One technology that inspires me like no other is 3-D printed computational models based on differential and logarithmic plant growth. It requires the keen eye of an artist and forward-thinking of a scientist to make real, which is why it's no wonder that I first discovered it while watching the capstone project of Kate Reed, a BFA/BA dual-degree student. Here's how it works: scientists studied plant growth and found that many plants will grow in mathematical forms, often curving in on themselves as the function carries itself throughout its environment. Some, like slime molds, are even able to find the quickest path between many points and paths. The coder then uses the equation to model a system based on the living creature, and from there, can apply it to any field, or industry, such as furniture design. My favorite application of this technology is in fashion, where the model is formed around the human body and interacts with the shape of the human figure. Once the design is printed, the real plants that the items were modeled after are intertwined with the printed design and can be worn by an individual. They are unique- being individualized by the starting point, code, and computer randomization- so in this way, avoid the trap of fast fashion. The integration with living beings to aids in the pursuit to help nature. This may be a new and niche field, but as both an artist and a prospective scientist, it excites me to no end. The potential to combine all of the things I love into a cohesive body of work, and not only cohesive, but infinitely unique, artistic, and capable of helping both people and the planet, fills me with joy. The future is bursting with wonderful ideas like these, and it is no wonder that so many young people like myself are fascinated by the future of technology, because with a little bit of creativity, and a lot of drive, it is becoming possible for even the smallest of individuals to make the world a better place, for everyone.

My neighborhood is full of the most beautiful creatures that ever walked the Earth (in my completely objective opinion): long-necked egrets, fluffy rabbits, armadillos, adorable ducks, and every type of lizard from the smallest anoles to the gargantuan iguanas. Every day I get to step outside and coexist with thousands of plants and animals whose mere existence brings me joy. The brightly adorned feathers of local birds and warm sunlight that filters through my neighborhood at golden hour every morning fill my world with endless color. There is nothing better to me than a day spent sitting in the grass, observing life as it happens with a sketchbook and my favorite playlist. Nothing is more wonderful than living in my little backyard at the edge-of-the-Everglades Florida; while being greeted by a thousand tiny frogs. When I am still enough, I blend into their world. I become friends with all the creatures that live and love in the world around me. I have always felt most at home in the world of nature, which is why I want to give others the comfort and beauty I feel when I am in it through my art. As an artist, I am constantly inspired by the world around me, with many of my works including vibrant plants and animals taken directly from the colors of nature. Each of my works takes something from my love of Florida, whether it be a specific plant or a brief speck of color. Because I love my home so much, I also want to use my art- in conjunction with my appreciation and study of science- to give back to it. From playground experiments to bottle rocket competitions, from paper houses to murals on real ones, I have had the pleasure of being an apprentice of science and art: the two modes of experimentation. Both are innovative at their core, methods of understanding what is fundamental to the self, the universe, and the world around us. They are intrinsically connected: to unlock all the secrets of either subject, it is necessary to have a thorough understanding of the other. I believe that art and science both have the power to change minds and the world. By sharing knowledge about current scientific events through art, people become impacted by the message. Facts and figures transform into meaningful action. In my piece, Florida Grasshopper Sparrow, I explore the ability of art to create significant contributions to the environment by bringing awareness to the decline of a bird whose livelihood I hold dearly. I want to explore ways art and design can not only inspire but save the environment. Creative design becomes the solution to previously unsolved problems. In combining these studies to research ways art and science blend, I will design safe spaces for endangered species in cities using the complexities of nature to create art that makes an efficient feeding perch in a previously desolate area. But my work goes beyond science communication and design. As a mural painter, I can spread my ideas to a wide range of people and uplift my community. The most uniquely rewarding experience an artist can have is seeing children overjoyed by murals. Murals can provide people with the representation they might not find elsewhere- many of my murals contain a diverse array of people of every ethnicity and celebrate all forms of love. I take advantage of my platform as a mural painter to champion the causes that I care about, whether that be socially or through environmental advocacy.

