My favorite thing about Disney is the fact that it contributed to my motivation and drive to do my best and fight to be myself. Everyone can agree that middle school is the worst. For me, animation is what got me through it. The illusion of motion fascinates me, and the ability to manipulate it into something readable yet impactful is incredible. These millions of frames, of art, go on to tell a story of character growth. Each movie shows that you're going to go through a rough patch before getting to the good and to be honest, we need those rough patches to improve ourselves. I thank Princess Tiana for motivating me to work hard for what I want in this world, even if I didn't know what that "want" was in middle school. All I did know was I had to do my best and try. While I worked hard in middle school, there was one thing I was missing Tiana's dad said, "That star can only take you part of the way." I didn't understand it then, but that star is an important factor as well. The star is passion, self-love and acceptance, confidence, and more. I found that out in my sophomore year of high school, and I also found out I wanted to pursue animation. By senior year, I found that confidence and love for myself, and was accepted into my dream school: the Ringling College of Art and Design for Computer Animation. My favorite Disney film is Zootopia. However, it wasn't until recently that I found myself relating so much to our protagonist, Judy. I respected and liked Judy when I watched the film 25 times and admired her passion and hard work. However, I didn't relate to her personality and felt a disconnect because of that (my personality aligns with Elsa's). In my senior year of high school and my Freshmen year of College, I pushed myself to be active as a student leader and community volunteer. I take much joy in connecting with both the local community and my college campus, taking my passion, sharing it, and helping others develop their own "star." Starting college, I've been able to push myself and branch out, participating in our student government and being a scholar for the Lazarus Engaged Learning Assistantship. I've become a person I never thought I would be able to in middle school, I felt as if there were too many restraints holding me back. I fought for change, and am now my best self and will continue adapting. Now, I understand Judy and find myself relating to her personality. While Elsa is my inner self, Judy is how I outwardly express myself to the world. I'm a hard worker, dreamer, independent, patient, and sometimes a little stubborn. Just like Judy, I make every decision with good intentions but will admit when I have made a mistake. It was at the very end of the film with Judy gave her speech and spoke of trying, "try to make the world a better place," even though "real life is messy." I took that message as: No matter what life throws at you, always try to be and do your best, and try to bring others up along with you.

Even though I have always had some form of connection to art, my "Art Journey" didn't start until High School when I made an art account on Instagram. This was also when I started to realize I could have a career in art. After finding a new spark in life I began working on my craft, making friends, meeting new people and trying new things. Soon enough I found my dream college: The Ringling College of Art and Design. A year or so later I would be attending their PreCollege program virtually over the summer which would only ensure the career I wanted to pursue. I have thus far completed my first year at Ringling for Computer Animation. Over the years I have worked with nonprofits to offer my artistic and social media skills as well as the schools I have attended. I helped with our National Arts Honor Society as well as a Teacher's Assistant. I have found that I love helping people (as cliche as that sounds): providing feedback on creative projects, making people's lives just a little bit easier, and I don't mind getting a little dirty. With that, I am part of Ringling's Lazarus Engaged Learning Assistantship, a 4-year program dedicated to working with local nonprofits and helping with challenges in the local community, culminating in a capstone project that they will work on with their nonprofit partner. With the work I've been able to do with Lazarus as well as what I have learned in classes, I feel as if I have grown so much not just as an artist but also as a person, and it's just year one! I'm able to learn about challenges that face communities, find a cause I'm passionate about, and be able to use my creative expression to aid in their endeavors. As for my career, I hope to be an animator and work on feature-length animated films that go on to shape and inspire people around the world. While I do love creating illustrations, I would rather that be a hobby than my job and would like something more technical. I have always loved learning about how things work, and the challenge of bringing something to life is perfect for keeping my mind entertained: It combines creativity and technicality. Although, I am open to different roles in creating a feature-length production and look forward to where life takes me.

I have had three notable art teachers throughout my k-12 Education (Elementary, Middle, and High School). The first influential one was my middle school art teacher. I hadn't found my passion for art quite yet, but I found joy in drawing. Once I showed an interest and cared about the class unlike my peers, she tended to lend a guiding hand more and pushed me. I look back at the art I made in her class and cringe, thinking back on how proud I was and how much my teacher encouraged me to find passion in what I drew. Freshmen year of High School, my ceramics teacher, who also taught both of my parents, was the nicest person I had ever met. What I loved about her class is she would give us a basic sculpting technique and then let us create whatever we wanted building off of it. Despite not finding a passion in ceramics, it made me consider things in three dimensions and aided in growing my perception of what art was capable of. The following semester I met my most influential art teacher. Her classes taught me so much and I received great feedback from her. She supported me on my journey and would critique my personal work that I would end up submitting to either contests or programs. She was like a grandmother to me, and during COVID most of our NAHS (National Art Honors Society) meetings were just her and I. The last semester of my Senior year I was allowed to do a mural just outside of the art rooms of whatever I wanted. With fantasy being a constant inspiration for me and my consistent love for dragons I decided to do a storm dragon (our school is Staunton Storm). I wanted to show other students how epic and inspiring art can be and perhaps take some pride in being a student there. At the time of writing this, I have completed my first year at the Ringling College of Art and Design for Computer Animation. The teachers are what make this school. I find guidance from teachers who aren't in my major, and every single one of them is passionate about their craft. While everyone has a preferred method of teaching, in the end, they will always aid in the growth of a student. My favorite teacher from my first semester was my Figure Drawing teacher. He was incredibly critical but his feedback was always immensely helpful. I would even seek his feedback for work I was doing in other classes. He may not have been great at responding to emails, but he was always willing to lend a hand. In my second semester, the teachers were even better. They shared such words of wisdom and guidance and were always pushing students to make their work better and/or think more deeply about their work. I can't pick just one teacher that has inspired me the most. Everyone has impacted me to varying degrees but regardless were important people for me to have. Without them, I wouldn't be constantly pushing myself to make a career in art. Each teacher has given me a little nudge in the right direction consistently pushing but also motivating me to go further. Without even knowing me they want me to succeed and wish me the best in my endeavors.

Ever since I was little I have been fascinated by motion and how things work. That's why I was so entranced by animation: it takes motion to a whole new level. I have always been a nerd and am still a lover of learning how things are made and the inner workings of living and mechanical things. The reason I want to pursue animation is because of the emotional impact it has on viewers. I also like to challenge myself, and animating is a true challenge. How do you convey a certain emotion or action, let alone a story that an audience can read/understand? How do you keep an audience watching and entertained? To answer those questions you have to understand how people, animals, and more, move and function. You also need to know how emotions are not only expressed but also how other people read them. Animation is the illusion of motion, and it pushes physics and reality constantly. Animation is all about exaggeration, but exaggeration isn't just about making people laugh (like how a coyote can be flattened by an anvil and still be alive), exaggeration is meant to make emotions and actions more clear for the viewer. Exaggeration can be in play in all aspects of animation: lighting, sound, camera perspective, and of course character movements. However, how would we know what to exaggerate and how to do it without science? Without Physiology, Anatomy, Physics, or Psychology? Artists have to understand not only the basics of art, and their craft, but also understand how the world works to replicate it. Every artist, especially animators, have to study from life throughout their career. People can't manipulate something unless they understand the inner workings of what they are trying to change. Take a basic walk cycle: if you don't have a reference you will never make the walk feel natural and won't achieve the illusion. Animation is all about bringing things to life, but how can someone do that if they don't understand what life is in the first place? Life is a truly incredible thing. It is chaos and balance all at the same time. Science makes sense of what is going on around us; it helps us understand the beauty and the chaos. Without the help of science, artists wouldn't know how to properly manipulate life into something new. Life is complex with so much to it. Science simplifies it, and animation simplifies science.

Two to three years ago I adopted my long hair tortoiseshell cat, Aleu. I've always wanted a cat, and while my mom helped me search for one after we moved out of my grandparent's house, when we met Aleu I knew she was the one. Aleu and I have so much in common that it's almost unbelievable. Both of us don't care for big groups of people, and when with one other person we get more comfortable. I too don't like to be touched, and only allow the minimum. We both much prefer presence over constant affection, and like to do things ourselves but wouldn't mind the extra company. She has an intolerance to seafood, while I have an intolerance to red meat--- however, we both love chicken! When I got Aleu, little did I know the impact she would have on my mental health. Having to take care of another living being got me out of my head and down into reality. It's hard to get stuck in my thoughts when she's around. I've been on a mental health journey since my Freshman year of high school, but one thing I still struggled with the most was my sleep. I never slept well despite melatonin and would wake up multiple times throughout the night. I wouldn't fall asleep until 2 hours after going to bed. Every night, Aleu sleeps by my head. Since she's been with me, I only wake up at most twice a night only if I'm sick. Once is almost guaranteed, but I can quickly go back to sleep. Now, I fall asleep around 1 hour after going to bed, sometimes less. When I'm feeling okay, it's not uncommon to wake up and find Aleu not there. But when in sick or unwell, Aleu stays with me all night. I have no idea how she knows but she does. Instead of drowning in my thoughts, Aleu reminds me that the best escape is reality. That sounds weird coming from me, especially since I'm an artist who uses art to escape the world. Reality to me however is being in the moment: using your senses to ground yourself in it. At night, when I would cloud myself in my thoughts the most, having Aleu there for me to feel her fur, listen to her purs and breathing, and see how she makes herself vulnerable by showing her belly (a cats way of saying “I love you”) made me mimic her. Hearing her breathe reminded me to breathe, and seeing her peacefully rest motivated me to do the same. Cats can get a bad wrap, and certainly are not for everyone. But for me, she is the “purfect” companion and I can't wait to navigate college with her as my ESA.

Creating art is an enjoyment of mine, but what brings real fulfillment is disbursing it to others. Through creating art and showing it to others I hope to make them feel, to gain a reaction from it. This is my purpose in life, to make people feel because there was a time in my life when I didn’t feel anything. Art isn’t just a picture, sound, or video, it’s a feeling. Sadness, anger, indifference, happiness, joy, serenity— art causes that. There are many paths that I can take with my art, and the main goal I have is to go into animation-- specifically storytelling animation (so movies, TV shows, anything with a story). I have always been fascinated by the way characters and environments move in animation, I adored watching every frame and minor detail. Then I found independent creators on YouTube, usually using song to guide their animated stories. This two captured my attention and fascinated me, making me rewatch these creations over and over again. Anaimtion doesn’t just fascinate the eye, it touches the soul and mind. Through how artistic these films can be they can spark greater emotion by exaggerating expressions and truly showing emotion. We learn life lessons and find laughter, both the young and old. Feeling both physically(senses) and mentally(emotions) is how people live life. If we shut those things off we’re are mechanically and not truly alive. By watching animation your eyes are captured by the movement, ears hooked from the sounds, mind following the story, and your heart emphasizes with the characters. Different films have different themes and lessons in them, but every single animation succeeds in one thing- making people feel. After all, all forms of art have an emotional reaction.

