I watch Naruto with my younger sister and dad when I have the chance, and it is our favorite anime series to date. My sister enjoys the series for the plot, but something that has always captivated me about the series is the animation. Often with a few interchangeable frames, the animators can create a story that flows so effortlessly it is hardly noticed. I aspire to animate in some fashion when I graduate, and this show is a great inspiration. Something else I enjoy about the series is the range of characters. The show's main character is Naruto, however many of the side characters have been introduced with so much depth they become one with the main cast. The main characters tend to switch from episode to episode, which introduces a strong variety in the show and holds the attention of its viewers, including myself. Naruto goes on a variety of missions every handful of episodes, which is the best opportunity they take to switch out certain characters. As often as they change cast, Naruto also offers several styles of episodes. Many episodes are light-hearted and comedic, while others stand in stark contrast, and are much darker. I'm constantly impressed with the variety in this show and how it still, despite its variability, communicates as one storyline. For these reasons I consider Naurto to be one of the better series out of the anime genre.

I grew up playing Minecraft with my younger sisters. I have vivid nostalgia for those simpler times when I had hours to explore the game, and there was little stress about school or work. As a creative type, my favorite aspect of the game is the building. There is something so special about traversing the biomes scouting out the perfect spot for a seaside home, forest cabin, or castle. Minecraft is a nostalgic game for me, and what resonates with me the most is putting time into making the world a comfortable and safe place for my character. My goal when I start any Minecraft world is to build the best house I can to enliven the space around me. I associate playing Minecraft with warmth and comfort. It allows me to express my creativity, and disappear into a world catered to my preferences. There is something so satisfying about selecting a palette and building a home from the ground up. When I am finished, I can pull back and feel accomplished by all my hard work, then experience life in the house I created. In Minecraft, one is not limited as in real life, therefore, whatever I create can be solely my own. The independence and creativity that stem from building in Minecraft is unlike any other game I've played, and I am grateful to have such wonderful memories of the game.

My name is Halle, and I am a sophomore college student pursuing a degree in Graphic Design. Art and music have always been mediums in my life to express my creativity, thoughts, and emotions. I began illustrating comics in elementary school and shifted to writing novels in middle school. In my sophomore year of high school, I took a class that covered Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator and discovered my most recent artistic passions. My teacher saw my passion for art in my assignments. It was by her suggestion that I pursue the design track and study to become certified in Adobe software. I wouldn't be in this position today if it hadn't been for my teacher's enthusiasm and support. I am Adobe Illustrator certified, and even designed the cover of my senior yearbook. Other opportunities I have received include designing graphics for my high school newspaper, designing t-shirts to raise money for Children's Mercy in support of my friend with Leukemia, creating stickers for my high school Cross Country team, and, currently, creating posters and digital graphics for K-State events. I currently create drawings, animations, and more in my free time. I hope to continue down this path when I receive my degree, sharing my work to inspire others. This path has been wonderful to pursue; because of it, I have a campus job and several scholarships pushing me through college. I share my work publicly on Instagram and through my personal website, so I get to interact with other newer, and more advanced artists. All of my art pieces are special to me, as they indicate my growth as an artist, however, my most recent animated designs are exactly what I've wanted to do since I was a kid. When I was younger, I remember getting an animation software package for my birthday, but feeling as though it was far too complicated for me to use. I eventually scrapped the idea, but still knew it was still something I wanted to accomplish. The fact that I am doing basic animations today shows I have improved enough to finally feel comfortable with my own animation style. Today I consider this one of my biggest milestones. After college I would like to begin working as a designer at a company. Eventually, I wish to progress into a more freelance environment so that I can be free to work from anywhere, and whenever I need. Being a freelance designer would allow me to travel and create my own deadlines, which is the ideal life for me.

I have always believed that creativity is genetic, and must be fostered through the support of others. I've had many art teachers over the years, but not one compares to the support I received from my parents as a child. I have always been an artistic child; creating comics, illustrating, sewing, and clay modeling from a young age. While art classes certainly helped provide a space for artistic expression, my parents offered unconditional support for whichever medium I was interested in for the moment. I loved creating stories, and one of my favorite parts was showing my parents what I had made. Without their support, I would have stopped art a long time ago. In high school, there were big decisions to be made; I needed to choose a career path. While college was always in my sights, I was unsure if art would be a stable career for the future (I have always been future-oriented). Being creative was my passion, but would it support my future? This is the time when I met one of my largest supporters; my high school graphic design teacher. She saw my passion for art and how I poured creativity into my assignments. She suggested that I continue to pursue the track and study to become certified in Adobe Illustrator. I wouldn't be in this position today if it hadn't been for my teacher's enthusiasm and undeniable faith in my abilities. This path has been wonderful to pursue. I have a job and several scholarships pushing me through college as a result. I design commissions for clients, something that is quite applicable to the workforce, and I love it. My art classes are teaching me Adobe InDesign, animation with After Effects, how to properly critique art, and many other helpful skills to help me in the workforce. The variety of creative mediums has continued to inspire and motivate me as I create short videos, collages, and even traditional art in college. I am confident this pathway is the correct decision for me to make. I am constantly inspired to create art for myself and others, and I benefit from both intrinsic and extrinsic rewards as a result. I will continue to work hard to maintain my academic and social standing so that I may inspire others who doubt their creativity. It isn't always the easiest path to pursue, but it has been wonderful for my creative mind.

I am an undergraduate at K-State who enjoys reading, creative writing, film, and drawing. Art and music have always been mediums in my life to express my creativity, thoughts, and emotions. This passion for art has motivated me to take art classes throughout my high school career, and even get certified in Adobe Illustrator, the main technology used by graphic designers; my career of choice. I am also a Christian actively involved in my church. Being a part of this community has shaped me into the person I am today; devoted to religion and loving toward everyone. This community means the world to me; this group of kind, devoted followers who have made it their goal to love everyone. Knowing that God is always protecting me has helped me tremendously with my mental health, and he gave me the courage to step out of my comfort zone and do things I could never imagine. In my middle and high school years, I was a varsity athlete in both Cross Country and Track. Running competitively is something I had not previously considered, but as it turned out, I found myself at the top of my team. Looking back, I see all the friends I have made and the goals I've reached as a former varsity athlete as I was able to improve myself both physically and mentally. My creative abilities have already been making a difference through volunteering in the community. I made stickers for my Cross Country team and raised over $1000 for Children’s Mercy in support of my friend with leukemia. I have created graphics and t-shirts, as well as designed the cover of my senior yearbook. I have a strong passion for any activity that benefits those around me, and art is a talent I have improved for the sake of others as well as myself; to assist, and most importantly, to inspire. I hope to continue this path when I receive my degree, spreading my work to inspire and advocate for what I believe. I will make a point to encourage young creators to be bold and pursue their dreams with confidence, as I have, and to never back down in the face of adversity or fear. As I have learned, a dreamer who simply dreams never achieves anything, but one who is truly devoted to their work, with a little bit of confidence, can achieve great things.

I am an undergraduate at K-State who enjoys reading, creative writing, film, and drawing. I recently finished my sixth year running both varsity Cross Country and Track competitively, and I have gone to State meets in both sports. I am majoring in graphic design, and am certified in Adobe Illustrator, the main technology used by designers. I would say that at this point, the sources from which we derive energy are efficient, but not as environmentally friendly as renewable energy. It is no question that there are improvements to be made, and several of those changes can be made in one's household. I grew up in a lower-middle-class family, where being partially conscious of the amount of water and electricity we used was second nature. As a new college student, I realize these habits of preserving natural resources have stuck with me, and continue to be implemented into my everyday life. Some of the ways I help to reduce my impact on the environment are by taking shorter showers, turning off lights when they are not necessary, and only driving when necessary. I am also a vegetarian of 3 years. All these things I do regularly to ensure I am leaving behind as minimal a footprint as possible. I also have several great volunteering experiences. As a Christian, I am actively involved in my church. Being a part of this community has shaped me into the person I am today; devoted to religion and loving towards everyone. One of my favorite volunteering opportunities that my church hosts is a food drive the first Friday of every month. I used to help load food into the cars of those in need, and spread the word of God to those who are struggling. This community means the world to me; this group of kind, devoted followers who make it their goal to love on everyone despite differing beliefs. Community, to me, represents a group of people willing to give back and support others, and this is exactly what my church does. Another way I gave back to my community is by volunteering to monitor charity runs during the fall season. My high school Cross Country team has helped with these runs each year to raise money for the team, something I cared deeply about. This year, I volunteered to design stickers for my team for their mid-season fun run. I have designed these stickers for two years, and I have heard amazing feedback about how much they loved the year's designs. This volunteer opportunity applies directly to my future career in digital design and marketing, so I am not only helping my community, but I am also gaining experience to become a designer in the long run. I wouldn't be where I am today without the love and support from my teammates, and my church family; I am so grateful for everything they've done and how they continue to inspire the next generations of runners and believers to pursue their passions.

Art and music have always been mediums in my life to express my creativity, thoughts, and emotions. I began creating comics in elementary school and writing novels in middle school. In my first year of high school, I took a class that covered Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator and discovered my most recent artistic passions. As an undergraduate, I am currently pursuing a career in graphic design. I have already been Adobe Illustrator certified. I would say that my high school studies have greatly impacted my career goals, as I shifted from becoming an author to a graphic designer. This path has been wonderful to pursue; because of it, I have a job and several scholarships pushing me through college. I design commissions for clients, something that is quite applicable to the workforce, and I love it. I am confident this pathway is the correct decision for me to make. I am constantly inspired to create art for myself and others, so I benefit from both intrinsic and extrinsic rewards as a result. My wish is that when I grow older, I can look back on my youth and know that I made a difference in the world. I will continue to work hard to maintain my academic and social standing so that I may inspire others who are doubtful of themselves to strive for greatness. This is why I have chosen the entrepreneurial route of majoring in graphic design to eventually run my own design business. I know I will be successful because I have the confidence to pursue higher education. I have taken entrepreneurship classes and joined the Women in Business initiative at K-State. We meet once a month and hold meet-ups and small events on campus. Not only does the club teach ways to better manage businesses and finances, but it also helps us reach others and be leaders for others to look up to. I believe that with the dedication I have put into my learning and networking with prove effective in growing my small business's potential. A successful life to me is a life that allows me to be creative and expressive in the workplace and in my free time. I enjoy all mediums of creativity, and the opportunity to apply them to my entire life is my definition of success. This is why I have pursued art as much as I have in high school; to open the door for more creative opportunities in the future.

