I am Felix Lukas Purcey. I am an aspiring Graphic Designer. I recently completed my Associate of Arts and Sciences from Montcalm Community College with honors in 2024. I am now on track to graduate with my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design with minors in Fashion Merchandising and Marketing in the Spring 2029 semester. I will finally achieve the dreams I've had since childhood, getting to design and make art professionally as a career, having my bachelor's degree, and having a job to provide for myself and my loved ones pulling us into a safe situation and out of poverty. I am a low-income first-generation college student. My biggest goal with my professional career is to make sure my sisters are provided for and safe away from our parents, who abused as well as neglected us. I am attending Western Michigan University, my grandpa's alma mater where my grandparents met for my Bachelor's degree to strive to make them proud but also since they have one of the best Graphic Design as well as best Fashion programs in the state. I feel like this school is where I can get the best education possible. I can pursue my passion for art and design as well as engage in my love of business and marketing courses my other passion at the same time. I plan to make a positive impact on my community through my art in a couple of differents ways. For starters, for my full-time job and career, I hope to work as a designer for the company I work for now, Meijer which was founded in the area I was raised in and I started my work there at the town the company was founded in. Working and designing for a locally founded company would be giving back to the community that raised me. Additionally on the side I hope to provide free art and design workshops to teach underprivileged communities the craft as well as sewing courses so these people can learn to repair their clothes since they're not always able to replace what's worn out right away. The sewing classes will also lesson the amount of clothes ending up in the landfills all over the world making a positive impact on our planet Earth which we rely on. They'll teach kids who normally don't have access to forms of self expression through art courses at their schools how to express themselves healthily rather than falling victim to their tough background they can't control. I also plan to use the money I make from my career in Graphic Design, to provide for my family including my sisters and future kids so they have the best quality of life possible. I've made art on important subjects such as climate change, LGBTQ+ rights, and more. I have a lot I still need to add to my portfolio as well as some links need to be adjusted to work properly, however, it's at a good starting point and provides solid examples of various mediums of art I've made so it's linked below. https://purcey.wixsite.com/felixpdesigns/portfolio

Reading has always been something I've strived to do as much as possible ever since I was a little kid, I've loved it. It's important to read both nonfiction and fiction regularly for your intelligence and creative juices to keep at their highest points. I've always had that understanding, which is why, even as a sixth grader, I was reading a book on financial literacy for young adults and books about different types of flowers and other countries' cultures and so forth. That being said, a lot can be learned from fiction books as well. I've read a lot of books about a lot of different subjects throughout my life so to go in depth on everything I've learned ever is too much to say in so little words. Especially considering growing up, a lot of years I read 10+ books growing up, just in the summers through our local libraries' summer reading program. Lately, most of the nonfiction books I've read have been textbooks for class for many different fields, however, like Chemistry, Marketing, Geology, Philosophy, The Fashion Industry, and so forth. To further my knowledge to succeed in all my different classes, I've also read other nonfiction books on Anatomy, Sewing, and Marketing as well. Outside of class and studying as a college student, I like to unwind with some nonfiction books usually. These books I've read recently within just the past year even have given me a stronger vocab in my own language English, but have also taught me more Spanish and French like I've been learning off and on since high school, and given me knowledge of some Chinese and Greek. They've touched on important social and political issues in the real world such as Racism, War, LGBT issues, Sexism, Classism, and more. A Graphic Novel I read recently taught me about a real type of Spider I hadn't heard of before and gave me further perspective of what addiction can be like for those going through it. Fiction can be just as insightful and teach just as many if not more meaningful lessons than a nonfiction book so they're equally as important. They often touch on the human emotion side of things in ways nonfiction and textbooks struggle to. Books are the reason, I've strived to, despite being officially a Fine Arts Major, make my education as well-rounded as possible, also studying science, business, foreign languages, history, and so forth. I think learning as much as possible in various fields is how you can be as in touch with the world around you as possible. Without studying various fields, I wouldn't have discovered my passion that isn't in art and/or design, Marketing or have that minor at college today. I also don't think without books, I'd be as passionate about teaching young people my craft in my future career. Books have made me into the most empathetic, well-educated, and passionate version of myself for my future career as a Graphic Designer.

My biggest passion has been design as long as I can remember. My teachers, however, weren't always the biggest supporters of this as they thought my work was too creative and loud for enough people to see the vision and support it despite my skill sets in art and design. Some of them, however, cheered me on from the beginning. That second group is the reason I'm studying Graphic Design and a Fashion Merchandising minor and thriving today. I thrive to make them and my younger self who wanted to both get a Bachelor's degree and work in the arts full time proud because back In the day I didn't think it was possible. I also continue to pursue my craft to prove those who doubted me wrong. I use my craft and design as a form of advocacy and voice for topics I believe in as well. Art is a form of self-expression, and helping my clients express themselves is just as important to me as using it to express myself. From serious topics to the lighthearted stuff and fun moments, I'm there for the supporters of my craft. There's so many things I want to make with my career in Graphic Design including exploring other mediums and doing Fashion Design so I'll probably freelance for a while especially when my future kids are young to focus on raising them. I'll be upcycling and designing as much of my family and friend's clothes as possible, hopefully making the outfits for my future kids and their partner's weddings from scratch. I already have designed a look for a fashion show at my university and I will do so multiple more times before I graduate through the student organization MODA. I plan to work for Meijer as long as possible so hopefully someday I'll get a job in Graphic Design, UX/UI Design, or Fashion Design full time through this company I love so much some day as soon as the position opens up after my graduation. This company has provided me a lot of opportunity throughout the last couple years and is such a positive work environment so regardless of if I get a full time position in my field through them, I'll at least dedicate some of my time to working there part time like I do today. I hope to someday design color books and illustrate for comic books at least a couple times throughout my career too. These things my future children could look at and enjoy knowing their father did that. I want to have my physical media in a gallery hopefully at least once too. I want as diversified of an art background as possible before I die. Graphic Design and Art is a hard field to succeed in today with AI quickly on the rise but dedication is key. As long as you add that human touch AI will never have, real artists will always be preferred by anyone worth working for. I'm going to be a great Graphic Designer someday regardless of where I end up in the field I know that much at least.

I grew up different than most kids. I had mental health issues, a learning disability, and I was physically disabled. Still, though, I scored higher than most of my grade on most testing. I got bullied a lot despite my intelligence. I was neurodivergent, so I had unique interests, and my back brace as well as inhaler and glasses made me stand out like a sore thumb physically already. I struggled to communicate with my peers and other people as a whole especially with a speech impediment that made me require speech therapy till the end of 8th grade. Art became a way for me to express myself despite these challenges. I found growing up that often when I couldn't describe my needs through words, I could do it through my art and designs in various forms of media. I quickly fell in love with the subject more and more each time I got to enjoy it. What inspires me to create is that I know it would make my younger self proud. He was put down a lot and told that art could never be more than a hobby or that his works were too creative for people to understand by teachers. Though the teachers and professors who saw and continue to see his potential and have faith in him are a large part of the reason he's pursuing his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design with minors in Fashion Merchandising and Marketing today. It's those who believe in me and have from the beginning that are the reason I have my Associate of Arts and Sciences today as well. I want to make a difference in the world and help kids who grow up a little different, like I did, learn how to express their wants and needs healthily. I know this is hard for a lot of people, and I want to remove that barrier by helping provide other Special Needs kids access to art education. I can see the strength in the majority of my works but I've attached some of my more recent favorites, which I'll discuss. The first one is an abstract multimedia piece I made for my Drawing Studio course this most recent semester, Spring 2025 depicting Gundam Build Days I go to usually with my dad, these are events where you built model kits with others who share the hobby. The mediums I used for it are Ink, Pastels, Sharpie and colored pencil. The second is a black and white design I made in Micron Pen and Prismacolor Dual Ended Marker for my Fall 2024 Form and Surface course that was inspired a lot but Pop Art, comic books, and the idea of finding crystals mining in caves. The last one I've linked was also for my Form and Surface class because it had a lot of fascinating project concepts where I could embrace my creativity, it's a piece depicting the concepts of Tetris, Two Point Perspective, and Complimentary colors with red and green. It was done in Micron Pen and Acrylic Paint. While my field is Graphic Design which I'm studying, I also enjoy doing projects in physical media when possible like those I've attached. After college, I plan to be a Graphic Designer. I hope to also do Fashion Design work as a side gig. As well as I plan to continue to do my part to give back to my community through volunteer work and helping inspire our young aspiring artists and designers like we all were at some point, like I am still to an extent today,