My very cliche answer to which artwork is my favorite is Van Gogh’s Starry Night. One of the most famous artworks in the entire world was spawned from a mentally unstable individual looking out of his asylum window. From his “madness” he saw swirls in the sky and the movement all around him. For many artists, art is an escape from reality and helps our mental health. Van Gogh had fallen into a great depression and suffered from many psychiatric illnesses. So, Starry Night was a product of his illnesses. The idea came to mind, why is this piece one of the most famous art pieces in the world? Well, after deep thought I came up with the answer. Nowadays mental health as well as psychiatric illnesses are better known, studied, and treated. We recognize the importance of mental health, for it is something we all encounter. This is why people love The Starry Night… it’s because we can all relate to it emotionally. Many people find reality hard to bear and want to find an escape. People can recognize this sense of escape in the swirls of the artwork, and the dreamlike state of each stroke. Even if this is not consciously thought, people love this piece because it is something that everyone, no matter what, can connect to on a deep level. That’s one of the glorious things about art, we all find our meaning in each work of art, and many of those feelings can be deep and indescribable. Some art is just sublime.

I step out of my bubble-- that is how I live bravely. I step out of the known and explore, even if it means failure. Most people view a bubble as being shy, but for me, it's my sensory and anxiety problems. From ordering food to talking in front of 50 people, some simple activities are huge steps for me. These challenges are becoming less draining, ad I continue to try and push myself higher. When I get to college I hope to not only be a confident student but a friend people can lean on. People drain me greatly, so I've kept my circles very small. I hope to expand that and allow more people in and just have fun. I'm moving 14 hours away from home. I'm attending an expensive college in a rigorous and challenging major. I'll be far from my comfort zone and be completely exposed. I will create a new bubble-- a larger bubble. I'll allow friendships, new activities, and even hardships. I won't just expose myself to new things, have genuine fun, by pursuing my passion, but living life.

The greatest lesson I've learned that has impacted my life is to not live in my head. This wasn't a quick change, it was a gradual shift. When I started to focus on my mental health, understanding who I am, and exploring new things I realized something. I was getting better when I was no longer trapped in foggy darkness inside my head. When I remember back on harder times, I only remember seeing them as dark, blurry, and empty. Now, my memories are full of colors, sounds, and feelings. The way I did this was by being present, that is what I learned: to be present. The greatest way to heal and find comfort is in the world around you. One way I do this is before I go to sleep, where I feel the pillow and blankets slowly fall into place, feel the fan blowing on my face and hair, and listen to the static of the fan. I feel my cat's soft fur and her gentle breathing. Another thing I do, which may seem “weird” is I go out and lay on the driveway. I lay under the shade of a tree, and watch as the wind gently blows the leaves. I watch the light shift on each leaf, warm light versus a cool shadow. Then I listen to the leaves and birds chirp. I feel the occasional warmth of the sun and brisk cool wind. I feel my chest expand as I breathe out and let go. By being present my life has been bright and meaningful. I no longer create chains that hold me in the dark, for I have found the key.

Madison is a super common name in my area, so I prefer to go by MJ (short for “Madison Jade”). There was also at least one other Madison in my class and another “Madison Helmick” in a different [private] high school across our small city. However, I never chose to go by MJ until recently, first letting the name be used by strangers when I attended an online PreCollege program by the Ringling College of Art and Design, which I will be attending this fall. The name just felt more fitting, although I don’t mind Madison. Up until my sophomore year of high school, I was controlled by my mental health and other issues. I would wake up and wait to go to school every day physically sick and would go home with pounding headaches. However, to me that was normal. Middle school was worse, where I mastered crying myself to sleep in silence as my sister slept 3 feet away. It was freshmen year when I divided I couldn’t have the rest of my life be like this, to be miserable every second of the day and feel like a ghost drifting through life. Soon enough I got in touch with my doctor, then a therapist. Therapy didn’t personally work for me, so I went to medication, which has done wonders. My mental health was healing, but I still had some issues. Feeling a bit more alive, I focused on my physical self. I then learn that I have Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), and also was told by my eye doctor that my eyes were slightly more dilated than average (letting more light in). The cause for most of my headaches, I had thought, was a lack of water. I drank more, but the issues persisted. It was then that I got sunglasses and a prescription for reading glasses with blue light. To be honest I don’t remember what it was like before visually, all I do remember is the grumpiness and headaches I would be in when we were somewhere bright. Ever since I was a baby I’ve hated the sun, with me screaming in the car until my mom put a blanket over me. The point of me briefly recounting my struggles is a reminder to my reader(s) that everyone is going through their own battles. Every single day and every interaction I have with others more core value is always to treat people with kindness, as cliche as that sounds. That doesn’t mean you got out of your way to make someone's day, just not to be the one to ruin it. The point of being kind is showing empathy, a trait very special to humans. It isn’t even just for another’s personal benefit– it helps with the doer as well. The doer can just think of something kind. When I’m driving and someone speeds past me, instead of thinking “ugh do you have to be in such a rush?” and rolling my eyes, instead, I think “I guess they have to pee.” I find with a lot of others including myself that the smallest of things can lead to a breakdown. I couldn’t imagine being the reason someone “gives up” (interpret that as you wish). One of the things that makes me most happy in life is bringing others up, whether that includes helping them, teaching them, or just making their day better. I’m an artist, and my motivation isn’t just for my own pleasure, but it is to also inspire and motivate others. I hope to work in the animation industry, which goes on to impact and influence the next generation and even current minds. I always find it relieving when others show me kindness. From letting me out of a busy parking lot to a coworker emphasizing with a silly mistake I made. When someone shows understanding, I find myself opening up more. When talking to fellow students heading to Ringling in the fall, I find the reason I’m so excited is because of how kind and welcoming they first are when new people join our chat, and how understanding and willing to help everyone is. Showing kindness, this simple and common word, truly brings people together– and can lead to people connecting as one, and create a better and brighter journey for the individual.

About one year after I created my art account, I was unsure what I wanted my goal in life to be. Animation was an option, but I didn't have any other reason to do it other than just wanting to become a movie animator working for a major studio production. I was already working on myself as a person due to mental strife, but what was I supposed to do when I became comfortable with who I was? What would bring me happiness? In the midst of my concerns, I received a message that changed my life. An Instagram user who had followed my account for some time sent a direct message just to say how much they loved my art and how it inspired them to draw. My heart sank. Nothing had ever given me the feeling this message had. After receiving multiple messages such as this over my years, and a billboard on my wall showcasing fanart of my character, I now know my goal in life, and why I want to be an animator. I want to leave an impact on as many people as possible through animation. After rewatching one of my favorite movies, The Princess and the Frog, I was once again struck by an invisible force pushing me towards meaning. Disney princesses always advocate following your dreams, but Tiana made me realize that “the only way to get what you want in this world is through hard work,” and from that notion, I completely changed my perception of my life. As a result, my academic performance, school participation, and overall drive all drastically improved. I started to give 110% with everything I did. Not only did Princess Tiana teach me to work harder for my dream, but also that I have a duty to myself, to not get lost in my work. What I want to accomplish in my life is not who I am entirely, and in a way, if I put too much of myself into it I may lose who I am. After all, I am not just an artist and have so much more to offer. So, from Tiana’s story, I learned to not only work as hard as I can to achieve my dream but to also take time for myself and my wellbeing. I aspire to impact others the way that Tiana did for me. Animated movies influence millions of people, from all different walks of life. Imagine being able to do what you love for a living, and then have the end result go out into the world to shape the next generation and possibly change someone's worldview and life — what a dream! I'm an introverted, old soul, and I'm not meant for the spotlight. So, as an artist, this fits my personality and goal perfectly, by being behind the scenes. I believe that through animation I can help to shape others’ worldview and lives for the better. My favorite work varies and depends on the context. Right now, my favorite piece was for an old friend, who I have watched over the years grow and improve as an artist. I'm so proud of how far she has come. She entered a DTIYS that I held, placing 1st place (and this artwork was the reward). With that, I was inspired by her improvement to put everything into this piece, a character of hers who lives in a dystopian world. With that inspiration, I was able to push my comfort level and create something I had never done before, and am proud of the result.

As someone who struggles with the changes that life consistently throws, it's hard to keep a growth mindset. It's easy to stay in the norm, to stay in the safe zone. The reason people have fixed mindsets is that they are either satisfied with where they are and don't want change, or are afraid of the negative aspect of change. However, in reality, there's more good than bad when it comes to change. When there is no change, there is no growth. An issue I see commonly is in the older generations and accepting the LGBTQ+ community. They believe "a man should only sleep with a woman" or "there are only two sexes," and finally, that "you are what you are born with [genitalia]" (usually said more bluntly). I'm told by others when I ask why they won't change their mind, and they always respond "it was how they were raised." But in my opinion, it's because they don't like change, and therefore don't want growth. We need this world to grow, for the sake of our fellow people. Even people who are silently not accepting LGBTQ+, are just as bad as those who commit acts against them and harm the community. Whenever I think of staying in my ways, I analyze all the ways the change can benefit me even if it scares me. I hope to always embrace what comes my way and not be like end up like certain members of our society alienizing other people for their sexuality or gender.

I’ll be attending the Ringling College of Art and Design this fall for Computer Animation. Right now I am finishing my senior year, where I am also attending a magnet school called Shenandoah Valley Governor’s School for the Art and Humanities Program. I had already known the importance of art and music, but the classes that I have taken have put into perspective the importance of it all. It is a means of self-expression, a beauty in life that is not already in front of us but people have to create. There are wondrous aspects of our natural world, countless beauties, which people have tended to misuse. But by far the most beautiful outcome of humanity is art and music. Without art and music, imagine how full our society, our species, would be. Music and art are inspired by life, the greatest gift given to everyone (which can be interrupted in different ways, but I see it as something to not be taken for granted). Our greatest senses, smelling and hearing, are blessed by these masterpieces. They not only satisfy our senses but our souls as well. It’s one of the few ways something can dig its way past the barriers and play with the strings of our hearts. Not only is it appealing to the individual, but it’s a form of connection with others. As humans, we naturally flock together and strive for human connection. Art and music are a way of doing that, from common interest or confusion of a masterpieces purpose. The tools for creating art and music originated with nature, and by people repurposing it they are able to create something miraculous, something that will never harm it’s origins unlike other man made mechanisms. It is created from beauty, and in return results in beauty as well, even if the result is questionable to some. Without art and music human beings wouldn’t even be human. Just like at my school, we can’t just have STEM, we need humanities and vice versa. There would be an in-balance in the world, too much technical thinking and not enough feeling. Ideas would still be possible, but would there be any emotional connection the way art and music have with other people? We would be able to express ideas, but would creativity be diminished without art and music?