I am an undergraduate at K-State who enjoys reading, creative writing, film, and drawing. I recently finished my sixth year running both varsity Cross Country and Track competitively, and I have gone to State meets in both sports. I am majoring in graphic design. This passion for art has motivated me to take art classes throughout my high school career, and even get certified in Adobe Illustrator, the main technology used by designers. Throughout my high school years, I was involved in several volunteering opportunities. As a Christian, I am actively involved in my church. Being a part of this community has shaped me into the person I am today; devoted to religion and loving toward everyone. One of my favorite volunteering opportunities that my church hosts are food drives on the first Friday of every month. I used to assist in these drives, helping to load food into the cars of those in need, and spread the word of God to those who are struggling. This community means the world to me; this group of kind, devoted followers who make it their goal to love everyone despite differing beliefs. Community, to me, represents a group of people willing to give back and support others, and this is exactly what my church does. Another way I gave back to my community is by volunteering to monitor charity runs during the fall season. My high school Cross Country team has helped with these runs each year to raise money for the team, something I cared deeply about. This year, I volunteered to design stickers for my team for their mid-season fun run. I have designed these stickers for two years, and I have heard amazing feedback about how much they loved the year's designs. This volunteer opportunity applies directly to my future career in digital design and marketing, so I am not only helping my community, but I am also gaining experience to become a designer in the long run. I wouldn't be where I am today without the love and support of my teammates, and my church family; I am so grateful for everything they've done and how they continue to inspire the next generations of runners and believers to pursue their passions. In my senior year of high school, I had the opportunity to help design the cover of Manhattan High School's 2021-2022 yearbook. I was able to meet new artistic people, and interact with a professional graphic designer in Kansas who finalized the design for the yearbook team. It was an eye-opening experienced that helped to solidify my decision to pursue graphic design as a career. My most proud volunteering experience was designing t-shirts in support of my friend with leukemia ($1000 was donated to Children’s Mercy where she is receiving treatment). Her battle has been difficult, but overall inspiring. She is such a strong person, and I know she will do great things with her life. Today, I am a proud member of the Women in Business (WiB) club at K-State, which meets once a month and holds meet-ups and small events on campus. Not only does the club teach us ways to better manage businesses and finances, but it also helps us reach others and be leaders for others to look up to. My wish is that when I grow older, I can look back on my youth and know that I made a difference in the world. I will continue to work hard to maintain my academic and social standing so that I may inspire others who are doubtful of themselves to strive for greatness.

As an American female, I am aware that in other places in the world, education for young women is not always a guarantee. That’s why I appreciate the opportunities I have received, even though at times school isn’t the easiest to get through. Feminism is something I gained from watching my friends go though with their careers in the medical and business fields. It takes a lot of strength to pursue careers that were initially male-dominated, and my friends have displayed that it is more than possible; women in high levels of the workforce is an inevitability. A trait I have always possessed is immense creativity. I began writing stories and drawing comics in elementary school, and have continued to do so all throughout high school. As a senior, I have decided to pursue a career in graphic designing, and have already began creating artwork for companies such as Genius Yield and COTI. My passion towards the arts is the reason I am so insistent on attending college. If I continue to learn and expand on knowledge in areas which I am interested, I will have the ability to make an impact in the world. One of my main motivations for pursuing graphic design is its ability to inspire others to be creative as well. Creativity is a quality trait that I believe every person should possess, as it is a perfect means of self-expression and conveying emotion. There is no one way to paint or dance or sing, but there is always room for learning and improvement. I wish to go to college for this very reason; to expand my knowledge of the arts and to learn different styles such as realism, cubism, and surrealism. Graphic design is already a female-dominated field, and I wish to increase the presence of this accomplishment with my own contributions to the industry. The world needs more of what women can bring to the workforce, especially in fields of STEM, so by receiving my education, I am contributing to this movement; an inspiration to women wishing to leave their mark of the world. Education is not something to take for granted, yet we do it everyday. For those women who are wishing to go into careers, or are fighting for proper education, there is more struggle. As more girls pursue learning and a higher education, countries will be more productive overall and will begin to expand economically. The women who can should pursue an education to the highest degree to inspire equal education for females worldwide.

As a Christian, I am actively involved in my church. Being a part of this community has shaped me into the person I am today; devoted to religion and loving towards everyone. One of my favorite volunteering opportunities that my church hosts is a food drive the first Friday of every month. We load food into the cars of those in need, and spread the word of God to those who are struggling. This community means the world to me; this group of kind, devoted followers who make it their goal to love on everyone despite differing beliefs. Community, to me, represents a group of people willing to give back and support others, and this is exactly what my church does. Another way I gave back to my community is by volunteering to monitor charity runs during the fall season. My high school Cross Country team has helped with these runs each year to raise money for the team, something I cared deeply about. This year, I volunteered to design stickers for my team for their mid-season fun run. I have designed these stickers for two years, and I have heard amazing feedback about how much they loved the year's designs. This volunteer opportunity applies directly to my future career in digital design and marketing, so I am not only helping my community, but I am also gaining experience to become a designer in the long run. I wouldn't be where I am today without the love and support from my teammates, and my church family; I am so grateful for everything they've done and how they continue to inspire the next generations of runners and believers to pursue their passions. I am an undergraduate from a lower-middle class family who enjoys reading, creative writing, film, and drawing. I am currently finishing my sixth year running both varsity Cross Country and Track competitively, and have gone to State meets in both sports. I plan to go to Kansas State University and become a Graphic Designer. This passion has motivated me so far to take art classes throughout my high school career, and even get certified in Adobe Illustrator, the prime technology for graphic designers. In the future, I wish to become an entrepreneur and run my own small business where I sell my designs and inspire young creators. I want young creators to understand that no one starts off at the level of professionalism that they show. It requires training and hard work to achieve great things, meaning if someone who had no experience in the arts wished to pursue this career path, though hard work it can be made possible.

Art and music have always been mediums in my life to express my creativity, thoughts, and emotions. I began creating comics in elementary school and writing novels in middle school. In my first year of high school, I took a class that covered Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator and discovered my most recent artistic passions. As an undergraduate, I am currently pursuing a career in graphic design. I have already been Adobe Illustrator certified. My creative abilities make a difference through volunteering in the community. I made stickers for my Cross Country team and raised over $1000 for Children’s Mercy in support of my friend with leukemia. I have created graphics and t-shirts, as well as designed the cover of my senior yearbook. I have a strong passion for any activity that benefits those around me, and art is a talent I have improved for the sake of others; to assist, and most importantly, to inspire. I hope to continue this path when I receive my degree, spreading my work to inspire and advocate for what I believe. I started my art journey in elementary school drawing fun comics, and I can guarantee I never imagined I would make it this far. I often drew art in my free time, but over the years that hobby dwindled. I have my high school graphic design teacher of 3 years to thank for the continuation of my goals. She saw my passion for art and how I poured that passion into my assignments. It was her idea that I pursue the track and study to become certified in the program, and for that I owe her my thanks. I wouldn't be in this position today if it hadn't been for my teacher's enthusiasm and undeniable faith in my abilities. I would say that my high school studies have greatly impacted my career goals, as I shifted from becoming an author to a graphic designer. This path has been wonderful to pursue; because of it, I have a job and several scholarships pushing me through college. I design commissions for clients, something that is quite applicable to the workforce, and I love it. I am confident this pathway is the correct decision for me to make. I am constantly inspired to create art for myself to express my true identity, and for others, so I benefit from both intrinsic and extrinsic rewards as a result. For those who are questioning whether or not art is the correct field for them; whether the concern is money, applicability, or sustenance, I can assure you it is worth it. Those who are dedicated to improving themselves in this field will surely succeed. Van Gogh’s ‘The Starry Night’ is one of my favorite pieces to date, as it utilizes some of my favorite art styles. This piece uses a form of pointillism that, line by line, constructs a stunning image of the serenity of the night. Van Gogh’s pieces reflect an air of imperfection, which is a great reminder that an art piece is free-flowing, and does not need to look any definitive way. Of course, the color palette is certainly one to be admired. The deep blue gradient of the night contrasts excellently with the bright orange stars. This art inspires me, as it expresses Van Gogh’s thoughts and emotions. I interpret this scene as an emphasis on the free-flowing beauty of nature, whilst the city sharply contrasts this beauty with angles and muted colors. This piece inspires me to pursue my art career as a Graphic Designer, so I too may inspire groups of people someday.

I am a low-income undergraduate student, so being financially literate is greatly important to me and my career path. The biggest action I have taken to increase my knowledge is joining the Women in Business club at Kansas State University, where we have conversations about successful networking and marketing. Another main focus of the meetings is to learn from former students who have entered the workforce how to best prepare financially to have a good, impactful career out of college and cushioned retirement. It is a beneficial club to consider, and I suggest everyone with the ability should take a class or join a club with these main focuses in mind. I have taken several classes myself on entrepreneurship and managing money, both personally and within a business. They have taught me to budget my money responsibly. I now have separate accounts for saving and spending to ensure I do not spend money excessively. The best advice I have received as someone who wished to become financially literate was to make a basic list; digital or on paper, of my cost-based schedule for the month. Write down any bills you will need to pay, recreational activities (such as restaurants or movies) you will engage in, and money spent on necessities. This way you can keep track of where your money is going. This will significantly reduce the stress of potentially forgetting payments or harming your long-term financial status because you are aware of how much money you are spending. This is the simplest way to gain financial literacy. Understanding finance is important, and there are several outlets (newsletters, clubs, school, etc.) you can use to learn how to manage money. It is an important skill everyone should learn, which is why I recommend finding an outlet to learn as I have. This path has been wonderful to pursue; because of it, I have a job and several scholarships and grants pushing me through college. Being money conscious has provided many benefits that have helped me through my first semester of college. Though I would consider myself financially literate, I know I have quite a bit more I can learn. Luckily, I have several peers who are also interested in becoming more money-conscious with whom can continue to learn. It is never too soon to learn to manage your income, and it is never too late to learn useful tips for becoming a successful manager of your money. At the moment, if I were to receive additional funding I would immediately invest it into my college education. I wish to pursue a degree in Graphic Design, which requires books, art supplies, an apartment, and general credit hours. It is my current life investment, so I must manage my money effectively so that I may be successful in my chosen life path. My high school studies have greatly impacted my career goals, as I shifted from becoming an author to a graphic designer. This path has been wonderful to pursue; because of it, I have a job and several scholarships pushing me through college. I design commissions for clients, something that is quite applicable to the workforce, and I love it. I am confident this pathway is the correct decision for me to make. I am constantly inspired to create art for myself to express my identity, and for others, so I benefit from both intrinsic and extrinsic rewards as a result. For those who are questioning whether or not any college is a good option for them; whether the concern is money, applicability, or sustenance, I can assure you it can most certainly be worth it. Those who are dedicated to improving themselves in this field will surely succeed. Of course, one of the most beneficial things you can do to make the journey easier is to devote time to becoming financially literate so that you understand how to best manage your money. It is not a time-consuming effort to put in, and the benefits are immense. I recommend everyone take the time to learn, whether from a newsletter, classroom, or even a YouTube video, of how to properly manage, budget, and grow your income to have a financially successful future.

