Art, to me, is a place where I can breath and finally be myself without any masks or pretending. For most of my life I have been expected to put stability and financial responsibility ahead of my own passions. I learned to set aside the things that helped me feel most like myself in favor of doing what seemed practical and dependable. It wasn't until I started creating art alongside my wife that I found the opportunity to step away from those expectations and simply create. When I am making art I don't have to be the person everyone expects me to be; I can just be myself. Art has become a way for me to process life, express things I wouldn't be able to put into words and reconnect with a part of myself that I have spent years learning to put aside. My passion for art has grown into something I wanted to continue past a simple hobby, and my love for 2D animation gave me a path to follow. Through my education I have worked to develop my skills, challenge my creativity, and become more confident in myself as an artist. I want to use what I have learned to continue creating works that connects with people and ultimately build a future around something I genuinely love. Right now, however, I am facing a financial obstacle at a particularly difficult point in my education. I am at the finish line of my degree, the final two weeks of my three year course, and instead of being able to focus entirely on completing that final step I am worried about how I will afford the final payment. This scholarship would help me overcome that barrier and allow me to finish my degree without incurring debt.