I hope to have brought a spark into every person I can make contact with, whether in person or through the media. A spark isn't passion, it is something that is ignited in the heart of individuals that makes them inspired to think or do something in a way they wither were too afraid to do or never thought of. Whether that's inspiring them to give a school presentation or showing kindness to others. Or I could have even just changed their mood, in a good way. A legacy isn't just about being remembered, it's about leaving an impact people leave on the world. I would die happy knowing that I impacted someone in a positive way, even if it was just a fleeting moment. I would want my legacy to leave the mark on others to always show generosity-- to help other people and appreciate the world around them.

I remember finding this scholarship and being absolutely stumped. I come back to it and I'm still not sure. This sentence could mean nothing to the world, or it could change someone's viewpoint. How could one sentence be enough to have an impact on people? Would they even listen? I am aware this is hypothetical, but nonetheless is something to think about rather than to remain idle of the conflicts our world fasts. The problem with the world today is the fact we take our lives and our world for granted. Look at all of the problems we face, climate change, unfair treatment of others, pollution, violence, hunger, and government corruption. These are heavy issues and they are all different and vary in degree all over the world. I attempted to combine all of the problems together and find what the underlying issue is. My sentence would be a question, "Why do we take for granted the life, the world, we are given?" From the short life that I have had, I know the best way to get through conflict is through communication. This question would inspire the listener to think about everything wrong with the world. Why is it like this? The idea is the generate more questions to be asked and then answered, and in the hope it would repeat until common ground is struck. Obviously, situations like this would not go well, there would have to be some regulation and a neutral party. However, that doesn't matter. If we could just communicate and find ways to help each other and improve the lives of all would go on to impact every issue we face today.

Art is one of the biggest things that fuel my life, but to best summarize everything else that does, well, life fuels my life. Where do I even start? Life is so incredible. Our senses that take in the world around us, other living things, emotions (good and bad), everything. Every chance I get I do something similar to focused meditation. I take in everything around me. For instance, let's say I'm driving. I snap myself out of that state of mind where we go into autopilot and just drive, losing touch with reality. This is the instance where you realize you're driving but don't remember it. I'll be referencing Pixar's Soul, the perfect example of what I'm conveying. Another example of this scenario is when Joe is in the subway, and everyone just kind of looks... empty. The good scenario, when you snap out of autopilot, is what should and will fuel your own life. I look at the world around, the clouds and every color painted within, I turn up the music and start jamming. Even if I'm having a bad day, I just cry and let it out, I feel each tear run down my cheek. Do you know what helps? Breathing. I use all of my senses to calm me down. What do I see? What do I smell? What do I feel? It feels so refreshing to take in what is around me instead of losing myself to the negative cycle of thoughts. Back to driving, a car cuts my off. Instead of getting mad, I understand that everyone makes mistakes, maybe they're having a bad day. Someone speeds past me, I think they have to pee. I could have chosen to talk about my passion for art, but I won't always have that.

The world around me, that’s what makes me happy. The clouds in the sky, I admire them every day. My sisters make fun of me when I go “look at the clouds!” Clouds could be any color, they’re never white. I love the studio the colors they reflect, each a different palette. While waiting in the drive-thru of Chick-Fil-A, it was dark outside and raining. It was cloudy so you couldn’t see the stars, but the white light lighting up the drive-thru reflected perfectly on the windshield to make it look like stars. When it snows, I get so excited, it’s my favorite weather! Last year it started snowing, and at night I walked outside to enjoy the fresh snow. I was in shorts and a regular jacket- but I wasn’t cold. I walk out with my dogs as I listen to the crunch of the snow, and watch the millions of snowflakes fall out of the black sky and rush past me. I let the cold envelope me, it felt like a blanket. I could stay out there all day. When I was little, and we actually had a good bit of snow, I would dig a hole in the snow (like an igloo) and lay inside for who knows how long. It made me feel safe. One of the simplest things I admire, ever since I was little, was the moon. I always look for it when I’m outside.

My dream and goal in life is to inspire and motivate others. Nothing else compares to the joy and fulfillment this brings me. It first hit me when someone messaged me on Instagram explaining how much they loved my art and how it inspired them to draw, frequently coming back to my page for inspiration. My heart soared, and I would only get more messages like that. My artistic dream for the future is to work in the animation industry. This industry goes on to influence millions of people, shaping the youth into who they will become. I am an introverted old soul and prefer not to be in the spotlight. Not only would my life's goal be accomplished, but I would also be true to who I am. I love creating art, and to work in the animation industry is to work behind the curtain, away from the cameras. While watching Disney's, "Raya and the Last Dragon," I not only paid attention to the movie and its sublime scenes but also to the audience. I was so memorized by the beauty of the movie I was in shock to find kids were actually following along. Towards the end of the movie when everyone turned to stone, a kid asked "What's gonna happen now," in the most concerned and sincere way. Animated movies influence me so much, and the younger version of me found life lessons out of them. Such as, Tiana (from Princess and the Frog) taught me to always work hard for my goals in life but to not lose myself along the way. Even if the movie industry ends up not being for me, I will dedicate myself to any job that benefits others through my artistic creations. Before my senior year started, I attended the Ringling College of Art and Design’s PreCollege, a four-week program where students can choose an immersion (major) and get a taste to see if that’s what they want to pursue. I took the Computer Animation immersion, and know one-hundred percent that this is what I want to do. It was very stressful but I found joy in the challenge and bringing a character to life.

Animated movies influence millions of people, from all different walks of life. Imagine being able to do what you love for a living, and then have the end result go out into the world to shape the next generation and possibly change someone's worldview and life — what a dream! I'm an introverted, old soul, and I'm not meant for the spotlight. So, as an artist this fits my personality and goal perfectly, by being behind the scenes. This dream was finalized when watching Raya and the Last Dragon. This sublime movie brought me to tears, for reasons beyond that of just the storyline. I cried because I was dumbfounded by the stunning backgrounds and landscapes, character designs, the camera angles and action movements — everything was mesmerizing and so well executed. One day I hope to create something as eye-catching and memorable. Tthrough artistic expression you could inspire people to keep living or just to give a presentation in class! I believe that through animation I can help to shape others’ worldview and lives for the better. Even if I don't make it into the film industry I plan to help bring things to life to enlighten others.

The meaning of life is to just live. Yes, that is an ambiguous answer seeing as there are many different ways to live, but that’s precisely the point. There is no one right way of living, and as people, we will make mistakes in trying to learn what is right for us, what makes us happy. Everyone has different beliefs, morals, and what they feel is right and wrong. With that being said many people don’t live good lives, but the meaning of life isn’t to have a good life, just to live one. That’s all nature is about, existing. It doesn’t care what happens, that’s for us to choose. Now you may be wondering, so no matter what, anyone can just live? Nope. Animals can, but not people. Nowadays be become so lost in our minds we lose touch with reality. We spiral into an abyss of our own thoughts and forget the world around us. In this way people close themselves off from life, therefore losing the meaning of living. What even is living? That’s an easy answer, just do what nature gave you! Smell, taste, touch, listen, see! Walk around in your “meat sack” and feel the world around you. Use your emotions! One of the best parts about being human is our wide range of emotions. Being sad and mad is natural! Just be. That’s all you have to do to live, be. When I feel disconnected from reality, I remind myself of the beautiful world we live in and appreciate all aspects of nature. I look at the good around me. I look at myself and my body, and think “this is me,” and appreciate all the time I am given to experience every sensory and emotional sensation- even the bad ones.

I found that during tough times having a negative outlook only buries oneself deeper in despair. Rather than letting things get me down, I always try to look at what I have at the moment, how the situation will play out afterward, and try to look at the situation(s) from a different perspective. Nowadays, it takes a lot for me to be overwhelmed and have a breakdown unlike a few years ago, however, it still happens every now and then. It usually falls apart when there has been a build-up of negative thoughts and feelings, and I constantly have to reassure myself of these feelings. For instance, I had a breakdown a few weeks ago due to having so many responsibilities to keep up with. I had to meet with my teachers to discuss something, and I had blown out the project to be way more complicated than it had to be. I ended up crying on the way home, and it took me a few days to figure out how to best continue. Everything worked out in the end, and what I am currently worrying about is scholarship money. I had a dream last night, and to best summarize what happened (since it technically was more abstract than what I am about to describe) is that I wasn't accepted for a big prize (money) because of situations that were true to who I was. In other words, I didn't win because the people in charge didn't like me for who I was. This dream was based on not having won any scholarships, and blaming that I myself am not good enough. I am still trying to overcome these thoughts, and the only thing keeping me steady is that the right scholarships will come in time.

My favorite artist is Stan Lee; the creation of his characters, namely Spider-Man, has gone on to inspire millions of people. He’s relatable, and with “anyone can wear the mask” showing us we can all be heroes. Imagine being able to inspire others to be better people and better themselves? What a dream!

