I have recently seen the "Howl's Moving Castle" and there is no lie that the movie and book are different. When it comes to this, that is what I find artist about it. The original creator who made the book, Diana Wynne Jones, had a few things to say when it came to the outcome of the Studio Ghibli adaptation made by 速雄宮崎 (Hayao Miyazaki). Though, I do not want to focus on them too much, this is meant to be my feelings on the matter. When it comes to the book and the movie, there are clear changes in plot, though I do not feel as if they are as bad as some may say. One thing to note is that the movie itself is very popular, and Studio Ghibli films always have a certain feel to them. Seeing the difference in the book and the movie were striking but nice to see. I feel as though the Howl and Sophie in the movie are a lot more noble and gentle in comparison to the book. I find this to be a creative choice to make by Miyazaki, as it does change the dynamics of the characters a bit. In terms of the movie adaptation, I find it to be fitting with the love plot that goes on with the Howl and Sophie, something the book does not have. I wasn't the fondest of the way the Howl in the book acted when it came to love, which was visible in the movie. I feel as the though movie gave him some sort of growth that came in the form of Sophie as his love interest. While it is something I can say didn't happen in the book, it could have happened in future sequels. Seeing the characters come to life on the screen itself is truly magical as there is no secret to how the characters look. Seeing them visually was magical to me, especially with all the fan art and everything else I have seen. The castle is amazing, and visuals truly do have the Studio Ghibli feel and magic to it all the while bringing the book and its world to life in a manner that clashes perfectly in my eyes. I think that this adaption is something that is breath taking, especially if you like the studio that made the film. I also believe that this adaption is worth the watch if you do not mind a change in plot. It is quite obvious it was not made to be a one to one to the book and there are no other films that I know of by this studio that follows any of the authors books. I feel as though the changes are nice and artistic, as usually no movie stays exactly true to the book. These changes are ones that I approve of. I hope many others can enjoy the magic that both the film and book offer, both in terms of their similarities but their creative differences as well.

If I were to consider someone to be a Black leader in my life it would hard to say when it comes to my life. As of recently I have found a lot to look up to in my significant other's mother. It's a bit hard to penpoint when this became a thing, but I am grateful for it. My significant other's mother has been offering me a lot of advice now that I have opened up some to her, which I already find as a hard enough thing to do. I wouldn't say she is the most stereotypical leader out there, for she is someone who is simply a mother and mail carrier. The words that she speaks out, I find to be rather accepting and understanding. Listening to her speak about her life is something I find inspirational for my own. While we do not go through the same struggles, seeing someone who goes through similar is rather nice. I find her methods of navigating through things to be nice. A sort of refresher to what I am used to. Someone who goes through things at a rather calm manner. Learning to be a little bit more open minded and understanding when it comes to the things going on in life. When it comes to the people in life, she has helped me gain an understanding of what freedom could be to me. Outside of just that I have been learning to find my inner peace, as I am realizing more and more that I cannot control everything. Sometimes we have to go with the flow, but we can build on it. This women in my life have helped me understand and see that despite all that is going on, there is beauty in the world. That there is hope in what seems lost and it is okay to forget sometimes. I am learning more and more the values of not quitting. She has helped pull me up from my sense of over negativity. One thing that I value quite a lot in trying to learn is finding myself. She always says it can take a while to find myself, but self-discovery is a part of life, and I would get there one day so there is no need to beat myself up about it. Seeing as in our time of knowing one another, I have seen changes happen to her as well, which is all the more reason to be inspired and believe her. A sense of growing can be displayed and the way she reflects on things that have come and gone help in my view of her. With all that I have learned from this special woman in my life, I hold nothing but respect and sometimes questions for her. She always speaks about many things that help me things a lot about the way I view life. They help me see a new perspective. I hope one of these times she will be as proud as she says she is when it comes to me, much like her son. As she would tell me, life is sort of like my relationship with her son. It has problems every now and again, but it is beautiful too, like a desert rose.

A pleasure to meet you readers. I am a semi self-made artist. Someone who has been doing art since I was elementary school. Pursing the arts within high schools when it came to my curriculum, commercial arts. I have always found the arts to be my passion along with video games. The two of them have been a collide that has helped me choice where I am today. The way that art is used in games along with the stories that are told with the mechanics are fascinating which is what helps increase my love for games. An example would be the series of "The Legend of Zelda". The two newer games, Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, are my absolute favorites that can yet to be beat. I also have a fascination with study abroad, especially in Japan. Taking three years of Japanese classes, I have a high fascination with the land, their people, their culture and more. Another thing that had led me to the career I am going for. I am a student at Michigan State University, going into the major Game and Interactive Media. I plan to minor in Japanese and Animation if I am able to, with the way time goes and costs dependent. Going onto my career I want to be a concept artist or a game designer, mainly focusing on the art of these games while also assisting in story and perhaps user interface. I also want to be a sort of freelance artist, much like my professor. This would allow me to do all of these things while not being specifically stuck to one job or corporation while being able to be commissioned and paid just like anyone else for my work. I see that as a good way to go as it gives me a sort of creative freedom in myself while also giving me opportunities to do professional work all at the same time. Something that I have learned to believe a little more the more as time goes is, "If you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life." With that said, I truly hope that such is the case. As someone who studies these things now, I find myself enjoying the courses I am taking and what I am learning from them. With my career I want to be able to find myself being able to travel and find myself semi working remote, so I am not limited to nor stuck in one place. I want to find myself being able to finally go national just outside of study abroad, just in terms of travel, living and work. It will definitely help me integrate more into my work that is more diverse than just staying in one spot, lacking the ability to witness more with my own eyes. My chosen field of study will help me achieve these goals because I am going directly into that field of work like many of the alumni who were in my position previously. Currently I am working in a class that works on games which is great hands-on work with what I am pursing in. In addition to that I take a sketching class that is advancing my knowledge when it comes to the video of art in both a traditional sense and a digital sense. It is helpful to have hands on experience all the while learning and watching from a professor that does something that I want to be able to do, I find it admiring. On top of that when it comes to this major you are able to go into a specific subject matter to focus on while being able to take classes from the others. I believe that with that in mind it will be heavily useful in me reaching my goals. Being able to focus specifically on game design classes that I want to take will help me learn what I believe is most helpful for the positions that I want, rather than being forced to take classes in a field that will not assist me in any manner. An example is that because I plan on doing the arts of sorts, I will focus on taking more advance art classes within my major and character design while looking to take VFX classes. On the other hand, because I want to also have the skill of working on the story and game itself in a more in dept way, I will also take a class or two in the field of game storytelling and development. My classes in animation will easily help since there are plenty of games that have animation in it one-way or another, also being able to add to what I can do when it comes to being a free-lance artist. This will expand the projects I am able to work on. Taking Japanese is something that I am just passionate in doing but it also would help in my ability to work overseas on projects in Japan. Working with companies that have amazing projects or is just like Nintendo themselves is kind of inspiring. When it comes to impact one of the main things I want to be able to do is add diversity. I want to not only add diversity to the workspace but also to the games being produced. I believe that better diversity and better presentation would do well for not only the industry but also the community of people that love these games. I can imagine it would be nice to be able to see yourself or someone like you in a game, not only through characters who exhibit those traits but also with people who can and do represent you one way or another. In media it can be encouraging and nice for people to see themselves in characters and many other things. See their home be represented and so much more. Rather than just seeing the same thing when the possibilities are endless with different games and the stories they tell. I also believe that if people see fairness and diversity int he workspace it will encourage them a bit more to go forward and join it, especially if it is an interest of theirs. There is so much than can be done with games and being able to create more that can help on a more technical level when it comes to helping with mental health, things like ADHD and so much more or just providing an enjoyable and comfortable space for people. These games can allow people to wind down, find peace and see themselves while learning. I want to be able to help communities that way too with a serious games master's after receiving my bachelor's if I can. Those are the things I believe I can bring to the table; those are things that I want to.