Mental and Physical Wellness is important to me because it ensures I have the best quality of life possible. It also ensures I'm able to be there for my loved ones such as family, friends and pets as much as possible. I try be as active as possible despite my busy schedule as a student with an intensive major and two minors who has two jobs and is involved in two clubs. I try to do things to help the mental and physical wellness of my community as well as myself. I have donated blood four times now successfully but I've attempted to donated six times. I've volunteered twice at blood drives, one for my old high schools marching band boosters, and for an animal shelter. I'm a hard worker and if needed, I always offer to stay late to help out and go above and beyond rather that be for my work, education, or clubs. Challenges I face as a student trying to maintain good mental and physical health are plentiful. One is work-life balance, it can be challenging trying to find the time for both school and working enough hours to afford it on your own let alone therapy and physical exercise. I do however almost always get at least an hour worth of walking in each day getting back and forth from work and/or class as well as engage in therapy twice in week. I ensure spare time for fun things like my clubs or hobbies like building model kits or making art, unrelated to assignments or hanging out with friends in a social setting to help maintain my wellbeing. Another struggle I fight is that I struggle sometimes gaining the energy to do everything I do sometimes with my physical and mental health issues as a disabled person, sometimes it's not even safe for me to go to class or work but I'm appreciative to have professors and employers who understand my situation and will work with me more often than not. I try to engage in other forms of exercise such as weightlifting, yoga, dance, casual stretches, bowling, swimming and skating whenever possible as well for my physical wellbeing. Physical exercise also promotes mental wellbeing. Also to maintain my highest brain power and encourage constant continuation of my knowledge and keeping such diversified as to not be a one trick pony, I am always reading many types of books and doing research on fascinating fields as well as ones that don't interest me so I have perspective on what's going on in the world around me. Most people with a college education value education as a top priority but a lot call it quits on learning new things after their degree, that won't be me. I will always strive to be the most well rounded, educated, and healthiest version of myself. Someday my disabilities are going to affect my mobility more seriously but even then I won't let it stop me from prioritizing physical and mental health.

I recently completed my Associate degree, an Associate of Arts and Sciences from Montcalm Community College, as a first-generation college and disabled college student. I am now one year into my five-year journey to get my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design, minoring in Fashion Merchandising as well as Marketing. I had temporarily given up my passion for the arts because I thought there was no way to be involved in that field, given my disabilities. With scoliosis, asthma, seizures, and more, I thought I'd be confined to a traditional office for life given I'll probably need to start using a mobility aid of some sort or multiple for life. This was sad to me because of my interest in wanting to paint murals as well as Fashion Design. So originally in community college, I studied Marketing and I gained a love for the subject as well as other business fields, recently I added a minor in the field to my study plan for university because I missed learning it so much. Marketing is also a very useful skill to have as an Artist in any field especially in Graphic Design. I shifted my studies to study Graphic Design instead starting my last semester in community college before transferring to Western Michigan University to study that as my major/the focus of my studies. I realized this was the disability friendly way to get the Arts and Fashion Design experience I want and that I was actually very passionate about Graphic Design and that I'd been doing various aspects of it for years. I could get the whole mural experience I was looking for if ever hired for billboard design, poster design, etc. I could pick out roles specific to the Fashion Industry for that sense of experience. Graphic Design was the way to ensure I stay employed in a traditional job as long as possible, despite all my health issues. It's also the degree that I can get as broad and diversified of a career in fine arts and design as possible with the degree without limiting me to one field, I can continue to learn new things and get new experience. This is what I always worried about having to do one thing for the rest of my life might get boring, especially in a role tied down to computers this much, but Graphic Design isn't like this, it's an industry that remains exciting and is always changing. That's why I love it so much. It's relevant to all the things we do as different businesses, you need design to some extent, whether that be logo design, packaging design, product design, etc. It will always be relevant. Getting this scholarship would help decrease the burden of affording my education as a low-income first-generation college student without parental support of any kind. Being untraditional and having to spend six and a half to seven years for my bachelor's degree, my Pell grant is going to expire before I'm done with my studies, and I depend on my own income as well as other scholarships such as this one to cover that. Despite getting a Pell grant, even after that is applied while I still have such, university is still extremely expensive as a self-supporting and independent college student. I want to avoid as much student loan debt as possible and this scholarship would help me achieve that. This scholarship encourages me to diversify my education by being a full time student with my minors as well instead of having to drop my minor and be part-time.

I've always been a fan of The Wizard Of Oz and series related to such. I was scared however, if Wicked would be up my alley when my Theatre loving and Actress sister suggested we go see it. I was nervous to go in the theatre with my family as I knew it would be super crowded especially since we had to check multiple theatres to find one that wasn't sold out then couldn't even sit together. I'm glad I did however as it was a good positive distraction from the breakup I was going through at the time I watched it. This movie touched on relevant issues to the real world such as animal cruelty, ableism and racism while maintaining it's relevancy to the movie it's universe is based on. I like when fiction and cinema is used to be relatable and relevant to real-world issues while maintaining a solid plot. Wicked and Alfaba's story in particular was relatable to me because I've never quite fit in with my peers however, there have been a couple of particular individuals who saw my potential growing up, like for example my High School Spanish Teacher who was also my Elementary school principal for a bit, my school counselors, my middle school choir teacher, and my first art professor in community college. Without these specific individuals, I wouldn't be here doing what I'm passionate about today like the teacher who saw potential in Alfaba. To be betrayed like she was by someone so meaningful to her, I've also experienced a lot. To continue to stand up for your beliefs despite public outrage about it is something I also do. Alfaba's story is truly touching, especially to us black sheep of our families and to artists like myself who strive to make a difference in the world as well.

Before the album brat, I hadn't heard others discuss CharliXCX in years. I wondered what had happened to her because she was pumping out great work. Suddenly out of nowhere, she was one of the biggest artists out there again. CharliXCX was back on billboards as a top artist like she deserves to be with her talent. As soon as I heard the first song on brat I listened to I was hooked. This was catchy upbeat and fun. Her album cover also embraced my favorite things a relative simplicity in designs for album covers as well as my favorite color, Green, which I love to embrace in my work as a Graphic Designer. Despite how simple the cover is, the shade of green embraces the upbeatness and fun of the album. I would say my favorite song on brat is 365, while that may seem like a basic answer, I like it for other reasons despite how amazing, popular, and catchy it is. I have fond memories of practicing our model walks with others in my Fashion Design club, Merchandising Opportunities and Design Association (MODA) at my university to this song in particular. I've formed so many connections in my field of design and friendships through this organization while listening to this song so it's very special to me. The album as a whole however is also a very upbeat change to my usual taste in music. I love CharliXCX and I'm glad this album gave her the comeback she deserves as well as her fame back.

I first became a fan of Sabrina Carpenter through her acting. I have found memories of watching her on Girl Meets World on Disney Channel with my little sisters growing up. Enjoying the works of art she continuously puts out gives me strong feelings of nostalgia and reminds me of my family and childhood home. To be honest, like when a lot of other artists when they decide to shift from TV to Music for the main focus of their work, I was nervous of if it would be as much of a strong suit for her as acting. I was pleasantly surprised as soon as Thumbs came out though. I knew she made the right decision. The song was catchy and relatable to people from all different walks of lives. It was top of the charts and on radio 24/7. She has continuously made good quality music since and I have yet to hear her make a song I haven't enjoyed which is shocking because even some of my other favorite artists have at least one song I don't really care for. Sabrina Carpenter, every song, show, etc. I've seen of hers has been of an amazing quality. She's an amazing artist. My family has been impacted by her career because we watched her grow together from a childhood actor to an amazing artist and musician today. My family doesn't always share the same taste in cinema and music but for Sabrina Carpenter we do exactly that. We struggle to find things to bond with especially for me as the black sheep of the family interest wise but Sabrina has been one of the things the majority of us can despite our differences. She's a good person and I've loved watching her grow in her career growing up along side her.