As the President and founder of the Mural Painting Society, I dedicate my time and skills to make meaningful contributions to others in every project. Every mural comes with its challenges and rewards unique to that project- from unstable and rough surfaces to supply issues to communication issues. Every project requires working with others, students and adults alike, to make a piece successful- from the moment the idea is had to the last drop of varnish is dripped onto the wall. Through these projects, I have learned how to navigate the professional world of artists and how to guide others. While I do sincerely love art, being a mural painter is not just about painting. I am responsible for contacting every student volunteer, every sponsor, forming budgets, delegating tasks, organizing spreadsheets, collecting forms, and much more. Each aspect comes with unique challenges, which I am happy to take on because murals are rewarding in both their process and completion. During the painting process, students get the opportunity to connect, share interests, listen to music, and develop their skills as professionals while still in high school. This volunteer experience is invaluable for students as they not only see their work become a reality, but they also get to enjoy the events. Once completed, murals are a sight to behold. Every painter feels a sense of accomplishment with what they have created, and the commissioned party gets a beautiful piece of art for many years to come (usually totally free of charge except for materials purchased and our one commissioned mural). We often paint murals for public schools- having painted a mural for my elementary school Freedom Shores. The most uniquely rewarding experience an artist can have is seeing children overjoyed by murals. People’s lives, moods, and outlooks are improved by beautiful works of art, and I feel honored that I get to lead the process of creating them. Murals can provide people with the representation they might not find elsewhere- with many of our murals containing a diverse array of people of every ethnicity and celebrating all forms of love. This is the prevalent theme in our mural, "Love Comes Naturally," which was commissioned by the West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority (attached below). I take advantage of my platform as a mural painter to champion the causes that I care about, and watching people take pictures next to our murals when they see themselves represented is a beautiful, humbling experience. I hope that as an adult and in university I am fortunate enough to continue providing for my community as a mural artist, as in all of its challenges and rewards, nothing is more fulfilling than seeing something I have helped create make a positive impact on the world around me- on students, educators, children, and the random passerby who needed to see something colorful to brighten up their day.

The quality that I value most in myself is my adherence to my dreams and fostering them in others. When I was young, I was inspired by the murals painted on the walls of my elementary school, especially one of a Pigfish. This cute fish painted to look like a pig- pink, with a snout and curly tail- gave me so much joy. On the last day of fifth grade, when I knew I’d never come back, I said goodbye to Pigfish last. But Pigfish was only one piece of my love for all the wonderful things in the world. I had long been collecting pennies, notebooks, and anything interesting I could fit in the space between my headboard and bedroom wall. I loved how coins discarded thoughtlessly onto the street could hold life, how history could be etched into grooves of copper. To find a story to love in everything and give anything appreciation was the most precious facet of my childhood. And I would never let that go. Every day I discover a new story to tell, I fall deeper in love with art. The world is full of so many fantastical things hiding in crevices, waiting to be found, pulled into the open air, onto walls where they can be seen. As I grew up, the stories became more complex, and I shared them. Visual arts gave me an outlet for expression: to tell the narratives of my soul that could not be expressed with words. With art, I could connect with people the same way I could with a penny. I could give others the joy I had felt every day staring at the walls of my elementary school. The way I felt looking at Pigfish. Every day I discover a new story to tell, I fall deeper in love with art. The world is full of so many fantastical things hiding in crevices, waiting to be found, pulled into the open air, onto walls where they can be seen. Now, I create murals that fascinated me when I was young. When I began the Mural Painting Society, I had no idea that it would grow to encompass everything I ever wished. Every day I get to live my childhood dream by providing to others what was once given to me: a world full of amazement, where everything is loved and has a story to be told. Today, I get to be the person who turns a blank wall into a world with creatures that exist because I create them. The person who turns paper into art that demands to be seen. This is why I think that the quality of holding onto dreams and pursuing them at all costs is so valuable. Because my life journey is to support and inspire others through the arts. Giving other people joy is my life's dedication. It started with my elementary school but it's only just beginning. And maybe, if I get lucky, someday someone will look up at the murals I paint and realize there is so much beauty to be found. Maybe they’ll fall in love with life, just like I did when Pigfish gave me wonder.