I have read many books in my life, and they have touched a lot of genres, mostly being in the realm of fiction. While fiction books aren't like your nonfictions or biographies, they do offer lessons of their own in many cases. While the lessons are rooted deep in some intricate or lighthearted story, the lesson can be a part of the message the story wanted to tell or just a part of someone's story arc at the very least. One thing I can say a lot of my stories like to speak on would be to have courage. Courage and passion are a heavy rooted topic in a lot of the books that I read, along with perseverance. Whether it be "Harry Potter", "Jinxed" or even "Loki Where Mischief Lies". A major thing that follows the main characters is perseverance and the building of courage. Example being "Jinxed" itself. The main character, Lacey, was a talented engineer. The skills she had tended to go unnoticed by others if not over looked at first. There had been so many issues throughout the book, yet she stayed strong. Lacey stood on her beliefs and even when it was hard for her or she wanted to give up there was something in her that kept her going, even if it could be considered luck. She took that luck and ran with it, showing her skills and what she could do. Standing by what she knew and what she could do, eager to find more and reach the goals she had set out for herself. The goal being to go to her dream school and become the engineer she was setting out to be, standing the shoes of the women she looked up to when it came to such a career. This story, outside of being entertaining and fun, showed me true means of courage. While the story wasn't real the feelings the character had was relatable and so were a lot of the things that Lacey had done in a way since she was also a student. The story I just mentioned really has inspired me in a way, especially as I have reached college level. While I won't do as much as Lacey has, I have gotten into the school I want to and I plan to succeed. There is so much that I have going on and if Lacey could do it, so can I. I can say with all the books that I have read they have given me inspiration. There is inspiration to keep going, to believe in myself more and to have a sense of courage. Courage that I have never had all the while maintaining perseverance. The industry I am trying to find my way into will be hard but that will not stop me at all. I plan on giving it my all as much as the character's I love have done for themselves. There is something about looking up to a character that had helped with my goal. It's easy to quite but there is no need to do so. I plan on going beyond just the basics and use the help that I have to get far, just as the characters have. I know one thing I didn't do was ask for help. Now with all that I have said there is so much more to, but to leave it short I wouldn't change it for the world the books I have read. They have been inspirational and drawing, so I want to keep going for more than one reason.

Coming from a low-income household from both sides of my family has been a little rough but it has shown me a few things. It's hard to say that I have come a single parent household, although with the split of my parents I have been able to see the struggles that both face with their respective lives which has led me to have the mindset I have today. Being in these situations and seeing how my parents live amongst themselves, other people and in my mother case, my siblings has made me want to do far better than what they have. I want to be able to push and drive myself into the right direction so that I will be able to not only have a stable footing of my own, but also lead by example for the four siblings I have. With the experiences I have I want to be able to show people that their upbringing and home life does not define them. I know that it can be a struggle to be from these places and have less than others. Despite all of such it doesn't limit someone's abilities, nor does it stunt their growth. As of now I am an undergraduate at Michigan State University. I am actively pursuing my education to learn the arts of game design and development as it is a goal of mine to be able to work with the companies that have inspired and brought out that passion in me for what I do. Another thing would be my efforts to have a major in animation and Japanese. For I have always had a strong interest in animation as well as the arts that I wish to purse. While also wishing to travel to Japan as well as work.

My desired career path would be in the game industry. I specially want to see myself in the game design and development fields. The most major way I have taken part in making efforts to achieve this goal is applying and attending the best school I seen fit for my interests that I was accepted to. This picking has led me to being a part of the Game and Interactive Media major at Michigan State University. Starting my semester here has already put me on the right track as I am taking courses such as Media Sketching and Graphics as well as a course on game design where I get the experience of making four games as well as a course on the history of information and media. I have been someone who has been interested in the arts as well as video games for majority of my life. While someone can like paying games, one may not always enjoy making them. It is a hard yet fun process some may say. I like to think that such will be true. I have many experiences when it comes to art and character design even if majority of it has been self-study. I believe that the experiences I was able to learn on my own as well as with assistance will assist me in the fields of concept design when it comes to game design. Concept design is a major part of the game development process, for you need something that can pull in the people who are playing. Whether is the visuals that complement the storytelling or the amazing world building and inclusivity as well as representation, in order for you to reach that point you have to have that base line of concept design. There is no game is there isn't a concept for it to start off as. I believe I with the classes I have taken as well to learn technical skills will allow me to create a footing of my own through the door into such a career. With it being my interest as well I can say that I am able to keep in mind that feeling and saying, "If you love what you do, you'll never work". [Mark Twain and Confucius] I can also point out that I have always had an interest when it comes to world building and creation. Making worlds of my own through art and the other forms of media I was able to participate in at a younger age. Even in the past experiences I have put my foot into forms of coding. Whether it be coding a sort of rpg on Scratch in middle school to the year after being able to code the lights for our winter performance that year. My interest in games alone really have helped to develop that passion, especially with games such as Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom which have been huge inspirations much like indie games that I am very fond of. I believe that I have been able to get myself a strong emotional pull the career that I am interested, and I have been finding my ways to it more and more with all the studies I can do. I am ever so grateful to be able to do so at a university level and hope to take the resources I have and expand both my knowledge and albitites. not only to show the world what I can do but to be able to make games more representative in their own ways.

I have had a lot of influences when it comes to the things I have done in my life so it is hard to give a direct answer. When it comes to art I can say that my biggest influence would be my high school art teacher of three years. This woman could be pretty blunt and honest regarding things, but it was all helpful in its own right whether it came to art or not. She is one of the reasons, if not the main reason I could somewhat catch up in my artistic abilities when it came to my curriculum commercial arts after my counselor had not put me in one of the core classes, figure drawing. Despite lacking in the fundamentals in that area she gave me access to the class and its materials to try and learn at my own pace when I couldn't attend the class at lunch without our half virtual, half in-person schedule. It was extremely helpful, especially since I decided to take up IB art for my senior year instead of painting. It was certainly the experience and despite it being self-led, she was still a tremendous help whenever asked about the leadway she could offer us. When I graduate I plan for my artistic skills to be the focus of my work. I will hopefully find my footing in a decent game company and be able to share my designs. I plan to make sure to bring back human creativity, showing it is far better than AI for our work has heart and meaning to it. A soul behind it as it also has a purpose. I want to show and be able to bring back the idea of artists and not the use of AI replacing us. Even outside of that, I want my designs to be more representative and creative, bringing both something new but also things that represent communities more. It's no stranger that while progression has been made when it comes to games and their representation a lot more can be done. An example is tension impact and its company as a whole with it lacking characters of color in most ways, in some cases white wishing them even when it comes to where the character's background is. If I am honest I can not exactly say what makes my gift different. It's something I have started since elementary and have been building upon since then. I may not be the most experienced and the fastest learner but my determination is strong to pursue the craft. I want to find a style that is my own even if I switch around a lot, which I think makes me slightly different from others. My style morphs and changes as I see fit whether it be a mimic of realism and cartoons to a chibi style that can be adapted by anyone. My skillset isn't the most developed but I've gotten a lot farther than where I've come from. One thing I know I focus on though is mostly storytelling through Oc work, but I've gotten into drawing one particular person in my life thanks to figure drawing. I really like the aspect of storytelling and world-building, which I like to incorporate into my art. This made me want to learn animation, which is both self-learned and one of my minors in university.

My mental health had become a major part of my life around middle school. I had gone through a lot of struggles when it came to the sorts and also had a therapist who had helped me figure things out a little more. My mental health started to decline a lot when it came to the shifts in the relationships that I had both when it came to friends and fairly as well. I have learned that not all people will truly be on board with the things that you do and say, which is very understanding but also downing. My mental health decline had been a part of what ruined a lot of my relationships. Having learned not everyone will stick through with you even in your worst of moments hurt a lot, especially when it came to the people I thought were closest to me. Having people view me as a liar and faking my issues for the sake of getting attention made me feel terrible and it has weighed on me since. I have always been a bit distant due to my experiences when it comes to my mental health which has made it harder for me to be around others and accept positive wording. When it comes to relationships now, while I still struggle I have found better for myself. Founding a family, a village that may not be bound to me by blood but by love and determination. These are the people who have assisted in their ways to help me and themselves. Learning that I mean something more than a trophy has become something that I hold dear to me. Being able to hear someone say that they love me for who I am has truly increased my mental health even if just a bit. With this change in mental health life doesn't seem as gloomy as it used to. I don't feel as though everything is full of dread that means nothing to the world. I feel as though life itself has gotten better and there truly are things to look forward to. One of the things I can say that I look more positively at is my career, looking to improve my hobbies so I can successfully work on such more. All the while looking forward to traveling as well, while things are difficult I can understand it more and I find myself better equipped to handle the hardships of it all.