Chappell Roan has some of the catchiest music that's been released in years. She's probably one of today's biggest queer artists. She's one of the biggest celebrity advocates for the LGBT community we have today as well as for other diversity and other important civil rights movements. Having people who advocate for these rights for myself and my community as well as others is really important. She's a very important voice in this political climate. Chappell Roan has also been one of the few artists, my little sister and I can listen to together and have equal enjoyment of. I also enjoy listening to her with my friends as well as with my partner and their friends. She's a good artist heavily appreciated by both people who are LGBT like myself, my partner, my sister, some of my friends, and others but also my partners best friend who's the straightest man you'll meet. I support Chappell Roan's career because she's one of the best musicians still making music today. A lot of modern music tends to be cringy, but Chappell Roan is catchy, relatable, kind of upbeat, and more. I also think her creativity through her outfits and musical genius is needed and very lovely in comparison to most of today's social and political climate. Her advocacy and protesting for LGBT folks, People of Color, and Women's rights is super helpful and I appreciate that a lot despite how big she gets, she's not willing to give up the subjects she believes in and setting history straight. You don't get that in celebrities a lot, we need more good role models in media and Chappell Roan is that for us.

I come from a small town where the majority of my town is low income. While my high school has a good reputable marching band as well as drama club, the art program for physical mediums is lacking and taught by a teacher who hates creativity. We also have no choir or dance programs. We have a woodshop and Computer Aided Design classes but for the digital media aspect of art like I'm studying with my Graphic Design major, we don't offer anything. Also we don't offer any courses in Fashion Design like I study with my one minor despite basic sewing like formally taught being a super valuable life skill. With my degree, my main goal is to establish a good career in Graphic Design and/or Fashion Design. I also however hope to give back to my community by providing this underprivileged town as well as other districts in Michigan too underprivileged to experience art courses, introductory apparel repair and sewing courses as well as Graphic Arts courses on occasion. Hopefully if I can get a program running for this, more schools will be affected by the movement and we can also provide schools without access Choir and Dance program access.

I'm passionate about design and photography because it gives me the opportunity to express myself and how I see the world as well as to help others, my clients do the same thing. I've been designing things since I was a young child. I've always had a passion for all types of art. I made the shift in my studies from Marketing to Graphic Design the Spring 2024 semester, my last semester at Montcalm Community College before graduating with my Associate of Arts and Sciences. The next semester, I started the journey to get my BFA in Graphic Design at Western Michigan University. I decided I would minor in Fashion Merchandising because of my passion for the Fashion Industry and Fashion Design. I recently decided to add a Marketing minor because of my love of the subject having studied it for so long and having half the credits for it already. Knowing how to market yourself in these industries is also a very important skillset. I'm involved in the organizations American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) for Graphic Design experience and Merchandising Oppurtunities and Design Association for Fashion Design experience. The type of projects that excite me most are advertising design, packaging design and fashion design. Though, I enjoy helping companies design logos and making various types of promotional content. I like to keep a wide variety of designs as well as art in my portfolio because I am passionate about the subject as a whole not just one area. Ideally though I'd do Fashion related advertisements and promotional content at some point in my career. I'd also enjoy making layouts for Fashion businesses apps and websites. Ideally I'd be working in the Graphic Design side of the Fashion Industry after graduation. That being said I love the company I work for currently and if any of their Graphic Design, UX Design, Fashion Design, Marketing, etc. jobs are open when I'm looking for a job that would be the dream to work in Design for Meijer corporate in some way. I plan to take advantage of digital design tools through my career in digital media regardless of what part I find a job in. Even if I work in Fashion Design more so, I'd take advantage of virtual tools for Fashion Design like Adobe apps, draping tools, virtual pattern making, and so forth. Regardless of where I end up in Art and Design, I know digital design tools are going to be a major aspect of my career as a Graphic Designer and I will always strive to be as knowledged in all aspects of these softwares as possible.

Art courses have been my favorite as long as I can remember. I've been designing things and creating art in various mediums since I was a toddler both inside and out of school. In elementary school, my favorite part of the day is when we went to the art room or got to make creative projects for assignments. This is where I first experienced my love for the arts and graphic design through tools like physical media, powerpoint and more in an educational setting. I also took ballet and tap dance classes outside of school as well as got introduced to different mediums such as woodshop, sewing, bead related crafts, etc. through my time in Girl Scouts. In middle school, I was involved in school art classes again for two years getting further experience in drawing and painting again but also I was introduced into how to make pottery. I also took a semester of Band learning some trombone. I was involved in Choir a year and a half as well as acted as an extra in the local youth production of Peter Pan Jr., my first experience in Theatre. I have to thank my choir teacher for encouraging me to keep going in Choir as long as I did as well as introducing me to Theatre by encouraging me to try out for the play. I also took my first Woodshop class in middle school. In High School, I took three art classes; Intro to Art, Painting, and Drawing. I also took Woodshop again as well as Intro to CAD where I further fell in love with all things design. I was involved in the schools drama club for two years through working for their Tech Crew. I also did art club the short while before COVID we had one. I also took a Broadcasting course where I contributed to what was basically a school news channel and helped out with the Podcasting course my high school had. My high school Art Teacher told me I was too creative to succeed in the arts and put me down a lot so when I first started community college, I tried pursuing other subjects which is where I gained my appreciation for one of my minors, Marketing. This is a good skill to have as an artist especially in Graphic Design anyways. I then shifted my studies to Art and Design for my last semester in community college because after being hospitalized it hit me, I wanted to study my passion Graphic Design and further my background in my love for Fashion once I was in University, hence my minor in Fashion Merchandising. I have to thank my first ever Digital Art professor for re-establishing my confidence in my craft as well as other patients in the hospital I was in because without them I wouldn't be here doing what I love today. I finished my Associates of Arts and Sciences at Montcalm Community College last year. Here at Western Michigan University, since Fall 2024, I am now studying Graphic Design with the minors I've mentioned in Fashion Merchandising and Marketing. I've been involved in the organizations American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) and Merchandising Oppurtunities and Design Association (MODA) for more experience in both fields of design, even creating a look for Midsummer Muse, the Fall 2024 Fashion show for MODA. My professors and academic advisor here have been really encouraging to helping me in succeeding at my craft, all the faculty here has been super supportive of my dreams. I should graduate here with my BFA in Spring 2029.

One hardship I've faced is growing up in poverty, low-income with multiple disabilities. Disabilities like my severe scoliosis will never go away, however I can take power over my healthcare decisions and treat them to the best of my ability which I am doing. I can however take further initiative in getting my family out of debt and poverty. I'm doing this by working two jobs while pursuing a college degree. I'm still currently considered low income but I'm doing everything in my power to change that. I have to help pay for my family's bills and groceries while also paying for tuition, room and board, medical bills from my disabilities, and so forth. What makes me strive to keep doing this even when it gets difficult is because someday I want to get my big sister back home and safe. She's currently unemployed, homeless and in debt in California. My main priority is getting myself in a good financial situation so I can help her and my little sisters be housed and provided for. She needs help and currently I'm lost how I'll pay next semester's tuition let alone get her off the streets. Growing up low income and disabled made me develop a strong sense of empathy for others especially others in these same situations if not worse. It's really hard growing up having no clue where your next meal is coming from or where your family was often left unemployed, homeless and so forth. I don't wish that battle upon anyone. I wasn't even able to start going to college right away after high school as I had no money to pay for school nor any transportation to get back and forth from a college campus. I had to spend some time off to save up money and I constantly debate if I should've waited longer so I could've got my sister home safe first or if I even have the funds to be pursuing my dreams in Graphic Design now. I'm going to use my art and designs to make a difference in my community as well as inspire young artists and designers like I once was. My main priority right now as well as once I graduate college in 2029 is to keep my family well and safe. I'm very family oriented. I also hope to however make a difference some day and get others in these same scenarios out of these scenarios and in well health. It's a constant battle but the life I live for myself and my loved ones is more worth it than anything you could imagine.