About one year after I created my art account, I was unsure what I wanted my goal in life to be. Animation was an option, but I didn't have any other reason to do it other than just wanting to become a movie animator working for a major studio production. I was already working on myself as a person due to mental strife, but what was I supposed to do when I became comfortable with who I was? What would bring me happiness? In the midst of my concerns, I received a message that changed my life. An Instagram user who had followed my account for some time sent a direct message just to say how much they loved my art and how it inspired them to draw. My heart sank. Nothing had ever given me the feeling this message had. After receiving multiple messages such as this over my years, and a billboard on my wall showcasing fanart of my character, I now know my goal in life, and why I want to be an animator. I want to leave an impact on as many people as possible through animation. After rewatching one of my favorite movies, The Princess and the Frog, I was once again struck by an invisible force pushing me towards meaning. Disney princesses always advocate to follow your dreams, but Tiana made me realize that “the only way to get what you want in this world is through hard work,” and from that notion, I completely changed my perception of my life. As a result, my academic performance, school participation and overall drive all drastically improved. I started to give 110% on everything I did. Not only did Princess Tiana teach me to work harder for my dream, but also that I have a duty to myself, to not get lost in my work. What I want to accomplish in my life is not who I am entirely, and in a way, if I put too much of myself into it I may lose who I am. After all, I am not just an artist and have so much more to offer. So, from Tiana’s story, I learned to not only work as hard as I can to achieve my dream, but to also take time for myself and my wellbeing. I aspire to impact others the way that Tiana did for me. I may have been able to learn from others mistakes and acquire knowledge most don’t understand at my age, but most people can’t do that in their own. Usually when I help people I don’t give them a straight forward answer so they can figure out on their own how do things without it getting handed to them. It takes time to become your best self. Animated movies influence millions of people, from all different walks of life. Imagine being able to do what you love for a living, and then have the end result go out into the world to shape the next generation and possibly change someone's worldview and life — what a dream! I'm an introverted, old soul, and I'm not meant for the spotlight. So, as an artist this fits my personality and goal perfectly, by being behind the scenes. I believe that through animation I can help to shape others’ worldview and lives for the better.

As cliche as this may sound, the Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh inspires me a lot. Van Gogh's Starry Night gave me great insight into our world today. For school, I got to write an essay in my humanities class about how mental health affected Vincent Van Gogh and his work, the Starry Night. At the time it was made, Van Gogh was in an asylum. He had fallen into a great depression and suffered from many psychiatric illnesses. So, the Starry Night was a product of his illnesses. The idea came to mind, why is this piece one of the most famous art pieces in the world? Well, after deep thought I came up with the answer. Nowadays mental health as well as psychiatric illnesses are better known, studied, and treated. We recognize the importance of mental health, for it is something we all encounter. This is why people love The Starry Night… it’s because we can all relate to it emotionally. Many people find reality hard to bear and want to find an escape. People can recognize this sense of escape in the swirls of the artwork, the dreamlike state of each stroke. Even if this is not consciously thought, people love this piece because it is something that everyone, no matter what, can connect to on a deep level. That’s one of the glorious things about art, we all find our meaning in each work of art, and many of those feelings can be deep and indescribable. Some art is just sublime. With my art, I want to impact as many people as possible, and the Starry Night does that without anyone knowing why, but I do.

Learning self-care takes a few years. You first have to learn to love yourself inside and out, and this took a while for me, and I’ll always have moments where I’ll struggle to do that, as everyone will. Over the past few years, I have improved so much as a person. I'm happier, more open, and have taken on challenges I nerve would have my freshman year of high school. It has helped me handle my anxiety, control intrusive thoughts, and be proud and confident in who I am. Everyone will go about self-care differently. Personally, I make sure to give myself frequent breaks when doing activities and homework. I have a lot of work and plans, but I try my best to not overwhelm myself and take some time off. Breaks are so important, they may make your task longer but the product is much better due to the balance you create in your stress. When I was in the dark mentally, the way I “punished” myself was by not taking care of my health. Such as not drinking enough water or putting lotion on. I now keep myself hydrated and put on lotion. These sound like minor issues but they impact me greatly. Whenever I found myself getting a tight chest and intense anxiety, I listen to singing bowls and other things of that nature. These sounds ring through my ears and into my chest, and it feels like it's expanding my chest, where before it felt tight and compressed. Self-care can change people's lives, and I hope we can begin teaching it to others, especially to students so they can begin healthy habits early on.

A growth mindset is being able to go with the flow, not about being positive. Meaning, when bad things come your way it doesn't set you back for a great deal of time, you take the loss and keep moving forward. You also learn from your mistakes/failures and choose to grow from things rather than becoming defensive or insecure. I try to keep a growth mindset by reminding myself that it would only cause me negative emotions if I don't. Having a fixed mindset isn't the most beneficial, and has a lot of negative aspects, leading to an unhealthy mindset. Now, I of course have fixed thoughts run into my brain, but I combat them with growth thoughts. When I'm envious of someone's talent, I instead congratulate them on their success and know that I'm on a different path than them. When I fail or make a mistake, I don't wallow about it or think it hinders me in any way- sometimes they bring amusement and other times show me a way in which I can do better. On every assignment/circumstance, I try to give %110, giving it my all even if it is hard. It doesn't always go in my favor, but I'd rather be known for trying than being scared to put effort. I do not have a growth mindset for everything, but with every thought, I attempt to change that.

Patience is such an important trait to have, yet many people struggle with it. Being patient is important to me because it shows tolerance and control over one's emotions. A reflection of one's mental strength, and capability to deal with hard and even minor stresses. By not letting things get to you, you allow yourself to live a more peaceful life. Having patience is simply one of those many tests in life that show how well you handle situations, and it's a pass or fail situation. Having patience isn't about not getting angry, it's about how you distribute that anger (not through harsh actions, such as from word of mouth or physically). You fail if you inflict injury on another person. For example, I was driving the other day, going the speed limit, but a car did not have the patience and was speeding past cars on a 35mph road. While in the left lane, they were trying to get over (when I was right beside them) so they could get on the interstate. Instead of waiting for me to pass (I was too far up to see the blinker or slow down), they decided to cut me off with a warning turn and proceeded to go into my lane, causing me to break and turn my wheel viscuouly to the right to stop a crash. I wouldn't be surprised if that person has or will be in a crash soon; choosing to risk someone's life instead of being patient.

About one year after I created my art account, I was unsure what I wanted my goal in life to be. Animation was an option, but I didn't have any other reason to do it other than just wanting to become a movie animator working for a major studio production. I was already working on myself as a person due to mental strife, but what was I supposed to do when I became comfortable with who I was? What would bring me happiness? In the midst of my concerns, I received a message that changed my life. An Instagram user who had followed my account for some time sent a direct message just to say how much they loved my art and how it inspired them to draw. My heart sank. Nothing had ever given me the feeling this message had. After receiving multiple messages such as this over my years, and a billboard on my wall showcasing fanart of my character, I now know my goal in life, and why I want to be an animator. I want to leave an impact on as many people as possible through animation. After rewatching one of my favorite movies, The Princess and the Frog, I was once again struck by an invisible force pushing me towards meaning. Disney princesses always advocate to follow your dreams, but Tiana made me realize that “the only way to get what you want in this world is through hard work,” and from that notion, I completely changed my perception of my life. As a result, my academic performance, school participation and overall drive all drastically improved. I started to give 110% on everything I did. Not only did Princess Tiana teach me to work harder for my dream, but also that I have a duty to myself, to not get lost in my work. What I want to accomplish in my life is not who I am entirely, and in a way, if I put too much of myself into it I may lose who I am. After all, I am not just an artist and have so much more to offer. So, from Tiana’s story, I learned to not only work as hard as I can to achieve my dream, but to also take time for myself and my wellbeing. I aspire to impact others the way that Tiana did for me. Animated movies influence millions of people, from all different walks of life. Imagine being able to do what you love for a living, and then have the end result go out into the world to shape the next generation and possibly change someone's worldview and life — what a dream! I'm an introverted, old soul, and I'm not meant for the spotlight. So, as an artist this fits my personality and goal perfectly, by being behind the scenes. This dream was finalized when watching Raya and the Last Dragon. This sublime movie brought me to tears, for reasons beyond that of just the storyline. I cried because I was dumbfounded by the stunning backgrounds and landscapes, character designs, the camera angles and action movements — everything was mesmerizing and so well executed. One day I hope to create something as eye-catching and memorable. I believe that through animation I can help to shape others’ worldview and lives for the better.

The biggest problem the world is facing right now is isolation. Meaning, we are too quick to think of just ourselves despite our power to help others. This isn't just within countries, but also towards how countries act towards each other. Instead of competing to be the best country, as a leading nation, we should be looking to bring up societies that are less fortunate- to help those in need. Instead, we advertise our greatness (in reference to the United States), inspiring people to come to our country when we should be aiding in the growth of others. The purpose of a leader is not to take charge and be first place, but to take along their teammates and make sure everyone crosses the line. However, just like on the individual scale, we need to fix our internal problems before we help others. We are so couped up in our own opinions that we are dragging a line between two groups of people when we should be understanding that not everyone has the same opinion and to debate ideas and not fight about it. Everyone can be so closed-minded when it comes to sensitive topics, and this divides people. We are all one, but an invisible hatred for others is dividing us. Misunderstandings happen frequently, and they happen because people are quick to assume, judge, and act. They are so clouded by hate that they can think clearly. This is our problem, we need to overcome our differences and grow together, not separate ourselves.

If I were a highly influential figure, I would promote self-care and acceptance. There are countless external problems that we often forget our internal ones. The youth today easily fall plague to an unhealthy, deteriorating mindset. In this world, we need to come together and spread kindness. However, to love others, we first need to love ourselves. It’ cliche to say, but it's true. One of the best ways to inspire others to learn to love who they are is through sharing experiences and making yourself relatable. So, I would share my own story. The purpose of my presence would be to convey to people they are not alone, and that things will be better, you just have to take the first step. I hope I can gain the confidence, time, and motivation to illustrate and become an influencer. I'd start by sharing funny stories, and slowly work up my courage. Don't try looking for light. Make your own, be your own. I’ll help you.

One aspect of myself that I love is my passion for growth and my willingness to take on the challenges that follow. Any situation in which sets a struggle for me, my response isn't to give up it’s to tackle the problem head-on. For example, I finally played a game of checkers with a teacher at school (instead of my sisters, who could never beat me), and I lost each time. For me, it was way more fun to lose than to win all the time because of the challenge. Ever since I decided to download a checkers app so I could practice my skills. A positive outcome of this is I have a lot of patience, and if I ever get bored I just have to try something new. It’s also why working in other mediums of art is so enjoyable, having the change in creative expressions challenges my mind. Over my time taking Computer Animation (3D) virtually with Ringling’s PreCollege, I was highly challenged by the workload. I for one had to learn a whole new software. Secondly, I had to animate and use 3D aspects (something I had never done). With animation, there is a lot of trial and error. It's all about experimentation- and with that comes “failure,” therefore, challenge. I live this about animation, and that's why I want to pursue it, and it's one of the many reasons this career fits my personality.