When it comes to my personal experiences as an LGBTQ+ individual it can truly be a hard hitter. One of the most major challenges I have faced would be being forced out of the closet twice. Being forced out of the closet was a terrible experience both times and I genuinely have been terrified when it comes to the idea of ever informing my family of my identity in the future. Both times when it had been major has been during Thanksgiving, a time when the majority of my mother's side of the family was together. It was unbearable and I couldn't stand the things that were being said to me. It all felt awful and I did not know how to take things anymore. I felt terribly unrecognized an seen as basically nothing when it came to my feelings and how identified. It took a lot in me not to just get upset right then and there. There were people constantly pointing out how I was far from the opposite gender and how I never would be anything like them, especially with how emotional and incapable I am. Looking at it now, I am glad I have withheld my composer and kept to myself when it came to it. While I can not change their lack of validation when it comes to me and my identity, I have been able to come to terms with myself. Having the people I, later on, met in high school has been a big help to me, seeing as they are very accepting of who I am while also being both a part of the community and not at the same time. Metting my partner who is just fine with me being transgender has been helpful for me. On top of that, his family is also super accepting, calling me by my preferred name and pronouns when we are alone. I haven't felt better when it comes to how I view myself and identify. When it comes to higher education I hope to be able to work with people who make video games. I want to be an artist who can work on movies as well as games, being able to make storyboards and/or concept design. Things such as Spiderman Into the Spiderverse and games such as Tears of the Kingdom and Breath of the Wild. When it comes to my education, I believe I can advocate for the community by designing characters that represent the community. I am sure it would be nice to see characters that properly represent the community without feeling forced or out of place when it comes to media. While it may not be the easiest to advocate for I can use my platforms for the great or good when it comes to these things for representation and rights. It will help alleviate the financial burdens and enable these goals because it will make the ability to go to school easier by even a little. Seeing as I have to pay around 10,000 dollars as a whole, every little bit counts to try and avoid loans I am quite worried about taking on. Any little amount can make a difference when it comes to it all, and any little bit is worth trying to apply to make a difference in not only your own life but also others.

I have chosen to pursue a degree in STEM because it has always been something I have been interested in since I started doing robotics in middle school. What I am going for may not be considered a STEM major to many though it is not short of the things that other STEM majors do in their own right. I am choosing to major in Game and Interactive Media, which is a STEM major due to the technology involved in the course. While I may be focusing on the art aspect of it all, that does not downplay the technology involved that I have to work with and learn to sue like anyone else dealing with such. Such a major focuses on the interaction between technology, design, and human behavior in its own right, ignoring the game aspect of things. I believe that this is something I could really do wonders with. Seeing as I have a high liking for the arts and video games, I found this STEM major to be something that would sit perfectly for me because I can excel in my manners while also incorporating both my hobbies into a personal job of my own. Not only that but I can put the human mind to work rather than sit back and let companies throw over the pencil and paper to AI. I hope to impact the STEM field as a person of color by demonstrating what is possible regardless of the color of my skin. I know that things such as skin color can truly be something that affects an industry and it is no secret that most people who work in gaming industries are on the lighter side. My school itself is predominately white, so I hope that my work can be inspiring to those who look up to do similar careers or have similar paths. Not only that with my exact field of study, I can make it a point to have more people of color and many others represented in video games. I am sure people would love to see themselves better represented in a more accurate light rather than the stereotypes that tend to surround them. I hope to be able to create a pathway and I believe the first means to doing so is accomplishment. When more people see people like them in the foreground doing the things that people like them do not usually get to do it is inspiring. The STEM field is a good example of such.

I have always been a person with interest when it comes to education, even if it is a give-or-take thing. One thing I have a passion for is the arts, which has dipped into my interest in video games. These two things alone while including my love for storytelling have led me down the career path I can see myself having. These things have helped me choose my major in Game and Interactive Media. I have gone through a lot throughout my life whether it be in school or outside of it but that hasn't stopped me as of yet. I have honestly had a good few mental struggles before COVID hit and during it, but the ability to overcome what has stopped me has been something I am glad to have been able to have at the time. I hope that the ability will last longer throughout my life. I have always been someone who struggled with social interaction, getting along, and dealing with my mental health, while I am not as bad as I used to be I need to keep working to improve it. With my struggle with my mental health and identity being something that mixes it can be a bit difficult at times, even now when I am not too sure who exactly I am and what I fully want to strive for. The thing is that I am young so I am not limited in what I can learn and pursue. When it comes to hopes and dreams, I want to travel. Most people say such but it has been a passion of mine since I was younger. As of late middle school and high school, my want and will to go to Japan even if for a little while has been a drive for me. I was even encouraged to begin taking up language in school, taking three years. I can say it wasn't the most successful having started the class during covid, making me miss a lot of the teaching that I needed. Either way, my determination is strong as I will pursue language learning as I carry on to college. Outside of that, I have a strong want to pursue the arts in terms of both a hobby and professionally. I want to work on video games as someone who can help design characters and the worlds they reside in. I want to be able to improve a lot more than I have in the past. As an artist, I have subjected myself to the harsh yet expected self-criticism. I am somewhat of a perfectionist when it comes to my work, making it so it is hard to truly go and improve due to how hard I am on myself. This is something that has truly been bothering me and killing my motivation but I am determined to bring back what is lost because it is not fully gone yet. I don't wish to give up hope for what I have had an ongoing passion for when it comes to the majority of my life. In terms of this scholarship, will help me meet my needs in terms of moving towards my dreams and contributing to my community and the needs of the world because it will help give me a chance. The scholarship will help me, someone from a low-income family pay for the expensive books that are hard to find copies of otherwise or help with the expenses of room and board. This scholarship will help me because it will only push me further in terms of finances. Being someone of color in college can be a hard thing, sometimes even rare but not as rare as it used to be that is for sure. Being someone who is going to a predominately white school, this can be something that inspires others like myself. Not only as someone of color but also as someone who is a part of the LGBTQ+ community. We need more inspiration and proof that people like us can thrive just as much as the next. I believe making it into college and making it through can prove that.

A pleasure to meet you all. I tend to go by the name of Azar. Something that I have struggled for quite some time to find out that I liked. I am someone who enjoys the arts and video games quite a lot which is what has pushed me to the position I am in now. I learned about what being transgender is and can mean when I was in middle school. That is what helped me realize everything. Having met other people or a person who is transgender like myself at the time. Finding someone who related to me even if slightly was honestly a big thing to me. It helped me to feel a lot better and feel as though I was somewhat normal with all that I felt. Throughout my life at least twice I had been forced out of the closet and it was a terrible thing. Being forced out honestly made me see how my family views transgender people and pride as a whole. Sometimes it makes me feel unsafe and unsure of myself on many levels, never really knowing if I am even someone who is meant to belong to the family. Part of me understands where they are coming from, since I am the only born "gender", though, on the other hand, I have found it quite selfish. I often find myself wondering if I truly did find out how I feel at heart or if this is a journey I am still going on. Identifying as transgender has affected me outside of my family though, taking the approach to socially transition, at least in terms of school. Having socially transitioned whether it be in school or online has really assisted when it comes to how I view myself a little more. Having people who view me as valid is a really nice feeling, especially for those who know me well. This was a change that was a bit difficult for me. While it was both nice there were some drawbacks to it all. Some are the issue when it comes to name and pronoun switching whether it be people forgetting often or just not wanting to abide by such. One thing that has always been a difficult and annoying part of it all was when this was brought up to teachers. Some respect such a thing and others do not, and I have had my fair share of interactions with both. It can be pretty annoying and demeaning but it isn't the hardest to deal with anymore seeing as I am going to college. From what I have learned at my college, they are far more accepting of transgender people, evening offering housing and the ability to just share rooms with others who also identify as such so you can share with like-minded people. They also offer gender-inclusive housing as well, on top of using preferred names and pronouns. I have found this to be nice and validating. From what I have learned online it can be a bit difficult to date when it comes to being a transgender person, which has been something that has bothered me a good bit. I have felt quite insecure when it comes to the sorts though in recent times I have found someone who accepts me for who I am and loves me all the same. It can feel a bit strange and I find myself questioning a lot, though the reassurance from them has always been helpful and nice. Not only them but their family as well. While my family may not be the most accepted theirs has been since they learned about me, and I can not be anymore than grateful for it all. They have been here for me in a way that I am not used to people, especially when it comes to people who can be considered strangers to me, let alone far from family. From them, I have learned that it is right to be who I am and that not everyone older than me will be the most critical of who I decide to be. I have learned that my village is more than just my family and that my family is not limited to people who are blood-related to me. While being transgender has not exactly affected my career it doesn't change what I want to do. I believe my aspirations for art and video games will always be a given for me. It is something harder to change than most other things. I can say it is possible that being an artist who is transgender may inspire many others who are down the line. I do hope for that as time goes on but I can not express that it is a guarantee. On the other hand, there have been many people who have inspired me over the years. Two of those people have been my high school teachers, one being for art and the other being for Japanese. They have always been rather accepting people when it comes to being a part of LGBTQ+, along with other things. They have truly been helpful in my career and upcoming college life. The things they have told me I will never forget. Outside of them though the people who inspire me a lot recently have been my partner and his mother. While I don't know their life stories what I have learned about them has truly had me wanting to learn from them. Their determination for the things that matter to them and those that are right is inspiring. I wish to have a mindset similar, a will just as strong. While I don't know what life holds I want to live my life to the fullest as my true self. Whatever that may look like, I hope to figure that out on this journey to live along with the self-discovery that comes along with it.