When I was eight years old, my uncle introduced me to the Ulam Spiral. It’s a method of figuring out the next prime number, starting with 2 then 3 and so on, and in its wake, it leaves a gorgeous spiraling shape, infinitely round and complex. And I was enamored with it. Somehow, this fundamental mathematical principle created a stunning work of art, and with my Crayola crayons and his demonstration in my wide-ruled school notebook, I could discover anything. The intersection between abstract mathematics and the arts has always fascinated me. For one, color is this beautiful infinite thing, layering dynamically over itself in translucent sheets, patterns of light that change depending on your perception and dramatically by subtle changes in hue, beautiful in the same way that primes so drastically vary in their distance from one another as you work your way around the spiral. Colors, numbers, art- it’s all the same thing, really. It all exists in this realm of the infinite, the beautifully logical and simultaneously illogical way of the universe, of the way our brains are unable to comprehend all of these different infinities- the subtle hues of similar colors and the never-ending expanse of numbers between numbers. And that’s what I love about both of them. When you open yourself up to take them together, you get just a little bit closer to making that discovery. Fundamentally, this is what math is- a discovery of what is inherent to the universe and the self. Math is not just the code the computer is made of or the golden ratio found in the leaves on the plants around us, it is the patterns that drive thoughts and feelings, the routines that keep us alive and somehow, it is the randomness and the unknowns we cannot control. The unpredictability of the weather, of life, is not just some annoyance to be dealt with, it is a reminder that we have free will, that our fate is not a series of calculations if only we could solve them. Mathematics, in all of its beautiful contradictions, tells us that sometimes the solution to the problem is that there isn't one, and this is just as beautiful as a final answer. It is the gift of understanding that not understanding is what makes us alive, so alive, so conscious and breathing and aware. It is everywhere- the lifeblood of the universe and the soul and embedded in the truths of life. It is the patterns and geometric designs hidden in my paintings, and the love hidden in every atom, every fiber of what it means to be a small part of the universe experiencing itself.

From playground experiments to bottle rocket competitions, from paper houses to murals on real ones, I have had the pleasure of being an apprentice of science and art: the two models of experimentation. Both are innovative at their core, methods of understanding what is fundamental to the self, the universe, and the world. They are intrinsically connected: to unlock all the secrets of either subject, it is necessary to have a thorough understanding of the other. With art, I explore my own emotions and experiences, seeking the fundamental human connection. By experimenting with new concepts and mediums, like embroidery, I learn about my past. With science, I observe the world. I discover the mechanics of a mousetrap car and the feeding patterns of a finch. I am always searching for the junction where science and art meet, where an ibis’ beautiful feathers hold the aesthetic value of a masterpiece and aerodynamics that aids them in flight. This intersection takes hold of my perspective on life, and it is the one that would be most beneficial for my continued study into adulthood. Luckily, I found this conjunction in my high school. As a freshman, I eagerly joined the SECME club at my school because I knew I could find everything I was looking for. While it may have a science focus, SECME includes team events from engineering to technical drawing to quiz bowl and banner design. At SECME, I could be a part of the entire process, from the design to the final build. At SECME, there is no separation between science and art- science was art. And while we did not win first place in many competitions, that never mattered. Because to me, the most important part was always that intersection and continuing to foster it for other students with the same passion that I have. Furthermore, by studying both these fields, I could combine my interests into a unique focus. I believe that art and science both have the power to change minds and the world. By sharing knowledge about current scientific events through art, people become more impacted by the message. Facts and figures transform into meaningful action. I want to explore ways art and design can not only inspire but save the environment. Creative design becomes the solution to previously unsolved problems. My education will let me combine these studies to research ways art and science blend. Such as designing safe spaces for endangered species in cities or using the complexities of nature to create art that makes an efficient feeding perch in a previously desolate area. To heal our Earth, we must first understand it- give it all of our attention and provide what it needs, not what we think it needs. Knowing logically what solutions can be most effective is one thing, but to save the world, we need to give it the sensitivity that only a combination of arts and sciences can provide. I have always longed for a deeper understanding between myself and other people, and these two subjects provide me the space to do just that. Not only do I gain curiosity by studying, but I also give back through it. Because I seek understanding between myself and the world, I give my perspective back to it, and I encourage others to give theirs to me. I want desperately to know what drives others. To make their world better by sharing what I have learned in my commitment to interdisciplinary work: inspiration is not limited to art, and insight is not limited to science. I want to pursue a college education to give this education not only to myself but to improve the world for others. This is my contribution: a commitment to grow and help others. If even only in intangible ways, to make someone feel deeply understood. To show someone that through mere existence, we all have the potential to be both an artist and a scientist, pragmatic and creative, and to love the world for all the nuances it gives to us.

I believe one change that would make education better for future generations is making it more individualized. Currently, education is standardized- every student is expected to meet the same goals, around the same times, with little room for error. This puts pressure on students to fit a certain mold and follow the same path. The lack of individualized education discourages students' passions and prevents students from finding a fitting career path before they graduate. There are several steps that we can take to individualize education. First of all, removing the standardized timeline. Having goals that must be met at exactly certain years or months puts pressure on students to be exactly the same or better than their peers. Having unnecessary competition between students as young as five years old instills the message that a person's value comes from their ability to succeed over others instead of being an inherent quality of the self. By giving students space to learn at their own pace, they would not only learn every topic at greater depth but enjoy learning more and not have their self-esteem impacted by the education system. Allowing students to choose specialties and topics of study is another way that education can be individualized- and would give students greater long-term success in college and beyond. I believe that education should be a practical introduction for students' future careers, including teaching financial responsibility and an introduction to their intended career path. After learning the basics of reading, writing, science, and mathematics, students should be free to explore specializations in any career that they are interested in. Students could do research and study on various topics throughout their schooling, allowing them to discover for themselves which careers they fit best in before college where every class must count towards a degree. Having these low-stakes exploratory classes in middle and high school gives students the freedom to learn not just about the world around them, but their own interests, strengths, and values. In conclusion, education would be vastly improved for future generations if it were individualized to each student's wants and needs. Gone would be the struggling student falling behind for years believing that they are a failure. Gone would be the many questions in classrooms of "When will we ever use this in the real world?" Students would be more confident, engaged, and prepared to take on life as adults.

