As someone who always waits for things to be "perfect" before I begin, painting forces me out of that habit. It forces me to commit more to my creative ideas and to put more thought into what I place on the canvas. If you’re drawing or making a sketch with just a number 2 pencil, you can easily erase a mistake you make; with painting, it’s not that easy. You have to wait for something to dry to paint over it. This forces me to be very particular about what I’m making and how I approach it. Art is always very intentional unless it's abstract, but even that, I'd argue, depending on the person, has real thought put into it. When people go to museums, and they stop and stare for hours at life-changing masterpieces, it's more than just oil pastel or acrylic on canvas. They're looking at a story, they're capturing someone's personality, they're glimpsing into a piece of someone's soul. That experience is so monumental, I wish to create that in others. My artistic process begins with just a strike of inspiration, and it forms into an idea. It stems from various media, dreams, or personal experiences. Though whenever I get an idea from one of these sources, I make sure to sit with it for a while. I’m also filled to the brim with different concepts and stories, like a cup about to overflow, and I don’t like to rush after everything I think of because I find that I don’t make the best work that way. Instead, I let a little time pass, and the idea continued to fly around in my brain, then I decided to pursue it. As if it’s almost tormenting me, begging to be let out. Painting for me is therapeutic; I've released at least one imprisoned idea, even if I'm the only one to lay eyes on it. Though it's not lost on me that my art can be used to help others, and I feel a calling to use it to do so. I think one of the most beautiful things we're capable of doing is connecting. I love human connection. There are many ways to do it, and I believe we're meant to facilitate it in our different ways, however we see fit. I've grasped early on that I'm meant to do it through my art. I love working with my hands; they're always covered in paint. I used to think that I must hide my art in secret, but I've learned that I may be able to help people by just sharing my progress. Much of my work features diverse characters and a range of topics because I want to reach as many people as I can. I know some of my favorite comfort characters have helped me feel less alone. I know I'm not the only one who's had emotional problems or the only one who's longed to feel a sense of belonging. My works also focus on more serious themes and topics such as mental illness, sexual harassment, and the harm of societal pressures. I feel compelled to discuss these topics and express them in the way I know best. I truly believe I wouldn’t get such ideas if they weren't meant to be shared.

I think one of the most beautiful things we're capable of doing is connecting. I love human connection. There are many ways to do it, and I believe we're meant to facilitate it in our different ways, however we see fit. I've grasped early on that I'm meant to do it through my art. I'm a visual artist as well as an applied one. I love working with my hands; they're always covered in paint. I am aspiring to become an animator and graphic designer. I used to think that I must hide my art in secret, but I've learned that I may be able to help people by just sharing my progress, not only as an artist but as a person. I've done many community service projects throughout the years. I currently have 42.5 student service learning hours, though I plan on getting a lot more. I’ve been drawn to a variety of different things. I’ve volunteered with the Red Cross organization through my high school’s Red Cross club, and I’ve made a presentation to spread awareness on blood scarcity. I’ve volunteered with the Sending Sunshine organization through my high school’s Sending Sunshine Club. Through it, I’ve created cards to help send positivity to the elderly and those with Sickle Cell Anemia. I’ve planted trees on my school’s campus, I’ve folded, sorted, and packaged clothes for mothers in need, and I’ve helped pack care packages for veterans. Though I believe my art will be most impactful. I will be majoring in Animation & Motion Graphics and minoring in Digital Media Art, under a Visual Communication & Digital Media Arts program. This program and its courses will help improve my creativity, digital art skills, and my understanding of visual literacy. I, however, have always thought about my career beyond money. I want to reach people, I want to help them, even if that means inspiring just one person. The majority of my work depicts children and teenagers using inspiration from my life experiences, my favorite media, or observations I've made. I want my animated shows to reflect that. Much of my work features diverse characters and a range of topics because I want to reach as many people as I can. Representation is important; I want people to feel seen. It can help when someone sees or hears exactly what they're going through. I know some of my favorite comfort characters have helped me feel less alone. I know I'm not the only one who's had emotional problems or the only one who's longed to feel a sense of belonging. My works also focus on more serious themes and topics such as mental illness, sexual harassment, and the harm of societal pressures. I feel compelled to discuss these topics and express them in the way I know best. I truly believe I wouldn’t get such ideas if they weren't meant to be shared. Much like Kaila, I dream very big and aim very high, and I work just as hard because I know where I want to go and what I want to achieve won't come very easily. But I believe that will make it all more worth it. I’m honored to have the ability to apply, and I hope to honor Kaila’s legacy with my submission. Receiving this scholarship will help me on my journey to create more meaningful connections and inspire, motivate, and educate by fulfilling my purpose.