I have actually been affected by mental health, suicide, and LGBTQIA+. I have always been a closeted person when it comes to my family. I am still not truly out to them today. Their lack of acceptance is what has brought me down when it comes to my mental help, along with other things. There have been two experiences that have truly affected me when it comes to the notable thing of my identity. As a transgender male, I face the fact that my family does not support me. I have been forced out of the closet twice, though each time resulted in a sense of me being pushed back in. The first time a big deal was made of it and the second time occurred on Thanksgiving when I was in middle school. That day was terrible for me. I had to face constant yelling and being told I would never be a guy, and that I was nothing but a soon-to-be young lady. My actions being told are far too feminine to be a male, adding to it that boys do not cry and that I was too much of a crybaby to be one. Another thing is that I was always told that I was making it up, it was coming from the things I watch and the people I was around. While they were helpful informers the feelings have always been there prior even though I didn't understand. To this day I am unsure of my identity. I feel as though I am far from a "real" transgender male. Believing that my feelings are a lie because I do not feel terrible gender dysphoria or am not going through as much as others I have seen. This really has been affecting my mental health though it is easier to handle than it was in the past. In the past due to how much I felt and how terrible I felt it really did take a total on me. Throughout my middle school years, I had a suicide issue. I wanted to commit it myself, honestly. I felt as though I was far from wanted and viewed by my family. I felt as though I was meant to be anywhere else but them. Like I was far from wanted and I couldn't even stand the people I considered friends in school. It was terrible and I don't think the covid years made it any better. To this day I still struggle with my mental health and identity. Not knowing my place in the community let alone anyone. I have gotten better with my mental health though, finding more self-worth but it is still a challenge. Getting help from those around me to find a safe space in the places I go to. I look forward to that sense of freedom that comes with college, finding like-minded people in a place that is safe to be myself. I hope that while I am there I can truly begin to find out who I am and then some. My experiences so far have negatively shaped me, but I hope to improve in the future so that I am not stuck within my past.

It is important to have diverse representation in STEM for a multitude of reasons. One reason is that having this diversity allows there to be different prospects. Different perspectives allow problems to be looked at in different lights which leads to different solutions. I believe it is always a nice thing when you have a broad spectrum. The different methods to solve things and different ways to look at things can lead to STEM being more helpful to more communities. I believe that STEM is something that should not be limited and the boundaries from a lack of diversity are what is limiting STEM to grow. Another reason why it is important to have diverse representation in STEM careers is that it allows fair representation. Something people are no strangers to would be the communities they are a part of. Having that diversity can allow a safe space for everyone. There needs to be safety within the fields and one way to create it is with that diversity. There is no reason or need to leave any group out. They are all capable and can bring their own knowledge to the team. When being a part of a team everyone should be treated equally, while there may not be a full understanding of everyone on the team it can be helpful to find that understanding when there are people representing different things and places being there. If we are being honest with ourselves it is not even limited to that. The diversity itself can help when it comes to understanding the consumers as well. Let's be honest we are all aware that the consumers themselves are diverse, coming from many backgrounds then some. You can not represent these people with a limited team. People can do their best to understand others but they will never be able to feel and capture the true emotions as someone from the community they are trying to make products for or assist. One thing to keep in mind is that while you can understand you can not assume. To have people of different diversity allows your spectrum of whom you are giving to, making for, and helping widen. The knowledge that a certain group of people can be limited, heavily tainted even. To prevent false representation, offensive and harmful studies, and so forth, you need and I can not stress this enough, need a team with diversity. There is no good in not understanding each other and the people you are giving to. There is good in allowing there to be a range and open playing field. There is no harm in diversity, in fact, it is encouraged. The more diversity the better. Help one another and add the love and safety of it all. Understanding starts with meeting each other at the half line and adding that diversity and safety will and can allow such.

Spider-Man is something I have started to get into more and more when I took my interest in Marvel. While the actors are great in their own light, I would pick a Spider-Man outside of them. I believe there is more than the actors. While Tom Holland may be a sight to see, let's not forget what has become a beautiful picture of recognition. The animated movies do exist after all! While there is debate whether or not voice actors are actual actors is a different story. I consider them such. I know they do not portray the characters on a physical aspect the way actors do but they still do portray the emotional aspect in terms of voices, they feel the characters just as much. My favorite Spider-Man is Miles Morales, which would lead me to say that my favorite actor in this case voice actor is Shameik Alti Moore. He has been the voice actor for Miles' in Into the Spiderverse and its sequels. Miles' is quite the character to me. I love how he is in the movies and all the depth that comes with him. Seeing a character that represents a community I am from as well is something that draws you to him. Going through similar struggles as other people like us. He was portrayed very well by his voice actor, Moore, who really could put the emotions inside of everything said. There was never a moment that felt dull or out of place. The progression of growth and character development is also something interesting to watch, something that I really do enjoy. Moore has been able to capture these things in an amazing way, which not all voice actors can capture especially with the age changing of the character and stressful situations he had been put in.

I have been affected by many kind people in my life but as of recently, two people have run in the same family. For this essay, I will speak on the youngest person for he is closest to my age. This special person has been kind ever since I met them, though the kindness has only grown as we have gotten to know one another more. There is a sort of forgiveness they have for me that no one else has, whether it be for the situations they are put in because they are in such a close position with me or the forgiveness and understanding they have for my emotions. Their kindness has led me to believe there is a little more hope in the world for me. Something I didn't think I would ever believe in. They allow me and aid in me believing in the idea of there being love out in the world at that, let alone any that I can obtain myself. I have always had a few issues when it comes to the idea but having someone like them in my life has been assisting me in learning to love myself just a little more than I was able to in the past. Who is this person you may be asking, well that is simple. They are a friend, they are my family, he is my significant other. The one I hold dear to me. Within the span of our time together he has truly made my heart soar, realizing all there was to the world. This special person has helped me remove my black-and-white lens on how I look at life. He has helped in decreasing the saturation of the blue and opened my eyes to the colors I didn't know existed anymore. What I am trying to say is that he has allowed me to find more to life than what I perceived it as before. There has always been a sad feeling in my life, a morbidness that I couldn't quite shake. Perhaps I am being naive in what I say but I have never felt better than I do now with him in my life. Excluding my very young and naive stage, I am far past the mindset I had when I was 9 and 10. This person that I am talking to you about is my biggest hype man, my greatest supporter, and then some. A soul who I view as pure yet has his faults that I want to assist with. He has allowed me to come to the true realization that no one is perfect, not even him. Though in this we have been able to grow together with the things we struggle with. He has shown me that it is okay to find comfort in others and that it is okay to trust again. Everything I have learned I am grateful for. This person is a gem in my eyes, one I could never forgive myself for hurting or taking advantage of. He is a joy in my life, the moon that lights up my sky when the stars don't let themselves show. He is the person I want and am choosing to grow with. I hope I am not the only one who can experience this type of love, care, and kindness. My significant other is an inspiration to me and I look for all that we have ahead of us.

My mental and physical wellness is important to me because I have come to realize how much you need to care for these things. Physical wellness is an obvious thing because it is something that will truly affect you later on in life. I don't want life to get harder as I age because I am not taking care of my physical health now. I want to be able to keep up the average when it comes to my health. If I can not keep the average at least a little better. I know some things in my health can not exactly be helped, such as asthma and skin. I want to be able to live life as much as another despite these things being in the way. I want to be able to do as much as any other person out there, which means I need to learn how to take care of myself while I have them. Whether it be the sensitivity of my skin that can easily trigger allergies or the asthma that can make it hard to go up stairs or run. When it comes to a mental aspect I have learned in middle school the importance of it all. At that point in life, I began to struggle the most with my mental health. It had become something that was too difficult to maintain and it made me not want to deal with it. I struggled with my identity and if I am honest I still do. That is something that really does make it hard to have good mental and physical health as a student. I don't like how I look and what I am seen as, it doesn't help when I can not choose how I want to be seen because it may not be accepted by all. I know that my identity is something that may not be seen by everyone around me. I am in the works of being able to come to terms with my identity, though that may take a lot of time. Another challenge I have faced when it comes to this is just the stress that comes from school. Sometimes it really can be too much on a person and you have no breaks, so I have had to deal with that. While no student is unfamiliar with this many people handle these differently. I can say I really do have an issue with handling stress but I am bettering at it as time goes on. When your mental health is lacking it can come down to it affecting you physically. When it comes to my IB exams coming up again and the exhibition being in play it really has taken a toll on my mental health. I have been stressed often, even with the work from my normal classes. I have been managing well and I haven't gone down a rabbit hole. I can only hope others are similar. I want to improve a lot more before college. A progressive movement forward.