I am a low-income undergraduate student, so being financially literate is greatly important to me and my career path. The biggest action I have taken to increase my knowledge is join the Women in Business club at Kansas State University, where we have conversations about successful networking and marketing. Another main focus of the meetings is to learn from former students who have entered the workforce how to best prepare financially to have a good, impactful career out of college and cushioned retirement. It is a beneficial club to consider, and I suggest everyone with the ability should take a class or join a club with these main focuses in mind. I have taken several classes myself on entrepreneurship and managing money, both personally and within a business. They have taught me to budget my money responsibly. I now have separate accounts for saving and spending to ensure I do not spend money excessively. I would suggest to those who wish to become financially literate to make a basic list; digital or on paper, of your cost-based schedule for the month. Write down any bills you will need to pay, recreational activities (such as restaurants or movies) you will engage in, and money spent on necessities. This way you can keep track of where your money is going. This will significantly reduce the stress of potentially forgetting payments or harming your long-term financial status because you are aware of how much money you are spending. This is the simplest way to gain financial literacy. Understanding finance is important, and there are several outlets (newsletters, clubs, school, etc.) you can use to learn how to manage money. It is an important skill everyone should learn, which is why I recommend finding an outlet to learn as I have. This path has been wonderful to pursue; because of it, I have a job and several scholarships and grants pushing me through college. Being money conscious has provided many benefits that have helped me through my first semester of college. Though I would consider myself financially literate, I know I have quite a bit more I can learn. Luckily, I have several peers who are also interested in becoming more money-conscious with whom can continue to learn. It is never too soon to learn to manage your income, and it is never too late to learn useful tips for becoming a successful manager of your money.

I am a low-income undergraduate student, so being financially literate is greatly important to me and my career path. The biggest action I have taken to increase my knowledge is join the Women in Business club at Kansas State University, where we have conversations about successful networking and marketing. Another main focus of the meetings is to learn from former students who have entered the workforce how to best prepare financially to have a good, impactful career out of college and cushioned retirement. It is a beneficial club to consider, and I suggest everyone with the ability should take a class or join a club with these main focuses in mind. I have taken several classes myself on entrepreneurship and managing money, both personally and within a business. They have taught me to budget my money responsibly. I now have separate accounts for saving and spending to ensure I do not spend money excessively. I would suggest to those who wish to become financially literate to make a basic list; digital or on paper, of your cost-based schedule for the month. Write down any bills you will need to pay, recreational activities (such as restaurants or movies) you will engage in, and money spent on necessities. This way you can keep track of where your money is going. This will significantly reduce the stress of potentially forgetting payments or harming your long-term financial status because you are aware of how much money you are spending. This is the simplest way to gain financial literacy. Understanding finance is important, and there are several outlets (newsletters, clubs, school, etc.) you can use to learn how to manage money. It is an important skill everyone should learn, which is why I recommend finding an outlet to learn as I have. This path has been wonderful to pursue; because of it, I have a job and several scholarships and grants pushing me through college. Being money conscious has provided many benefits that have helped me through my first semester of college. Though I would consider myself financially literate, I know I have quite a bit more I can learn. Luckily, I have several peers who are also interested in becoming more money-conscious with whom can continue to learn. It is never too soon to learn to manage your income, and it is never too late to learn useful tips for becoming a successful manager of your money.

Art and music have always been mediums in my life to express my creativity, thoughts, and emotions. I began creating comics in elementary school and writing novels in middle school. In my first year of high school, I took a class that covered Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator and discovered my most recent artistic passions. As an undergraduate, I am currently pursuing a career in graphic design. I have already been Adobe Illustrator certified. My creative abilities make a difference through volunteering in the community. I made stickers for my Cross Country team and raised over $1000 for Children’s Mercy in support of my friend with leukemia. I have created graphics and t-shirts, as well as designed the cover of my senior yearbook. I have a strong passion for any activity that benefits those around me, and art is a talent I have improved for the sake of others; to assist, and most importantly, to inspire. I hope to continue this path when I receive my degree, spreading my work to inspire and advocate for what I believe. I started my art journey in elementary school drawing fun comics, and I can guarantee I never imagined I would make it this far. I often drew art in my free time, but over the years that hobby dwindled. I have my high school graphic design teacher of 3 years to thank for the continuation of my goals. She saw my passion for art and how I poured that passion into my assignments. It was her idea that I pursue the track and study to become certified in the program, and for that I owe her my thanks. I wouldn't be in this position today if it hadn't been for my teacher's enthusiasm and undeniable faith in my abilities. I would say that my high school studies have greatly impacted my career goals, as I shifted from becoming an author to a graphic designer. This path has been wonderful to pursue; because of it, I have a job and several scholarships pushing me through college. I design commissions for clients, something that is quite applicable to the workforce, and I love it. I am confident this pathway is the correct decision for me to make. I am constantly inspired to create art for myself to express my true identity, and for others, so I benefit from both intrinsic and extrinsic rewards as a result. For those who are questioning whether or not art is the correct field for them; whether the concern is money, applicability, or sustenance, I can assure you it is worth it. Those who are dedicated to improving themselves in this field will surely succeed. Van Gogh’s ‘The Starry Night’ is one of my favorite pieces to date, as it utilizes some of my favorite art styles. This piece uses a form of pointillism that, line by line, constructs a stunning image of the serenity of the night. Van Gogh’s pieces reflect an air of imperfection, which is a great reminder that an art piece is free-flowing, and does not need to look any definitive way. Of course, the color palette is certainly one to be admired. The deep blue gradient of the night contrasts excellently with the bright orange stars. This art inspires me, as it expresses Van Gogh’s thoughts and emotions. I interpret this scene as an emphasis on the free-flowing beauty of nature, whilst the city sharply contrasts this beauty with angles and muted colors. This piece inspires me to pursue my art career as a Graphic Designer, so I too may inspire groups of people someday.

As an avid reader, I would suggest that everyone try out "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley, a dystopian novel that covers the consequences of taking technology too far. At first, there were few noticeable adverse effects on society, but then readers get a glimpse of the segregation towards those of natural birth versus those born artificially. People begin to stray from reality and experience emotions via an artificial standard drug instead of naturally occurring; in other words, they were becoming increasingly like the technology they developed. It may seem outlandish, but today this concept is a real possibility. Just as in the book, we begin to utilize technology to take the jobs of real people, and we are also developing technology to grow and alter children in an artificial womb just as the book fantasized. Social divides are quite common in today's society; differing opinions are means for ostracization. Such ideas as artificial birth and how much technology we involve in our lives are guaranteed to raise a divide. The novel makes it exceedingly clear that such developments will bring harm to society, therefore I believe everyone should read this book and understand that science can indeed be taken too far. It is not a joyful concept, but it does reflect reality to an extent that is too great to be ignored. In the words of Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, "Just because we can doesn't mean we should,". These words are something all people should take to heart, and are best demonstrated through "Brave New World" and its plot.

As a Christian, I am actively involved in my church. Being a part of this community has shaped me into the person I am today; devoted to religion and loving towards everyone. One of my favorite volunteering opportunities that my church hosts is a food drive the first Friday of every month. We load food into the cars of those in need, and spread the word of God to those who are struggling. This community means the world to me; this group of kind, devoted followers who make it their goal to love on everyone despite differing beliefs. Community, to me, represents a group of people willing to give back and support others, and this is exactly what my church does. Another way I gave back to my community is by volunteering to monitor charity runs during the fall season. My high school Cross Country team has helped with these runs each year to raise money for the team, something I cared deeply about. This year, I volunteered to design stickers for my team for their mid-season fun run. I have designed these stickers for two years, and I have heard amazing feedback about how much they loved the year's designs. This volunteer opportunity applies directly to my future career in digital design and marketing, so I am not only helping my community, but I am also gaining experience to become a designer in the long run. I wouldn't be where I am today without the love and support from my teammates, and my church family; I am so grateful for everything they've done and how they continue to inspire the next generations of runners and believers to pursue their passions. I am an undergraduate who enjoys reading, creative writing, film, and drawing. I am currently finishing my sixth year running both varsity Cross Country and Track competitively, and have gone to State meets in both sports. I plan to go to Kansas State University and become a Graphic Designer. This passion has motivated me so far to take art classes throughout my high school career, and even get certified in Adobe Illustrator, the prime technology for graphic designers. In the future, I wish to become an entrepreneur and run my own small business where I sell my designs and inspire young creators. I want young creators to understand that no one starts off at the level of professionalism that they show. It requires training and hard work to achieve great things, meaning if someone who had no experience in the arts wished to pursue this career path, though hard work it can be made possible.

Confidence is a quality I believe everyone should strive to possess. The ability to recognize one's fears and continue despite embarrassment, pressure, or denial shows true strength and is a quality I am now proud to possess. In my first year of middle school, my parents signed me up for the Cross Country and Track teams in the fall and spring. Running competitively is something I had not previously considered, but as it turned out, I found myself at the top of my team. With this responsibility came feelings of fear and anxiety. I felt obligated to run my best in each race, despite this expectation never presenting itself, and my mental health plummeted. By the end of the year, I feared sports, yet felt trapped in a cycle of participating each year for six years of my life. My last season as a senior, I came to a realization. All of the pressure I built up over the years had weights strapped to my ankles that I found impossible to fight through unless I simply let them go. I have stripped myself of these trivial fears; they held me captive for far too long. Without such immense pressure and obligation, my final Track season has shown much improvement, and I am finally having fun. I can now look back at all of the friends I have made and the goals I've reached as a former varsity athlete. This experience of finally letting go of my fears is by far my greatest achievement to this day. It outweighs all of my accomplishments with my art and writing, and is far greater an achievement than a 4.0 GPA. Confidence is an ability that can not be measured by a grade, yet it is the most important skill school has taught me. Without this confidence, I would have never signed up to take a public speaking class, or had sought out a therapist for the benefit of my mental health. I wish to receive a degree in Graphic Design at Kansas State University. With this skill, I will become an entrepreneur and open a small online business with my art, writing, and music. I will make a point to encourage young creators to be bold and pursue their dreams with confidence, as I have, and to never back down in the face of adversity or fear. As I have learned, a dreamer who simply dreams never achieves anything, but one who is truly devoted to their work, with a little bit of confidence, can achieve anything. This journey has led me down paths I could never dream of following, such as pursuing art despite the competitive nature of the business, and becoming an advocate for animal rights. Overall, I would say that the outcome of my mental health struggles is generally positive. I am a happier, more confident person than I ever was before, and I feel that the struggles I went through turned into a multitude of blessings to counter, and I am extremely grateful for this phase that helped me reach peak clarity in my beliefs, relationships and career aspirations.