Many believe it's best to know when to stop. Spare yourself the trouble, time, and embarrassment. Some things are too unrealistic and out of reach. I, however, don't think this way. I will "embarrass" myself time and time again, if it means I didn't stop trying. I've applied for scholarships, jobs, and club positions. Rejected time and time again, but that never stopped me. I was told that I'm not brave enough to lead, yet I still chose to run for President of my school's social media club, and I won. I've entered several art contests, and I've lost every single one thus far. I've proposed ideas for school projects and events, and have been shut down constantly. I've even had people I'm close to ridicule my dreams, whether intentionally or not, casting doubt and disapproval on them. So what do I do? I keep going. Winning the presidency was one of many things that told me I was heading in the right direction. Just recently, I became a finalist for a scholarship. I didn't win, but I was close, which was enough to keep the fire under me lit. I'm not someone who's disturbed by the ridicule and shame of others in the present, but rather the regret and wondering that I'll have in the future. What if I were so close? What if I had enjoyed that? What if it were the right step to take, and it would have changed my life? The “what if” keeps me going after every failure and setback. To my surprise, my friend said this attitude of mine inspired her to apply to an internship she initially thought she might not have a chance at getting. She said that by hanging out with me more, I helped push her out of her comfort zone. She said her old friend group would always say things like "doing things is so hard," or "embarrassing," and it had affected her pretty deeply. However, she said observing the way I would just put myself out there and do things even when scary and unsuccessful, changed her perspective. She said that everyone around her said the internship thing would be too difficult, but she asked herself, "What do I want to try and do?" So she filled out the form and got in! It's been very heart-warming to know that just being myself and not letting adversity stop me has been able to positively influence someone else to do the same.

I truly believe that sometimes that little voice in our head is worth listening to. My mind is most active when it’s quiet, and my favorite media, my daily experiences, and just my observations of others became the focal point for my art. The good, bad, beautiful, and ugly. My work as an artist is mostly focused on community and interpersonal relationships, as well as emotional and mental wellness. These things about humanity interest and disturb the most. The little voice has led me to believe that the characters and stories formed are not only worth sharing, but it will be a great disservice to others if I don’t. I believe a huge point of this was creating a human connection, which I find to be one of the most beautiful things in our existence. There are many ways to do it, and I believe we're all meant to do it in different ways, however we see fit. I've grasped early on that I'm meant to do it through my art. I'm a visual artist as well as an applied one. I love working with my hands; they're always covered in paint, but I am also aspiring to become an animator and improve my graphics design skills. I used to think that I must hide away and better my art in secret, then it will be ready for the world, but I've learned who might be able to help me or who I might be able to help just by sharing my progress. Art can be both self-expression and a statement piece, defining a moment in time. Due to this, I truly believe art serves a grave purpose; it can help people when they see or hear something or someone they can relate to. So they know they're not alone. I know I'm not the only one who's had emotional problems or the only one who's longed for more positive BIPOC representation. I believe this is why fandoms are so beautiful, it's people who have come together because they share a joyous connection over art, and I find something so innately human about art because it invokes that in us. People stand for hours, belting out with strangers at concerts, awing at paintings in museums, and gaining new perspectives on life just from reading a book or watching a TV show. I believe that all the ideas and stories I have in my head aren't meant to just live there. They're meant to be shared with the world, whether on a big screen or canvas. They can have the same impact that my favorite media has had on me. This fall, I will be majoring in Animation & Motion Graphics and minoring in Digital Media Art, a Visual Communication & Digital Media Arts program. I'm encouraged to think beyond my career and how the skills I'll acquire can be used to help people. I want to animate shows to reflect the many experiences of teenagers and children. Many of my works feature diverse characters because I believe that representation is important, and I want to help the youth feel seen. They also focus on more serious themes and topics such as mental illness, sexual harassment, and the harm of societal pressures. I’ve recently reached out to the organization Grace Helping Hands to do graphic design and volunteer for them, and I’ve been looking into Origami for Good. I love what their organizations are doing, and I love that they do so through creative outlets. I’d love to continue using my graphic design to work alongside those fighting for good causes.

