it is not something I can follow through on if I am to stay true to myself. There are times where saying nothing would be the easier route, Where simply not saying my peace would mean an uneventful day. But I refuse to walk on eggshells for others. Not only is it important for me to speak my mind because I'm an individual, but it's important for me to speak as a role model for my niece. Though she's but 2 years old, I want her to have examples of strong women who refused to be silenced in a male dominated world. When I speak my mind it's never with malice, or the intent to start a ripple. Though I often times find my views are of the opposition of my family. I don't try to change their minds or 'make them see' it my way. But I don't stray from sensitive topics when they are brought up, because having conversations is important. I remember one time my mother was complaining about how an employee at a fast food restaurant was speaking Spanish to another employee, and she was angry. I asked her "why is that a problem? They're talking to each other. If it's their native language, it's easier to speak that way to each other. We both know a lot of Spanish, but we don't speak to each other in anything but English." She told me to get out of her car. Though it caused turbulence with my mother, I don't regret making that statement. Speaking your mind isn't always roses, but its important to stay true to yourself.

I come from a low-income family who struggled with addiction and mental health. From an early age I came to accept that this was the life I would have, making a low income, working myself to the bone, being unhappy and just stuck. I lived with this mindset for almost 20 years. One day I was watching a Ted Talk as I was winding down for the night. The man on the Ted Talk was talking about mindset. He said something that really stuck out to me. "If you say you will fail, then you will fail." His talk was about building a positive mindset, and how in doing so, you can change the course of your life. I decided it wouldn't hurt to give it a try. A large part of this change in my mindset had to do with re-phrasing negative thoughts into positive ones. Instead of thinking "Here we go, another day at work. Just great..." I would think "Wow, the sun is shining. I want to have a good day today." One morning, I woke up and a thought popped into my head. "I want to go back to school." Instead of my normal negativity, thinking "you can't do that its expensive and could be a waste of time" I thought to myself. "Okay then, lets go back to school." I got a 4.0GPA my first semester of college. I was excelling, meeting new people, absorbing as much knowledge as I could. I've since graduated as a member of Phi Theta Kappa and have been accepted into my dream College for my Bachelor's. My recognition in my power to change my life is how I was able to persevere through one of the darkest times of my life.

I come from a low-income family who struggled with addiction and mental health. From an early age I came to accept that this was the life I would have, low wage, working myself ragged, being unhappy and just stuck. One day I was watching a Ted Talk as I was winding down for the night. The speaker was talking about mindsets and said something that stuck with me. "If you say you're sad, then you'll be sad. If you say you'll fail, then you'll fail." His talk was about building a positive mindset, and how in doing so, you can change the course of your life. My mindset had to do with re-phrasing negative thoughts into positive ones. Instead of thinking "Here we go, another day at work. Just great..." I would think "Wow, the sun is shining, and I'm awake. I want to have a good day today." I'd lived in a mindset of negativity and hopelessness for most of my life, there were days I'd succeed and days I'd fail. One morning, I woke up and a thought popped into my head. "I want to go back to school." Instead of my normal negativity, thinking "You can't do that its expensive and a waste of time" I thought to myself. "Okay, lets go back to school." That Fall, I had enrolled myself into a community college. I went from a 2.3 High school GPA to a 4.0 my first semester of college. I was excelling. I've since graduated with an Associates as a member of Phi Theta Kappa, and have been accepted into my dream College for my Bachelor's. I know I have the power to do anything I set my mind to, and I think that's the most hopeful thing there is.

Something that I've learned about myself that I find valuable is my ability to create my own future. I come from a low-income family who struggled with addiction and mental health. From an early age I came to accept that this was the life I would have, making a low income, working myself to the bone, being unhappy and just stuck. I lived with this mindset for almost 20 years. One day I was watching a Ted Talk as I was winding down for the night. The man on the Ted Talk was talking about mindset. He said something that really stuck out to me. "If you say you will fail, then you will fail." His talk was about building a positive mindset, and how in doing so, you can change the course of your life. I decided it wouldn't hurt to give it a try. A large part of this change in my mindset had to do with re-phrasing negative thoughts into positive ones. Instead of thinking "Here we go, another day at work. Just great..." I would think "Wow, the sun is shining. I want to have a good day today." One morning, I woke up and a thought popped into my head. "I want to go back to school." Instead of my normal negativity, thinking "you can't do that its expensive and could be a waste of time" I thought to myself. "Okay then, lets go back to school." I got a 4.0GPA my first semester of college. I was excelling, meeting new people, absorbing as much knowledge as I could. I've since graduated as a member of Phi Theta Kappa and have been accepted into my dream College for my Bachelor's. My recognition in my power to change my life is the most valuable discovery yet.