I have been a Christian my entire life. Knowing that God is always protecting me has helped my tremendously with my mental health, and he gave me the courage to step out of my comfort zone and do things I could never imagine. For instance, beginning in the 7th grade I heavily involved myself in Cross Country and Track on my parents’ suggestion. Running competitively filled me with anxiety, and considering I am a Varsity athlete, the pressure to succeed is astronomical. I considered quitting many times, but after 6 years of pushing myself and trusting that God has plans for my life, I completed my final season of Cross Country last year, and I am about to finish out my last Track season as a high school athlete. I wish to pursue a career in Graphic Design, and eventually manage my own small business. With this pursuit comes great risk, as there is always a chance that my career will struggle to stand out in a sea of other eligible entrepreneurs. However, I am aware that dedication to my work and to God will assist me in fulfilling my life’s purpose, regardless of what that may turn out to be. God has chosen a path for me that I know is good, and I will continue to follow Him and praise him throughout all of my successes and failures. One of my favorite quotes is Psalm 138:8, which reads “The Lord will work out His plans for my life—for Your loving-kindness, Lord, continues forever. This quote is a consistent reminder of how much God loves me, and how much He has done to plan out the best life for me. My faith in God and His promises assures me that His love is unconditional, and His plans are perfect, so no matter where my life goes, I know it is all part of His plan. In terms of pursuing a career in Graphic Design, I understand the risks, by I also understand that through God anything is achievable. Art and drawing are my favorite hobbies, and I would love to turn those hobbies into my job. This career path will make me quite happy, but I know that I exist to serve God, so I will ensure that I use my job to spread His love and His word to all those who I reach as an entrepreneur. Through my faith, I will succeed, as through God, who makes all things possible, I too can make my dream career a reality. When I was going to therapy for my chronic anxiety, I learned several tips that I found most useful for managing my stress in the heat of a situation. Often times stress may occur out of the blue, and can leave you feeling trapped and helpless in your environment. My favorite techniques to clear my mind include 4-in-4-out breathing, tensing then relaxing muscles, and playing a private game of “I spy” with objects around me. These techniques are quite effective in providing a distraction to whatever is making you anxious or upset, and have often worked well for me.

"Let It Be" by The Beatles is such a special song with a powerful message. It talks about how it is important to let things go and embrace the fact we are all humans and all make mistakes. This is something everyone should understand, in a time where anxiety and depression in teenagers have reached all time highs. Life should be an enjoyable experience full of creativity and love. When we learn to accept our mistakes and differences, we can truly live with freedom from worries. Many of the Beatles' songs reflect the idea of peace over worry, and this song is one of the best by far. Though the song is older, the message of this song is more relevant than ever before, which is why I love and appreciate it so much. I recommend to those who have not done so to listen to this remarkable song and its peaceful lesson.

As an American female, I am aware that in other places in the world, education for young women is not always a guarantee. That’s why I appreciate the opportunities I have received, even though at times school isn’t the easiest to get through. A trait I have always possessed is immense creativity. I began writing stories and drawing comics in elementary school, and have continued to do so all throughout high school. As a 1st year college student, I have decided to pursue a career in graphic designing, and have already began creating artwork for companies such as Genius Yield and COTI. My passion towards the arts is the reason I am so insistent on attending college. If I continue to learn and expand on knowledge in areas which I am interested, I will have the ability to make an impact in the world. One of my main motivations for pursuing graphic design is its ability to inspire others to be creative as well. Creativity is a quality trait that I believe every person should possess, as it is a perfect means of self-expression and conveying emotion. I have personally utilized art to express my femininity, as well as my involvement in my community. There is no one way to paint or dance or sing, but there is always room for learning and improvement. I wish to go to college for this very reason; to expand my knowledge of the arts and to learn different styles such as realism, cubism, and surrealism. Graphic design is already a female dominated field, and I wish to increase the presence of this accomplishment with my own contributions to the industry. The world needs more of what women can bring to the workforce, especially in fields of STEM, so by receiving my education, I am contributing to this movement; an inspiration to women wishing to leave their mark of the world. Education is not something to take for granted, yet we do it everyday. For those women who are wishing to go into dominated fields, or are fighting for their right to be properly educated, there is more struggle than we realize. As more girls pursue learning and a higher education, inequality will begin to diminish, and countries will be more productive overall and will begin to expand economically. The women who can should pursue an education to the highest degree in order to inspire equal education worldwide.

I have been a vegetarian for over a year, and it is my second-most important choice for the betterment of my overall health. Without the intake of fatty meats, and with proper supplements, I am able to maintain a healthy weight and feel better after meals. This decision also improves my running, leading to increased dopamine production and an overall happier life. I run nearly every day. I am involved in both Cross Country and Track; activities that I have pursued for six years. Running is such an important part of my day, and is the main way I maintain my overall health throughout the year. This routine plays a large role in the maintenance of my mental health as well as physical health. I have chronic anxiety and take medication, but the best treatment at times can be jogging a few miles with my friends to release that stress. Healthy eating allows me to keep up with daily jogs with my friends, which is why I find it so important for both physical and mental health. Without proper food habits, I would be unable to communicate as often with my friends, whom I consider to be my main support system for my mental health. It also goes without saying that I could not exercise near as much nor as easily as I do now without these good practices in check. I encourage everyone if they have not already to consider what benefits healthy eating can have in all aspects of your life, because there truly are lasting results. When I eat healthy, I feel better about myself. I have a more positive body image, I am happier, and I am generally more active. When I am more active I am also more creative, which allows me to pursue my many passions of art, writing, music and theatre. I am currently majoring in Graphic Design, a major that requires artistic reasoning and deep thought. Eating healthy is proven to improve cognitive function, and therefore better my performance in my academics as well as my life in general. There are so many amazing benefits to eating healthy; it is one of the many important factors to a successful life. It can be difficult to get started on the journey to a healthier lifestyle, but the good news is there are so many delicious foods that are beneficial to your health. My personal favorites are avocados, quinoa rice, and almonds. A quick Google search can help one to find more about each food and what makes it healthier. There are so many health conscious choices, one is guaranteed to find something they will enjoy.

Confidence is a quality I believe everyone should strive to possess. The ability to recognize one's fears and continue despite embarrassment, pressure, or denial shows true strength and is a quality I am now proud to possess. In my first year of middle school, my parents signed me up for the Cross Country and Track teams in the fall and spring. Running competitively is something I had not previously considered, but as it turned out, I found myself at the top of my team. With this responsibility came feelings of fear and anxiety. I felt obligated to run my best in each race, despite this expectation never presenting itself, and my mental health plummeted. By the end of the year, I feared sports, yet felt trapped in a cycle of participating each year for six years of my life. My last season as a senior, I saw an intense decline in my running ability. All of the pressure I built up over the years had weights strapped to my ankles that I found impossible to fight through unless I simply let them go. Now, three weeks from graduating high school, I have stripped myself of these trivial fears; they held me captive for far too long. Without such immense pressure and obligation, my final Track season has shown much improvement, and I am finally having fun. This experience of finally letting go of my fears is by far my greatest achievement to this day. It outweighs all of my accomplishments with my art and writing, and is far greater an achievement than a 4.0 GPA. Confidence is an ability that can not be measured by a grade, yet it is the most important skill school has taught me. Without this confidence, I would have never signed up to take a public speaking class, or had sought out a therapist for the benefit of my mental health. In the future, I wish to receive a degree in Graphic Design at Kansas State University. With this skill, I will become an entrepreneur and open a small online business with my art, writing, and music. I will make a point to encourage young creators to be bold and pursue their dreams with confidence, as I have, and to never back down in the face of adversity or fear. As I have learned, a dreamer who simply dreams never achieves anything, but one who is truly devoted to their work, with a little bit of confidence, can achieve anything. This journey has led me down paths I could never dream of following, such as pursuing art despite the competitive nature of the business, and becoming an advocate for animal rights. Overall, I would say that the outcome of my mental health struggles is generally positive. I am a happier, more confident person than I ever was before, and I feel that the struggles I went through turned into a multitude of blessings to counter, and I am extremely grateful for this phase that helped me reach peak clarity in my beliefs, relationships and career aspirations.

I believe everyone should strive to possess a bold self-image. The ability to recognize one's fears and continue despite embarrassment, pressure, or denial shows true strength and is a quality I am now proud to possess. In my first year of middle school, my parents signed me up for the Cross Country and Track teams in the fall and spring. Running competitively is something I had not previously considered, but as it turned out, I found myself at the top of my team. With this responsibility came feelings of fear and anxiety. I felt obligated to run my best in each race, despite this expectation never presenting itself, and my mental health plummeted. By the end of the year, I feared sports, yet felt trapped in a cycle of participating each year for six years of my life. My last season as a senior, I saw an intense decline in my running ability. All of the pressure I built up over the years had weights strapped to my ankles that I found impossible to fight through unless I simply let them go. Now, three weeks from graduating high school, I have stripped myself of these trivial fears; they held me captive for far too long. Without such immense pressure and obligation, my final Track season has shown much improvement, and I am finally having fun. This experience of finally letting go of my fears is by far my greatest achievement to this day. It outweighs all of my accomplishments with my art and writing, and is far greater an achievement than a 4.0 GPA. Confidence is an ability that can not be measured by a grade, yet it is the most important skill school has taught me. Without this confidence, I would have never signed up to take a public speaking class, or had sought out a therapist for the benefit of my mental health. In the future, I wish to receive a degree in Graphic Design at Kansas State University. With this skill, I will become an entrepreneur and open a small online business with my art, writing, and music. I will make a point to encourage young creators to be bold and pursue their dreams with confidence, as I have, and to never back down in the face of adversity or fear. As I have learned, a dreamer who simply dreams never achieves anything, but one who is truly devoted to their work, with a little bit of confidence, can achieve anything. This journey has led me down paths I could never dream of following, such as pursuing art despite the competitive nature of the business, and becoming an advocate for animal rights. Overall, I would say that the outcome of my mental health struggles is generally positive. I am a happier, more confident person than I ever was before, and I feel that the struggles I went through turned into a multitude of blessings to counter, and I am extremely grateful for this phase that helped me reach peak clarity in my beliefs, relationships and career aspirations.

I am an undergraduate student with a desire to leave the world with my mind on paper. My wish is that people can view my writings and be able to connect with my personal thoughts and viewpoints. This is one of the main reasons I wish to become a part-time author alongside my career in graphic design. People who consume my art will understand the motivation behind its creation, as well as the attitude behind the creator. The connection between a reader and the text is such a special aspect of writing that proves how unique and important the medium of authorship is. It is a special experience knowing that traces of my life and others will be left behind for future generations to physically consume and appreciate. I hope that my work inspires others to be creative in their own way; write their own stories, and paint their own artistic path. I know that wherever life takes me, my one wish is that people understand the motivation and passion I put into my life. Reading literature inspires me to write my own stories. My favorite book in particular is ‘Brave New World’, by Aldous Huxley. It is a futuristic, dystopian novel concerning covering up the past and any emotion other than happiness. It is a society that lives for pleasure over knowledge, and because of this, not a single person has picked up a book. It is an interesting concept that inspired several of the concepts in my own work, such as my novels concerning governmental divide and acceptance. The powerful work of others encourages me to become the best version of myself that I can, and their passion will forever drive me to accomplish my goals. Writing has the ability to span generations, connecting those who seem distant to the present. We find that reading is an excellent way to learn the minds of past authors and their societies, which is another reason why writing is so important in my life and in the lives of other people. Though my writing I not only want to inspire others to put their heart into their works, but also to prove how much of one's personality shines through in their work. Reading connects us as a society, and because of this I believe everyone should be engaging in literature more often than our screens. Writing offers an escape from technology, a link to the past, and insight into the minds and hearts of others.