When this piece was created, I was going through a terrible time with one of my closest friends. She was incredibly toxic, ignoring me and isolating me, all because I was still friends with our mutual friend, whom she no longer liked. It was October 2024, and it was the month of all things spooky. Halloween is my favorite holiday, and I had so many things planned, many of which were with her, but we fell out before it all could happen. She also went out of her way to befriend those closest to me in an attempt to make me jealous. It was a really difficult situation emotionally that lasted for a few months. Whenever I go through an emotional hardship or dilemma, two things tend to happen: I get a surge of creativity and use it to cope, and I get instant inspiration from a new source. I recently got into TikTok at the time, and I found so many creative Halloween crafts and costume ideas, and it was so fun to see everyone's ideas. The scrolling only did so much, though. I felt inspired, but it wasn't enough to distract me from how I was feeling, so I told myself that I would just put my sadness towards something productive. I originally wanted the spooky characters ( the vampire, witch, grim reaper, zombie, pumpkin king, and ghost) to be felt plushies inspired by two witch plushies from my childhood. The moon is inspired by scary pie videos I saw on social media. I wanted to try something new, but I was struggling to find all the felt I needed, and the felt that I did have, I could not sew it together very well. So I chose to open my previously untouched acrylic pad. Painting is my favorite medium, but up until this, I've always used acrylic on canvas. I decided to give it a go anyway, seeing as I had nothing to lose. I decided to have the idea of trick-or-treaters being watched by the actual monsters and beings they were dressed as, because I love magic and whimsy. I believe in ghosts, vampires, and witches. I wanted to capture that innocence and awe I had when I was younger. Every holiday seemed so much bigger, brighter, and magical, and it made life really fun. It gave me something to look forward to. During this depressing time, it was nice to retreat into my favorite childhood sensations. I would take some time to sketch a little bit each day, especially when I felt myself on the verge of tears. I kept telling myself every time you think about her and this situation, you will put some energy towards your art. It was therapeutic. I had no idea how it would turn out, but I think it came out beautifully. I loved how the paint created deep colored strokes, and it reminded me of yet another aspect of my childhood: old Halloween cartoons from my Scholastic DVD. One of my favorite pieces was born from a place of pain and coping, but I chose to channel this energy into my creativity and pay homage to the simple things that made me happier when I was younger.

Many people walk out of movie theaters entirely different people. I think one of the most beautiful things we're capable of doing is connecting. I love human connection. There are many ways to do it, and I believe we're meant to facilitate it in different ways, however we see fit. I've grasped early on that I'm meant to do it through my art. I'm a visual artist aswell as an applied one. I love working with my hands; they're always covered in paint, but I am also aspiring to become an animator and better my graphics design skills. I used to think that I must hide away and better my art in secret, then it will be ready for the world, but I've learned who might be able to help me or who I might be able to help just by sharing my progress. I joined my school's visual art council, and being surrounded by such talented and creative people working alongside them to create pieces for our school inspires me on such a deep level. I get to be a part of someone's creative process just as I am a part of mine. We all bond over the fact that we choose to self-express in an artistic way. This leads me to emotional resonance. Emotional resonance is defined as the emotions of one person evoking strong emotions and significantly emotionally impacting another, therefore creating a shared emotional experience. Emotional resonance is frequently displayed through various types of media, varying from books to movies to slam poetry to music, all of which can leave a lasting impression on not just the mind but the hearts of those who come across them. I believe this is why fandoms are so beautiful, it's people who have come together because they share a joyous connection over art, and I find something so innately human about art because it invokes that in us. People stand hours, belting out with strangers at concerts, awing at paintings in museums, and gaining new perspectives on life just from reading a book or watching a TV show. I believe that all the ideas and stories that I have in my head aren't meant to just live there. They're meant to be shared with the world, whether on a big screen or canvas. They can have the impact that my favorite media has had on me. I often wonder how different my life and the lives of many others would be had these things not been created. These things aren't one-person shows, though; it's improtant ot have a support system and much of my aspiring work is rooted in community. Firstly, I want to animate shows to reflect the many experiences of teenagers and children. Some of it is based on my experiences and real-life observations. Many of my works feature diverse characters because I believe that representation is important, and I want to help the youth feel seen. They also focus on more serious themes and topics such as mental illness, sexual harassment, and the harm of societal pressures. While I've done extensive research for the show concept, I know that it's always good to reach out and connect with the people that I'm creating this for. I want to work with a diverse team of writers, animators, graphic designers, and illustrators. I want to form connections and maximize my beautiful message with the help of other creatives who share the same goal that I do. Art will always be something that is meant to be shared.