I’m a huge introvert. However, being anti-social doesn’t fit well with what I want to accomplish in life. I want to become an animator, and that involves working in a team. I want to inspire others, but that involves taking the lead in many things. Consistently over the past few months, I push through my bubble and do things I would have never done a few years ago. It’s like becoming a different person but in a good way. Luckily, I still feel like me because I’ve given time to be my introverted self. Reserved, quiet, and spend my free time alone. It’s refreshing, and by staying true to who I am I haven’t lost myself in my pursuit to live my best life. It’s hard to navigate a world where being anti-social is looked down upon, constantly being told having a shell is bad. People think being a leader is all about being the most outwardly spoken one, the first to take the lead. However, that’s only a small part of being a type of leader. There are many different leaders, and the only thing they all have in common is their passion to guide others, not their social rank.

I most admire Stan Lee. There are no words to describe the Marvel Universe other than marvelous. He was such an inspiring person who made a tremendous impact on millions of people through the creation of fictional characters. One of the most influential characters is Spiderman. Spiderman is immensely loved due to his relatability. Being only 17 years old, I'm unaware of the full impact spiderman has had on the older generation. Although, I can add that the hit movie, "Spider-Man Into the Spiderverse" is one of the best animated films of all time. When Miles says, "anyone can wear the mask, you can wear the mask,” I always cry. As an artist, I quickly made a spider-sona, a character based on Spider-Man in a different universe (A trend after the release of the movie). It's referred to as the spider-verse, and people mix their personalities into their designs. When I created my spider-sona, Arctosa (wolf spider), every time I drew her I was filled with aspirations and felt like I was wearing the mask. My goal in life is to inspire and motivate people with my art. Stan Lee was able to do this with the creation of Marvel characters. In his cameo in Spiderverse, he was the one to mention that "the mask always fits, eventually" meaning that the costume will always be ready for the wearer, no matter how long it takes for the holder to realize they deserve it. I wish I could properly express the impact of Spider-Man apart from saying tears were almost shed when writing this. Characters have huge impacts on the youth of this world. To be able to impact the minds of people through the creation of worlds and characters to bring them laughter and tears is truly a marvelous dream.

Over my high school experience I've grown so much as a person. My #back2schoolmoment happened while I was giving advice to my teacher to help with the incoming juniors at my local Governor's School. At gov school, harder courses and deep thinking surround every class. The juniors have had a hard time getting used to the environment. I explained to my teacher that they had practically a fully virtual sophomore year and had little to no contact with their peers or teachers, which includes seeing their faces- not just talking. So, in a class where most of the time is spent discussing ideas with a group of people, no one was prepared. Everyone feels like they’re in a bubble. I’m using this school year to let everything out, not letting any anxiety hold me back. Here are two pictures showing one of the many crazy things I hope to do, some with purpose and some just for fun! Life is still going, so I plan to keep growing and hopefully inspire the people around me to loosen up as well!

The most positive effect the pandemic had on me was how it brought new knowledge of the world around me. I learned how in subtle ways I was offending other people, and how I can work towards being a better person and helping those who are underprivileged. For instance, one that really got to me was the tan-colored pencil. In elementary school, we referred to it as the “skin” colored pencil. There were only a few black students in my grade, it was mostly white. I felt sick to my stomach after this realization and watched a lot of videos and did my research into the topic. Although I had to be separated from others during the pandemic, I only learned how to connect with them more.

My dream and goal in life are to inspire and motivate others. Nothing else compares to the joy and fulfillment this brings me. It first hit me when someone messaged me on Instagram explaining how much they loved my art and how it inspired them to draw, frequently coming back to my page for inspiration. My heart soared, and I would only get more messages like that. My dream for the future is to work in the animation industry. This industry goes on to influence millions of people, shaping the youth into who they will become. I am an introverted old soul and prefer not to be in the spotlight. Not only would my life's goal be accomplished, but I would also be true to who I am. I love creating art, and to work in the animation industry is to work behind the curtain, away from the cameras. While watching Disney's, "Raya and the Last Dragon," I not only paid attention to the movie and its sublime scenes but also the audience. I was so memorized by the beauty of the movie I was in shock to find kids were following along. Towards the end of the movie when everyone turned to stone, a kid asked "What's gonna happen now," in the most concerned and sincere way. Animated movies influence me so much, and the younger version of me found life lessons out of them. Such as, Tiana (from Princess and the Frog) taught me to always work hard for my goals in life but to not lose myself along the way. Even if the movie industry ends up not being for me, I will dedicate myself to any job that benefits others through my artistic creations.

I'm currently a senior (high school) mentor for my second school, the Shenandoah Valley Governor's School (SVGS). SVGS is a school for prospective students in their Junior and Senior years, and either attend the Arts and Humanities or STEM program. I remember how hard it was for me to adjust to the sudden change in atmosphere: everyone was there to work and wanted to be there. Instead of multiple-choice questions, we have reflective essays and discussions. Since I had my first year during COVID, I did not get the original experience. I was there for 3 days a week. Now being a senior, I have an idea of how to handle the workload given to me. However, the new juniors did not have what I had. They came from schools entirely virtual, and only towards the end did they have in person (some) for two days a week. I knew from my classes I barely interacted with my peers let alone spoke, but I at least had SVGS to develop. The juniors didn't have that- some of them didn't even have zoom. Now, they’re expected to participate in group discussions and higher level course work. As a mentor I’m assigned 15 students. I give them a non-stressful assignment each week as they have to email me or join a weekly meeting to let me know how they are doing. The assignments have them reflect on themselves, something I find to help relieve stress. I want them to understand I know what they’re going through, and use time in their week to think about something other than school.

This is my cat, Aleu. She's the first cat I have ever had, and she's "purfect." Where ever I go, she follows me like a shadow. Recently when it's time to go to sleep I'll make room for her next to my head where she'll sleep for the majority of the night. I'm surprised she hasn't stopped, I should have mistaken her for a fluffy pillow at some point while I slept. When I'm working at my desk, she lays in her bed next to me. Yes, I have tripped over her plenty of times.

Financial freedom is something I was terrified I would never receive wanting to become an artist. To me, it means to have a financially stable life where you have extra fundings for leisurely activities. These activities include spending time doing things to satisfy one's desires, whether that’s doing something alone or with friends/families. It’s a sad truth that money can be a deciding factor in one's happiness in life. When I say activities, it doesn’t mean spending money. The reason financial situations dictate regular activities like hiking is because that takes time. Time is money after all, so if you don’t have money to live comfortably then you should spend that time getting said money. I was always told the tales of the starving artist, how it was unrealistic to pursue my dream due to the risk. I should just become a doctor or something (which is ironic because education costs a lot of money). My dream is to work in the animation industry to go on to aid in the impact of the next generation. Art is how I come out of my introverted bubble, and fulfill my goal and happiness in life. To go into this field I’ll be going into a job I’m passionate about, not about my financial earnings. What made me fall in love with Art and Designs Colleges, especially Ringling, the most was the fact they prepare students for the real world from day one. Their purpose is to shatter the myth of the starving artist. At Ringling (my dream college) every student is guaranteed job experience before they graduate, and their career services aids in students throughout their lives. Additionally, with all of the connections that are made with professors, who are and were professionals in the field, finding guidance is right there. Education at the college isn’t just about your major, it’s about growth as an artist as a whole. With that, you learn other ways to make money apart from one job. As an artist, it’s best to have multiple means of gaining money. Most design colleges have the same values as Ringling. I could continue to learn things myself with resources on the internet, but that isn’t the smartest path. I would achieve financial freedom through attending Ringling, or any design college for that matter. Through the education and experience, I will gain the ability to take care of myself financially but also make time for myself and well being. Of course, being a teenager and not having experience with finance, I can also begin to learn financial literacy habits, expanding past what I was taught in school. I already save my money and limit spending, but I can’t save all of my money. If I’m being honest, I don’t know a lot about finance. Yes, I took a class, but I don’t think I’ll understand until I start. I plan to seek guidance in the future, see what other people do, and use my connections to make the best decisions to live a comfortable life.

The characteristic that I value most in myself is the fact that I am driven by how I will impact others. This may be a long way of saying empathy, but it's more than just the ability to understand others and putting yourself in their shoes. My dream in life is to inspire and motivate others to be true to themselves and love who they are. I strive to spread kindness and understanding to the people around me and my followers on Instagram. I want people to know they aren't alone and that they have a place in this world, and they don't need someone else's light to see that. Instead of gravitating towards someone with their own star, I hope to ignite the fire in someone's soul so they can grow it themselves. This is easy to say, but how could I do this? I'm a huge introverted old soul. However, the only thing that pulls me out of my bubble is art. Sometime after I created my art account on Instagram, I received a message that changed my life. An Instagram user who had followed my account for some time direct messaged me just to say how much they loved my art and how it inspired them to draw. My heart sank, nothing had ever given me the feeling this message had. After receiving multiple messages such as this over my years of having my account, and a billboard on my wall showcasing fan art of my character, I now know my goal in life, and why I want to be an animator. After rewatching one of my favorite movies, The Princess and the Frog, I was once again struck by an invisible force pushing me towards meaning. Disney princesses always advocate to follow your dreams, but Tiana made me realize “the only way to get what you want in this world is through hard work,” and from that notion, I completely changed my perception of my life. My schoolwork, as well as my participation in it, improved, and my drive to do my best in everything skyrocketed. I started giving 110% on everything I did. Not only did she teach me to work harder for my dream, but also that I have a duty to myself, to not get lost in my work. What I want to accomplish in my life is not who I am entirely, and in a way, if I put too much of myself into it I may lose who I am. After all, I am not just an artist. So, from Tiana’s story, I learned not to only work as hard as I can to achieve my dream but to also take time for myself and my wellbeing. I aspire to impact others the way that Tiana did for me. Animated movies impact millions of people, from all different walks of life. Imagine being able to do what you love for a living, and then have that product go out into the world to shape the next generation and possibly change someone's world- what a dream! I'm not meant for the spotlight. Being an artist fits my personality and goal perfectly, behind the curtain, watching people perform their magic and watching the audience in awe.

Most people may think of a community as the one that they physically live in. Well, having grown up in the digital age, I have been open to a whole new type of community. When I started to get more passionate about art, I had made an Instagram account to share it. My Instagram account, as well as what it had connected me with, had made a huge impact on my life and was what inspired my dream. Every now and then throughout my 3 years on Instagram, I will have someone tell me how much my art inspires them, and how they look forward to everything I create. The first time I was told this I teared up with happiness, and it was from that moment forward that I knew what I wanted to do. I want to inspire people. The reason I see this as my most significant impact is that I have brought inspiration to this small corner of the internet, to people all over the world. I inspired them to create art and to keep working on their art instead of giving up. I have been able to influence these people, and that is the greatest reward I could ever be given. Most leaders of my generation are focusing on the physical impact of people, so I'm focusing on impacting the minds of individuals. I will continue to use my social media presence to influence others and expand my influence on the people I interact with every day.