Art and music have always been mediums in my life to express my creativity, thoughts, and emotions. I began creating comics in elementary school, and writing novels in middle school. My first year of high school, I took a class that covered Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, and discovered my most recent passion. As an undergraduate, I am currently pursuing a career in graphic design. I have already been Adobe Illustrator certified. My creative abilities make a difference through volunteering in the community. I made stickers for my Cross Country team, and raised over $1000 for Children’s Mercy in support of my friend with leukemia. I have created graphics and t-shirts, as well as designed the cover of my senior yearbook. I have a strong passion for any activity that benefits those around me, and art is a talent I have improved for the sake of others; to assist, and most importantly, to inspire. I hope to continue this path when I receive my degree, spreading my work to inspire and advocate for what I believe. I started off my art journey in elementary school drawing fun comics, and I can guarantee I never imagined I would make it this far. I often drew art in my free time, but over the years that hobby dwindled away. I have my high school graphic design teacher of 3 years to thank for the continuation of my goals. She saw my passion for art and how I poured that passion into my assignments. It was her idea that I pursue the track and study to become certified in the program, and for that I owe her my thanks. I wouldn't be in this position today if it hadn't been for my teacher's enthusiasm and undeniable faith in my abilities. I would say that my high school studies have greatly impacted my career goals, as I shifted from becoming an author to graphic designer. This path has been wonderful to pursue; because of it I have a job and several scholarships pushing me through college. I design commissions from clients, something that is quite applicable to the workforce, and I absolutely love it. I am confident this pathway is the correct decision for me to make. I am constantly inspired to create art for myself to express my true identity, and for others, so I benefit from both intrinsic and extrinsic reward as a result. For those who are questioning whether or not art is the correct field for them; whether the concern is money, or applicability, or sustaining, I can assure you it is worth it. Those who are dedicated to improving themselves in this field will surely succeed. Thank you for considering my submission.

As an American female, I am aware that in other places in the world, education for young women is not always a guarantee. That’s why I appreciate the opportunities I have received, even though at times school isn’t the easiest to get through. Feminism is something I gained from watching my friends go though with their careers in the medical and business fields. It takes a lot of strength to pursue careers that were initially male-dominated, and my friends have displayed that it is more than possible; women in high levels of the workforce is an inevitability. A trait I have always possessed is immense creativity. I began writing stories and drawing comics in elementary school, and have continued to do so all throughout high school. As a senior, I have decided to pursue a career in graphic designing, and have already began creating artwork for companies such as Genius Yield and COTI. My passion towards the arts is the reason I am so insistent on attending college. If I continue to learn and expand on knowledge in areas which I am interested, I will have the ability to make an impact in the world. One of my main motivations for pursuing graphic design is its ability to inspire others to be creative as well. Creativity is a quality trait that I believe every person should possess, as it is a perfect means of self-expression and conveying emotion. I have personally utilized art to express my femininity, as well as my involvement in the lgbtq+ community as a bisexual female. There is no one way to paint or dance or sing, but there is always room for learning and improvement. I wish to go to college for this very reason; to expand my knowledge of the arts and to learn different styles such as realism, cubism, and surrealism. Graphic design is already a female dominated field, and I wish to increase the presence of this accomplishment with my own contributions to the industry. The world needs more of what women can bring to the workforce, especially in fields of STEM, so by receiving my education, I am contributing to this movement; an inspiration to women wishing to leave their mark of the world. Education is not something to take for granted, yet we do it everyday. For those women who are wishing to go into male dominated fields, or are fighting for their right to be properly educated, there is more struggle than we realize. As more girls pursue learning and a higher education, inequality and the wage gap will begin to diminish, and countries will be more productive overall and will begin to expand economically. The women who can should pursue an education to the highest degree in order to inspire equal education for females worldwide.

Confidence is a quality I believe everyone should strive to possess. The ability to recognize one's fears and continue despite embarrassment, pressure, or denial shows true strength and is a quality I am now proud to possess. In my first year of middle school, my parents signed me up for the Cross Country and Track teams in the fall and spring. Running competitively is something I had not previously considered, but as it turned out, I found myself at the top of my team. With this responsibility came feelings of fear and anxiety. I felt obligated to run my best in each race, despite this expectation never presenting itself, and my mental health plummeted. By the end of the year, I feared sports, yet felt trapped in a cycle of participating each year for six years of my life. My last season as a senior, I saw an intense decline in my running ability. All of the pressure I built up over the years had weights strapped to my ankles that I found impossible to fight through unless I simply let them go. Now, three weeks from graduating high school, I have stripped myself of these trivial fears; they held me captive for far too long. Without such immense pressure and obligation, my final Track season had shown much improvement, and I was finally having fun. This experience of finally letting go of my fears is by far my greatest achievement to this day. It outweighs all of my accomplishments with my art and writing, and is far greater an achievement than a 4.0 GPA. Confidence is an ability that can not be measured by a grade, yet it is the most important skill school has taught me. Without this confidence, I would have never signed up to take a public speaking class, or had sought out a therapist for the benefit of my mental health. In the future, I wish to receive a degree in Graphic Design at Kansas State University. With this skill, I will become an entrepreneur and open a small online business with my art, writing, and music. I will make a point to encourage young creators to be bold and pursue their dreams with confidence, as I have, and to never back down in the face of adversity or fear. As I have learned, a dreamer who simply dreams never achieves anything, but one who is truly devoted to their work, with a little bit of confidence, can achieve anything.

I wish to pursue a career in Graphic Design, and eventually manage my own small business. With this pursuit comes great risk, as there is always a chance that my career will struggle to stand out in a sea of other eligible entrepreneurs. However, I am aware that dedication to my work and to God will assist me in fulfilling my life’s purpose, regardless of what that may turn out to be. God has chosen a path for me that I know is good, and I will continue to follow Him and praise him throughout all of my successes and failures. One of my all-time favorite quotes is Psalm 138:8, which reads “The Lord will work out His plans for my life—for Your loving-kindness, Lord, continues forever. This quote is a consistent reminder of how much God loves me, and how much He has done to plan out the best life for me. My faith in God and His promises assures me that His love is unconditional, and His plans are perfect, so no matter where my life goes, I know it is all part of His plan. In terms of pursuing a career in Graphic Design at Kansas State University, I understand the risks, but I also understand that through God anything is achievable. Art and drawing are my favorite hobbies, and I would love to turn those hobbies into my job. This career path will make me quite happy, but I know that I exist to serve God, so I will ensure that I use my job to spread His love and His word to all those who I reach as an entrepreneur. Through my faith, I will succeed, as through God, who makes all things possible, I too can make my dream career a reality. I have already began to start my own small business, using Instagram as a medium to promote it. I sell stickers, t-shirts, and other products with my designs on Redbubble, and have managed to create a little success for myself with this medium. I do eventually want my own website and my own personal manufacturer to lower third-party costs, however, I feel as though what I am doing at the moment is a huge step in my progress. With God's plan as my motivation, I know I can pursue success in my chosen field. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship!

Confidence is a quality I believe everyone should strive to possess. The ability to recognize one's fears and continue despite embarrassment, pressure, or denial shows true strength and is a quality I am now proud to possess. My first year of middle school, my parents signed me up for the Cross Country and Track teams in the fall and spring. Running competitively is something I had not previously considered, but as it turned out, I found myself at the top of my team. With this responsibility came feelings of fear and anxiety. I felt obligated to run my best in each race, despite this expectation never presenting itself, and my mental health plummeted. By the end of the year, I feared sports, yet felt trapped in a cycle of participating each year for six years of my life. My last season as a senior, I saw an intense decline in my running ability. All of the pressure I built up over the years had weights strapped to my ankles that I found impossible to fight through unless I simply let them go. Now, three weeks from graduating high school, I have stripped myself of these trivial fears; they held me captive for far too long. Without such immense pressure and obligation, my final Track season has shown much improvement, and I am finally having fun. This experience of finally letting go of my fears is by far my greatest achievement to this day. It outweighs all of my accomplishments with my art and writing, and is far greater an achievement than a 4.0 GPA. Confidence is an ability that can not be measured by a grade, yet it is the most important skill school has taught me. Without this confidence, I would have never signed up to take a public speaking class, or had sought out a therapist for the benefit of my mental health. I am currently in Graphic Design at Kansas State University. With this skill, I will become an entrepreneur and open a small online business with my art, writing, and music. I will make a point to encourage young creators to be bold and pursue their dreams with confidence, as I have, and to never back down in the face of adversity or fear. As I have learned, a dreamer who simply dreams never achieves anything, but one who is truly devoted to their work, with a little bit of confidence, can achieve anything. This journey has led me down paths I could never dream of following, such as pursuing art despite the competitive nature of the business, and becoming an advocate for animal rights. Overall, I would say that the outcome of my mental health struggles is generally positive. I am a happier, more confident person than I ever was before, and I feel that the struggles I went through turned into a multitude of blessings to counter, and I am extremely grateful for this phase that helped me reach peak clarity in my beliefs, relationships and career aspirations.

I am a proud member of the Women in Business (WiB) club, which meets every so often, and holds meet-ups and small events on campus. Not only does the club teach us ways to better manage businesses and finances, but it also helps us to reach others and be a leader and example for others to look up to. Schedule conflicts are unfortunately a part of being in such a group, and being an art major it can be inconvenient to balance at home projects with late meeting times, but I manage because both school and the club I feel are truly important to my growth as an individual. Some of my most difficult years were in high school, when I was balancing AP classes and being a varsity athlete in both Cross Country and Track. There would be little to no room in my schedule for extended breaks, and the whole experience was pretty overwhelming. However, I feel as though I am a better person because of this. I am able to better manage my time thanks to techniques I learned in high school, and therefore feel much less stress in college. Sometimes in life it is important to experience a busy lifestyle so you can better tackle it in the future. These days I work part time, paired with school and WiB, but I feel as though I am better able to manage myself because of my past experiences. Though they were difficult, I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to learn to tame my anxiety and take life face-on.

I find beauty in nature and organic objects. They offer so much life to a drawing, and evoke the beauty of imperfection. I am especially inspired by the change of the seasons and how the world evolves into something new every few months. I also enjoy drawing everyday objects, due to how much effort and creative detailing each one holds. I am both a charcoal artist and graphic designer.