I've been moved by the phenomenon of emotional resonance through my favorite media. Emotional resonance is defined as the emotions of one person evoking strong emotions and significantly emotionally impacting another, therefore creating a shared emotional experience. This became the catalyst for my career and educational goals. I believe they'll lead me closer to my purpose. Throughout my life, I've been helping wherever I could. ' I currently have 42.5 student service learning hours, though I plan on getting a lot more. I’ve been drawn to a variety of different things. I’ve volunteered with the Red Cross organization through my high school’s Red Cross club, and I’ve made a presentation to spread awareness on blood scarcity. I’ve volunteered with the Sending Sunshine organization through my high school’s Sending Sunshine Club. Through it, I’ve created cards to help send positivity to the elderly and those with Sickle Cell Anemia. I’ve planted trees on my school’s campus, I’ve folded, sorted, and packaged clothes for mothers in need, and I’ve helped pack care packages for veterans. I'm always looking for more opportunities to help. I’ve recently reached out to the organization Grace Helping Hands to do graphic design and volunteer for them, and I’ve been looking into the Magic Yarn Project and Project Linus. I love what their organizations are doing to help people, and I love that they do so through creative outlets. I mention this to say that I’d love to continue using my graphic design to promote and work alongside those fighting for good causes, as well as organizations, local businesses, and creators in my county. In addition, I’d also like to create more artistic spaces for children to express themselves, such as my local libraries and parks. I am the president of the social media club. I oversee the members and the graphics and videos they make for our school. I also contribute. I’m also a member of the Student Government Council, and I propose things to the SGA to help showcase even more student life. Though I couldn't help but ignore how much I was able to include my creativity to help those most vulnerable, which leads me to believe that my art is much more than a hobby, and it is a purpose. I am a part of my school's visual art council. I create artwork and showcase my pieces at different events. Besides the simple compliments, I've been asked about the stories behind my work and how they've moved people. Stories that have lived in my head for years, but I firmly believed these ideas were placed inside me so they could be expressed the best way I know how. Art is my method. I will become a graphic designer and animator. Firstly, I want to animate shows to reflect the many experiences of teenagers and children. Many of my works feature diverse characters because I believe that representation is important, and I want to help the youth feel seen. They also focus on more serious themes and topics such as mental illness, sexual harassment, and the harm of societal pressures. I feel compelled to do so. I don't see why I'd get such ideas if they weren't meant to be shared. There are many ways to live life and impact lives, and my art is the best way I know how. The creations I make speak to my soul, and if I could positively impact just one person. That will be enough, I will have done my job.