Van Gogh's Starry Night gave me great insight into our world today. For school, I got to write an essay in my humanities class about how mental health affected Vincent Van Gogh and his work, the Starry Night. At the time it was made, Van Gogh was in an asylum. He had fallen into a great depression and suffered from many psychiatric illnesses. So, the Starry Night was a product of his illnesses. The idea came to mind, why is this piece one of the most famous art pieces in the world? Well, after deep thought I came up with the answer. Nowadays mental health as well as psychiatric illnesses are better known, studied, and treated. We recognize the importance of mental health, for it is something we all encounter. This is why people love The Starry Night… it’s because we can all relate to it emotionally. Many people find reality hard to bear and want to find an escape. People can recognize this sense of escape in the swirls of the artwork, the dreamlike state of each stroke. Even if this is not consciously thought, people love this piece because it is something that everyone, no matter what, can connect to on a deep level. That’s one of the glorious things about art, we all find our own meaning in each work of art, and many of those feelings can be deep and indescribable. Some art is just sublime.

There are so many problems when it comes to America’s education system, but the biggest influence that will aid in future generations the most (and will help in a student’s overall future) is mental health. Mental health should not only be taught in schools but openly talked about. It’s been seen as a disease, something to hide and avoid. But that is not the case in the slightest. Teenagers go through drastic changes in their bodies for them to develop, and the best way for them to go through that without outside problems is to learn how to process their thoughts and emotions. School is a huge stressor for all students, but it would be less of a problem if we taught people it's okay to not be perfect and normalize that. A major problem amongst teens is depression and anxiety. As someone who was held down by my mental health, I only improved in school and my overall self when I started to address it. When I recognized that I needed help (such as medication), I was able to face my social anxiety head-on and publicly speak and lead others without as much hassle. To be able to change the education system for the better, we need to first look at mental health because it will determine what type of system would work best for everyone. There are many different mental disorders that affect how a person goes about their life, especially their education career. By learning about all the different types that make each individual unique, we can learn how to best navigate creating a new system that is inclusive for everybody. I could go on to defend why I think mental health is so important, but it's not an opinion it's a fact. For a reliable source, here is a link that also supports the idea of mental health in schools- https://www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/blogs/should-mental-health-be-taught-schools.

Generosity is so important, but anyone can agree to that. As kids we’re taught to show kindness to others. For an obvious example, one of the “My Little Pony” characters is used to represent generosity, Rarity. But what does it actually mean to be generous? To be generous, one should be a giver and not selfish. The best way to learn how to be that is by learning empathy. Humans are one of the very few creatures that are able to do so, yet most of us overlook its importance, let alone use it. There are infinite possibilities to be kind towards other. Whether that’s respecting boundaries, holding the door, or picking up something someone dropped. The most common thing I run into on a daily basis is getting out of school parking lots. Now that everyone is back in school, I’ve had to experience the past 2 weeks the chaos around getting out of a parking lot when everyone is trying to leave. The best strategy is to be one of the first people to leave, but that doesn’t always work out. The only way you get out is if someone lets you out. Usually no one lets me out when in the actual parking lot, but I myself have let people out when I see them. However, to get on the main road someone has to let you out or you’ll get stuck there till all cars are gone. Luckily, every time I have had someone stop and let me out. This means so much to me even if it’s just a small gesture, because for some reason it’s hard for people to do even if it only takes a few seconds. What makes the people who let you out are the ones who emphasize with you.

Adversity doesn’t just mean overcoming outside battles, it also includes the battle we have within. I refer to my middle school years as my personal dark age. Every aspect of my life was controlled by the negative parts of my mental health. I live with social anxiety, OCD, and sensory processing disorder (in which they share many common traits). I strived for perfection, but to contrast that, social anxiety was my shadow, always attached to my back with one hand grasping my throat and the other gripping my heart. I would become physically sick before school because of the physical exhaustion I knew would come. To add to that, my sensitivity to loud noises and bright lights wasn't recognized during that time. So, I had frequent migraines every day. I don’t recall much, because my mind has purposely tried to forget. However, one memory is embedded into my mind, a presentation I had to give my freshman year of high school. I had to give my first ever book report, a five-minute presentation where I talked about a book of my choosing. We had to do a project with it, and being an artist I drew my favorite character in the series. I was excited, prepared, and passionate about what I had chosen. Despite all of this, it went horribly. My turn to present was one of the last, at the time thinking that would be best because I was so nervous. The teacher would show with his hands what minute mark I was at in the back of the class, and as I started, so did the timer. I started talking and everything seemed fine. Then, my heart started to race, then it slowed- as if time was slowing down. My head was covered in a dense fog, my eyes reflecting what my mind was with black splotches covering my view of the class. I couldn’t see anyone, I was just spitting words out of my mouth. “Just keep going...” I would tell myself, “you can make it a little bit longer.” My words became gibberish, and I no longer could combine them to make sentences, I gave up and went to my seat. It was only two minutes and a half. When I sat down, my friend next to me said, “Oh my gosh I almost cried watching you, you were shaking so bad and your face was really red!” I sat there, trying to calm down and with the realization of what I looked like to my peers. They had no idea how hard that was for me, as well as how much I prepared. I knew after that I needed help. I tried everything I could to become the person I wanted to be, to not let my chains define me. It took 4 years of trial and error, but I am proud to say I have grown so much as a person. In the end, I was able to change my mindset through self-love/care, time to heal, and some medication. I still struggle, and have to overcome my anxieties daily. However, the things that I force myself to do will always go towards my dreams and helping others.

One practical solution to help the most people with mental health is to educate the masses about mental health and normalize it more. The most harmful issues with mental health is the lack of understanding people have of it, as well as harmful stereotypes. We need to be open about it so no one feels alone or isolated. If people are more open to it, then people would feel more comfortable expressing their feelings and getting the help they need. It isn’t hard to show empathy towards others. It’s one of the most unique parts of being human- caring about others. The most important part about relationships is commutation, and right now people don’t talk about mental health. It’s treated like a disease, and therefore alienate people who suffer from it. Mental health isn’t a disease, and the world needs to accept that.

Personally I have to live with OCD, social anxiety, and sensory processing disorder. That may sound like a lot, but in actuality they share a lot of common aspects. I started to work on myself late freshman year, and even tried therapy (it wasn’t for me). I then tried medication and it has done wonders, it feels like the weights are easier to bare. One of the many ways I’ve learned to cope with mental health is through the creation of my character, Black Ice. That may sound strange to non-artists, but she helped me visually express how I was feeling and forced me to process my thoughts. I reflected myself onto her, and it reflected back. I’m now a huge advocate for mental and personal health, as well as people expressing themselves and do what makes them happy. Through taking PreCollege, I loved being able to help other students who struggled with their own mental health. One that warmed my heart was when someone mentioned they hadn’t spoken because their mind wouldn’t let them. I easily emphasized with them and offered I could speak up in the discussion to give them the floor or I can read out what they wanted to say (we had a participation grade). They ended up taking my offer so when I had the chance I spoke up and told the teacher they wanted to say/add something. They stumbled a bit, but in the end they spoke up without my help! The next day they participated with less trouble and I was so proud of them, I am so glad I could help. I want people to know that they are not alone and how beautiful they are. One’s personal happiness if more important than anything else (as long as that happiness doesn’t cause harm to another, of course). I hope to continue improving myself and stepping out of my comfort zone in order to influence others, no matter how much my mental health tries to hold me back.

My dream and goal in life is to inspire and motivate others. Nothing else compares to the joy and fulfillment this brings me. It first hit me when someone messaged me on Instagram explaining how much they loved my art and how it inspired them to draw, frequently coming back to my page for inspiration. My heart soared, and I would only get more messages like that. My artistic dream for the future is to work in the animation industry. This industry goes on to influence millions of people, shaping the youth into who they will become. I am an introverted old soul and prefer not to be in the spotlight. Not only would my life's goal be accomplished, but I would also be true to who I am. I love creating art, and to work in the animation industry is to work behind the curtain, away from the cameras. While watching Disney's, "Raya and the Last Dragon," I not only paid attention to the movie and its sublime scenes but also to the audience. I was so memorized by the beauty of the movie I was in shock to find kids were actually following along. Towards the end of the movie when everyone turned to stone, a kid asked "What's gonna happen now," in the most concerned and sincere way. Animated movies influence me so much, and the younger version of me found life lessons out of them. Such as, Tiana (from Princess and the Frog) taught me to always work hard for my goals in life but to not lose myself along the way. Even if the movie industry ends up not being for me, I will dedicate myself to any job that benefits others through my artistic creations.

My goal in life is to inspire others through my art. The best way for me to do this, to effect a larger audience, is to work in the animation industry. When I made an art account on Instagram, after a few months, someone messaged me saying how much they loved my art and how it inspired them to create their own art. That changed everything for me, and that’s when I realized I wanted my life goal to inspire and motivate others. I’m an introvert and like to watch people in the spotlight. It’s not for me, but I love watching others. That may sound weird, but think of it as a mother watching her kid play. When my family goes to ride four wheelers I prefer to sit and watch everyone else have fun. That’s exactly how my life would work as an animator- I’m helping in the creation of a product that will have the voice actors and the movie itself in the spotlight. I dream to be in a movie theater, one that I helped in making, and watching the audience’s reaction. This dream was ensured when I watched “Raya and the Last Dragon” where I practically cried just because of the beauty of the movie, but what most impacted me was the involvement of the kids in the movie. I was taken aback by how sublime the movie was, I didn’t think that kids would pay attention. However towards the end, after something bad happened and the theater went silent, a kid asked, “what’s gonna happen now?” As someone who is goal driven, I want to attend the best college I can that will educate and allow me to complete my dream. I want to attend the Ringling College of Art and Design, one of the top animation schools in the world. I fell in love with this school, and am working everyday on my portfolio for college. I’m currently attending Ringling’s PreCollege, and it has only made me fall in love more with the school and the city it’s in, as well as shown me what it’s like to work in computer animation and a college environment. Animated films have a huge impact on all different types of people, especially younger people. By working in this industry I would be contributing to something that goes on to influence millions of people.

