If language and gesture are the tools we use to communicate with the mind, then creative expression is the bridge between souls. The arts are the shared heartbeat of human experience. Through a single piece of work, an artist can communicate a thousand ideas, but none is more vital than the promise to the viewer that they are not alone. We inhabit this world together, each of us navigating a life as complex, vibrant, and unique as the next. Restricting the freedom to create is more than silencing a voice, it has the potential to fracture our communities, erase representation, and force feelings of isolation. Creative freedom is not a luxury; it is a necessity as vital as the air we breathe. Without it, the human spirit cannot survive.

"We can't afford that." These are words many children hear. In my case, I often heard them in relation to school. At the age of 12, I wanted to learn violin, but, "we can't afford that," my father would say. Instead of listening, I sold candy to afford the instrument rental fees at my school. I still play violin to this day. When I applied to a boarding, public school for performing arts, again I heard "We cant afford that." When I told my father the school had no tuition, he said, "Those places aren't for people like us." The words had changed but the tune was the same. I was then I understood that money was never the problem. My father had allowed generations of poverty to build the self-limiting belief that he not only couldn't afford a better life, but that he didn't deserve one. That's what it means to be a first generation student, overcoming generations of challenges. As the first member of my family to attend college, I am not only carrying the weight of my dreams, I am also breaking a pattern of fear and self doubt. As a descendant of African Americans, my great-great grandfather came to this nation as a slave, my great-grandfather the first free man in my family, my grandfather a citizen of the segregated south, and my father as a child of the civil rights movement. My ancestors were not afforded the opportunities I now have. I am pursuing my degree not only to create a better future for myself and my family, but to prove that all people are deserving of the opportunity to pursue their dreams. I want to show my family that hope, determination and resilience are what it takes to succeed. This goal has led me to some difficult but rewarding times. I began my college career renting a walk in closet as a room and sleeping in a sleeping bag. It was one of the happiest times of my life because I was pursuing my dreams without being a financial burden on my family. Now, I work two jobs and attend school full time. This has allowed me to rent a room, buy myself supplies, and take on less debt. For me, this scholarship would me being able to graduate with less financial stress as I pursue my graduate studies in Art Therapy, so I can give back to the community and help heal the wounds of generational trauma in others.

Are you ready for drama? #BookTok is filled with readers who are die hard lovers or haters of particular books. You'll find no limit to the ire people harbour for anything written by Colleen Hoover. Whether out of morbid curiosity or a genuine interest in borderline abusive romance novels, It Ends With Us has to be on the shelf of any #BookTok lover. Another #BookTok must read, is the entire ACOTAR (A Court of Thorns and Roses) series. A seemingly endless reverie of attractive men are vying for the affection of our main character. A must read for steamy fantasy lovers. #BookTok isn't all romance though. There is a healthy dose of self-help, horror, and arguably educational books sprinkled throughout. The Artist's Way helps readers regain their creative juices. As we grow older, it can be hard to make time for ourselves. This workbook is a map of the soul, allowing readers to reconnect with their inner child. Once they've made that connection and are ready to heal some trauma, The Shadow Work journal is their for that. Searching for this book on TikTok will result in hundreds of videos of people crying into their cameras. This workbook asks the tough questions. From tough questions to a tough read. Horror #BookTok is ready to put people into therapy. Recommendations are based on how hard a book is to stomach, and how difficult it is to sleep after reading one. No One Rides for Free has been making the rounds this year as one of the most disturbing books ever written. People are obsessed with this goosebumps inducing novel. It definitely goes on the shelf, though I may need to turn it backwards as even the cover art for this book makes me uncomfortable. Finally, the cherry on top of this literary Sunday is Babel by R.F. Kwang. This novel blends theology, mythology, magic, and history to creat something truly unique. Written in a way that the lay-person can understand, Babel bridges the gap between entertainment and learning. Under any TikTok that mentions Babel, there is a thriving comment section discussing the writing style and historical accuracies of this book. It's one of the rare books on this list that sparks mostly critical discussions rather than heated debates. Babel teaches, entertains, and brings people together. It sounds out BookTok well and reminds us that books can be something more than the genre they're categorized into.