I have Joint Hypermobility Disorder, which causes arthralgia (chronic joint pain) and impairs my proprioceptive skills (spatial awareness in regards to the body). Most of my challenges are physical- it's difficult for me to stand up or walk for long periods of time because it triggers my joint pain. Because of this, I take the elevator at school and have similar accommodations. I also cannot participate in contact sports and many traditional jobs (such as retail, waitressing, and similar occupations) that require you to stand and walk for extended periods of time. I have experienced arthralgia for my entire life, but I was not diagnosed until 2019. My pain was often dismissed as "just growing pains" so I was not provided medical assistance. My proprioceptive impairments also cause me to run into things like doors and corners frequently, sometimes injuring myself, and my motor skills are impaired. I can only barely ride a bike, and I had to spend a much longer time than most learning to use scissors, write legible handwriting, and do other basic life skills such as tying my shoes. Most of my impairments are minor- if you looked at me you likely would not notice that I had any kind of disability because I do not use mobility aids. But they still affect me every day, sometimes my arthralgia is so severe that I cannot get up from my bed. Because of my disability, I have more empathy for others who are suffering in silence or invisibly. Millions of people have disabilities that you cannot see, and they never speak up for fear of judgment or disbelief. Although I am often in pain, you would never know by looking at me, and this is true for many others. This is why I think it is very important, regardless of mood or circumstance, to treat everyone gently and with kindness, because it is impossible to know what people are dealing with. Winning this scholarship would help me reach my goals because it would allow me to access the resources I need while pursuing my undergraduate degree. Many college campuses are inaccessible for disabled people or lack proper mobility aids, so winning this scholarship would help me get these aids so that I can focus on studying and not how I am going to get to and from class every day. Winning this scholarship would give me endless opportunities at school, funding my health and tuition.

From playground experiments to bottle rocket competitions, from paper houses to murals on real ones, I have had the pleasure of being an apprentice of science and art: the two models of experimentation. Both are innovative at their core, methods of understanding what is fundamental to the self, the universe, and the world. They are intrinsically connected: to unlock all the secrets of either subject, it is necessary to have a thorough understanding of the other. With art, I explore my own emotions and experiences, seeking the fundamental human connection. By experimenting with new concepts and mediums, like embroidery, I learn about my past. With science, I observe the world. I discover the mechanics of a mousetrap car and the feeding patterns of a finch. I am always searching for the junction where science and art meet, where an ibis’ beautiful feathers hold the aesthetic value of a masterpiece and aerodynamics that aids them in flight. This intersection takes hold of my perspective on life, and it is the one that would be most beneficial for my continued study into adulthood. Luckily, I found this conjunction in my high school. As a freshman, I eagerly joined the SECME club at my school because I knew I could find everything I was looking for. While it may have a science focus, SECME includes team events from engineering to technical drawing to quiz bowl and banner design. At SECME, I could be a part of the entire process, from the design to the final build. At SECME, there is no separation between science and art- science was art. And while we did not win first place in many competitions, that never mattered. Because to me, the most important part was always that intersection and continuing to foster it for other students with the same passion that I have. Furthermore, by studying both these fields, I could combine my interests into a unique focus. I believe that art and science both have the power to change minds and the world. By sharing knowledge about current scientific events through art, people become more impacted by the message. Facts and figures transform into meaningful action. I want to explore ways art and design can not only inspire but save the environment. Creative design becomes the solution to previously unsolved problems. My education will let me combine these studies to research ways art and science blend. Such as designing safe spaces for endangered species in cities or using the complexities of nature to create art that makes an efficient feeding perch in a previously desolate area. I have always longed for a deeper understanding between myself and other people, and these two subjects provide me the space to do just that. Not only do I gain curiosity by studying, but I also give back through it. Because I seek understanding between myself and the world, I give my perspective back to it, and I encourage others to give theirs to me. I want desperately to know what drives others. To make their world better by sharing what I have learned in my commitment to interdisciplinary work: inspiration is not limited to art, and insight is not limited to science. This is my contribution: a commitment to grow and help others. If even only in intangible ways, to make someone feel deeply understood. To show someone that through mere existence, we all have the potential to be both an artist and a scientist, pragmatic and creative, and to love the world for all the nuances it gives to us.