Two Depths, One Pool Run fast from your mistakes— So I may go make ones more cruel? Live your life to the fullest— With no meaning do I act a fool? Run fast little sheep— So I have yet to tire? You must go on— Have I not already perspired? Run fast, without hesitation— In such a world as cruelly just as such? And forget your faults and fears— Think you not I have suffered much? ----- Run fast—There is no reward for the inconsistent and lazy. For the lazy there is no desire not craved. You are nothing without my guidance. Yes, I am but a sword in need of the braved. Run fast—those who have wronged you. Those who have wronged me shall be waived. Do these things and you shall live not yet so painfully. Do these things and I shall yet be saved.

My best back to school tip for students of all ages is to make a to-do list, digital or on paper, of your schedule for the week. This way you can keep track of assignments, sports meets, club meetings, and other important information. This will significantly reduce the stress of potentially forgetting assignments or longterm goals throughout the school year.

Confidence is a quality I believe everyone should strive to possess. The ability to recognize one's fears and continue despite embarrassment, pressure, or denial shows true strength and is a quality I am now proud to possess. In my first year of middle school, my parents signed me up for the Cross Country and Track teams in the fall and spring. Running competitively is something I had not previously considered, but as it turned out, I found myself at the top of my team. With this responsibility came feelings of fear and anxiety. I felt obligated to run my best in each race, despite this expectation never presenting itself, and my mental health plummeted. By the end of the year, I feared sports, yet felt trapped in a cycle of participating each year for six years of my life. My last season as a senior, I saw an intense decline in my running ability. All of the pressure I built up over the years had weights strapped to my ankles that I found impossible to fight through unless I simply let them go. Now, three weeks from graduating high school, I have stripped myself of these trivial fears; they held me captive for far too long. Without such immense pressure and obligation, my final Track season has shown much improvement, and I am finally having fun. This experience of finally letting go of my fears is by far my greatest achievement to this day. It outweighs all of my accomplishments with my art and writing, and is far greater an achievement than a 4.0 GPA. Confidence is an ability that can not be measured by a grade, yet it is the most important skill school has taught me. Without this confidence, I would have never signed up to take a public speaking class, or had sought out a therapist for the benefit of my mental health. In the future, I wish to receive a degree in Graphic Design at Kansas State University. With this skill, I will become an entrepreneur and open a small online business with my art, writing, and music. I will make a point to encourage young creators to be bold and pursue their dreams with confidence, as I have, and to never back down in the face of adversity or fear. As I have learned, a dreamer who simply dreams never achieves anything, but one who is truly devoted to their work, with a little bit of confidence, can achieve anything. This journey has led me down paths I could never dream of following, such as pursuing art despite the competitive nature of the business, and becoming an advocate for animal rights. Overall, I would say that the outcome of my mental health struggles is generally positive. I am a happier, more confident person than I ever was before, and I feel that the struggles I went through turned into a multitude of blessings to counter, and I am extremely grateful for this phase that helped me reach peak clarity in my beliefs, relationships and career aspirations.

As an American female, I am aware that in other places in the world, education for young women is not always a guarantee. That’s why I appreciate the opportunities I have received, even though at times school isn’t the easiest to get through. A trait I have always possessed is immense creativity. I began writing stories and drawing comics in elementary school, and have continued to do so all throughout high school. As a senior, I have decided to pursue a career in graphic designing, and have already began creating artwork for companies such as Genius Yield and COTI. My passion towards the arts is the reason I am so insistent on attending college. If I continue to learn and expand on knowledge in areas which I am interested, I will have the ability to make an impact in the world. One of my main motivations for pursuing graphic design is its ability to inspire others to be creative as well. Creativity is a quality trait that I believe every person should possess, as it is a perfect means of self-expression and conveying emotion. I have personally utilized art to express my femininity, as well as my involvement in the lgbtq+ community as a bisexual female. There is no one way to paint or dance or sing, but there is always room for learning and improvement. I wish to go to college for this very reason; to expand my knowledge of the arts and to learn different styles such as realism, cubism, and surrealism. Graphic design is already a female dominated field, and I wish to increase the presence of this accomplishment with my own contributions to the industry. The world needs more of what women can bring to the workforce, especially in fields of STEM, so by receiving my education, I am contributing to this movement; an inspiration to women wishing to leave their mark of the world. Education is not something to take for granted, yet we do it everyday. For those women who are wishing to go into male dominated fields, or are fighting for their right to be properly educated, there is more struggle than we realize. As more girls pursue learning and a higher education, inequality and the wage gap will begin to diminish, and countries will be more productive overall and will begin to expand economically. The women who can should pursue an education to the highest degree in order to inspire equal education for females worldwide.

As a Christian, I am actively involved in my church. Being apart of this community has shaped me into the person I am today; devoted to religion and loving towards everyone. One of my favorite volunteering opportunities that my church hosts is a food drive the first Friday of every month. We load food into the cars of those in need, and spread the word of God to those who are struggling. This community means the world to me; this group of kind, devoted followers who make it their goal to love on everyone despite differing beliefs. Community, to me, represents a group of people willing to give back and support others, and this is exactly what my church does. Another way I give back to my community is by volunteering to monitor charity runs during the fall season. My Cross Country team has helped with these runs each year to raise money for the team, something I care deeply about. I am a senior in high school who enjoys reading, creative writing, film, and drawing. I am currently finishing my sixth year running both varsity Cross Country and Track competitively, and have gone to State meets in both sports. I plan to go to Kansas State University and become a Graphic Designer. This passion has motivated me so far to take art classes throughout my high school career, and even get certified in Adobe Illustrator, the prime technology for graphic designers. In the future, I wish to become an entrepreneur and run my own small business where I sell my designs and inspire young creators.

My cousin has been struggling with her mental health for the past year, something I vowed to help her with. The path was tough; she was experiencing many detrimental thoughts and ideas of worthlessness. As I too have a past history with poor mental health, it was difficult to listen to her talk about how useless she felt, because I knew I often felt the same. However, I never backed down from her, despite the pain her suffering inflicted on myself. Thankfully, these days she is doing much better; eating full meals, talking frequently with her friends. I do not like to speak of myself in a prideful manner, but I am glad I was able to help her recover over the past year. As a Christian, I am actively involved in my church. Being apart of this community has shaped me into the person I am today; devoted to religion and loving towards everyone. One of my favorite volunteering opportunities that my church hosts is a food drive the first Friday of every month. We load food into the cars of those in need, and spread the word of God to those who are struggling. This community means the world to me; this group of kind, devoted followers who make it their goal to love on everyone despite differing beliefs. Community, to me, represents a group of people willing to give back and support others, and this is exactly what my church does. Another way I give back to my community is by volunteering to monitor charity runs during the fall season. My Cross Country team has helped with these runs each year to raise money for the team, something I care deeply about. That team has always felt like my family, and watching new runners try out for the sport their freshman year of high school feels like adopting new friends into one great family of people who live on a common ground. In all of these ways, I find myself helping those in need. It fills my heart with joy when I am able to make a difference in the lives of others, so I will continue to do so as I move on to adulthood in the next few weeks. Helping people in need is something I am quite passionate about, and will encourage others to do in order to make this world a better, happier place.

There are many things that make me happy, such as reading, writing, drawing, and participating in sports. Drawing and writing allow me to express my thoughts and creativity, while reading allows me to gather the thoughts and opinions of others. I have been running varsity Cross Country and Track for six years now, and love how I get to hang out with my friends and work out at the same time. My favorite hobby is Graphic Design, which I have pursued throughout high school. I got the opportunity to design stickers for my Cross Country team, t-shirts to raise donations for my friend with leukemia, and even the MHS Yearbook cover. I find so much joy in this activity, that I decided to become certified in Adobe Illustrator in order to boost my credibility as an artist and make myself look better on college applications. All of these activities make me happy.

I am a female entrepreneur who owns an art business through RedBubble. I sell inclusive LGBTQ+ and female empowerment stickers, shirts, and other products to spread equality. I am a creative person, and this is one of the ways I share my support and express my opinions. I have strong opinions about inclusivity, and believe everyone should be treated with the utmost respect, despite differing beliefs. I support a mixture of diverse creators through social media, who have the same goal of sharing their cultures and support through art and other creative means. It is important that everyone does their part in spreading their cultures so that the world can be a more inclusive place, free of racism, homophobia, stereotyping, sexism, and all other negative traits that currently plague society today. I believe that art is a perfect medium of expression that allows for the sharing of positive, heartfelt beliefs.

“Brave New World” by Aldous Huxley is the most inspiring book I have ever read, covering a dystopian world where any emotions other than happiness have been eliminated, and any sources of difficult labor, such as raising children, have been eliminated. It depicts a society if humanity turned away from God to worship the material, proving any society with these ideals is bound to collapse. This book carries such a powerful message, it inspired me to write my own dystopian fiction surrounding a world where political conflict prevents a society from stopping a war with a condemned god. I find that dystopian novels offer bold, impactful perspectives concerning human nature and conflicted perspectives that challenge the most raw of human behaviors, which is one of the reasons that I adore this novel so much. I feel everyone should read this unforgivingly satirical novel in order to gain a new perspective on religion and morale.

For my love of art and involvement in Cross Country and Track, I have my parents to thank. They have always supported me in everything I do, and have often pushed me to achieve great things, such as making the varsity running team six years in a row, and getting Adobe Illustrator certified so I can pursue my dream of becoming a graphic designer. I would not be who I am today without their support, and I will forever be appreciative of the sacrifices they made so that I may succeed. My mother, in particular, used to be a volleyball player, with the capabilities of becoming a collegiate level player, until an injury ended her career. This knowledge gave me the confidence to pursue sports, knowing that she would support me all the way. I wished to succeed so that I may make her proud that a dream she always had could come true for me. My father has supported me greatly through my chronic anxiety; pushing me to take Public Speaking in high school and step outside of my comfort zone. I am a more confident individual today thanks to his efforts, and I am grateful and inspired by his dedication to the improvement of my mental health. My parents are such inspirational people in my eyes, and I look up to them to help guide me through my life when things get tough. I cannot thank them enough for their devotion to the improvement of myself as a well-rounded human being.

As a Christian, I am actively involved in my church. Being apart of this community has shaped me into the person I am today; devoted to religion and loving towards everyone. One of my favorite volunteering opportunities that my church hosts is a food drive the first Friday of every month. We load food into the cars of those in need, and spread the word of God to those who are struggling. This community means the world to me; this group of kind, devoted followers who make it their goal to love on everyone despite differing beliefs. Community, to me, represents a group of people willing to give back and support others, and this is exactly what my church does. Another way I give back to my community is by volunteering to monitor charity runs during the fall season. My Cross Country team has helped with these runs each year to raise money for the team, something I care deeply about. I am a senior in high school who enjoys reading, creative writing, film, and drawing. I am currently finishing my sixth year running both varsity Cross Country and Track competitively, and have gone to State meets in both sports. I am also a vegetarian, and love to travel to the mountains, as well as hike. I plan to go to Kansas State University and become a Graphic Designer. This passion has motivated me so far to take art classes throughout my high school career, and even get certified in Adobe Illustrator, the prime technology for graphic designers. In the future, I wish to become an entrepreneur and run my own small business where I sell my designs.