I have had a few teachers in my time who have influenced me in one way or another, though I can't say they have all changed my approach to my life. When it comes to touching on this topic in a specific manner there has been one teacher I have had the fortune of having for three years straight. My art teacher Ms.Vega has truly been a force in my life when it comes to having her class. I can't say I had done the best in her class in my opinion, though she has been one of my biggest inspirations for change when it comes to my art journey. This specific teacher has been helping me since I first started her class in fashion class. She was the one who informed me that I was in the wrong class to begin with. Having her in the half-virtual year she was the one who allowed me to take two art classes in one. This is what allowed me to make up little bits of what I have lost from that class that would have been mandatory for my curriculum. I have been able to get a lot of things from her that I have not been able to get prior. It was nice to be able to ask someone about things related to art and such, which has been so helpful for me to get to the point I am at now. To which now, I say that art is something pretty significant in my life. Not only is it a hobby that I truly enjoy but it is something that I am going to major in. My art teacher has really begun to open my eyes closer toward the end of my senior year. She has always told us about her life. Whether it be about all the things she has been able to do in her life, like her ability to graduate without any student loans, her life and experiences going to Japan and so much more. When it comes to all of these things she has truly been able to inspire me about all the things that I could accomplish. Hearing about all that she can do makes me feel like I can achieve something similar. I want to be able to do similar, especially since she works in a similar profession that I do as well as her being able to go to Japan. When it comes to my art she has been making me think as of recently as an IB student. I have been feeling as though my work is beyond bad, for I fear failing IB. She has been expressing and telling me about other students who have passed and not passed IB. She has told me that I have done rather well with the hand I have been dealt. That not passing IB doesn't limit my abilities and does not show me as any less than anyone else. I wasn't exactly given the best hand nor were most others, for we did have to do the course in one year rather than two, and without the required classes I needed for my curriculum. When I expressed wanting to do better and excel in college, she was there to support me. She has been one of my main supporters and assistance throughout my high school art journey and I do appreciate it. I couldn't be more thankful for her help and all the more. I hope other students can feel the same for as long as she continues to teach.

STEM is such a broad thing for it has jobs in many fields. I love science and astronomy I can say that much. I have always found a fascination when it comes to chemistry and the idea of it, astronomy, and quantum physics. On the other hand, that is far from the majors that I am going into. I also can say that I have a great liking for engineering. It's something I do outside of school as of now, I have been in for going on three years now, electrical and mechanical engineering. This is for a solar-powered car. Overall when it comes to STEM I find every part that STEN stands for to be a field I want to jump into in my own manner. Ever since middle school I have started to learn about STEM and have participated in this related to the fields. One of my first ever experiences with the area was robotics; we worked with sensors and made obstacles for these robots. Another time we had to work at a table to make our own themed pull toys with moving mechanics outside the wheels. Moving on I took a field trip to Lawerence Tech to learn about programming as well. Moving on to some things in the summer. During the summer of one year, I was a part of a summer program with GM. All these experiences have inspired me and led me to the field I am in today. Heck, in elementary I was able to dissect owl pellets in a special class I was in which had sparked my interest in the sciences. Taking to now, I work with cars and have been seen by the government because of it. There is so much to be interested in when it comes to STEM, but I can not do it all if I am honest. Turn to now when it comes to my most current interest when it comes to STEM, my major. I am majoring in Game and Interactive Media. People tend to overlook it as a STEM-related major but it very much is. This major is all about both art but, also interactive media which deals a great deal with technology. I have always had a passion for video games which had drawn me to this major, this part of STEM. The idea of working on the art of a video game and even the story and programming is amazing to me. I want to be able to create like the people who have before me and do now do. I want to be able to accomplish storytelling through my art and technical abilities. One of the big things that come with this major is technology, especially coding. I will be able to involve myself in the technology aspects of STEM while also involving my hobby of art. It's taking STEM and adding artistic value and creativity from my mind. I have a passion for the creativity that can be expressed through the education of STEM even if there is a systematic feeling to it all. One thing that STEM has encouraged me to do is test outside of the system and allow creativity to flow while understanding the foundations. It allows you to build more and create a special voice for yourself and many others. Those are what created my passion for the education of STEM.

When it comes to my art, there are lots that I want to achieve. One of the main things I hope to achieve is telling stories. Looking at things now I have always loved to tell stories, the main being through my art. I have always had a passion for sketching at a young age, so being able to create stories of my own through them is ideally amazing. I want to be able to tell stories like games do, such as Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, among others. There is a large want to be able to create or at least be a part of the creation process when it comes to the vast different games that are out there in the world. Indie games are examples of amazing art seen in games. I find some of them to be so beautiful and to be able to make games like that would be amazing, having my art be a part of a game. It may even be a staple style of the game. I can say I also want to be able to be a part of amazing works such as Spider-man Into the Spiderverse and Spider-man Beyond the Spiderverse. When it comes to my art and improving I want to be a sort of inspiration for younger artists. I also want to be a large representation person when it comes to this. I find representation to be something important and I can imagine that everyone would like to be able to see themselves in art and see themselves represented. As for inspiring other young artists, I want them to know of the creativity they can have and all the more. I believe that people need to see the inspiration for them to want to do it more in some ways, so it would be nice to be able to assist these up-and-coming artists in a world where art is starting to be generated rather than made upfront. I can envision my future relationship with my artwork to be better than it is now. I believe that I will be learning to love my art more than I do now. Being able to find improvement in my art I do hope to find a middle ground where I know myself and my art more than I do now. I hope to be able to find my proper place as an artist and find the style(s) I like most. Art is about progression and learning, so I would like to learn of my full protection and I believe with education in that path I will be on my way to finding that.

Last year I was a part of a solar-powered car race and as fun as that may seem there were plenty of challenges that came with it. Outside of the basics such as heat, I can say from my personal experience for two years in a row that the judges can be a pain. Scrutineering is something that each team has to endure and face for their car to be given the okay for them to be able to race. If you do not pass, your car is not allowed to race. This whole process is done for safety which I understand but the judges can be difficult. I have learned the judges are very nitpicky when it comes to the rules, which makes sense but this gives them that "know it all" mindset when they are by no means professionals but actually just people who volunteered to be a part of it. As the oldest member of the team I had to face speaking to the judges the most because I was seen as the person with all the information, but at the same time because I was not elected to be one of the captains I was seen as a less of important person to talk to. It was troublesome having to try and speak to some judges when they barely acknowledged me, let alone respond to me until I had to push my way to the front. I can recall that my gender felt like it heavily had an impact as well. Both of our captains were guys, while I have the appearance of a girl so they often seek out guys rather than one of the feminine presenting members that was around. I can only remember two judges believing me straight up when I expressed being the head member of the mechatronics team as someone who was head and knew the most in terms of the electrical and mechanical aspects of the car. It took a lot of me to be able to keep myself calm when it came to all of this. It honestly made me feel less than, especially when it came to how often I butt heads with the other members of the team. All of this felt like a lot to me, never truly being able to put the feelings down but I did use it as fuel to continue. With all that was thrown my way, I wanted to use that frustration to fuel my work and determination. I would always state my grounds and my knowledge, and while I would take help and criticism I did not allow them to push down what I knew. I allowed myself to be an example with things I knew the best and even spoke to others from other teams. I took feedback from other teams and taught them what I knew. I kept myself calm despite it call, being able to convey my emotions in a manner that had not disturbed or harmed anyone around me.