In December of 2023, I sat nervously across from my father, hands shaking as I informed him that I was non-binary. He responded that I would always be his daughter, and he would continue to refer to me by she/her pronouns. I am lucky enough to be in a position where his words and opinions did not hurt me as deeply as I initially worried they would. This conversation made me realize how difficult it must be for others to understand the internal turmoil caused by body dysmorphia and gender-queer identities. Through my piece "Conflict Child," I aimed to visually represent the difficulty of finding an identity on a binary scale. I used embroidery for this self-portrait to depict the fabric of self and how trying to fit into a binary mold pulls at the threads of what makes me who I am. The acrylic paint background is the spiraling thought pattern of self-deprecation and self-doubt. At the bottom, the embroidered portraits unravel into nothing. This juxtaposition between the tight stitches and loose thread is the brain-body disconnect I feel daily. Since I began puberty at the early age of 11, my body has developed into one I do not feel comfortable in. It's my favorite piece because of the cathartic process and the ability to communicate my crisis through paint and thread. Through my studies in art therapy, I hope to help others use art to process their struggles. (This piece is the last slide of my portfolio.)

At the age of 15, while sitting in the waiting room outside my Counselor's office, I noticed a pamphlet that would irrevocably change the trajectory of my life. Poking over the top of leaflets for bake sales and sporting events were the words Mississippi School of the Arts. I'd always had a keen interest in expressing myself creatively, but the closest thing my school offered to an art class was band. Which I happily participated in. I still remember lifting the paper pamphlet from its cubby. On the front was a drawing of a flaming phoenix, and below, a photo of a giant, red brick school building that looked straight out of a movie. MSA was a boarding high school with five concentration options: Theatre, Dance, Visual Art, Vocal, and Writing. Admissions required, essays, auditions, and maintenance of a 3.0 GPA. I poured over the information, reading the three tri-fold pages repeatedly. I could have cited them from memory. The Counselor called me into her office, and the topic of our meeting had already shifted in my mind. I would no longer be asking about Vo-Tech classes. All I wanted to focus on was how to get into this school. The Counselor attempted to let me down easily. We had no art classes, theater productions, or creative writing courses for me to take. I left the meeting a little discouraged, but my Counselor let me take the pamphlet home to show to my parents. Surely, they would have an answer. The first thing my father said to me was, "We can't afford it. Schools like that are for rich kids." At that age, nothing lit a fire under me like being told no. I decided that my best chance to gain admission was an audition. This left me with Theatre, Dance, and Vocal as concentration options. There was no way I would become a ballerina in the next six months, so Theatre and Dance it was. I looked online for upcoming local productions and decided to audition for Mulan Jr. at my local little theater. I got a minor background role, which was the first achievement of my MSA application. Halfway through the performance schedule of Mulan Jr., I auditioned for another play titled "Heaven Help the Po' Taters." I was cast as the main love interest, and rehearsals began before the run of Mulan Jr. even finished. Two months later, I repeated this process, auditioning and rehearsing for Les Miserables while simultaneously performing in "Heaven Help the Po' Taters." By the time MSA auditions came around, I had gone from no acting or singing experience to being in three plays, two of them musicals! This newfound interest didn't mean I could let my grades slide, so I squeezed homework and band practice into this packed schedule. I may have been the one to do the work, but I'm immensely grateful to my parents and neighbors, who drove me to all of my rehearsals, auditions, practices, and performances. Thanks to their patience and driver's licenses, I was able to attend MSA auditions and gain admittance as a theatre major. My dream was made real. I moved into the dorms and began a unique, difficult journey of self-discovery. Now, I am beginning a new educational path to become an art therapist. I aim to assist others in using the arts as a tool for their own journeys of self-expression and healing.