It is difficult to claim one problem as the largest threat to humanity or the world as a whole, however, I believe that unsteady international relations are the most apparent threat to society today. We can see this issue in the current Russia vs. Ukraine war, which has only been amplified by tensions within the countries themselves. Though world peace is a pipe dream, it is possible that by lessening tensions between individuals, the countries themselves will begin to benefit. When working to achieve such an immense goal, it is important to understand that solving such complex problems require decades to resolve, even partially. However, if we take action now beginning in our own communities, progressively things will begin to improve. A problem with society today is an apparent lack of patience. We feel as though if we are unable to instantly fix a problem, it no longer deserves our undivided attention. This ideology applies to international issues such as peace and climate change. We must set aside these useless notions and realize that issues will progressively get worse if we wait any longer to take action. Wars are an inevitable consequence of human nature, but this does not mean we as a species cannot achieve a sort of mutual understanding. All it takes to start such a movement is for one person to reach out; for citizens to promote the concept of peace and its impact on the world if it stems from small communities such as theirs. As Michael Fassbender once said, "Big things have small beginnings"!

This is one of my favorite funny drawings that I’ve done.

1. I have no motivation and do not plan on going to college or working. I’m just broke, and need money without working for it. 2. I hope to make it through senior year with a 3.14 GPA so that I can post it on Reddit and get enough likes to make a living straight out of high school. If that doesn’t work I’ll just keep filling out these scholarships into my thirties. 3. My parents are so broke, they attempted to stuff me in a suitcase and get me past airport security so I could make it big as a contortionist in Vegas. The guards found me hiding there, but luckily they were so impressed with my skills that they let us through and only charged my family for two passengers. I had to remain in a pretzel for the entire 6 hour flight, but my willpower got me all the way to Vegas where I performed for tips at a local club.

I run nearly every day. I am involved in both Cross Country and Track; activities that I have pursued for six years. Running is such an important part of my day, and is the main way I maintain my overall health throughout the year. This routine plays a large role in the maintenance of my mental health as well as physical health. I have chronic anxiety and take medication, but the best treatment at times can be jogging a few miles with my friends to release that stress. I have been a vegetarian for over a year, and it is my second-most important choice for the betterment of my overall health. Without the intake of fatty meats, and with proper supplements, I am able to maintain a healthy weight and feel better after meals. This decision also improves my running, leading to increased dopamine production and an overall happier life.

My dog, Ginger, is the first family pet my family bought when we moved into our new house. She is nine years old today, and seeing her beginning to struggle with arthritis and overall declining health I came to realization that there are other dogs out there going through similar things, but in conditions such as on the streets and in shelters or pounds. Realizing that not all dogs are as fortunate, I began donating dog toys, blankets, and more to the shelters that my family recycled out of shirts and pillows. It is a small deed, but it is so important to be aware of this growing issue of pets without homes. This is one of the reasons I advocate for adopting your pets from shelters, and not purchasing them from breeders.

I have ran Cross Country and Track for six years, and I must say that the best way to help clear my mind is running every day with my friends. Daily conversations during six-mile runs not only helped me grow closer to my teammates, but it also greatly reduced my stress. As a high achieving student, going to school each day and maintaining my grades can be a strain on my mental health, but I always knew that at the end of the day I could go to sports practice and run to forget my stress and obligations. Drawing is my favorite hobby; one that I have been pursuing for four years. I first started doing art consecutively in my freshman year of high school, when I was most nervous about moving schools and participating in AP classes and varsity sports. Being able to throw in my earbuds and draw for hours was the best way I could relax, and it is a hobby that I wish to turn into my future career. Next year, I will be attending Kansas State University to pursue a degree in Graphic Design, so that I may inspire others to find their own outlets of relaxation that they are also passionate about. When I was going to therapy for my chronic anxiety, I learned several tips that I found most useful for managing my stress in the heat of a situation. Often times stress may occur out of the blue, and can leave you feeling trapped and helpless in your environment. My favorite techniques to clear my mind include 4-in-4-out breathing, tensing then relaxing muscles, and playing a private game of “I spy” with objects around me. These techniques are quite effective in providing a distraction to whatever is making you anxious or upset, and have often worked well for me. A technique that I find is effective 100% of the time is prayer. I am a Christian with a strong connection to God, and connecting with him is a certain way of relieving my stress, as I know he has a plan for me. Regardless of your religion, praying, and knowing there is someone always looking out for you has an affect of almost instant clarity. This is a practice that my Cross Country team exercised each time we had a competition. Even those with no God to pray to felt relief letting their fears go into the atmosphere, surrounded by people they know who care. These are my favorite ways of clearing my mind, and they are proven ways that I have utilized throughout my four years of high school and beyond.

Art, writing, and music are all hobbies that I wish to pursue as a career. Creativity is a trait I have always possessed, and is a part of my personality that I utilize to the best of my abilities. I wish to pursue a degree in Graphic Design, and become an entrepreneur with my own small business. I have already entered several art contests for international businesses such as Genius Yield and COTI, and have volunteered to create t-shirts in support of my friend with leukemia ($1000 was donated to Children’s Mercy where she is receiving treatment). Applying the skills I learned in my graphic design class, I created designs for the MHS Cross Country team, the school store, and the school’s student run newspaper, “The Mentor”. I have dreams of creating graphics for well known companies, before going off on my own, and wish to eventually work designing for gaming and crypto companies. I have confidence that I can be successful in all desired areas of my life, as long as I have confidence and work hard for it.

Confidence is a quality I believe everyone should strive to possess. The ability to recognize one's fears and continue despite embarrassment, pressure, or denial shows true strength and is a quality I am now proud to possess. In my first year of middle school, my parents signed me up for the Cross Country and Track teams in the fall and spring. Running competitively is something I had not previously considered, but as it turned out, I found myself at the top of my team. With this responsibility came feelings of fear and anxiety. I felt obligated to run my best in each race, despite this expectation never presenting itself, and my mental health plummeted. By the end of the year, I feared sports, yet felt trapped in a cycle of participating each year for six years of my life. My last season as a senior, I saw an intense decline in my running ability. All of the pressure I built up over the years had weights strapped to my ankles that I found impossible to fight through unless I simply let them go. Now, three weeks from graduating high school, I have stripped myself of these trivial fears; they held me captive for far too long. Without such immense pressure and obligation, my final Track season has shown much improvement, and I am finally having fun. This experience of finally letting go of my fears is by far my greatest achievement to this day. It outweighs all of my accomplishments with my art and writing, and is far greater an achievement than a 4.0 GPA. Confidence is an ability that can not be measured by a grade, yet it is the most important skill school has taught me. Without this confidence, I would have never signed up to take a public speaking class, or had sought out a therapist for the benefit of my mental health. In the future, I wish to receive a degree in Graphic Design at Kansas State University. With this skill, I will become an entrepreneur and open a small online business with my art, writing, and music. I will make a point to encourage young creators to be bold and pursue their dreams with confidence, as I have, and to never back down in the face of adversity or fear. As I have learned, a dreamer who simply dreams never achieves anything, but one who is truly devoted to their work, with a little bit of confidence, can achieve anything.

Art and music have always been mediums in my life to express my creativity, thoughts, and emotions. I began creating comics in elementary school, and writing novels in middle school. My first year of high school, I took a class that covered Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, and discovered my most recent passion. As a high school senior, I am currently pursuing a career in graphic design; planning to become Adobe Illustrator certified before the fall semester. I have already utilized my creative abilities to make a difference through volunteering in the community. I made stickers for my Cross Country team, and raised over $1000 for Children’s Mercy in honor and support of my friend with leukemia. I am actively involved in my high school’s media sites, and have created graphics and t-shirts, as well as designed the cover of this year’s yearbook for the school. I have a strong passion for any activity that benefits those around me, and art is a talent I have improved for the sake of others; to assist, and most importantly, to inspire. I hope to continue this path when I receive my degree, spreading my work to inspire and advocate for what I believe. I have both an Instagram, where I promote my art products (@onlydreaming_designs), and a YouTube (onlydreaming) where I post the songs that I produce over the summer.

If I received $1000, I would immediately invest it into my college career. I wish to pursue a degree in Graphic Design, which requires a new computer, books, an apartment, and general credit hours. Words couldn’t describe how much this money could help me. I have received a few scholarships and grants from the federal government already, but $1000 would be such a blessing to receive. I may also use it partially to assist my good friend with her college, as she is in a similar situation as I am. Both of us wish to pursue degrees at Kansas State University; her, a degree in teaching and entrepreneurship. We are actively working, even in high school, to prepare for the jump to college. I have several years of design experience with Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, and have submitted work to international companies such as Genius Yield and COTI. My friend invests her time in AP classes, and has started a small business called ‘Growing With Love’, where she sells starter plants in the community. Knowing how passionate we both are about becoming successful in our chosen fields of study, I know that $1000 would be a large boost to our progress that we would be very grateful for.

As an American female, I am aware that in other places in the world, education for young women is not always a guarantee. That’s why I appreciate the opportunities I have received, even though at times school isn’t the easiest to get through. A trait I have always possessed is immense creativity. I began writing stories and drawing comics in elementary school, and have continued to do so all throughout high school. As a senior, I have decided to pursue a career in graphic designing, and have already began creating artwork for companies such as Genius Yield and COTI. My passion towards the arts is the reason I am so insistent on attending college. If I continue to learn and expand on knowledge in areas which I am interested, I will have the ability to make an impact in the world. One of my main motivations for pursuing graphic design is its ability to inspire others to be creative as well. Creativity is a quality trait that I believe every person should possess, as it is a perfect means of self-expression and conveying emotion. I have personally utilized art to express my femininity, as well as my involvement in the lgbtq+ community as a bisexual female. There is no one way to paint or dance or sing, but there is always room for learning and improvement. I wish to go to college for this very reason; to expand my knowledge of the arts and to learn different styles such as realism, cubism, and surrealism. Graphic design is already a female dominated field, and I wish to increase the presence of this accomplishment with my own contributions to the industry. The world needs more of what women can bring to the workforce, especially in fields of STEM, so by receiving my education, I am contributing to this movement; an inspiration to women wishing to leave their mark of the world. Education is not something to take for granted, yet we do it everyday. For those women who are wishing to go into male dominated fields, or are fighting for their right to be properly educated, there is more struggle than we realize. As more girls pursue learning and a higher education, inequality and the wage gap will begin to diminish, and countries will be more productive overall and will begin to expand economically. The women who can should pursue an education to the highest degree in order to inspire equal education for females worldwide.