2020 taught me a lot, one of the most impactful things I learned was the harmful, stereotyped commentary made towards others. This includes racist comments towards Asian people (eyes, dogs, their language), Muslims (9/11), and more. I used my time to listen to their stories. For specific examples, I watched TheAMaazing’s video, “People Won’t Like You If You’re Brown” and Emirichu’s, “My Asian-American Identity Crisis,” where I ended crying in the end for both. I recommend watching these videos to have a better understanding. These stories helped me to realize how harmful commentary can be towards others, commentary my family makes. My family (adults) make comments such as “Ching Chong” and one person was afraid to eat at a Tai restaurant because they were scared a dog was in the food. These, unlike 2 years ago, made me furious. Both comments were made multiple times while eating at this restaurant, and as soon as each was stated I snapped at that person. They, un-shockingly, weren’t phased by my words and replied with “people nowadays are too sensitive,” which isn’t true at all. People nowadays are just more open about their feelings so we can learn to live in a better world. I told the person who was afraid of the food how offensive it was to say and told her about the videos I had watched. Luckily, she did show an emotional reaction. However the next time we ate at a different Tai place she made the same comment. It’s not that they’re making it a joke, they are genuinely afraid of it. This is the problem, because they believe this stereotype so much and doesn’t know the real history behind why it was made. People need to be more educated on these matters, but many are reluctant to go against what they were taught to be true. Another word I learned that was offensive to say was “retard,” which is also used by my family a lot. I used to use it, and my best friend is autistic! I wish they told me it bothered them, or at the very least it offended the community. I managed to stop people I know from saying it in public, but they don’t mind doing it at home. I understand why these comments are offensive and harmful because I find being called sensitive and made fun of from what makes me who I am hurtful as well. I have sensory processing disorder and don’t like to be touched, and hate loud noises and bright lights. I’m always told I’m too sensitive, don’t have a problem, or am told to just get used to it. I also have OCD, and many people like to mock me because of it, it’s not just needing to be “neat.” I apologize for the person I was years ago, and I promise to always speak up for others who are “used to” the comments. They aren’t jokes, they are down putting and mistreating the people we share this world with. (This is not part of my essay, it’s about the link I’ll be attaching) I entered the Congressional Art Competition for my district, where winning entries will be displayed in the Capitol for a year (I won). Knowing this, I created a piece that discusses growth in accepting ourselves. I wanted to represent the beauty of people. For a more detailed description, please contact me. The link is a post created by our US house representative of the 6th district of VA where we took a picture with the artwork.

The greatest thing about being an artist is being able to create anything, making it come to life. Making one's dreams and fantasy a reality. As much as I connect with art on an emotional level, nothing beats being able to inspire others to create and be true to themselves. The creation of my main character, Black Ice, allowed me to visually cope with my mental strife, in which through her fantastical appearance, she connected me back with reality. I'm a pretty bland, uninteresting person without art. Art has allowed me to open up in ways I never would have otherwise. I'm a huge introvert and am naturally a quiet person. However, when it comes to art, I am way more open and vocal. I have never considered tutoring until I realized I could help out students taking art classes in my school. No one took up my offer, although one person did email me to ask for some tips for digital art, which I was very delighted to do. I have learned so much in art, and I want to share it with others because it is my passion. I don't participate in any school activities other than our NAHS/Art Club. Sports and band never clicked with me, and that may go along with my introverted personality and my fear of large groups of people. Art is so small, and I fit perfectly with it. In the industry, one usually only works with a handful of people, and even then a lot of the work is independent. My goal in life is to influence others with my artistic abilities. I found this out when someone messaged me privately on my art account, explaining how much they loved my art and how it inspired them to make their own. That changed my world, and every time I get a message like this my heart swells. I want to impact more people, and the best way I see myself doing so is by going into the animation industry to help in the production of movies and/or shows. My life, and I'm sure many others can relate, would be drastically different without animated films. They teach us valuable lessons, such as from Disney's, "The Princess and the Frog" that the only way to get what you want in this world is through hard work (Tiana, 00:33:02). They inspire the younger generation and entertain the older. While watching "Raya and the Last Dragon" in the movie theater, I was crying just from the stunning landscapes. I understand the behind-the-scenes work that goes into these types of movies. While watching, I was thinking to myself, "Are any of these kids paying attention to the story? Appreciating the visuals?" What caught me off guard not long after was when the movie theater went still after (spoiler warning) everyone was turned to stone after coming together. A kid in the front asked, "What's going to happen now?" That answered my concerns. I adore small details, even if they go unnoticed. So, watching all of the sublime scenes of RATLD and having the kids paying attention really set in stone that I wanted to pursue my dream job.

I like to refer to middle school as my “dark ages,” I don’t like to talk about it for many reasons, however I’m open to sharing some of my experience. My mental health problems had reached it’s peek in 8th grade and followed into 9th, it wasn’t until the end of my freshman year of high school I decided I had a problem. I have social/generalized anxiety disorder, OCD, and sensory processing disorder. Other than my anxiety, these haven’t been professionally diagnosed, however they do intertwine with one another and I know my own mind and body, and my last therapist and doctor has considered these disorders. In middle school, every morning I was physically sick before and around an hour starting the day. I would be exhausted when school ended. I believe gym was my most stressful class, because I had no friends and would walk alone when we had free time (I enjoyed it, I didn’t have to pretend to like someone I didn’t; people were too draining). I don’t recall much, because my mind has tried to forget. However, one memory is embedded into my mind, a presentation I had to give my freshman year of high school. I had to give my first ever book report, a five minute presentation where I talked about a book of my choosing. We had to do a project with it, and being an artist I drew my favorite character in the series. I was excited, prepared, and passionate about what I had chosen. Despite all of this, it went horribly. My turn to present was one of the last, at the time thinking that would be best because I was so nervous. The teacher would show with his hands what minute mark I was at in the back of the class, and as I started, so did the timer. I started talking and everything seemed fine. Then, my heart started to race, then it slowed- as if time was slowing down. My head was covered in a dense fog, my eyes reflecting what my mind was with black splotches covering my view of the class. I couldn’t see anyone, I was just spitting words out of my mouth. “Just keep going...” I would tell myself, “you can make it a little big longer.” My words became gibberish, and I no longer could combine them to make sentences, I gave up and went to my seat. It was only two minutes and a half. When I sat down, my friend next to me said, “Oh my gosh I almost cried watching you, you were shaking so bad and your face was really red!” I sat there, trying to calm down and with the realization what I looked like to my peers. They had no idea how hard that was for me, as well as how much I prepared. That was when I admitted I had a problem. I needed help, so I did research. I eventually opened up to my mom and she quickly found a therapist, but I didn’t gain anything from it (I don’t like to talk in general, I found it easier to just teach myself). I got better, but I was still being held back. I talked to my doctor, and I started medication. This changed my life drastically. I’m more confident, more open to talking, and have changed so much as a person. In this time, I’ve learned many things about mental health. Everyone is on a spectrum when it comes to it, meaning they vary in degree. However, it only takes a tablespoon of water to drown. I treat everyone kindly, one never knows what’s behind the curtain. My dream in life is to inspire people, to motivate someone to try and treat themselves the way they deserve and to learn to love themselves. It’s important as a society to help others up when they’re down, and to show them how to fly. We don’t have to succumb to our disorders, demons, or disabilities. We have to learn to live with them, to cope with them. It’s my aspiration to work in the animation industry, especially to participate in a movie focused around mental health. Mental health is so important for people to be open about, and should be taught to younger kids. My personal project of a world of my creation is focused on mental health. I want to have this story grow so it can go on to influence others to understand their health. It is my life goal to help teach people the light they already have inside themselves, and to always try to be the best version of themselves.

A leader is someone who is the most influential person in a group. To lead others is to be the support of the group, to make sure everyone makes it to the finish line. To me, the leader can have any sort of personality. Personally, I’m naturally a quiet and laid back person. I’m an old soul, and avoid the spotlight. What I prefer is to lead people to their own spotlight, to influence others into creating that spotlight. I see leadership as guidance. That’s what I hope to do, to guide people into learning more about themselves. After having my art account on Instagram for over a year, I started to get messages saying how much people love my art and how it inspired them. Even if I don’t inspire someone with my art, just having someone experience some sort of emotion from my art means something. These messages changed my world, and I realized I wanted to influence people by going into the animation industry, movies and shows that go on to impact millions. A leader is someone who uses their time to influence others around them, to put other’s in front of them. I’m the future, I hope to be true to who I am, but also use my time to help others around in the small ways I can. Whether that’s by helping others in the classroom, giving critique and opinions to my team, or going to the movie theater to watch the people enjoy a movie I helped to make.

Disney’s “Princess and the Frog” changed my perspective on life dramatically. After rewatching it in middle school, Tiana taught me to work hard for everything I set my mind to. Before I realized I wanted to work in the animation industry, my main means for working hard was to get good grades. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my life then, but I knew the earlier I started to put forth 110% of effort, I’d be ready for when I did find my calling. In my freshmen year of high school I rewatched the movie again. This time, I cried when Tiana sang her song “Almost There” (still do). Art is a very competitive industry and at a young age it wasn’t a career option, for adults didn’t see it as reliable. However, Tiana taught me to fight for my dreams and always work hard for them.

Empowerment can be defined in two different ways: to give someone power, or to encourage perseverance and confidence. In today’s society, I believe that we have accomplished providing women and girls the confidence they need to be a woman and fight for their rights. However, as stated above women still face inequality, especially women of color. Now, I am not a woman of color, so I can’t speak for troubles that they go through. Being on the outside perspective, I can say that I have motivated a difference, although I’m not sure how to describe it. I do not have a solid answer on how to ensure equality for women in society with the older generation. I have found it very hard to convince most of the older generation to change their views, especially when it comes to acceptance. So, I propose that the best way to ensure a change is made is to start at the source: children. For a child, their greatest influence is television and school. By looking at TV shows made for kids shown to the older generation versus today, there is a major difference when it comes to inclusion as well as commentary. The same thing can be said for school, we find that there are more diverse schools as well as inclusive acts. However I am aware that as a society we still have a long way to go when it comes to schools being inclusive, mine included. As for the real world, by making our voices and demands heard only go so far. If we could have women give other women power; instead of a man giving it to us, we can enact change. We can show that we don’t need a man to give us equality, we just need them to accept that women can be powerful. In conclusion, the best way to empower women, actually give them the power, is by starting the teach the new generation about inclusion and to continue to make a stand against closed minded people.