Growing up I would go around claiming I was a boy and wanting to present more masculine but I didn't have a word for why and my mom would keep putting me in dresses despite my efforts for her not to. I discovered the word transgender when I was 14 but because of my mom's transphobia, it wasn't safe for me to come out as FTM till right before the date I started testosterone; March 21st, 2023. I am almost two years on testosterone as I type this and I feel so much happier presenting as my most authentic self. I even got top surgery May 17th, 2024 to help me feel more confident. The next and possibly last step to my transition or at least for a while is to get a hysterectomy. This is predicted to cost $6,000 after insurance. Unfortunately however, I do not know how I'm coming up with next year's tuition payments at school so it'll have to wait. This procedure would be life changing even life saving however and dramatically improve my mental health. I'm also LGBTQ+ in the sense of I'm bisexual. Dating as a transgender person isn't always easy. I'd say I've had one relationship that totally respected my gender identity at this point. You come across so many people trying to prove you're not trans or who fetishize your identity so you almost wonder what's the point in even trying to date? After my last relationship ended, I decided I'm taking a break from that mess. I'm openly queer and gender nonconforming in the way I dress and present. I believe clothing doesn't have a gender so if I like an outfit I'll wear it regardless of it's masculine, feminine or adrogynous. I hope to go to pride for the first time this year as I've been openly queer for years now. My career goal is to become a Graphic Designer and use my voice through my art. The first step to this was getting my Associate of Arts and Sciences from Montcalm Community college, which I graduated from in 2024. The next step is to get my Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design from Western Michigan University, which I started last semester and I am predicted to graduate from the Spring 2029 semester. Due to my time in community college and duration of my program, I'm spending 7 years on my Bachelor's degree but that's okay as this is the route that encourages my best success. Another step to this is not this summer but next, I will get my first internship in Graphic Design or at least in the Fine Arts or I might even do it next school year. Another thing I'm doing to further and verify my knowledge in design is being involved in the student organizations AIGA for Graphic Design and MODA for Fashion Design. My minor extends my knowledge to the field of Fashion Design as it's Fashion Merchandising. Graphic Design is my passion and I'm going to become a famous Graphic Designer some day just wait and see. I'm passionate about my chosen career path as I've had many teachers and professors encourage me in continuing my passion for the arts. Some of these being Seth Sutton, Michael DeAgro, and Kim Maguire. I hope to use my chosen career path to help advocate for the rights of my transgender community so people gain the right to all the transition steps I've already got to experience instead of what's currently happening in our country where our rights to be happy in our bodies are being stripped away.

Growing up I would go around claiming I was a boy and wanting to present more masculine but I didn't have a word for why and my mom would keep putting me in dresses despite my efforts for her not to. I discovered the word transgender when I was 14 but because of my mom's transphobia, it wasn't safe for me to come out as FTM till right before the date I started testosterone; March 21st, 2023. I am almost two years on testosterone as I type this and I feel so much happier presenting as my most authentic self. I even got top surgery May 17th, 2024 to help me feel more confident. The next and possibly last step to my transition or at least for a while is to get a hysterectomy. This is predicted to cost $6,000 after insurance. Unfortunately however, I do not know how I'm coming up with next year's tuition payments at school so it'll have to wait. This procedure would be life changing even life saving however and dramatically improve my mental health. I'm also LGBTQ+ in the sense of I'm bisexual. Dating as a transgender person isn't always easy. I'd say I've had one relationship that totally respected my gender identity at this point. You come across so many people trying to prove you're not trans or who fetishize your identity so you almost wonder what's the point in even trying to date? After my last relationship ended, I decided I'm taking a break from that mess. I'm openly queer and gender nonconforming in the way I dress and present. I believe clothing doesn't have a gender so if I like an outfit I'll wear it regardless of it's masculine, feminine or adrogynous. I hope to go to pride for the first time this year as I've been openly queer for years now. My career goal is to become a Graphic Designer and use my voice through my art. The first step to this was getting my Associate of Arts and Sciences from Montcalm Community college, which I graduated from in 2024. The next step is to get my Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design from Western Michigan University, which I started last semester and I am predicted to graduate from the Spring 2029 semester. Due to my time in community college and duration of my program, I'm spending 7 years on my Bachelor's degree but that's okay as this is the route that encourages my best success. Another step to this is not this summer but next, I will get my first internship in Graphic Design or at least in the Fine Arts or I might even do it next school year. Another thing I'm doing to further and verify my knowledge in design is being involved in the student organizations AIGA for Graphic Design and MODA for Fashion Design. My minor extends my knowledge to the field of Fashion Design as it's Fashion Merchandising. Graphic Design is my passion and I'm going to become a famous Graphic Designer some day just wait and see.

My unique talents and skills are art, graphic, design, and fashion design. I'm pursuing a degree in Graphic Design with a fashion merchandising minor at Western Michigan University. I'm involved in AIGA, a graphic design organization and MODA, a Fashion Merchandising organization. I've designed a look for one fashion show already. I use my art to showcase the things going on in the world. I'm making a series on climate change starting with a piece called Stumped on Deforestation to bring awareness to the issue. My next will be called "Fog" and be on the impact of fossil fuels in the atmosphere. I've also made multiple pieces on my own identity to bring awareness to transgender and LGBT rights. I plan to continue to showcase and bring awareness to these issues in my designs in my professional career and throughout the next four years of my schooling and my life as a whole. These topics means a lot to me. Other topics I plan to include in my art and designs throughout the years besides from climate change and LGBT rights are women's rights/feminism, immigration rights, black lives matter, supporting Palestine, and so forth. These political topics and fixing the world for the greater good matters a lot to me. Art can be a form of protest as well as self expression and that's how I use it. Not all of my art has strong meaning to it though. I try to also have fun pieces rather those be portraits of myself and the people I care about, floral designs, abstract pieces of locations and their energy, Object Drawing, and so forth. Art and Design is a way for me to also have fun and express my whimsy in life. Since I've gained confidence and have a realm of creative freedom in life, I've been so much happier and have made more pieces for the people I care about like lighthouse drawings and bookmarks for my grandparents or a multimedia portrait of my friend Ethan. Another way I've used my talents and skills to build a better community is through volunteer work. I've volunteered at blood drives through my high school student council with my medical background. And recently volunteered for my high schools band concessions at a football game with my food service background. I try to use all my skills and knowledge to the best of my ability rather this be helping my grandma with her garden and with decorating for holidays, helping my roommate with their statistics homework and so forth. I strive for an empathetic personality and to help those in need as well as to gain as diversified knowledge as possible.

Growing up, I had these bendy decorative smiley face flower plushies. These remind me of the hippie movement. I've made a couple colored pencil pieces on flowers like this. They also remind me of Alice in Wonderland. They're very trippy. Making art and designs has been my passion since I was a little kid. I'm pursuing a Graphic Design major and Fashion Merchandising minor at Western Michigan University. I'm involved in AIGA, a Graphic Design club and MODA, a Fashion Design club here on campus where I make designs outside of my classes. My wit is shown through me continuing to pursue my degree and passion despite being an untraditional/part time student and it taking 6-7 years for 4 year degree but with two jobs and the internship I'm applying for, this is the best choice for me personally to be able to get as much experience as possible in my passions while also being able to afford my degree.

Two years into college, I had a mental health crisis. I was studying something that wasn't my primary passion and this caused me to spiral. Ever since I was a little kid with my sketchbook, I'd been designing things both graphic wise and fashion wise. My passion is Graphic Design but I was told art can't be more than a hobby and my high school art teacher told me to give up and that I was too creative. So I did give up for a while. I tried pursuing healthcare specifically pharmacy initially and then marketing which are both incredibly fascinating fields I'll choose one of those go back to if my art fails but my art won't fail. Then my mental health dramatically dropped and I lost interest in all my classes. After ending up in the hospital, I made a decision that was best for my wellbeing and that was to change my studies to graphic design and transfer to Western the upcoming fall. I took my first digital art course at community college that spring and art history and then I transferred to Western Michigan University. I've been happier ever since and doing this has helped to heal my inner child because this is what I wanted to do growing up as well. At Western Michigan University, I've been involved in two clubs for design. These are MODA, a fashion design club and AIGA, a graphic design club. These clubs help me learn more in the field of both my major and minor. My minor is Fashion Merchandising. I've had so much fun here at Western so far the last two semesters and despite being an untraditional college/sometimes part time student and spending six to seven years for a four year degree, I'm happy and wouldn't have life any other way. I'm grateful for my mental health crisis and how much I've grown as a person since.

