Animal Farm by George Orwell haunts me because of a timeless issue that societies will always encounter. It tells the story of how a group of different animals on a farm overthrow the farmer and create a society where everyone is equal and recieve the same treatment and provisions. However as time passes, one of the pigs starts taking control and persuading the rest of the farm to trust him through fear of being punished. As a seventh grader and a latina, I had a fear of growing up into a society where a fight for equality would always be a constant. I had a real understanding why no matter what, there will always be an uneven distribution of power. There are always "some more equal than others". The historical context used as inpiration for the novel is the downfall of Imperial Russia, however can be compared to many instances throughout world history and current politics. Similar to his second novel, 1984, Orwell used his experiences in literary and war journalism to describe a dystopian world where free thinking isn’t always free. My interpretation of the novel was a warning to future generations on how unequal distribution of power can leave communities impoverished, mistreated and overlooked. Although the ending of the novel may leave the reader disturbed by the truth, I believe Orwell also intended to leave his audience with a message of empowerment through fear of being stripped of some or all liberties. We can use Animal Farm as a literary analogy for all fights in equality or change in political turmoil. Not only do I feel this is something schools should keep in their curriculum but I believe if everyone read this book then analyzed the historical context, we would all have an understanding why certain societies shouldn’t be implemented and why having the power to control some of what happens around you is important.

The future I will have proven to herself she is worth everything she works hard for and will be sharing her art in magazines, album covers, social media and other publications.

Smart people don't choose to make school a second priority to focus on themselves. Most nineteen-year-olds don't skip out on a night out to sit and edit for hours on end. Most people don't work more than two jobs to chase a dream. As for the people who do fit into these categories, most of them will lose the passion required to chase that dream and give up because it's too hard. I am not them. I'm an artist, I'm a photographer, and I am going to succeed in everything I work for. My journey as a photographer isn't something that stands out to most people and honestly, it's not something that would stand out that much to me either. Here's how it started. One day I borrowed my mother's camera and didn't give it back until she gifted me my own. In the past two years, I've taught myself how to operate a camera, lighting, color and values in a photo. Since then. I've been hired to take portraits, graduations, family gatherings, sports events and now weddings. Nothing I just explained is anywhere near interesting or something that stands out because it's too common. My struggle as a growing photographer isn't reflected so much in my work or search for more clientele (although more recognition and customers would be nice), rather it's my search for self-worth and confidence in what I am capable of achieving. I lack impulsivity or a gut feeling and instead, I overthink every move I make. However, one thing that I am certain about myself is that I am too stubborn to let anything stop me from being who I want to be. Not even myself. The dream I'm chasing is to be a portrait photographer and travel the world, showcasing my work in magazines, album covers and more. I want to be the creative mind behind people's favorite publications. I want to be behind the camera taking in the different human perspectives and learning from everyone I ever work with. Even though right now I'm told I won't do anything with my life because art school doesn't pay the bills, I won't let outside opinions interfere with my life and my art. Most importantly I need to prove to myself I am worth every penny my parents and I sacrifice to better my chances of reaching my goals and catching that dream. With this scholarship, I can put more toward school and advertising my work to my community. My first semester was spent in Rome and I used my social media to gain more recognition and show the people that support me the work I was producing. I have at least three more years of college and want to study abroad at least two more times before I graduate. These are the years I want to make count by working hard for my dreams. Sure, any college student can write an essay about how much they need money because school is expensive. However, I'm not applying for this scholarship simply to pay off a debt. This scholarship is an opportunity for me to take one step closer to ensuring my college years won't be wasted in a dorm room where many nineteen-year-olds like me sit and think about the possibilities of my future. Instead, I'll be living those possibilities while learning how to be the best photographer I can be.

During high school, I fought with my mom constantly about going off to college. I had thought about joining the military, working or starting my photography business at eighteen. We would fight and I didn't understand we she was so persistent that I needed to continue my education. She is first generation Ecuadorian-American. My mother and her brother were generation graduates and are successful in their careers. My mom knows about the sacrifices to get to that point and how much of a privilege it is to be able to go to a university. I was scared about the financial stress, and because I didn't think I was worth it. For me, being second-generation and bi-racial means I have to live up to that reputation of being a hard worker because my family's foundation had already been set, so there was no excuse as to why I couldn't. Reluctantly, I enrolled at the University of Delaware. At first, college scared me because of how scared I was to be truly independent for the first time. My girlfriend and I were about to experience a long-distance relationship from different continents and didn't know what to expect. I still didn't think I was smart enough to be there in the first place. Even though I was experiencing so many emotions at once, I turned them toward my art. It motivated me to try and capture my surroundings whilst emulating my personality. The first year was a struggle because I don't feel I started making space for myself. I was discouraged and still battling self-doubt. The one thing I had certain was I didn't want to disappoint my mom, and I owe it to myself to at least try. Some things helped me stay centered and cope with the feeling of displacement. I read a few books in my spare time, I made sure to have good communication with my girlfriend so we could be there for each other. I journal whenever I feel overwhelmed and go for a walk when I'm upset. College for me has been very stressful and to be frank not the best experience so far. However, I do acknowledge and take into account that I can be stubborn and need to learn how to "go with the flow". I do hope in the next three years I learn to be more kind to myself and willing to try new things without immediately having a negative mindset.