Up until recently, I took nature for granted. But because of my 2 year old niece, my wonderment in nature has been restored. My niece has been a great source of joy in my life since her birth. She's fearless, quizitive and awe-struck by the beauty of nature. One day her and I were on a walk with her mother through a nature center nearby. Her eyes lit up like Christmas tree lights at the slightest sight of a bird, a floating leaf, or minnows swimming their way around a pond. Everything we passed was special, pointed out and smiled at. Seeing her reaction, it made me realize that these sights were taken for granted, simply because I'd experienced them before. Her cheers of delight and excitement when we hand her a stick or a leaf to carry is what made me finally realize I appreciate nature. If I come from a mindset of a toddler, where everything is new and magical, looking at a tree I can no only see it's beauty, but appreciate the oxygen it's providing. I love going on walks with my niece now, and get almost as giddy about our walks as she does. We go on treasure hunts, looking for the coolest leaf, stick or rock. I take walks on my own daily as well, breathing in the air and the sun, and just being thankful that I am able to see it and enjoy it. It's all thanks to my niece that my love for nature was restored. Whoever said you can't teach an old dog new tricks has certainly never met my niece.

My best skill is my Creation of Artwork. I am going into a Graphic Design Major, and love art! Though I major in Graphic Design/ Digital Art, I love working in all mediums. The way I'm improving my digital skills is by educating myself. I'm enrolled for a bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, and run my own sticker shop. I design, print, cut, sell and ship the sticker packs all on my own. In doing so, I've learned a lot of techniques and skills working with my software. While waiting for my classes to start, I've been taking online classes on Udemy.com. Currently I'm taking a crash course on digital illustration as well as a course in Photoshop basics. I love to learn, and the more I do, the more tools I have under my belt to deal with requests for my art. Since I want to work in Graphic Design, I will have to provide designs of products based on the customer's parameters. the more knowledge I have, the easier this will be to complete.

My favorite piece of art is "The Swing" by Jean-Honore Fragonard. While taking a class on Art History, I instantly fell in love with the Rococo style. Particularly, the Salons. I loved the intricate work on the ceilings, the attention to detail and the use of soft, vibrant colors. That same intricacy and colors can be found in "The Swing." There's movement in the woman's skirt, which flutters softly in the air as she's pushed on a swing by her caretaker. The caretaker who is smiling, is unknowingly allowing the woman to flirt with a man hiding in the brush from the caretaker. the interaction between the man and woman is very sensual and playful, as she kicks off her shoe in his direction, giving him a flirtatious smile. There's lots of greenery, almost completely concealing the Cherubs in the background. The Rococo was a time period where artists moved away from the dark themes of the Baroque and focused less on symmetry, moving away from religious iconography and in some artists cases, creating more sensual material. I find this time period and style to be aesthetically pleasing and a great deal of interest, and it inspires a lot of the color pallets in my own artwork.

The most inspiring book I've read is "Home Body" by Rupi Kaur. It's a collection of poems written during the pandemic. split into 4 even sections; mind, heart, rest and awake. I love that you can open up to a random page and read a single poem, but that it's organized in a way that if you read cover to cover, tells a story as well. Lots of her poems voice the fears of many women, ex: "My mind keeps running off to dark corners and coming back with reasons for why I am not enough." A lot of the poems in 'mind' are about mental health, not feeling good enough, over thinking and her personal journey after being raped. It's raw, and vulnerable; and she published it in a book for all to read. 'Heart' talks about love in such a melancholy way, it shines light on the bad, the ugly, and the moments you'd rather pretend didn't happen. One excerpt from a poem reads " sometimes I love you means I want to love you....Sometimes I love you means I have nowhere else to go." I think this highlights the types of love poems she writes about in this section of her book. A lot of this book reads almost like diary entries, which just brings us closer to this feeling of intimacy. Rest and Awake sections start to see hopeful passages that show resilience, such as " I will never be quiet about the way my people resisted so I could be free" and " I am not interested in a feminism that excludes Trans Women." Her thoughts echo those of many other women's, and It inspired me to be more open with myself. I admire Rupi Kaur for her tenacity.