I have seen quite a lot of movies in my short-lasting lifetime. When it comes to the greatest impact it is honestly hard to say. While comedy opened up my humor, movies from the MCU have brought me a large inspiration regarding how they are portrayed and how the stories are told. Storytelling alone is something that holds such a close tie to my heart. If I am being honest movies I have seen have been for comedy or the storytelling of it in a way that is usually light-hearted or very emotional. I can say that there are too that I have had in mind though, which aren't ones most people would choose. The movies I have in mind are Spider-man Into the Spiderverse and Spiderman Across the Spiderverse. While they are sometimes seen as just animated movies I can say they have had quite an emotional impact on me, especially when it comes to the trials of the main protagonist, Miles Morales. In the first movie, Miles is a charming boy who is rather high achieving despite the little trouble that he tends to get into in the beginning. Progressing into the movie you can see the shift in his struggle as he gained new and heavier responsibilities, whether with his schooling or now gained spider abilities. With these abilities, he gains an all-new set of responsibilities. When it comes to this movie I can say that there are minor parts of me that can relate to Miles outside of the fact that he has an African American father. Miles is an artist, and while he does graffiti art, the two of us sketch. On the heavier end, I can say that I can relate to Miles when it comes to being overwhelmed with responsibilities. Seeing that portrayed through a hero such as himself with a completion of my own is something I find comfort in. It feels more natural and I find his flaws to be relatable in their rights. Miles was pretty similar in the second movie though he began to grow as a person. He experiences a lot and when it comes to emotions Miles is struggling with them. Let us get to the why in seriousness. Miles connects to a person in my life that I hold a deep relationship with now, one that is ever-growing. Some may even see us as our versions of Miles and Gwen, having our struggles to be together at first. Only in our case, it is clear-cut to happen. Seeing Miles and understanding their relations to the character did allow me to understand them more without pressing them for details they were not ready to give. I can say that much with confidence. I can also say that it helped get them to open up because it was an easy topic of interest, that still excites us to this day. We do look forward to the new movie coming out next year. On another note Miles' everlasting determination has been something that has begun to inspire me more with the two movies. The idea of being able to do something your way rather than living by the books or what you are told is game-changing, especially in my life. It feels nice to push out a little more so I am not constantly living through the burden presented if I am not attempting to live for someone else. I admire that in Miles and want to have that confidence in myself one day, especially when it comes to self-discovery in university.

I am a student who has many interests. I have always had an interest in the creative fields. My focus is the arts, as I do commercial arts in high school. I plan on progressing in my art field and making a career. I want to work on games and movies, using my abilities to move into the game and interactive media major at my college of choice. Art has been a favorite of mine for a large part of my life. I began my art journey in late elementary, improving up to now. I can confidently say it is one of my passions. My favorite is drawings, but I also enjoy watercolor painting and jewelry making just a bit. I also find cooking and baking to be their forms of art. Going back to college, I chose my career field because I was always told, "If you do what you love, you'll never get tired of it." That is something I take to heart, for I know that I do not want to end up getting a job I would not like to do. I do not want to feel like my career is a chore, rather than something I have paid and gone to school for. Something that also helped me pick my career is my interests. I am heavily interested in video games, animations, movies, and other things like it. I can say that I want to be a part of that industry. Looking at my favorite games such as Breathe of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, I want to be able to work on games similar to such. Don't get me wrong other games keep my interest such as Stardew Valley and the up-and-coming game, Haunted Chocolatier, made by the same creator. Openworld games have always been a love of mine as well as cozy games that hold a soft spot within my heart. Games like Omori that are RPG but tell an in-depth and impactful story, are the types of games I would like to learn to make. Those are the type of games I want to be a part of a team creating. When it comes to movies I have always admired the displays and storytelling. Some stories can be told excellently and it is something that not all movies can replicate. I want to be able to make these wonders my own and create them for others. I want to open people's eyes more by showing them a glimpse of my mind to spire that creativity within people that some might have lost. So much more even. It's hard to say I deserve this scholarship more than another. On the other end, I believe I deserve a fighting chance. I believe that as an art student in or future, I deserve to be given this. It is hard to achieve scholarships when you are going into this department, especially in terms of STEM. I believe that I deserve this scholarship to give myself a chance just as much as the next. I believe that I deserve a chance just as much as the next. So while everyone is competing I want to win something of my own to put towards my education like everyone else. That is why I believe I deserve this, and I believe with it, I can be assisted financially to go far.

There are many reasons that art is important to me. One of the main reasons the arts is important to me is the creativity that it allows me. While I have not expanded in many fields when it comes to the art I love the creativity it allows. Whether it be my drawings of characters I have made or the fan art I make for things that I love, it truly does allow me to show creativity and appreciation. I also enjoy being able to help other peoples visualizations come to life. It isn't something that everyone can do so it is nice to be able to assist in that process. I would not limit myself to drawings for this for jewelry and video games are something else that I find great when it comes to the arts and expression. The arts allow the freedom of expression in a visual light, which is something I enjoy. There is something special to me about taking words and turning them into a picture, especially since not all people look at things the same. Interpretation is something wonderful which allows people to view and look at art through millions of lenses that are different from our own and similar all at the same time. To expand on that I can say that being able to see something different from someone else is nice, allowing people to open up and tell others how they view something while learning from another person's view. I find that art is a method of communication when words fail us or a language barrier is created. Art is something that is universal seeing as we started from this point before words were truly understandable. I first got into the arts in elementary. I was influenced by my best friend. Progressing into middle school I was inspired by the other young inspiring artist around me, though lacking actual art classes I was influenced by social media. While I wasn't exactly allowed on things that was my first sightings of things in galleries and being able to see what I considered everyday people doing their hobbies and showing it to the world. Animations on YouTube being a big inspiration, especially when it was something well made by people in a similar age range of my own. The murals at the Eastern Market have been a large and great influence, having seen them time and time again because of my family members who worked there. I can say actually talking to the artist who have spoken to my classes and learning about their jobs in the movie and game industry have been my largest inspirations of all outside of the productions themselves. I would be lying if I said I didn't want to create something as great as the things I consume myself.

Going through my life I can say that there have been a number of people in my life that have influenced me. Each person being an influence to various degrees whether it be for my education or to things that are outside of that field, there was always someone offering that lens. While there are many people to choose from for a multitude of reasons, there is one person I have had growing feelings towards when it comes to this category. I cannot exactly say they are the most influential since they have not been in my life for that long but I can at the same time say they are. After all, influence is not determined by the time you know the person, but the impact of knowing them, learning from them and all the more that they have affected you and helped you grow. The person I am referring to is quite the loving and gentle soul. Seeing the way she interacts with the people around her so far alone is inspiration, for it is a reminder hostility is not always the answer. It reminds me that there is a safe space and comfort in adults. Upon meeting her alone and taking some time after to get to know her and then some, I have learned to trust in people a little more, especially in adults. I have learned that it is not all too bad to need help, not even from those above you. I can say that this person has told me quite a bit about herself despite what feels like such a short time span in knowing one another. She has taken me in, which I alone consider to be quite a lot. I have learned from her that while we may have troubles with our families, their own representations and ways of going about things both do not represent me but they also do not define me. Learning this while hard, is important for me to try and remember so I can lower myself from that high and forced pedestal. When she has spoken to me about college and her experiences it allowed me to take a step back. I learned that there was no true rush to getting accepted, for my time would come when it was ready. Patience is a virtue and good fortune will come for the work I have done. I learned from her that while I may not be at the top of the charts and far from the best, my accomplishments are still something and there are people out there proud of me for what I have done. Outside of the school spectrum she has helped me as well. Not just gain that new found sliver of trust in adults but a new found hope. She has helped me to learn hope once more for it was something I feel as though I have lost quite a while back. There is hope for the future, for our mistakes and experiences are not make or break. As she spoke on her clicks and break offs, I have learned there is no end all, be all. While things may not work out, it is not the end of the world. In addition to such there is so much more I cannot fit into the essay alone. The person in question is my significant other's mother. Perhaps not blood family but she will always be family to me, she is that of like a second mother. The one I didn't know I needed. I appreciate and love her dearly. Thank you

There are plenty of animes out in the world, I can say that I have many that I like as it is. It was a bit hard to pick one specific one for this. It was a hard tie between Attack on Titans and The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. Both of these shows are honestly really lovely to me for various reasons, one being more for a sense of a slice of life while the other one has a more in depth story and narrative. I can say that the slice of life aspect of Saiki K is something truly enjoyable. The wild things that happen in the show are something truly funny to see. For me it is hard to find a comedy anime that can keep my interest. The anime we will talk about though is Attack on Titans. This anime is rather well known and popular, for very good reasons. The cinematic is honestly stellar and that wouldn't be an understatement at all in my opinion. It's hard to say that I have a runner up in such a category. The immersive story that Attack on Titans has is something that I admire. Tackling a darker team even if people do not notice it. Speaking on this topic, the anime does in it's own light touches on discrimination. It is not to the degree and the same as it is in the real world, but the hostilities between the nations of Marley and Eldia. This hostility is what caused the events of Attack on Titans in the first place. The dramatics and intense death scenes are honestly pretty lovely to me, adding onto the art style being something that assisted in such. The characters in their own respective had emotions and depth, avoiding one dimensional characters which did very much assist in the story. The look of the Titans alone, while off putting to me because of the many abnormalities presented - it is safe to say this worked in the creators favor. The animation is quite clean and I do enjoy that. One thing that becomes present later on becomes the use of 3D animation, which I to this day still find interesting. The fight scenes are one of if not my favorite things to watch not only for its amazing animation to go with it but a good amount of them have great emotional depth and meaning to the people around them. I cannot count how many times I have watched Hange's death scene. Outside of these things I find the character development to be amazing in it's own right. It is also good that the anime itself matches up with the manga, leaving out no gaps. These are the things that make this anime so captivating outside of the concept as a whole. After all, a concept is great but how it is portrayed can make it all the better.