This fall, I will be majoring in Visual Communication & Digital Media Arts under a program of the same name. This program and its courses will help improve my creativity, digital art skills, and my understanding of visual literacy. These are the skills that are crucial for my business endeavor. I plan to fully launch my own hat brand based on characters and drawings that I've created in my 9th grade of high school. Firstly, my brand is a type of clothing brand. I'm not the first person to have a hat line, and I won't be the last. Therefore, I need to continue to harbor skills and ideas that are not only outside the box and unique but also appealing to my customers. As the world becomes more intertwined with technology, the more fluent I have to become. My designs are already created digitally, but I'll have to immerse myself even further in the digital world so I can truly grasp the realm of online selling and shopping. Learning more about visual literacy is how I'll be able to create engagement for my products. If people like what they see and it invokes positive emotions, I'll have a higher chance of sales. The idea stemmed from being mocked and ridiculed for my love of cartoons in middle school, and I then reclaimed the insults and channeled them into something artistic. I knew I wanted to pursue an entrepreneurial route from a very young age, around eight years old, when I first learned the term entrepreneur. I believe in myself so much that I'm willing to take the financial risks to build my brand and my business. Rather than being at the mercy of someone else's profit and success, determining my own, I wanted to be responsible for myself. I would be able to build independence, pursue my passion, and build wealth and financial security. I'll be able to have the freedom and flexibility that a corporate job wouldn't allow, alongside the self-reliance and discipline that comes with creating my own paychecks. I foresee myself being extremely successful in the future with my business. Success to me is simply having a goal and achieving it, which in this case would be becoming financially stable from my business. Many businesses fail because they are simply ideas without plans, and these are just dreams. They're good seeds to start with, but just a dream won't get you that far. You need action, and to act, you need a detailed plan. I make sure to do research and map out any and every possibility. I've studied people who are successful and look to see what it is that they've done. Another common thing that causes businesses to be unsuccessful is poor marketing. Thousands of people have brilliant ideas, but nobody knows about them. I made sure the first thing I did before anything else was get people talking. My brand's designs are stick figures. Simple drawings that anyone can make; however, the stick figures were meant to look like me, which makes them unique, and the brand name is "Stickman Jerker." It’s attention-grabbing and makes people look twice. I made my profile pictures on social media variants of the stick figures. Then my family and I began wearing prototypes of the hats. Soon, the stick figures became my personal brand. Everyone associated them with me and what I do, which is creating art. People are able to identify me due to the figure on my hat, and people loved the cute and fun, simplistic art style.

Ever since I was little, I felt drawn to art and creating. The fact that I could take something out of my head and materialize it was amazing. Knowing my thoughts could transpire into more, and my imagination didn’t have to stay in my head, has always been exciting. I often thought about all the media that I loved, the ones that have changed my life, and how different I and many others would be had these things never existed. Throughout the years, I’ve had stories and characters built into my head, inspired by my favorite media, my life, and a world that I’d like to see, and I would begin to wonder if maybe I have these ideas because they were meant to be shared. I’m hoping to benefit the world with my art career by highlighting different and important ideas to create a sense of community. Firstly, I want to animate shows to reflect the many experiences of teenagers and children. Many of my works feature diverse characters because I believe that representation is important, and I want to help the youth feel seen. They also focus on more serious themes and topics such as mental illness, sexual harassment, and the harm of societal pressures. In the summer of 2024, I was an assistant event coordinator for Prince George’s County Parks and Recreation. I would make promotional graphics for local events, and I recently reached out to the organization Grace Helping Hands to make graphics for them. I’d love to continue to use my graphic design to promote good causes, work with organizations and local businesses, and creators in my county. In addition, I’d like to create more creative spaces for children to express themselves. I see it as a way of using my art to give back to the community that raised me. I joined my high school's social media club in my freshman year. After spending almost four years in a club I loved so much and was passionate about, I was eager to see it go even further. So I decided to run for president in junior year. Now that I am the president of the social media club, I oversee the members and the graphics, visuals, and videos they create for our school’s Instagram. I also contribute to graphic design and editing aswell. I’m also a member of the Student Government Council, and I propose ideas to the Student Government Association and Administration to help showcase student life and pride online. ​Growing up, I was a huge bookworm. The books I’ve read that have shaped my artistic goals are the following: “Sal and Gabi Break the Universe”, “Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe”, and “The Perfect Score series”, because they’re a part of a phenomenon called emotional resonance that I find extremely fascinating. Emotional resonance is defined as the emotions of one person significantly impacting another, thus creating a shared emotional experience. These books have left a lasting impression on me months and years after I’ve read them. I wish to create stories that are so moving that it has the same effect on others. This scholarship will help me pursue my dreams by reducing the anxiety that comes with worrying about how I'll be able to cover the cost of college. This would allow me to pour more into my academics and my goals and help to inspire and change the world through my art.