One thing that gives me hope in the future is knowing I have the power create my own future. I come from a low income family who struggled with addiction and mental health issues. From an early age I came to accept that this was the life I would have, making a low income, working myself to the bone, being unhappy and just stuck. I lived with this mindset for almost 20 years, and just like I predicted, I was unhappy, tired, working myself ragged. One day I was watching a Ted Talk as I was winding down for the night. The man on the Ted Talk was talking about mindset. He said something that really stuck out to me. I can't remember the exact quote, but it was along the lines of "If you say you're sad, then you will be sad. If you say you will fail, then you will fail." His talk was about building a positive mindset, and how in doing so, you can change the course of your life. I initially rolled my eyes at the idea, but after giving it some thought, decided it wouldn't hurt to give it a try. A large part of this change in my mindset had to do with re-phrasing negative thoughts into positive ones. So instead of thinking "Dang, here we go, another day at work. Just great..." I would think "Wow, the sun is shining, and I'm awake. I want to have a good day today." It was difficult. I'd lived in a mindset of negativity and hopelessness for most of my life. there were days I'd succeed and days I would fail. One morning, I woke up and a thought popped into my head. "I want to go back to school." Instead of my normal negativity, thinking "you can't do that its too much money and it could be a waste of time" I thought to myself. "Okay then, lets go back to school." That Fall, I had enrolled myself into a community college. I went from a 2.3 High school GPA to a 4.0 my first semester of college. I was excelling, meeting new people, absorbing as much knowledge as I could. I've since graduated with an Associates in Arts as a member of Phi Theta Kappa's Honor Society, and have been accepted into my dream College for my Bachelor's program - Minneapolis College of Art and Design. I couldn't of done any of these things If I hadn't changed my mindset. I'm on the path to a great future, which I now know I can change at any point in any direction I choose. I know I have the power to do anything I set my mind to, and I think that's the most hopeful thing there is.

I grew up in a low income family, and though I had dreams of going to college, I had to give them up early on because I just couldn't afford it. For 3 years after graduating, I worked full time, often accumulating overtime hours. These 3 years were probably some of my lowest. I felt depressed, unmotivated, and like my life had no purpose. Even though I had money for the first time in my life, I didn't do anything with it because I truly felt like it didn't matter. My days consisted of going to work and sleeping, with not much else in between. I finally decided that I needed something in my life to change. With the money I saved, plus help from FAFSA, I was able to attend my first semester of community college. I excelled at my college, pulling in a 4.0 GPA my first semester (being a regular C student in high school, this was an extraordinary feat). During my time at my community college, my life really turned around; I got a high paying job, was accepted into an Honor's society, fell in love and even was accepted into my dream college. I really think that the positive atmosphere my college had was what helped my life turn around so quickly. I was surrounded by motivated students and professors who cared; which pushed me to try just that much harder. I was busy with school, sometimes even stressed, but I never regretted attending. Being a first generation college student has been difficult, I've supported myself financially though the entire process, with the help of FAFSA and scholarships. Thinking about how far I've come even makes me cry sometimes- happy tears, I promise. My greatest support during this time was my grandmother and I only wish she was still here so I could tell her I did it- I've made my dreams start to come true. For the first time in my life, I'm genuinely proud of myself.