I feel most creative when I'm making work about someone I'm passionate about and making work for them, included is a multimedia portrait of my friend Ethan. I also get inspired by the world around me and have made pieces on things like climate change and deforestation, included is my multimedia piece I call stumped. I feel passion to represent my experience as a queer person and have made a portrait of my top surgery scar and designated gathering areas for LGBT folk like myself. I've included a ink and brush piece from a series of 20 of the Spectrum lounge at my college and an ink and brush portrait of my top surgery scar. I also feel especially inspired when I'm around other artists and see what they make like in my classes and at my club AIGA for Graphic Design or MODA for Fashion Design. I'm going to school for Graphic Design with a Fashion Merchandising minor. I've included a picture of the outfit I designed for the Fall 2024 MODA fashion show "Midsummer Muse". I find ways to be creative in every aspect of my life, I customize my clothes and design some occasionally. I also make art through mediums like painting, ink, pastels, crayon, etc. as a hobby outside of class. I customize my furniture and put stickers from other artists small businesses on everything because artists help each other grow. I wish I could link more than five photos because I'd link my favorite designs from my Form and Surface course last semester. I know what it's like to lose someone due to stupid people on the road. I lost my main mother figure growing up, my best friends mom who was basically my own mom due to a drunk driver hitting her bike with his truck a few days before my high school graduation. In honor of her, I drew up and designed my first tattoo and after the tattoo artist made some adjustments to something that's appropriate for the proper format of a tattoo, it's been permanently on my body since July 2022. It's like she's with me still all the time in the way through a collaborated piece of art but above all else, I wish I had her in person still and could give her the biggest hug. Both these lives were lost too soon and they're forever in our hearts. Fly high Tammy McMeekan and and Bayli Lake.

Going to college has been a dream of mine since I was a little kid. Even as young as fifth grade I was weighing the pros and cons of each school and career path. It took some going back and forth and nearly getting my associate degree to be certain what my passion was because growing up I was taught my passion is no more than a hobby but October 2023 after having a mental health crisis from studying a field in community college I'm not as passionate about, I decided I'm going to get my bachelor's degree in Graphic Design and minor in Fashion Merchandising at Western Michigan University. I'm low income but staying in school means the world to me. My expected graduation from Western is April/May 2029 and I'm so excited for it. But I've ran out of money. I work two jobs while in school and I'm struggling to make ends meet between $14,000 in tuition per year and medical debts I can't pay off as a disabled person, I'm so stressed about how I'm going to afford the upcoming semester. This scholarship would help lift some of that pressure off my plate. A goal of mine unrelated to my schooling is to get financially stable enough to get my sisters in safe living situations. I hate that I'm currently watching them suffer. I'm most worried about getting my big sister who's currently unemployed and homeless in California back home safe especially with the wildfires, I'm worried sick. The more financial aid I receive, the more likely I can actually afford to finish college and that I can make sure my family is healthy and safe as soon as possible. This scholarship would also help me get on my feet to leave my dad's abusive household personally once and for all. I'm going to keep going to school for my passion in Art and Design regardless of how much debt I have to take out but I would like to minimize that and pay it off as soon as possible. Growing up I was in special needs classes and I even had teachers telling me I'd be nothing. My high school art teacher told me to give up on art because I was too creative and looking at how different my style was from my little sisters who got perfect grades in our high school's art classes, I did give up temporarily but I knew deep down it was my passion. Since I went back to making art in October 2023 and decided to pursue it professionally, my mental health has dramatically improved. Getting this scholarship means to me continuing to do what I love and pursue my passions. And I'm going to use my passion in Art for the greater good of the world and teach young artists to do the same.

My name is Felix, I'm a bisexual transgender man pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design at Western Michigan University. Design is probably my biggest passion but my second biggest passion is helping other people in need, especially other queer people. Transgender individuals are four times more likely than our peers to fall victim to the employment and housing crisis of today. My big sister has fallen victim to this over in California. Getting this scholarship would carry on Coco's legacy as it would get my transgender older sister and her partners to a safe situation. This scholarship could get my sister and her partners to Michigan where they could stay with my dad till they get on their feet and can get a place of their own. We could get them employed at either my job at Meijer or my dad's job at ITW and there they could make the money to become financially independent again. This would also mean my sister could see the doctor again and get bottom surgery which would make her mental health as a queer person so much better than the state of wildly depressed she is now. Being part of the LGBTQIA+ community has impacted me in many ways. I can't go into my jobs without being called slurs and being misgendered by customers and coworkers alike which makes it hard to feel safe. I feel in danger all the time going out regardless of what gender bathroom I use because I'm at such a high risk of being hatecrimed and for what? Because I had to pee? It makes me especially scared for what my big sister is going through because the rate trans women experience this harassment is much higher than what I go through as a trans man. Besides helping my transgender sister and her two lesbian lovers get into a safe situation, I hope to help other transgender people by opening or helping put together a shelter for transgender and queer youth who grew up in poverty with nonaccepting parents like my mom. I want this shelter to have std testing and job resources to get people on their feet like I'm trying to get my sister and myself on our feet. I want everyone in my community around me to succeed not just myself. I worry sick for the safety of my sister, myself, and my friends just because people see us as weird for our gender identity and it's not fair I fear being murdered for being myself. We've got to get this country better and safer for all minorities not just the LGBTQIA+ though.

Growing up, I made art and design projects as a coping skill as I was raised in a way I was abused and neglected and in poverty. My art teachers often put me down in the dumps as I wasn't as gifted as other students like my own sister. My high school art teacher said I was too creative to make it as an artist which I never quite understood as creativity is the basis for art and design. It wasn't till community college this year that an actual art teacher understood my dream and passion, his name was Seth Sutton at Montcalm Community College and he made me a lot more confident in my dream to become a Graphic Designer. He, my Spanish teacher Mr. Feuerstein at Belding High School, and all four of my grandparents are why I'm here today pursuing a bachelor's degree in Graphic Design minoring in Fashion Merchandising. I remember drawing with crayons and painting as my siblings watched TV growing up. I remember drawing the fashion designs I hoped to make someday in my sketchbook on the sidewalk as a young kid growing up. Doodling in the sand a masterpiece with my bat as I was supposed to be playing softball. I remember my aunt trying to teach me how to sew for the first time and my grandma helping me learn to mend my clothes. Now in college, I have my roommate here to help further my knowledge of sewing. I go to MODA and my Fashion Merchandising courses to learn how to get into the field of Fashion Design. I am taking AIGA and graphic design courses to further my knowledge of graphic design. And I go to art classes to further my knowledge in other disciplines such as drawing, painting, and ink and brushwork. My goal is to become versatile in all fields of art and design. Once I graduate from Western Michigan University, I want to get a full-time job as a graphic designer and freelance Fashion Design projects for my loved ones on the side. I've been taking art classes as often as possible as long as I can remember, I took a break from it for a while trying to go into a more financially viable field such as Pharmacy or Marketing but neither worked out because Design has been my passion since I was little kid and has always called my name. I realized that to make a life where I'm happy, money isn't the biggest concern, it's doing what I love that is.

Experiencing socioeconomic adversity has affected me in a lot of ways. I'm low-income and transgender. Transgender individuals are four times more likely than our peers to experience socioeconomic hardships like struggles finding a job and/or housing. I grew up in poverty, often not getting fed more than one meal a day or being without power/water and I'm working two jobs while continuing my education to afford to get out of that situation. I hope within this journey I can afford to help my three sisters get out of this situation. My older sister is one of the transgender people I talked about unable to find a job or housing being transgender in California's job and housing crisis. I worry constantly about her well-being being unemployed and one bad day away from living on the streets. I want to be able to afford to get her a plane ticket so she can move back home and she can get a job at my workplace or my dads as she chooses fit but with tuition as high as it is, I don't have the extra money to get her in a safe situation and that feels so awful that I'm currently unable to help. Getting this scholarship means I have some extra money to help get my older sister in a safe situation and hopefully in doing so I can help other low-income transgender young people in my community and school get in safe situations like my roommate for example. Some day, once I finish my education and ensure my family is doing well financially and in health, I want to make and/or help make a shelter for transgender and queer individuals that are struggling like I did. This place would offer shelter, STD testing, job resources, and so forth to one of the minorities that are now especially struggling under Trump's policies. If I'm not able to make this big cause happen, I plan to volunteer at least once a week for causes in need such as at homeless shelters, STD and Family Planning clinics, animal shelters, soup kitchens, school events, ocean/lake cleaning events, and so forth. Helping those in need is very important to me as someone who's been struggling in so many different ways to make ends meet for as long as I can remember. Hopefully, someday, I can at least make a scholarship or grant that would give $1,000 to those in need each year. If not, I'll keep my habit of donating a minimum of ten dollars and often much more per paycheck to reputable causes such as children's hospitals, cancer research clinics, single parents (like my dad), and the other causes I've mentioned thus far. I don't want to just make my situation better, I want everyone around me to succeed too.