The two things that surround every aspect of my life is art and mental health. What made my hobby turn into a career goal was after a year of having an art account on Instagram. I would have people randomly message me saying how much they love my art and how it motivated them to make their own. These messages, which I still receive today, changed my world. When it comes to mental health, I have social anxiety, OCD, and sensory processing disorder. I'm proud to say that I am a completely different person than I was my freshman year of high school. I let my anxiety control every decision I made, which lead me to being reclusive. It's been a long process, however after years of focusing on my well being and trying therapy and medication, I found myself buried beneath my mental illnesses. Therapy didn't help me, after all I am a huge introvert who doesn't like to talk with or without social anxiety. Medication helped me get to the final step I needed to take after learning self love and how to cope with my issues. I openly talk about mental health and encourage everyone I know to take care of themselves. On the side, I've created a fantasy world focused around mental health, and I hope to develop it further to reach people who need the help to learn how to deal with their own struggles. Speaking of which, the main character is my sona (a character that is a visualization of myself), Black Ice. She is what taught me self love and coping mechanisms. Since I resonate with every aspect of her, every time I drew her I was forced the self reflect. Drawing her allowed me to let off steam, and help me look back on myself. Within the first few months of her creation, I didn't want her to suffer, I wanted her to be confident. Unknowingly by drawing her as a powerful and confident character I in turn learned to be myself. I have a cork board in my room full of fan art made from other artists of Black Ice. This board brings me so much joy, and it motivates me every day to wake up to. Each creation, not intentionally, is how that artist sees me. Art takes time, and for more than 60 pieces of artwork created for me is miraculous. My dream is to work in the animation industry. Animated movies and TV shows go on to influence millions of people. Whether someone just gets a good time while watching it or finds a new meaning for life. Disney's "Princess and the Frog" was what motivated me in middle school to work hard for my goals, even if I didn't have a set one. All I knew was that every moment was a second used to work towards my future. I want to be able to help contribute to the making of a movie that would go on to inspire the masses so it can touch as many hearts as possible. To so many people animated films bring happiness and joy, and with my introverted nature, working behind the scenes would be a perfect fit. As for right now, I want to help my fellow artists on social media and at my school.

My dream is to work in the animation industry to help in the creation of animated movies and/or shows. People take for granted the importance and impact these movies have on the next generation and the current. When I was younger, the Disney movie “The Princess and the Frog” changed my outlook on life. Tiana taught me to work hard for what I wanted. I didn’t know what that was at the time, but what I did know was the try my best on everything I could. I then had to learn to understand myself and then to love it. I can’t dedicate any one film to that, but I’d like to give credit to many TV shows like Star Versus the Forces of Evil, Adventure Time, and Gravity Falls (all with very unique, weird characters) that I watched every morning before school and whenever I could steal the TV. Star, Mabel, and the countless strange characters in these shows were open with being themselves and didn’t care what others thought, and I admired that. It wasn’t until I made an art account on Instagram, where after a few months someone messaged me saying how much they loved my art and how it inspired them. That changed everything for me, and that’s when I realized I wanted my life goal to inspire and motivate others. I’m an introvert and like to watch people in the spotlight. It’s not for me, but I love watching others. That may sound weird, but think of it as a mother watching her kid play. When my family goes to ride 4 wheelers I prefer to sit and watch everyone else have fun. That’s exactly how my life would work as an animator- I’m helping in the creation of a product that will have the voice actors and the movie itself in the spotlight. I dream to be in a movie theater, one that helped in making, and watching the audiences reaction. This dream was ensured when I watched “Raya and the Last Dragon” where I practically cried just because of the beauty of the movie, but what most impacted me was the involvement of the kids in the movie. I was taken aback by how sublime the movie was, I didn’t think that kids would pay attention. However towards the end, after something bad happened and the theater went silent, a kid asked, “what’s gonna happen now?” As someone who is goal driven, I want to attend the best college I can that will educate and allow me to complete my dream. I want to attend the Ringling College of Art and Design, one of the top animation schools in the world. I fell in love with this school, and am working everyday on my portfolio for college. The only thing standing in my way is money, and with this scholarship it would give me one step towards my goals, my dreams.

In short, I want people to be accepted as they are, and for individuals to learn to love and strive to be their best selves. Although better than decades ago, the world still has a long way to go in accepting others. This includes people of the LGBTQ+ Community, people that suffer from mental illnesses, disabilities, and more. Being on social media and being connected and open to learning about others, I find how hard it is for people to express themselves openly and accept who they are, to find themselves beautiful in the real world. What could I do? I’m introverted, not outgoing, and suffer from mental strife, therefore find it hard to go out of my way to do things. However with art that’s a different story. When it comes to art, I’m more outgoing and want to take charge. I’ve offered my art teacher my services to tutor her art students (only one person came forward, but I was delighted to give her a critique and future feedback; I look forward to helping next school year). As for volunteering, I only want to volunteer where I know I can excel. Thus far, I’ve only been able to volunteer at an animal shelter to walk dogs. Luckily, these past few weeks I’ve been able to look for local foundations to help artistically. I’ve begun to help the Mosbey foundation (helps to assist in the care for critically sick, injured, abused and neglected dogs through financial support and public education) and Ride with Pride (an equine-assisted therapeutic horsemanship program), where I’m working on graphic designs. I am like art. People don’t acknowledge how much our lives are surrounded by art, but without it our world would be drastically different. I want to be like art, where I help to influence people without them knowing it. As expected, I’m starting out small, in my community. It’s my dream to influence the masses- without them knowing. I want to work in the animation industry to help in the making of animated movies which go on to shape the next generation.

In my tabs on my phone, I have a quote saved at the very top. "Courage is when you dare to be yourself, in whatever ways you want to be- to not be afraid, to just do it" by Loung Ung. I want to become an animator, an artist. Not only is an artist not a “realistic job” as some say, although it isn’t true, but I’m a huge introvert with social anxiety. I realized I needed to work on myself to acquire team work skills, which is a huge part of being an animator. So after years of work I’ve come a long way in my social skills as well as my confidence in fulfilling my dream of becoming an animator. I owe much of it to this quote.

My "everything" is loving and accepting myself. Art has helped me learn how to love myself, and I hope to show others how to as well. I have manifested my "everything" with the creation of my original character, Black Ice. This may sound strange, but by drawing her and expressing myself through her I have learned to cope with my mental strife. I wouldn't be the person I am today without her. Black Ice means everything to me because I am everything to myself. She is the visual embodiment of my being, and every piece I create with her is an extension of myself. I hope to inspire others through sharing Black Ice to also learn to love themselves and follow their ambitions.

I like to refer to middle school as my “dark ages,” I don’t like to talk about it for many reasons, however I’m open to sharing some of my experience. My mental health problems had reached it’s peek in 8th grade and followed into 9th, it wasn’t until the end of my freshman year of high school I decided I had a problem. I have social/generalized anxiety disorder, OCD, and sensory processing disorder. Other than my anxiety, these haven’t been professionally diagnosed, however they do intertwine with one another and I know my own mind and body, and my last therapist and doctor has considered these disorders. In middle school, every morning I was physically sick before and around an hour starting the day. I would be exhausted when school ended. I believe gym was my most stressful class, because I had no friends and would walk alone when we had free time (I enjoyed it, I didn’t have to pretend to like someone I didn’t; people were too draining). I don’t recall much, because my mind has tried to forget. However, one memory is embedded into my mind, a presentation I had to give my freshman year of high school. I had to give my first ever book report, a five minute presentation where I talked about a book of my choosing. We had to do a project with it, and being an artist I drew my favorite character in the series. I was excited, prepared, and passionate about what I had chosen. Despite all of this, it went horribly. My turn to present was one of the last, at the time thinking that would be best because I was so nervous. The teacher would show with his hands what minute mark I was at in the back of the class, and as I started, so did the timer. I started talking and everything seemed fine. Then, my heart started to race, then it slowed- as if time was slowing down. My head was covered in a dense fog, my eyes reflecting what my mind was with black splotches covering my view of the class. I couldn’t see anyone, I was just spitting words out of my mouth. “Just keep going...” I would tell myself, “you can make it a little big longer.” My words became gibberish, and I no longer could combine them to make sentences, I gave up and went to my seat. It was only two minutes and a half. When I sat down, my friend next to me said, “Oh my gosh I almost cried watching you, you were shaking so bad and your face was really red!” I sat there, trying to calm down and with the realization what I looked like to my peers. They had no idea how hard that was for me, as well as how much I prepared. That was when I admitted I had a problem. I needed help, so I did research. I eventually opened up to my mom and she quickly found a therapist, but I didn’t gain anything from it (I don’t like to talk in general, I found it easier to just teach myself). I got better, but I was still being held back. I talked to my doctor, and I started medication. This changed my life drastically. I’m more confident, more open to talking, and have changed so much as a person. In this time, I’ve learned many things about mental health. Everyone is on a spectrum when it comes to it, meaning they vary in degree. However, it only takes a tablespoon of water to drown. I treat everyone kindly, one never knows what’s behind the curtain. My dream in life is to inspire people, to motivate someone to try and treat themselves the way they deserve and to learn to love themselves. It’s important as a society to help others up when they’re down, and to show them how to fly. We don’t have to succumb to our disorders, demons, or disabilities.

On my phone, I have a few tabs saved, one of which is an important quote for me that I always want to keep in mind. "Courage is when you dare to be yourself, in whatever ways you want to be- to not be afraid, to just do it" by Loung Ung. My goal in life is to inspire and motivate people to be themselves, in "whatever ways they want to be." I have never quite fit in with other people, I'm quite the black sheep, quiet, introverted, an INFJ, and don't have a lot in common with the majority of people my age. However, I'm not just quiet, I'm driven and have great passion for my dreams. These personalities clash, and there have been difficulties in the past allowing myself to be more forward. So, I decided to accept both sides of myself. Yes, I don't talk as much as other people, but I'm not afraid to speak up either. Self love is so important, and it changes a person's life dramatically. Society always wants to put people in boxes, but there's no room for the extraordinary! Everyone is special- they just need to allow their spark to drown out their fears of what people will think of them.

One bold moment that I have a picture of is a drawing of my room I did from observation. As my senior year approaches, so does applying for colleges. I’m preparing my art portfolio, and many works need to be from observation. I have always wanted to draw my room, but was very intimidated since my room isn’t square and I had never done it before. However, I found that in life you can’t get comfortable- you always have to challenge yourself. So, despite being afraid of failing, I just started drawing. Photo features Squirt the Fourth.