I grew up in a low income family, and though I had dreams of going to college, I had to give them up because I just couldn't afford it. For 3 years I worked full time, regularly accumulating overtime. These 3 years were probably some of my lowest. I felt depressed, unmotivated, and like my life had no purpose. Even though I had money for the first time in my life, I didn't do anything with it because I truly felt like it didn't matter. I finally decided that I needed something in my life to change. With the money i saved, plus help from FAFSA, I was able to attend my first semester of community college. I excelled at my college, pulling in a 4.0 GPA my first semester (high school I was usually at a 2.3). During my time at my community college, my life really turned around; I got a high paying job, was accepted into an Honor's society, fell in love and even was accepted into my dream college. I really think that the positive atmosphere my college had was what helped my life turn around so quickly. I was surrounded by motivated students and professors who cared; which pushed me to try just that much harder. I was busy with school, sometimes even stressed, but I never regretted attending. Thinking about how far I've come even makes me cry sometimes- happy tears, I promise. My greatest support during this time was my grandmother and I only wish she was still here so I could tell her I did it- I've made my dreams start to come true. For the first time in my life, I'm genuinely proud of myself.

I've always had a problem with hyper-focusing on a certain task. While this is great when working under deadlines, I've found this mentality has followed me into my investment strategy as well. For the longest time, I only had one bank account- a checking account. I found myself running into overdraft fees ( I remember one time specifically I was charged 8 times for the same overdraft fee and went -$200 because of it). I had a distressed phone call with my grandmother about it- she was my best friend and I knew she'd have some good input for me. I didn't realize at the time that she'd be giving me the ultimate money advice that would lead me to investing for the first time. She told me not to fret, and to keep a cool head. I would have to call the bank, and see if I could get some of the overdraft fees dismissed. After I calmed down a bit I asked her "How can I keep this from happening again?" "Danielle, you can't put all of your eggs in one basket." I didn't exactly know what she meant, but after her explaining it, I was able to create a system with my banking that kept me from having overdraft fees. With her advice I began looking into a Roth IRA, ETF's and Mutual Funds, which have all shown great investment growth and was one of the reasons I was able to push myself to pursue my education. I'm forever grateful to my Grandma for her advice, which has helped me enrich my future.

Whenever I'm asked this question, thoughts from school enter my mind, flashes of the MyPlate Diagram, our daily exercise in gym. While I think that fitness and eating right are great habits to enrich your life, I don't think it's the best way to live a long and healthy life. I remember sitting with my grandmother as a child, often half heartedly watching 'Say Yes to the Dress' or some other wedding program. I learned a lot from her strength and kindness over the years, and cherish those lessons. One day we were watching the show while I helped her peel potatoes. A commercial break had just begun. I turned to My grandmother, remembering her birthday was coming up soon and asked her "Grandma, how old are you?" "I'm older than dirt!" She replied with a smile. Being young I genuinely thought this was true, so I asked her something along the lines of; "Wow Grandma, that means you're really old! Like 100! But don't people die when they get old?" She nodded her head, "Yes, usually." "Well how come you're still here?" I asked. "Laughter." Her response was nonchalant, and I'm sure she forgot about the conversation over time. But that's stuck with me over the years. I notice that the more I smile or laugh, the better I feel. It may seem cliché, but often cliché's are what they are based off of some truth. I think that laughing is the best way to live a long healthy life. I spend a lot of my time with others trying to put a smile on their faces, telling jokes, being silly and encouraging.

I think that change needs to take place in public schools- I can't speak for other nations, but in America- there's a lack in tolerance for those who aren't neurotypical. Children are reprimanded for fidgeting or drawing, when for many, a lack of movement under-stimulates the brain and makes it much harder to learn. There are children who can't can't focus because they don't have enough food at home, or are too tired because of home life circumstances. Public Schools need to become more active in student support services. The counselors at most schools are there for minor academic support, and not much else. I think that having more counselors per school would help by opening up windows of time students could come and see their counselors for issues more regularly. By adding more student support staff, we could reduce the amount of students each staff member is assigned to, allowing them to focus on each student more. It would allow more check-in's with students, and a greater sense of support outside of the student's home. I knew many students growing up who never once met their counselor, from elementary all through graduating high school. I feel like that lack of interaction was a wasted resource that many of them could of benefited from. I believe the lack of students utilizing their student support staff is due to how many kids are assigned per staff member, and that if we could find a way to increase student support staff, we would see an increase in student morale/behavior as well as an increase in graduation rates.

