Every art-driven person remembers getting gifted those art kits that were shaped like a briefcase for their birthday or even Christmas. Those arrangements of crayons, markers, and pencils opened my mind to many possibilities. As I questioned what shade of yellow I should use for the sun and wondered how much I should sharpen the pencil to get the right thickness, I knew this was something I was passionate about. At first, physical art was my main gateway to art. The feeling of chalk on my fingertips and adjusting the pressure of my crayon gave me complete control. I was never the greatest at drawing either, but knowing I could express whatever I was feeling onto a piece of paper was what made it satisfying. Growing older, technology has become more essential in my life. Everywhere I went, I relied on it to make it through the day. It gave me and many others a new resource to express ourselves. Everywhere you looked, there would be advertisements, logos, and graphics. The world today would not be the same without them. Every so often, a design would catch my eye, and I would take my phone out to take a quick picture of it. I was mesmerized by the possibilities that were with graphic design and how one thinks of what font to use, what colors complement each other, and how to stand out amongst the many other ads. Going into high school, I was instantly drawn to the graphic design class that was offered to students. I knew at that moment what I wanted to do for my career. I was always the techy one in my family, alongside being the creative one. First day of my junior year in high school, the entire day I was eagerly waiting for 5th period to arrive. Multi-Media Design was better than I had expected. The atmosphere of the classroom was inviting, and the teachers felt connected to every student. The class was a breeze, which sounds like a good description; however, I was looking for something different. Being challenged was essential to me because it meant that I was improving myself. I realized soon enough that I needed to try new and more difficult techniques if I wanted to improve my skills. This taught me the importance of getting outside my comfort zone. It was completely okay to make mistakes. "It's through mistakes that you can actually grow," a quote by my favorite artist, Paula Scher. Scher's influence on graphic design has gone beyond any words I can use. She created the foundation for abstract typography and the use of bold colors. One day, I wish to be half the person she is when it comes to making a change through art.

Within my community, I realize that most people are completely oblivious to the online threats that linger. I want to use my knowledge of cybersecurity to educate the people around me on the importance of protecting our online information. I mean, just a simple two-factor authentication can do a lot. I want to make this learning process simple for everyone involved. By creating this awareness, small business and families will know what to do and how to identify any online threats that can approach them.

I want to pursue a college education in visual arts. Visual arts can range from drawing and painting to filmmaking and photography. This subject is important to me as it allows me to capture moments in my life through my work. Photography, drawing, graphic design, jewelry making, and crafts are the ones I have spent the most time with. During summer, I would spend my free time making rings made of old spoons my family kept. These spoons were special to me because they signified different periods of my life. I was able to recognize which spoons I used from when I was in elementary school and which ones were passed down from my grandma. This exemplifies why this subject inspires me to make my memories into something I can wear and reminisce and I hope to bring this happiness to people in my community. Another way I keep my memories is through photography and film. My generation grew up with digital cameras and vlogging, so I was inspired to do the same. I bought myself a film camera so my future self could capture those moments I can look back on and appreciate that I took them. I feel actively motivated to preserve those memories that might fade in time. Ultimately, I want to give back to the people through visual arts. I am inspired to use my skills to better the world and myself. For the most part, I want to capture those precious moments for people with something they can keep forever.

Throughout my life, I’ve had many hobbies and interests. However, my passion lies with crocheting. This all began in 2021; for Christmas, I asked for a crochet starter kit because I was obsessed with the idea of making stuffed animals. In the beginning, I would stress myself because I struggled with the first step of crocheting, which is chaining single loops. With trial and error, I learned from my mistakes and was determined not to give up. I’d spend my whole day watching YouTube tutorials on the different types of chains and learning why the type of yarn you’d use is important. My friends and family supported this hobby and would tell others about the stuff I’d make. My mom and sister would go out of their way to buy me more yarn and other supplies, which I am very grateful for. A year into crocheting, I would challenge myself to use other tools different from what I was used to. For example, next Christmas, I would ask for a knitting machine. This allowed me to make clothes quicker and easier. I would often get complimented on stuff I’d crochet. People sometimes asked me, “How much would you sell it for?” This question would leave me speechless as I never knew what to say. That’s when I began to think about selling my work online for other people to cherish. Making that decision to open a Depop and Etsy shop required me to research how to ship packages, calculate fees, and count profit. One of my favorite crochet pieces was a doll inspired by my favorite artist. This doll taught me more about how to make different types of hair with yarn and how to make miniature clothes. What made this piece even more special was that the artist responded to the pictures I sent him of the doll. Today, I am satisfied with where my skill has taken me; it has opened my eyes to considering majoring in art. Ever since I began crocheting, I have been able to express my love for my friends and family by crocheting gifts for them. Showing love was something I struggled with for my whole life, so knowing that I have found a way to finally show it has enhanced my life and the lives of those around me. This passion connects to my choice of major in 3-D arts, where I can get hands-on experience with materials I am already familiar with through my years of crocheting.