This game really does offer limitless possibilities and it truly is a bit difficult to pick something specific to speak on. I believe the main aspect of the game that has pulled me in that has always had my heart would be building. I started playing the game at a young age with my younger sibling and cousin. This game was truly something special when it came to the beginning aspect of building. While simplistic at first it was arguably easy to find the more complexity of it. I can say that when I started I have always played on console, being able to play the tutorial and see the other made maps sparked my creativity. These builds made me want to learn to do it all myself. In addition to such there was the use of red stone which I found revolutionary. I can also say I watched a lot of minecraft videos from people like DanTDM and a popular channel that used to do Minecraft roleplays, Aphmau. I can say my love for building in the game only grew as the graphics became more advanced. This really only expanded my creativity as I wanted to learn the many ways to make these realistic if not fantasy-like worlds with just my buildings alone. Building with my younger family members was always something, always a learning experience as I thought them something new each chance I got to help them improve what they were able to do when on their own. Building had been such a fun thing that I even played build battle to show off my timed building skills and do team building, all the while seeing others' capabilities. I can say that seeing all I did on YouTube, especially with the roleplays and other game plays, that is what introduced me into mods. These mods such as the chisel and future mod really inspired me into wanting to have fully functional buildings within the game, even if that wasn't fully possible for me. Even to this day I play the game with others. I can recall just going through my sophomore year playing the game with a friend of mine. Taking on the role of the main builder of our soon to be civilization. Farms, cave systems, buildings adding to the village, axolotl pond and then some. I can say I also got my first hand fix in building in an smp server, which if you didn't know means "Survival Multiplayer". It was honestly rather fun and it did help build a lovely community with people around the world. A barrier may have been there because of language but the arts created did incorporate all that we could do to make a world that was both fun and immersive. I can say that I have not been disappointed yet, seeing as there is always new stuff added and new mods being made to make what can be done reach new heights. Perhaps one day I will be apart of a team if not on my own build a map for many to see and experience that can inspire them. After all the game is for all and allows creativity and competitiveness to reach as high as the mind allows.

Do you like psychics? Anime even? Then I would say "The Disastrous Life of Saiki K." is for you. A manga series that has an anime adaption that is viewable on Netflex. What is the anime about? A high school student that has some pretty insane and powerful psychic abilities. Despite Saiki's abilities he does his absolute best to live an ordinary life like everyone else. He isn't one to tell others about his abilities, preferring to keep them a secret from the people around him, including his friends. This anime may seem rather simple at first look but there truly is a good amount to it. Arch being built and then some. I like to think this anime is a nice break from things that are more serious, taking more of a slice of life aspect into things. Each character in the show is a person of their own, with personalities that both go together in terms of how they interact but also clash in a way that makes it a piece of comedy. While the whole series is intended to be comedy, there is no doubt that not all shows can hold such up. I think the fact that Saiki alone looks so different and has those abilities is something to look at. I can say that some of the characters personality traits are really hammered in, such a stereotypical idiotic friend with a good heart and a girl who believes that she is the best of them all. Those are just two examples of the characters that could be seen within the show and the manga series in general. I can say the personalities bring a sense of humor, for it brings back something that might not be done as well in our current shows. The show is described by some as a light watch yet entertaining, which I can agree with. There is always a time to sit back and just enjoy a slice of life you can't always get in everything else. Something that is amusing, quirky and exciting in its own right. I can definitely recommend the show for people who want something lighter to watch but still want an enjoyable time. Saiki is definitely seen as more of a level headed person, usually seen as smarter than those around him. Nearly seen as a genius by comparison. I really do think that this is an anime worth watching, so if you are willing to give an anime a try, I recommend it.

If we are being honest here that is a hard question to answer, for not everyone likes to read. That being an issue but there is the fact that everyone in the world likes something different. Not all genres touch all people and not all people that will explore into something new. While I would love for people to read one of the books I consider amazing such as "The Howls Moving Castle", the "Harry Potter" series or even "The books of Umber", I find it too be no use. If people find no spark from a book, no joy in the world building around them, that defeats the purpose in sharing it with the whole world. Instead I would like to throw a curve ball and suggest we keep it simple. The book that I like everyone in the world to read is "The Giving Tree". Simple yet inspiring in it's own right, something everyone should read as a kid. The book while for children has it's own controversy around it, as people wonder whether to interpret the relationship between the two characters in it as something positive or something negative. I believe people being able to read this book will help them look at themselves and those around them. Looking at whether or not they are the giving tree or the taking book. Develop their mindset on whether or not there is something abusive in the relationship or if it is overall selfless love. Relationships are a complicated thing and it isn't limited to something in terms of love. Friendships, families and all included. I believe nearly everyone had experienced selfless love or an abusive relationship. I believe people being able to read this book will truly allow people to question and hopefully help find the answer in themselves, if not be able to consult someone. Perhaps reading this book will open eyes on the selfless lover, being able to question their relationships in a healthy way to prevent harm or further in such within their lives. Perhaps the ones who are taking can realize their possible faults and how this can hurt the people around them, especially the ones they are countlessly taking from. The book should open eyes, over perspectives and then some. It won't make the world great but it could make it better.

If I am honest there are a lot of games that I like to play when it comes to Nintendo. I honestly prefer the solo games due to the amazing worlds and stories they tell, but the co-op games can be just as good with the right people. I can say that I have very found memories of getting Super Smash Bros to play with my friends in school during lunch or after at the library that we walked to. It was always fun to have tournaments with such a game learning each other's strategies and making them our own if we could. Other times we would be able to play Mario Kart, which much like smash is one of the games I have been playing for as long as I can remember. Smash Bros and Mario Kart have been a staple for my older cousin's and I to get along, being able to play the games with either an intense and fierce competitive mindset or in a sense that is friendly and lighthearted. I can say there were a few other games that were a part of the mix such as Just Dance, Mario Sports and Mario Party, just to name a few more. One of my favorite most recent memories when it comes to online games and Nintendo was when I got Kirby and The Forgotten Lands. I started to play this game with my significant other who is now extremely close to me. We tend to play a lot when our time in class was free and each time was a lovely experience. Being able to play a game with him was very relaxing and assisted him in lowering his guard so he was not as tense when we spoke. Liking video games was one thing we shared but being able to play a multiplier game that put you on the same team was all the better. I believe having common interests is something that can truly ease people, so when your common interest is something like this, it makes it all the better. I find it nice that even some of the online games are co-op so the feeling in it's own rights never fail to disappoint. Being able to play the Kirby game is what got him into Kirby more, Nintendo as well. This led us it a new level that allows us to find shared interests in more games both single player and co-op, only strengthening our relationships. If I had to pick a co-op game to be my favorite I could not say that I know. There are plenty out in the world that I enjoy and I guess I haven't any often. If I were to pick two games though, I would choose Minecraft and Mario Kart. I find the creative aspects of Minecraft to be highly enjoyable. This creativity allows the player to explore the way they would like all in the different manners that you can play the game. There are limitations but not as many as it could be in others. I enjoy the idea of group projects, worlds and shared creativity. Mario Kart is a game that I play with many. It holds my middle school childhood, something I hold close to heart and then some.