I want to leave the world with my mind on paper. My wish is that people can view my writings and be able to connect with my personal thoughts and viewpoints. This is one of the main reasons I wish to become a part-time author alongside my career in graphic design. People who consume my art will understand the motivation behind its creation, as well as the attitude behind the creator. It is a special experience knowing that traces of my life will be left behind for future generations to know of my existence. I hope that my work inspires others to be creative in their own way; write their own stories, and paint their own artistic path. A legacy can be a stressful topic to consider, but I know that wherever life takes me, my one wish is that people understand the motivation and passion I put into my life.

The hobbies best fuel my life are writing, reading, and drawing. I wish to go to college for a degree in Graphic Design, so I practice drawing nearly every day. Reading inspires me to write my own stories. My favorite book in particular is ‘Brave New World’, by Aldous Huxley. It is a futuristic, dystopian novel concerning the cancelling of the past and any emotion other than happiness. It is an interesting concept that inspired several of the concepts in my own work, such as my in progress novel concerning governmental divide. I have several wonderful friends that I share my hobby of running with. They always encourage me to become the best version of myself that I can, and help push me to get faster for competitions. I have known my current running friends for six years, which is something I will always appreciate, and their compassion will forever drive me to accomplish my goals.

I want nothing more than to become a Graphic Designer, and be able to pursue a creative pathway throughout the rest of my life. I have already participated in several companys’ art competitions such as Genius Yield and COTI, and am currently drawing a comic for a WebToon contest. I have pursued this dream for almost 3 years now, and after these years of practice I am finally ready to become Adobe Illustrator certified and attend Kansas State University as an art student. Aside from my dream career, my other goal is to travel abroad. I am actively studying the French language (I have taken classes throughout highschool), and wish to learn more of the varying cultures of Europe. As a Graphic Design entrepreneur, I wish to move to a part of Europe and expand my knowledge of culture while expanding my business range from small business to internationally known. These are my main goals for the near future, and what I hope to pursue.

Van Gogh’s ‘The Starry Night’ is one of my favorite pieces to date, as I utilizes some of my favorite art styles. This piece uses a form of pointillism that, line by line, constructs a stunning image of the serenity of the night. Van Gogh’s pieces reflect an air of imperfection, which is a great reminder that an art piece is free-flowing, and does not need to look any definitive way. Of course, the color palette is certainly one to be admired. The deep blue gradient of the night contrasts excellently with the bright orange stars. This art inspires me, as it expresses Van Gogh’s own thoughts and emotions. I interpret this scene as an emphasis on the free-flowing beauty of nature, whilst the city sharply contrasts this beauty with angles and muted colors. This piece inspires me to pursue my own art career as a Graphic Designer, so I too may inspire groups of people someday.

As a person who as struggled through chronic anxiety and depression, one of my main goals in life is to be happy. I find joy through my hobbies, such as graphic design, creating music, and writing. I find that expressing myself in creative ways is quite relaxing, and I love writing about new and interesting worlds with complex and unique characters. I also have ran Cross Country and Track for six years, which is something I have always enjoyed, as well as the friends I made as a result of joining these clubs. One of my favorite activities I do that are joyful is meeting up with my best friend to drink coffee and watch Tik Toks; it’s a simple pleasure, but a fun one none-the-less. All of these activities help me balance the anxiety of school and competition, so I am able to live the best life I am able.

I am a naturally shy individual, so it takes a lot of effort to pursue my dreams. Confidence means pushing aside any doubts and striving for what you desire regardless of fear. It is not the absence of fear, as I recently discovered, but the conquering of it. I am a varsity Cross Country and Track runner, and for six years, I have dreaded the obligation I felt to do well in every competition. Regardless of how I felt, I had my friends and family to assure me I am brave enough to do anything. This year, my senior year of Cross Country, is when I needed confidence the most. I had fallen quite behind in terms of team placement, and found myself running in junior varsity races, clocking my slowest times in my high school career. Confidence was something that never crossed my mind as I felt myself failing at my goals that I worked for. I was reminded by a good friend of mine that success is not what defines an individual, but their choices. If I decided to quit, I would be giving up, which is something I could never fathom. This instilled a new desire to be confident in my abilities, as I know how well I performed in previous years. Despite my anxiety concerning this spring’s Track season, I am working on being more confident in my running, knowing that no matter how fast I run, it will always be my best effort.

I go out to the country regularly to visit my grandparents and extended family. Out by my grandparents house is an old railway that we walk each visit, which on occasion would be littered with old water bottles, soda cans, and a variety of plastic products. My little cousins and I have taken the responsibility of bringing trash bags down to the tracks and cleaning up as much trash as we could. After going out about 3 miles, our bags were nearly full. It was a wonderful experience knowing that with each non bio-degradable product we were picking up, we were making a small step to improving the planet. This action also inspired me to decorate and reuse any glass bottles we found lying around (there was a surprising amount of them). All together we collected about 30 bottles, ranging from jugs to beer to soda bottles. We washed them up, and they now serve multiple uses in my house alone. I now take on the responsibility of cleaning up and reusing whenever I can, as I know of the benefit it will have on the environment if my actions spread to others around me.

Friendship is the most special relationship one can possess. It is a relationship that you choose, and therefore gives you a choice who you share your feelings and personal life with. Friends support you in all your endeavors, and good friends validate your interests and choices, but they can also tell you when you are wrong. It can be difficult when one must rely on the support of family, or relationships they cannot avoid, if those people do not support them, but with friends, you choose those who you can be in a healthy, open relationship with; someone who can empathize with your issues, or can make you feel better about yourself. When I felt that no one in my family could accept me as I am, I turned to my chosen family, who assured me that I am loved, and that they care for me. Without these friendships that allow me to open up and express myself, I would have felt trapped.

My overall favorite hobby is art. This passion is something I wish to pursue as a career, and I will be attending college to receive a degree in Graphic Design. I have worked tirelessly so far to make my dream come true. I have my own art store on Redbubble, and have created several graphics for company competitions such as Genius Yield and COTI. I am also currently working on a comic for a $50,000 Webtoon competition. Art is a fantastic outlet to express myself, and I love inspiring new artists and supporting local Kansas artists. As a Graphic Designer, I plan to work for a variety of companies, before taking on the responsibility of being my own boss. I recently took a class in business entrepreneurship, and it inspired my dream of running my own art-based small business. Another hobby I wish to pursue is music. I was at a Cross Country meet my freshman year of high school, when an Imagine Dragons song aired on the radio, and my desire to become a music artist awakened within me. My favorite style of music to compose is lofi hip-hop, which I temporarily posted on my YouTube channel ‘onlydreaming’, which is the name I use for all of my creative endeavors. I look forward to dusting off my keyboard and reviving my interest in composure this summer.

I have been a Christian my entire life. Knowing that God is always protecting me has helped my tremendously with my mental health, and he gave me the courage to step out of my comfort zone and do things I could never imagine. For instance, beginning in the 7th grade I heavily involved myself in Cross Country and Track on my parents’ suggestion. Running competitively filled me with anxiety, and considering I am a Varsity athlete, the pressure to succeed is astronomical. I considered quitting many times, but after 6 years of pushing myself and trusting that God has plans for my life, I completed my final season of Cross Country last year, and I am about to finish out my last Track season as a high school athlete. I wish to pursue a career in Graphic Design, and eventually manage my own small business. With this pursuit comes great risk, as there is always a chance that my career will struggle to stand out in a sea of other eligible entrepreneurs. However, I am aware that dedication to my work and to God will assist me in fulfilling my life’s purpose, regardless of what that may turn out to be. God has chosen a path for me that I know is good, and I will continue to follow Him and praise him throughout all of my successes and failures. One of my favorite quotes is Psalm 138:8, which reads “The Lord will work out His plans for my life—for Your loving-kindness, Lord, continues forever. This quote is a consistent reminder of how much God loves me, and how much He has done to plan out the best life for me. My faith in God and His promises assures me that His love is unconditional, and His plans are perfect, so no matter where my life goes, I know it is all part of His plan. In terms of pursuing a career in Graphic Design, I understand the risks, by I also understand that through God anything is achievable. Art and drawing are my favorite hobbies, and I would love to turn those hobbies into my job. This career path will make me quite happy, but I know that I exist to serve God, so I will ensure that I use my job to spread His love and His word to all those who I reach as an entrepreneur. Through my faith, I will succeed, as through God, who makes all things possible, I too can make my dream career a reality.

My dreams career is to be a freelance Graphic Designer. I have been drawing regularly for three years, and am currently studying to become Adobe Illustrator Certified in a few weeks. I enjoy drawing, as well as reading and writing. I have written two full fantasy novels in my lifetime, and have begun writing a comic for a Webtoon contest, called "Bane". In terms of Graphic Design, I have entered many art competitions for companies such as Genius Yield, COTI, Webtoon, and Boyo, which is an upcoming frozen yogurt business. Creativity is my whole life. I have been writing comics since I was in grade school, up until today. Art is a great stress reliever in my life, and I use it to relax after school and before Cross Country and Track meets. I own a small business on Instagram where I sell and promote my art, and have created my own NFT collection featuring cats! I truly love being creative, as it is such a great way to express my personality and share my views with the world.

I feel the most practical solution for helping more people struggling with mental health just might be the simplest. I personally struggle with chronic anxiety, and I have always felt the best way to help others with this issue is to simply communicate more with them. Having experienced the struggle of mental illness, I understood that having a strong support system is extremely important, however I never felt like this was enough. Empathy became a huge factor in my recovery, as finding out I am not alone in this fight gave me the courage to persevere and conquer my anxiety. One practical solution to reaching more people who struggle with mental illnessness such as these would be to create an app that sets up users with a compatible friend with a similar problem. People with anxiety or depression may find it helpful to interact with someone they know understands what they are going through, and can validate their feelings. I have tried mental well-being apps in the past, but none of them have incorporated this idea into their design. If a new app could be developed that uses this feature, I know that myself and many others would take full advantage of such an opportunity. Support in general is helpful to mental illness, but it does not help near as much as confiding in someone who truly empathizes with your situation. The more interconnected people are, the greater chance there is that they end up improving their mental health, as I have.

I am passionate about art and writing, so much in fact, that I am going to college to major in Graphic Design, and minor in Creative Writing. I took up drawing my first year of high school, but I have been writing stories since elementary school. I feel like I have always known who I was meant to be, and now that I finally have the chance to accomplish my childhood dream, I am willing to work hard to earn that opportunity.

My favorite book series has to be "The Lunar Chronicles", because it deals with a dystopian world under attack by a plague foreign to the planet. The series has many plot twists, and all of the main character are allusions to famous fairytale characters.

The most helpful advice I received was to divide wages into a saving, and spending account, so I never overspend my money.