I found out I was a transgender man in 8th grade. However, I did not have the right community to express myself in a small town with a transphobic mother while the transgender kids out of the closet at school weren't a fan of me. So I identified as nonbinary and with mostly they/them pronouns for approximately four or five years. I still feel a lot of connection to that label to this day. I came out officially as transgender man to my community by starting testosterone March 21st, 2023 when I was nineteen. I'm now over a year on testosterone and got the top surgery I'd announced I'd get for years on May 17th 2024. I couldn't be happier to be out as my true self, even if I experience and have experienced transphobia and backlash from even the LGBT community. I'm currently attending Western Michigan University after completing an Associate of Arts and Sciences from Montcalm Community College. My major is Graphic Design and my minor is Fashion Merchandising. I'm in clubs involving both my major and my minor so I can get extra practice in both fields. My main career goal and the only one I need to be happy with myself is just that I get to make art for a living. Ideally, after completing this degree, I'll get a long term job as a Graphic Designer for a company. Though, I'd be equally happy, if not more happy doing various gigs in Graphic and Fashion design for my favorite companies expressing creative talent and freedom to do various art forms. Growing up as a closeted bisexual transgender man in an unsafe environment, I have a passion to give back to the LGBTQ+ community. I understand I have a lot of privilege to get to come out at such a young age and get gender-affirming care such as testosterone and top surgery so swiftly. I make a lot of artwork and pieces about being queer and I hope those give back to and speak to the community. As soon as I got Top surgery, I gave my chest binder to another transgender guy I went to high school with. I plan on donating a lot of my pre-transition clothing to the LGBTQ+ center in Grand Rapids. I hope to continuously make donations to this place and other community charities. I donate to Gender Affirming Surgery GoFundMes as often as I can afford to. I know it's not much but I try to make a difference in and change as many queer lives as possible for the better.

Growing up different is weird. I grew up with multiple physical disabilities (severe scoliosis for example), mental disabilities such as ADHD, Anxiety and Bipolar Disorder, a speech impediment and as a queer person with gender dysphoria. I was bullied severely even for my disability aid of my back brace. You've got to find a healthy outlet to express that uniqueness that makes you yourself. I did this through art. Art block is a struggle all of us creative minds face on a regular basis. I try my best to fight this and make art as often as possible. I feel most creative when it's late at night usually, so I write down all my ideas and make them when I wake up or at a later date. I know that's not the answer you're looking for but nighttime and new experiences specifically with nature, the ocean and space put me at my creative high points. The best feeling is when you're not being forced to create something. I've made so many pieces in my lifetime. A lot of these incorporate my experiences with being queer as a bisexual trans man and a lot of these incorporate my physical and mental disabilities. I make art about things I see but in specific mindsets, about experiencing love, about the sports I play, the pets I have, my hobbies, aging, transitioning, tv shows I enjoy, the people I care about, and so much more. I've learned in life that there will always be the potential to be creative and make art about how you experience it but it's up to you to make the action of creating the masterpieces. I've attached five pieces here and I'd like to discuss them each. The first is five Adobe Illustrator designs I made in my community college Commercial Design 1 class last semester where the goal was to create potential logos for our potential future companies. The second, also an Adobe Illustrator piece is one of my many artworks I've made about my gender identity as a trans man. This third piece is a multimedia piece with crayon, colored pencil and paper machete I made on deforestation, the important part about creating this piece to me was that I made an effort to plant things to help combat this battle of global warming which I did. The fourth piece is an F from my 11th grade Drawing class. The fifth piece is based off a prompt we were given in the psych ward last October when I overdosed where we had to do random watercolor then turn it into a map. Growing up with these issues is why I'm able to create so authentically and I wouldn't trade my life for the world. I'm getting my Bachelors degree in Graphic Design minoring in Fashion Merchandising so I can do what I love most for a living. Making art and inspiring others to do the same is my passion.

My favorite Netflix series to binge is the adult cartoon, Bojack Horseman. Bojack Horseman is the only adult cartoon I've seen talking about serious and controversial topics such as abortion, overdose, and suicide in such a serious manner. Most make light of the topics to a certain extent. To convince you to watch the show, I will discuss the three major events from the show that specifically discuss these three topics. The first event I'm going to discuss is Diane's abortion. I have yet to see an adult cartoon respect this subject in such a serious manner. It still had lighthearted jokes as it is a cartoon but it did a great job depicting what it can actually be like to go through an abortion for a lot of people. Princess Carolyn being there for and supporting Diane throughout the process even with her infertile struggle of countless miscarriages truly respects and honors a woman's right to choose. "I want to be an architect." Sarah Lynn's overdose and life in general touches on the dangers of the Hollywood industry for child actors which most T.V. shows are reasonably uncomfortable discussing but it's a topic that needs to be talked about. Her overdose also touches on the true dangers of substance abuse. These scenes were never light-hearted and were always heart-wrenching especially as Bojack could've prevented all of it by not giving her the heroine as Sarah Lynn's closest thing to a father figure or not waiting seventeen minutes to call the paramedics who would've been able to save her life. This scene is important to me because I lost my aunt due to an accidental overdose. "Before I leaped, I should have thought about the view from halfway down" The view from halfway down is an antisuicide episode. It touches on the same suicide topic as them putting nets on the Golden Gate bridge to prevent people from jumping off of it. Being caught at that halfway point has already prevented so many suicides and it's beautiful. The last time, I attempted suicide, I thought about this scene because I faced immediate regret after doing the thing that made me have to go to the hospital. Having also lost my uncle to suicide, this scene means a lot to me. To see a T.V. show let alone a cartoon discuss such important topic such as abortion, addiction, suicide and so much more is oddly comforting and honestly beautiful to see in animation. Having loved ones and also being somebody who all have struggled with these subjects is hard and this show helped me through some of my toughest moments. Which is why Bojack Horseman is my comfort show and favorite Netflix series to binge.

I didn't come out as a trans man till I was 19. Though it wasn't due to a lack of trying to. Allow me to explain. Growing up, I'd tried to come out as transgender multiple times. When I was in elementary school, I'd go around claiming I was a boy and asking why I wasn't put on the boys team just to be ignored. I was so confused why I was always put with the girls, it didn't feel right. When I hit puberty and got a chest, I was devastated. Why am I going through the wrong puberty? This doesn't make any sense, am I dying? In eighth grade, I finally discovered the word for transgender. I started having to shower with the lights off listening to The Village by Wrabel because I was so dysphoric. So I tried to come out to my mom, she put me in a beauty pageant because it was just a phase I will get over so I didn't come out at 14. Same thing happened when I tried to come out at 15. My dad and others tried to convince me I was genderfluid or nonbinary because I was just too feminine to be a guy. So my dad bought me a genderfluid pin and I identified as that for a couple months my freshman year. It didn't feel right, I tried to come out as transgender again and was rejected by my loved ones yet again. I identified as nonbinary the rest of highschool but I always had an itch that label didn't fit me. I just wanted to be one of the guys. I tried coming out to friends during this time but yet I remained under that false label due to a lack of acceptance. I even had a boyfriend ignore my coming out to him because he wasn't gay only to love and help another trans guy come out in a relationship nor even a year later when he also came out as bisexual. I tried to come out in GSA even my senior year only to be told I wasn't one of them so I stopped attending GSA, the backlash from other queer people was overwhelming. My rapist came back into my life to "prove I wasn't trans" and assaulted me again that same year. So I was stuck in this nonbinary label and was starting to accept it as the truth, people were still calling me she/her as I was still very feminine presenting. After high school I got better freedom to express myself. So Summer of 2022 I was finally able to cut my hair. People were finally asking for my pronouns and calling me they/them but I realized it just felt wrong still. I switched to using he/they around November of that year as some aspects of being nonbinary I still relate to till this day. I quickly realized how right 14 year old me was, I do prefer he/him more than any other pronoun. So early March of 2023 I came out by announcing I was going on testosterone. One or two days before I got on testosterone, I told my dad by simply stating I was going on testosterone and I'd need a ride to the pharmacy to pick up my prescription. So I was officially out as trans starting the day I started taking testosterone. That date is March 21st 2023. Within just a few months, I was legally able to change my name to Felix. By the end of 2023, all my legal documents said Felix on them. Around September I was able to set up my top surgery consultation for January 10th of 2024 and I had my top surgery consultation that day. My top surgery is set to be here just under two weeks on May 17th and I couldn't be more excited to finally feel at peace with my own skin again. What helped me cope with my gender dysphoria and the mistreatment I faced at a young age? Making art helped specifically sketching up clothing I wanted to someday create in my sketchbook. Art and Design was my escape from the real world in my youth and is still one of my biggest coping skills till this day. So I'm getting my bachelor's in Graphic Design with a minor in Fashion Merchandising so I can make my young designer self proud and take care of my inner child. The "feminine" side of me people talked about was my love of fashion, I will always cherish creating fun outfits regardless of the gender I identify with. I hope to use my degree to work in various fields of design throughout my career.