I'm someone who is deeply devoted to community service and getting involved. I currently have 42.5 student service learning hours, though I plan on attaining so much more. When it comes to community service, I’ve been drawn to a variety of different things. I’ve volunteered with the Red Cross organization through my high school’s Red Cross club, and I’ve made a presentation to spread awareness on blood scarcity. I’ve volunteered with the Sending Sunshine organization through my high school’s Sending Sunshine Club. Through it, I’ve created cards to help send positivity to the elderly and those with Sickle Cell Anemia. I’ve planted trees on my school’s campus, I’ve folded, sorted, and packaged clothes for mothers in need, and I’ve helped pack care packages for veterans. I'm always looking for more opportunities to help. I’ve recently reached out to the organization Grace Helping Hands to do graphic design and volunteer for them. I’ve also been looking into the Magic Yarn Project and Project Linus. I love what their organizations are doing to help people, and I love that they do so through creative outlets. I mention this to say that I’d love to continue using my graphic design to promote and work alongside those fighting for good causes, as well as organizations, local businesses, and creators in my county. In addition, I’d also like to create more artistic spaces for children to express themselves, such as my local libraries and parks. I’d also like to extend this more to the issue of bullying. In the past, I've helped keep the youth safe from cyberbullying and bullying by simply speaking up. In my sophomore year of high school, my classmates created a group chat including everyone but a particular guy so they could talk about him. I'll admit that at first I thought it was funny, but then I soon came to realize that it was taken too far and they were, in fact, cyberbullying. Once he was added to the group chat, things only got worse. He was constantly being attacked by our classmates simply for messaging, and I knew it wasn't right. So I chimed in and told them to stop, which led to a lot of pushback from my classmates, but I didn't care. The guy is now a very good friend of mine. When it comes to bullying at my school, it's very subtle and sneaky, but it's always there. People like to ostracize those who are different from them. There was a girl who had a hearing aid, and people loved to insult her right in front of her face because she couldn't hear them, including her own "friends." I thought this was despicable behavior and made sure to reach out to her and offer support. I did the same with everyone else who was bullied or ostracized. On my social media, I constantly post and repost things that promote kindness and embracing one's authenticity. No one should treat people differently for being themselves, and I wish to continue spreading that message. ​My financial situation relating to college is pretty decent. I've received a few scholarships from the schools I got accepted into, though I did not get full rides. My financial situation is generally very good, and I'm grateful, though things are very different right now, and my family doesn't have as much money as they used to, as both my parents are now retired.

Taylor Swift's "Enchanted" performance from her "Speak Now" tour is the performance I find the most moving. Firstly, I love the song, and it holds a very special place in my heart. It holds such nostalgia for me, and the feeling runs very deep. The song is about yearning for someone, hoping they aren't in love with someone else, as they have enchanted you so much. When Taylor wrote this song, she was between eighteen and twenty years old. I am currently eighteen, and I find myself drawn to this song and its performance during this era because I can see myself within younger Taylor. Though I've never been in love or in a romantic relationship, I do often wonder what it's like to feel the way Taylor describes in the song or to be loved by someone in that way. I do currently, however, apply its lyrics to all the wonderful friends I've made that have greatly impacted my life. I discovered this performance during my freshman year, when I formed so many special bonds with such enchanting people. I believe that Taylor's emotion and passion help to highlight the raw, human, and honest emotion that is love and the vulnerability that comes with it.

Sabrina Carpenter helped me realize that it's okay to pivot, and we're meant to do many things. I've always been a fan of Sabrina Carpenter since watching her play Maya Hart on Disney Channel's "Girl Meets World." I would jam to her singles released during this era, especially her song "Eyes Wide Open". I continued to appreciate her acting roles in "Work it", "Tall Girl", and " The Hate U Give". When I found out she was shifting more towards music, it was a great surprise to me. I know she had released music prior, but I assumed it was for a Disney contract. Watching her mold into her own identity with her cheeky lyrics, witty humor, gorgeous outfits, and well-executed theatrics inspired me. Seeing her not giving up on her singing career simply because she was already an established actress turned a gear in my head. There are many creative career paths that I wish to take in life, and I'm always told I must choose one thing, be extremely good at it, and stick with it. This idea is often reinforced with the saying " Jack of all trades, master of none," which has severe negative connotations surrounding it. However, the full quote is " A jack of all trades, master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one." We are meant to do many things, just as Sabrina sings, dances, and acts. She does them all because they make her happy, and this was so moving to witness. Additionally, since I am an artist and I wish to do both graphic design and animation, Sabrina Carpenter is someone I would love to create visuals for. I love her sparkly, feminine, and babydoll aesthetic. I'm mesmerized when watching shows, and I love the changes that are made to her outfits when touring in different cities. Such as wearing tartan (a Scottish pattern) for her in Scotland or a skyline with the Empire State Building for her New York show. I love the artistic and creative references made to pay homage to wherever she's singing that night. I'd love to travel and then use my art to reflect my current location. Another thing I admire is the effort and quality she puts into not only music but also her performances. It's nice to see a fellow creative be passionate about their work.