I have a good amount of goals in life, some sort term and others are long term. When it comes to long term goals one that I have been shooting for the longest would be to study aboard. I want to attend a college that allows me to study aboard during my studies. The place I want to see the most would be Japan, it has been a long term want of mine. I have an interest in the scenery, culture and their traditions. I have learned a lot of my own through self studies but when it comes to school I take Japanese classes as my world language of choice, even taking up the IB(International Baccalaureate) curriculum now. Another long term goal is that I want to be able to work on movies and especially games. I have a large interest in video games, which have been long going and I can only see it continuing. I hope to pursue this as much as I can. When it comes to me, I am a student as Cass Technical High School. I have been doing art since I was in elementary and intend on pursuing it as my passion if I am not going into engineering of some kind. I actually am a part of the IB class for art as I am also in a jewelry class. As for outside of school, I have worked on a solar powered car. This has been done for three years straight. Having met representatives of Detroit and all. I have overcome adversity in my past by learning from the difficulties that have come by me. Things are always a bit hard, but when hardships come by I do my best to push past them. You learn from the people around you but also from your own experiences when you fall. An example of such was my issues with studying. I never had a proper method to study, always finding it to be difficult. I recently found a solution to this long term struggle that has been affecting me. I learned that it was okay to ask for help and that it was okay that I could not figure everything out myself. With this in mind I can now continue on in life being able to ask and accept help. This adversity contributed to my goals because it is allowing me to accept help, which in turn will not hold me back. Without the fear of asking for help and putting myself down for needing it, this allows me to further extend my studies. This will allow me to continue life without being so harsh on myself for not understanding things or not being able to do them. This is a skill that will help me further. Example being now in school, for I still need help every now and again and I am not scared to ask.

I have chosen to pursue art for a multitude of reasons. For one I have been interested in art ever since I was in elementary, learning from the people around me before I became mostly self taught. I want to be able to design and create the same way those of my favorite games can do. I have a high interest in games like Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom; loving the way the graphics are, the design of backgrounds and characters, the performance and the way stories are being told. I want to be able to create this wonder-like setting in my own form with a team of people, perhaps even work on the game series I admire most if possible. I want to be international with my art, tell the stories that no one has been able to tell, or just add to them to the best of my abilities with the team I am with. There are so many things that inspire someone like myself to art. In my case if it's not games it could be a multitude of things. I love telling stories through my art but I also like the idea of expressing myself and my feelings. When it comes to art it is such a broad thing that can be explored, for there are many different things that are under the category of art. Telling stories is its own form of art and it is something I want to continue doing. I want to be able to create worlds and places that people find comfort in much like Harry Potter and Percy Jackson. I find it all to be fascinating and I want these things to be better for the future than they are now. I hope to help bring the creativity out of younger generations the way it has for me. There is a passion for art that has been expanded on. I can also say that I have a large interest in other cultures that inspires my art. Asian culture is a large interest of mine, though the main being Japanese culture and tradition. I find the way art is expressed over there to be very interesting and it is something that will always inspire me. Not only anime and manga but the other forms such as their scroll paintings and woodblock paintings. I can't express enough how beautiful these things are and how much they tell stories. They expand upon the story in ways that are like nothing else. I want to use my art to the best of my abilities to express stories and emotions. I want to represent people the way they may have not gotten the chance to represent.

I attend Cass Technical High school as a senior within the commercial arts curriculum. I have been interested and fascinated by the arts since I was in elementary, having my foundation built there. I have been self taught until high school, though even outside of the classes I try to teach myself to keep my progress in a state that I like. I have high interests in cultural studies, especially Asian cultural studies. This even taps into my cooking and baking. I have taken up Japanese as my language of study, currently in the IB (International Baccalaureate) course for it now. Having high interests in study aboard it is something I plan to do within college. Also applying for a college in liberal arts overseas in Japan. When it comes to extracurricular activities I was a part of academic games, though I have been an on going member in Heroes Alliance, which is a solar powered car team. We participate in the Solar Car Challenge. Having won two years in a row, I hope to win my last time before graduation. That itself could be considered community involvement depending on who you are, but I also worked for GDYT. When it came to GDYT I worked with younger kids over the summer, I usually watched over them, played with them and read to them. Being able to pass out food during breakfast and lunch. When it comes to completing high school, there are a few things I do have in mind but nothing is for certain outside of getting a job. There is a large hope when it comes to the idea of moving to live out of the country. I would be thrilled, though there is hope to get an international job when it comes to working with game design and their development if not on movies. I hope to turn my interests and hobbies into my job of choice, working with groups I have highly admired. If I can't move I would still look for a job that is similar to such, building up a stable ability to live as I work to get my ability to travel and live, whether it be on my own or with someone else. I also hope to start gender affirming therapy, to assist in my process and understand my identity and gender dysphoria more. If I could make my own charity I would make one that supports LGBTQIA+ people, especially younger members of the community. It is quite often these kids can not secure a home or have been kicked out for their learning of their identity. I would hope to help these young folks and even those who are older to at leats be able to get back on their feet to find their own stable support. I believe support and a foundation is truly important and that no person should go without a home due to family beliefs or issues getting in the way. They deserve a safe space like anyone else.

When it comes to my ideal bookshelf #BookTok has helped inspired me more potential books. When it comes to stories such as "The Hunger Games", "The Graveyard Book" and much more that has truly brought my attention to the fantasy field while also remaining in the young adult area. It only adds to the medium that I would like to explore while being able to offer out book ideas even if they are a bit underrated. They seem as though they would be welcomed into the booktok community. I have been one for Sci-fi myself so books such as "The Hunger Games" are great, while inspiring me to actually read the book instead of going off the movie. It has me interested in things such as Dune and Maze Runner, books I have looked at before but now have fully dove into. When it comes to the community they seem to highlight a good amount of hidden gems, the romance field being something the community has truly grown to like. I believe the books I have chosen have impacted the community because it opens their eyes a lot more to the horror field as well as sci-fi and fantasy. The dystopian look you get through hunger games or the thriller from The Graveyard Book, the ways of looking through the books lens are endless. Looking at these books you can get a sense of feeling for the genres that you have an interest in much like many others. The community is ever growing and expanding, all the while it seems like a pretty accepting community itself. Inspiring me to try and dip my feet into the romance scene, even if only a little. I believe that when it comes to these things that you can never really limit yourself with the types of stories you have out there. The community itself is inspiring people to read more which is definitely a good sign. One thing that I believe the community should inspire to do is talk more about the books, spend more time reading them. The community has increased the amount of books being bought but people should definitely only buy books they wish to read and plan to in full. The mass production in these things that don't last in the craze can be a bit disappointing to look at and think about. I can also say that the romance genre itself is rather strong and tends to be a bit concerning but with the responsibility of it all things can go accordingly. We should normalize people of all generations reading and learning from these stories, feeling and so much more.

College is something that I have always aspired to do in life, whether it be just to move on in my career as an artist and video game developer, but also for the pure fact that I take an interest in astronomy and astrophysics as well as computer development. I want to make a future for myself far better than those in my family have done for themselves, while also having a career that I take interest in. Taking on many of my interests now, I believe in college I can broaden my palette while also learning new things along the way. Outside of a college aspect, when it comes to aspirations I heavily aspire to travel around the world, one of the major places I would like to go to is Japan. I currently take up IB Japanese and I am also in the loop of getting a pen pal over there to practice my skills to excel within the language. I find the culture over there to be very fascinating, something I would like to learn firsthand. I believe living over there would be enjoyable as well as it will also broaden my view of people that live in this world along with their cultures, beliefs and how it shapes them. The world is a beautiful place and it sucks that some people have to or choose to limit themselves to the place in which they were born at. Experiencing the world in a manner of my own is something that inspires me to do, for I feel as though it will be another amazing learning opportunity with life lessons to come with it. On another note, outside of traveling, I would like to be able to receive gender-affirming therapy. Growing up it has been very well known in my black family that nothing related to LGBTQIA will be accepted within my household. I hope to one day get the support I need to finally find the community I belong in, while also being able to get the care that I need to treat the gender dysphoria that has been affecting me at a young age. Being able to find a community that understands the things I go through even if it is not the same. All the more I would like to be able to assist in giving kids who are figuring themselves out these opportunities that are being taken away and shut out more and more as time progresses. I believe we should show the youth that safely expressing themselves is okay and that there is a place for them, so that is something I want to do for the future generation after my own. I believe this scholarship will assist in me being able to pay for my college time, even if minor. The assistance is always appreciated and could truly help go a long way with how expensive such high education is nowadays. When coming from a struggling family it can be hard to pay for things on your own, so I believe this scholarship will assist in minor ways that would contribute to the future I wish to have. I hope this essay finds everyone well.