Growing up my dad said I had "a lemon of a body". As a young kid, I was reasonably confused but as I grew older, I started to understand this. I was diagnosed with multiple new physical and mental health issues each year. So many, my medical records are impressively long. Physically I've been diagnosed with scoliosis, Reactive Airway Disease that progressed into Asthma, being allergic to 23 out of 26 things tested, High Cholesterol, formerly anemia but that's went away since I've started taking testosterone, Mild Sleep Apnea, etc. Mentally I've been officially diagnosed as having Bipolar 2, Major Depressive Disorder, ADHD, Autism, PTSD, Social Anxiety, Generalized Anxiety and Gender Dysphoria. There's more physical health issues but that's just a brief summary from what I can remember off the top of my head. The main thing that bothers me though is my back which has been predicted to need it's first surgery in my mid 20s. My back has caused me a lot of pain. I wore a back brace for a couple years when I was 11 to 13 just for the doctor to tell me it had actually worsened my curve. I got bullied at summer camp for my brace even. I remember I always had the funnest designs on my braces which I wish was an option for adults like it is with kids, definitely made wearing it more pleasant. My back causes me so much pain already from being born with Scoliosis, I knew I would prefer not to do any job that's too active. It's not that I haven't tried these fields out though. I tried to join the military but my scoliosis is so bad, it immediately medically rejects me from even the most lenient military branch on the subject though. So I took into acceptance, that for the health of my spine, I had to go to college as I'd never be able to handle factory work like my dad. I've done a lot of experimenting with different majors if I'm being honest. I've settled on going for a Major of Graphic Design with a Minor in Fashion Merchandising and Design though because of my love for art. I'd love to design those patterns for braces someday as someone who's struggled with a disability growing up myself. Though, currently my career plan is to get a job as a Graphic Designer and run an Etsy shop for my Fashion and other projects on the side.

I plan to pursue my degree in Graphic Design with a minor in Fashion Merchandising and Design at Western Michigan University. I plan to practice sustainability by using recycled technology and recycled and/or ecofriendly fabrics. I also plan to only replace my technology when absolutely necessary. Sustainability means to me having a community with breathable air as someone with Reactive Airway Disease/Asthma. It means having a planet for my future children to live and thrive on. I might not be doing much in the aspect of my career to help the environment so I'd like to mention what I'm planning on doing outside of my career to help our planet thrive. I plan to plant trees, have my own garden, and do volunteer work to plant trees and grow plants as well. I think community gardens are incredible investments for a community. I think proper lawn maintenance and growing flowers looks beautiful for the overwhelming community you live in as well encourages cleaner air. Vehicle wise I bought a used car. But as soon as I can afford to, I plan to switch to an electric car. I've even read up on how to make Linked I have my multimedia piece on deforestation, I call stumped. Unfortunately the camera did not pickup the details well. I realized it's ironic as it's all paper so I planted a tree because of this piece.

I came out as a trans man in early March of 2023. I started testosterone March 21st of 2023. I'm getting my top surgery on May 17th here in 16 days. I tried to come out at a younger age but earlier, I was met with a lot of a backlash like my mom would put me in beauty pageants because it was "just a phase and didn't matter" or men would assault me "to prove I'm not trans". It was very hard to go through and I'm much happier now that I'm out of the closet and almost fully transitioned as I don't want to get bottom surgery. My career goal is to get a job in Graphic Design while freelancing in Fashion Design and making other art such as earrings and bumper stickers from owning an Etsy shop. This is why I'm going to start pursuing my bachelor's degree in Graphic Design with a minor in Fashion Merchandising and Design at Western Michigan University. Getting to pursue art would make my younger self with my sketchbook full of fashion designs and other art work so proud. I aspire to make that young kid from a broken home proud.

In 11th grade I took a healthcare class where I got CPR and Stop The Bleed certified as well as OSHA certified in Healthcare situations. Then my senior year of high school I took a Psychology, Communications and a Sociology course to better understand people and what they're going through. In 12th grade I used the skills I got in my healthcare foundations career center class to volunteer at my high schools blood drives. Speaking of blood drives, I've donated blood 3 times. I'm even an organ donor. When I was in 7th grade approximately, I babysat without pay to help out a single parent in need and got very close to those kids. When I was in elementary school, I was on a bus with a bunch of special needs kids and I was known to go out of my way to help them when they were in need. These examples I just mentioned are a little dated. I hope to volunteer and donate blood again sometime soon but let's talk about how I try to help people out in my current day to day life now. I always go out of my way to help customers at my job and do so with a smile on my face even though sometimes working customer service, you get some difficult customers and that can be really hard. I drop everything when my friends are in need in order to be there for them with what they're going through. For example, my best friends brother was in a very rough spot mentally, very manic and my best friend was crying he didn't feel safe, so instead of going in to cover his shift which was my job as the assistant manager, I stayed there to comfort the both of them and ensure they're both safe. I do these sort of things for my loved ones all the time as well as cover shifts for coworkers in need constantly. When someone asks for my help, unless I absolutely cannot do it, I always go out of my way to be there. Rather that be helping out at blood drives, babysitting a couple young girls after school, helping special needs kids or what. I'm there to help out. I continue to develop these skills by renewing my certifications, going to school, helping those in need and so forth. I always will go out of my way to help others succeed and feel better when they're in poor health.

I am currently finishing up my Associate of Arts and Sciences at Montcalm Community College where I have started to take Art and Design courses this semester. I have applied to, gotten accepted into and committed to going Western Michigan University's Frostic School of Art for Bachelor's of Fine Arts in Graphic Design which I will start this upcoming Fall. I am already signed up to be in 3 Art and Design related clubs once I get to Western. While my Major is going to be in Graphic Design, my minor is going to be in Fashion Merchandising and Design. This is because I want to become versatile enough to work in all aspects of the different Design worlds. I hope to be able to fundraise enough money to take advantage of Study Abroad programs and internships in these fields while I am at Western Michigan University. Once I graduate from Western Michigan University, I hope to design all sorts of products and projects from clothing to kids toys to billboards. I want my name out there and taken seriously as a skilled and talented designer. While I'll definitely commit to a full time position within a company, I'll also do freelance work using my various art skills as well. I hope to also utilize my skills to inspire and teach young artists as well. Once I'm older and about ready to retire, I hope to spend a few years as an art or design teacher to carry on these skills to the next generation to utilize them and show their talent. It may sound like my want to do everything at once is a lot but the arts are my passion, they have been since I was designing outfits in my sketchbook as a young kid and I hope to make my younger self proud by pursuing this dream.

When I was hospitalized last October, I realized I wasn't happy in the field I was pursuing. I realized my passion was for art and design. If I didn't change my field of study, I'd live a life of pure misery. During my hospitalization, I had a lot of extra time on my hand to make art as I couldn't go to work. I decided I was going to make a piece that spread an important message so I made my first of my pieces on climate change called stumped. It's a multimedia piece on deforestation. I made this during a rough time in my life as I was in the hospital. Another Art Piece of mine that's special to me is my mini self portrait I sketched my sophomore year of high school. I added in a bunch of extra scars and gashing wounds that weren't there in the actual photo to represent the non-visual scars I had from the trauma I'd experienced throughout my youth getting taken advantage of by older men. The last piece of art I'll mention is the first thing I really made in Adobe Illustrator. It's a transgender pride piece that I submitted in my portfolio that got me accepted into Western's Frostic school of Art. Stumped was also in this portfolio. I will cherish all 8 of those pieces forever as they got me into an amazing school where I'll get to pursue my dreams. Art has lead to many special experiences for me. Rather it be the friends I made doing the spotlights for my high school theatre club, the professors I've got to meet since I've changed my major, the new skills I get to learn each class, you name it. These things may seem minor but I appreciate each little gift of experience with all my heart. I also hope to raise enough scholarship money that I can take advantage of one Western Michigan's Study abroad programs for the Arts one of my college summers. I am currently signed up to be in 3 different Art and Design related clubs once I start at Western Michigan University and I couldn't be more excited. I start school for a Bachelor's of Fine Arts in Graphic Design and a minor in Fashion Merchandising and Design at Western Michigan University in the fall. I would prefer to be designing clothing designs for companies or working in Graphic Design itself after my college graduation. Though as long as I get to keep making art pieces in various different mediums. I'd be happy as an art teacher or wherever else I might find a job in the arts.