I keep a growth mindset within my life by always searching to better myself. Weather through reading and learning or trying new experiences, I continue to put myself in unfamiliar situations. My teacher in high school gave me the most cathartic piece of advice, which I've taken with me all these years. She told me "those who do not do become complacent. Those who become complacent do not do. For those who do such, will have life pass them by." I appreciated her taking time to speak with us about complacency; it gave me a lot to think about and has shaped how I am today.

Patience is love. It takes compassion to be patient, as a child ties their shoes, as your partner learns new tasks. It takes understanding to be patient, as an older man walks ahead of you with a cane, or as you wait in line for the bathroom. To be patient is to have self serenity, as you miss your stop on a bus or train. Patience is comprised of the same components of love, and as such can be used to express love and kindness to others. I truly think that that is what makes patience so important to me. In a world where everything is so instantaneous, the art of patience is lost on many; replaced by a sense of urgency. But urgency brings negativity with it; greed, anger, anxiety. By practicing a life of patience, you're bringing a positive outlook to those who might not experience it much in their daily lives. The idea that one act of kindness can change someone's entire day is a true sentiment I try to practice in my own life, one of which is through using kindness. Some of my most cherished moments come from expressing my love with patience. When my Grandmother was sick with cancer this summer, I helped her with the most basic of tasks. Lifting a cup to her lips, walking her to the bathroom, adjusting pillows. Some may have grown impatient with the heavy amount of care it took, but I saw it as a way to show my love to her. Now that she has passed, I'm unbelievably grateful for those moments I got to show her patience and love in her most vulnerable moments.

Because of the pandemic I was given the greatest gift I never would of expected to receive. My sister is 10 years older than me and had kids young. Because of this, I didn't get to know them very well, as I was about 7 at the time. In 2020, My sister and her youngest son came to live with my family after being in Florida for a while. I was excited to reconnect with my sister and begin to form a bond with my Nephew. Soon after she arrived, she announced she was pregnant. Because of the pandemic, I was able to spend precious time with my 11 year old Nephew as well as watch my Niece grow. I cherish those days. I learned my nephew loves playing video games and telling jokes. In those 6 months they lived with us I got to hold my baby Niece, feed her, sing to her, and grow to love her more each day. Now she's close to two years old! Though my sister and her children moved out, I still see them each week and I am so thankful that the pandemic was able to bring us together.

My favorite piece of art is "The Swing" by Jean-Honore Fragonard. While taking a class on Art History, I instantly fell in love with the Rococo style. Particularly, the Salons. I loved the intricate work on the ceilings, the attention to detail and the use of soft, vibrant colors. That same intricacy and colors can be found in "The Swing." There's movement in the woman's skirt, which flutters softly in the air as she's pushed on a swing by her caretaker. The caretaker who is smiling, is unknowingly allowing the woman to flirt with a man hiding in the brush from the caretaker. the interaction between the man and woman is very sensual and playful, as she kicks off her shoe in his direction, giving him a flirtatious smile. There's lots of greenery, almost completely concealing the Cherubs in the background. The Rococo was a time period where artists moved away from the dark themes of the Baroque and focused less on symmetry, moving away from religious iconography and in some artists cases, creating more sensual material. I find this time period and style to be aesthetically pleasing and a great deal of interest.

While growing up, I didn't have a lot of memories of my dad. He'd been an addict since his teens and wasn't around a lot. But this drawing I've submitted is of a great memory I have of him. When I was little, I liked to play in the snow. It was an especially cold evening and I'd trudged up the hill on the side of our house. Supper was called and I was making my way down with my pocket full of pinecones. As I made my way, my purple little Barney boot slid into the snow and when I pulled it out, all I had was a sock. I panicked and un-coordinatingly missed as I tried to put my foot back into the boot. I felt the cold and pulled my foot out, this time with no sock! I fell, foot into the snow and just stood there, cold. I screamed like someone had died and my dad came running out in his long johns and no shoes. He asked me what was wrong and I pointed to my boot. He scooped me up and carried me inside, warming my feet with his hands before putting me by the fireplace. It's a small little memory for some- but for me it's one of the only times I remember feeling like my dad was my hero. I hope to continue my career in art at MCAD and become a graphic designer, working on projects for youth in need. It's also a dream of mine to possibly further my education later in life as an Art Therapist and help children learn how to cope positively with negative situations and mental health, just like Art helped me.