I'd propose a new Love Island challenge called Duo or Don't. It would focus on helping the couples see their level of compatibility. If a couple is doing well, then they're seen as a perfect duo, but if they're consistently doing bad then they're a don't. In this game, there would be three rounds. Each couple would be assigned to complete a task, but they'd have to work together, and they would take turns being blindfolded so they'd have to rely solely on listening to their partner. The first round would be making a pizza with a specific design on it. The pizza is not meant to be baked, but a blindfolded person would have to get the sauce and cheese on the pizza and arrange the toppings in a specific shape via their partner's instructions. The couple that completes their pizza with the correct design first would be the winners of that round. The second round involves taking clothes from a laundry basket, folding them, and placing them into another basket. Sounds simple enough, but the second basket is placed somewhere in a maze, and the second basket could only be located by listening to the competitor’s respective partner. Whichever contestant reaches the second basket first would win that round for their couple. The third round would consist of a moon bounce-style slip and slide relay race. The blindfolds are still in use, and the contestants are holding a baton. They have to get through inflatable and slippery obstacles, trusting that their partner is guiding them the right way. Then, once they complete their section, they hand the blindfold and baton over to their partner for them to continue the race. The couple that has both parties complete the relay race will be the winners for that round. Couples will be scored each round based on the number of couples participating. The most points will be awarded to the couple who comes in first place, and the couple that comes in last will get the least amount of points. If there are six couples comepeting then the winners of a round will get six points, and the losers will get 5,4,3,2, or 1 points depending on how they place. The couple with the least amount of points total will get slimed, and the couple with the most amount of points total will get to spend the night in the hideaway. The only rules are that the couples must take turns being blindfolded and the blindfolds must stay on while competing the entire time.

I’ve always dreamed of having an art-related career since I was six years old. I didn’t settle on graphic design until the summer before high school, but I knew that whatever my job was, it had to allow me to be creative. I remember an episode of the television show Ruby’s Studio came on one day. Ruby was painting and inviting the viewers to paint along. I remember watching in awe and taking note of the time the episode aired so I could join her next time. The next time the show came on, I found some dollar-store paint hidden away in the supply closet. In that episode, she was painting a rooster, and I remember sitting in front of the tv copying everything she did, and by the time the episode was done, I ran to show my parents. I was met with praise and amazement, and I told them, “I want to be an artist”. Now that I’m 18, telling people you want an art-related or creative career doesn’t give you the same response as if you were six. What was once cute and showed talent was now pointless and a waste of time. I was told I wasn’t gonna make any money, or I was just taking the easy way out. The rise of Artificial Intelligence added another layer of disapproval and lack of faith that my parents and others had. I was nudged in the direction of having a career in medicine or technology, which is why I’m currently in a dual enrollment health science program. I felt myself spiraling. All I ever wanted to do was create things and share them with people, but it did seem pointless and that it wouldn’t sustain me. Then it was the summer of 2022, and I started to think about not giving up art completely but incorporating art with something that was on the rise: technology. Hence, I am getting into graphic design. I started to fall in love with it. I joined my high school’s social media club in my freshman year. Now it’s my senior year, and I’m the president. I’ve been making graphics for the school’s social media for almost four years now. The summer after sophomore year, I got a summer job as an assistant event coordinator at Prince George's Parks and Recreation, where I created graphics and flyers to promote county-wide events. In my junior year, I joined my school's art club and started to enter art competitions. I have a friend who is heavily involved in county organizations and gave me the opportunity to make graphics for his campaign to add more pieces to my portfolio. I know it’s important to gather as much experience and exposure as possible so people can be aware of the work I have to offer. I do have a long way to go, and I plan on going to school to major in graphic design and possibly major in animation to fulfill my more traditional art dreams. I’ve been looking for more graphic design internships, remote jobs, and opportunities. I’ve reached out to the organization Grace Helping Hands to do social media work for them via their volunteer interest form, and I applied for social media manager in the art club for additional experience. I’ve also been trying to learn how to utilize tools beyond Canva so I can diversify my portfolio since I’ve been developing it for freelancing. I have great faith in myself and my goals, and I can't wait to see them come into fruition.