My mental and physical wellness is important to me because there was once a day I didn't value it. These habits got so bad I nearly found myself dead in October. I needed to make the change for myself. The life I want for myself does not include dying at 20 due to an accidental overdose. I was very lucky that I did not get seriously harmed. I knew one thing for certain though and this was that I couldn't risk it again. I had to get clean. And that was the first thing I did. And I started stretching and working out on a regular basis too because I had been informed while in the hospital that I also had high cholesterol. I decided no this isn't the life I want for myself and I got better. The way things were going with my self care and addictive tendencies, I would've probably not lived many years longer. Addiction runs in the family. Both an aunt and a great aunt of mine had died from an overdose. They would not have wanted me to pursue the same path of faith though. They would've wanted to watch me do the thing they never did which is get clean and sober. I can proudly say that is what I now am. They would be so proud to see me thriving at this point today, though they would be disappointed to have seen how much I struggled and how close I got to repeating the cycle. Maintaining physical health can be especially challenging as a student. I have to work basically full time while I attend school full time. To find the time to workout on this schedule is insane. All you want to do is go to bed when you get home. But you know even five pushups would make or break your physical health. I find myself failing to do these five pushups on a regular basis. It gets exhausting carrying that workload at times and sometimes the best thing you can do for your physical health is skip the workout. I have a decently active job so it can be somewhat counted towards a workout yet every day off I have to remind myself, do a workout routine to keep your health in good shape. You're sick? Okay, five situps will do then you can let your body rest. On the mental health aspect, I've already discussed how I'm a recovered addict and I couldn't be more proud of myself for getting better. I also struggle with gender dysphoria, depression, PTSD, ADHD, Autism, Social Anxiety, Generalized Anxiety and Bipolar Disorder. That sounds like a lot and it is, it is not common to have this many mental illnesses diagnosed at once but unfortunately I do. With all these issues, everything can get unbelievably overwhelming and unbelievably quick does that happen. I have to remind myself to slow down and take a deep breath because everything is going to be okay. As a student it can get hard to fit in Mental Health time to partake in my hobbies of choice because the time I'm not studying, I'm often at work. Where's my me time? I make sure to get two days a month where I just focus on myself and the things I enjoy because in a world so crazy, taking that extra time for myself couldn't be more important.h

Looking at the fall snack in my hand, I sat in my scouts troup disgusted. I sat behind the building on one of the benches that have since been removed in front of the park behind our official meeting place. I wondered how the elderly woman who was actually my childhood best friend's grandma thought this or any of the other snacks she'd brought in were fit for a kid. I finally took a bite out of it, long after snack time. This first time she'd brought it in, it was disgusting. While these will never be my thing. I felt anger at first when she'd brought them in the second time, had she not learned her lesson last year? I bit into it in the snack room this time though, I wasn't going to make a scene if I didn't like it. It didn't taste half bad, I don't know if I'd finished it or given it to my best friend but I felt bad for the way I acted to that woman over something so silly. The snack will never be my thing but it was a privilege to have at the time. Looking back at it, poverty and a lack of resources wore our group down so we weren't very productive or able to afford much. We earned maybe one badge each of the 3 years we'd been around which most of the troop couldn't even afford to buy. I should've been more grateful we'd gotten these treats at all, as even those on clearance cost an arm and a leg in those circumstances. This snack was a Little Debbie pumpkin delight. Every year since I've tried to enjoy a pumpkin spice-flavored treat. Never once has it been in particular my thing. However, I've always loved pumpkin pie and I quickly developed a taste for coffee around the time I left that troop when it fell apart as we'd started middle school. I used to tend to stick to apple cider at the local coffee shop as my fall drink, but they have since closed down. So I started to go to Starbucks and I get what they do best most frequently, frappuccinos. Therefore my fall Starbucks drink of choice, I drink in gratitude to that troop and our memories while being within my own tastebuds. This is a Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino. Unfortunately, I have to substitute no whipped cream and a milk alternative as I'm lactose intolerant with high cholesterol, even then it's a dangerous game. But for the occasional treat it is, it's worth the risk to have my pumpkin spice drink to help get in the fall spirit.

In my family, I stand out like a sore thumb. I have very different passions and opinions than them. This can cause some arguments however they never failed to believe in me and be my biggest supporters. This faith they have in me has always been my main source of motivation that I can direct my path and make a better future for all of us. This better future is coming to my family slowly but surely. I doubt this would have happened if we hadn't believed in each other and supported the varying ambitions we each had. We referring to my older sister, cousin, two little sisters, and I. We are becoming successful and making our parents who didn't get to live their ideal paths very proud in our own ways. My family has struggled with debt more than our fair share and we're doing our best as individuals to avoid such. All this being said even my dad and grandparents are actively bettering themselves on a daily as well. Whilst the younger generation including myself are working and gaining an education, my grandparents go to book clubs and meetings to help them be better allies to minorities and also to gain a further connection to the Christian god that they believe in, my dad has started using a budgeting app so he can be wiser with his income and there are so many other examples of my family's growth. Even in our darkest moments as individuals, we are family and it together with our support. The community my family has with each other has never failed to be my biggest source of motivation in life. So what's the main thing that gives me up for the future? My family's love and support is the main thing giving me hope the future will be better and we make that future better every day that passes by.

I'll start by giving some background information on myself. I'm currently a senior at Belding High School with a 3.23 Gpa making me in the top 43% of my class of 187. I was on the girl's bowling team all four years of high school, did tech crew for my school drama club my last two years, art club my sophomore year, and girls soccer team both my freshman and senior years. Some of my favorite classes I've taken in high school are any science or foreign language class, my college psychology and communication courses, personal finance, and healthcare foundations at my local career center. Art and Broadcasting classes are always fun as well. Career-wise I'm considering going into either Psychology or Pharmacy in some manner. But enough with background information, let's start to talk about my plan to avoid college debt. Debt is one of my biggest concerns when it comes to being able to get a college education. Did you know 34 percent of adults ages 18 to 29 have student loan debt? That's terrifying. The question is however how can I avoid becoming a part of that percentage whilst coming from a lower-income family and not having a college fund because of such. My family has struggled with debt enough that the majority of us will never take out a loan and if we have we won't do such again so that eliminates the concern of loans, however, how could I possibly afford college without a loan? My dad even asks me this question on how I plan to manage such but the answer is more simple than it looks. I plan to apply to and receive a good amount of scholarships and pay for college with those scholarships as well as the income that I've received from working at Mcdonalds, Subway, and wherever I end up working when I go to college. Another thing I'm doing is planning to go to a public in-state university to make it so it's cheaper than going to an out of state and/or private school but still more than just a community college so I can get my ideal and of town college experience even if not out of state. So my plan to pay for college and avoid debt is to use my income and and any scholarships I may receive to keep up with payments as they occur in my academic career.

Something I learned about myself that I found valuable is that I have a passion to help other people and specifically to help them with keeping their mental health at a high point. I've known for a while now that I liked to help others, that's just who I am. Though till I took my Psychology and Communication Dual Enrollment courses this year, I had never really thought about going into a Mental Health or Psychology related career. Throughout my whole life I had to work on getting to high point cause I often reached really bad lows but one day freshman year when I made the stupidest decision in my life, I learned why mental health matters so much the hardest way imaginable, seeing how my family, friends and even acquaintances reacted to my overdosing. I haven't attempted since. But recently I figured out I want to help people who go through such tough situations mentally, that's why I was so drawn to healthcare my whole life; I wanted to help treat people's minds and spirits and uplift them, being a shoulder to cry on, not treat their physical wounds directly but help bandage the mental ones that might be from such. This passion to help others psychologically with their mental health is why I plan to double major in Psychology and Communications.