Waving at the pigfish painted next to the staircase was the highlight of my elementary school day-to-day. This cute fish painted to look like a pig- pink, with a snout and curly tail- gave me so much joy. It was a silly thing and only a part of the beautiful murals plastered around the school, but it was my favorite part. And on the last day of fifth grade, when I knew I’d never come back, I said goodbye to Pigfish last. But Pigfish was only one piece of my love for all the wonderful things in the world. I had long been collecting pennies, notebooks, and anything interesting I could fit in the space between my headboard and bedroom wall. I loved how coins discarded thoughtlessly onto the street could hold life, how history could be etched into grooves of copper. To find a story to love in everything and give anything appreciation was the most precious facet of my childhood. And I would never let that go. As I grew up, the stories became more complex, and I shared them. Visual arts gave me an outlet for expression: to tell the narratives of my soul that could not be expressed with words. With art, I could connect with people the same way I could with a penny. I could give others the joy I had felt every day staring at the walls of my elementary school. The way I felt looking at Pigfish. For years I voraciously consumed all of the knowledge that was available to me. Bob Ross became my mentor, and "happy little trees" were my guide. For years I had been told it wasn’t worth it to try because I didn’t possess the talent of my peers. But that didn’t matter to me because I was in love with the way art gave everything a voice. I wanted to share all of the stories that made my life bright, so other people's lives could be a little bit brighter too. Being accepted to the visual arts program at my high school was only the beginning for me. My accomplishment fueled my curiosity to continue learning. I soon filled over twenty sketchbooks, each holding so much life that they would rip at the seams. And I improved. I may not have had the natural gifts of my friends who could create magic effortlessly, but I had a collection of pennies in my pocket and a dream to chase. Every day I discover a new story to tell, I fall deeper in love with art. The world is full of so many fantastical things hiding in crevices, waiting to be found, pulled into the open air, onto walls where they can be seen. Now, I create murals that fascinated me when I was young. When I began the Mural Painting Society, I had no idea that it would grow to encompass everything I ever wished. Every day I get to live my childhood dream by providing to others what was once given to me: a world full of amazement, where everything is loved and has a story to be told. Today, I get to be the person who turns a blank wall into a world with creatures that exist because I create them. The person who turns paper into art that demands to be seen. And maybe, if I get lucky, someday someone will look up at the murals I paint and realize there is so much beauty to be found. Maybe they’ll fall in love with life, just like I did when Pigfish gave me wonder.

Waving at the pigfish painted next to the staircase was the highlight of my elementary school day-to-day. This cute fish painted to look like a pig- pink, with a snout and curly tail- gave me so much joy. It was a silly thing and only a part of the beautiful murals plastered around the school, but it was my favorite part. And on the last day of fifth grade, when I knew I’d never come back, I said goodbye to Pigfish last. But Pigfish was only one piece of my love for all the wonderful things in the world. I had long been collecting pennies, notebooks, and anything interesting I could fit in the space between my headboard and bedroom wall. I loved how coins discarded thoughtlessly onto the street could hold life, how history could be etched into grooves of copper. Now, I create murals that fascinated me when I was young. When I began the Mural Painting Society, I had no idea that it would grow to encompass everything I ever wished. Every day I get to live my childhood dream by providing to others what was once given to me: a world full of amazement, where everything is loved and has a story to be told. Today, I get to be the person who turns a blank wall into a world with creatures that exist because I create them. The person who turns paper into art that demands to be seen. And maybe, if I get lucky, someday someone will look up at the murals I paint and realize there is so much beauty to be found. Maybe they’ll fall in love with life, just like I did when Pigfish gave me wonder.

1. I deserve this scholarship because I am super cool. So cool, that I'm going to receive every scholarship I apply for. 2. Academic and career goals? What goals? I definitely don't want to go to college, and I definitely don't want to pursue an interdisciplinary course of study in science and the arts, and I definitely don't want a fulfilling career that combines the two. 3. Once when I was at the playground, there was this huge obstacle. But because I'm so cool, AI climbed over it like a boss.

Giving is important to me because I believe that everyone deserves an equal chance at living a fulfilling, joyful life. The Earth and all the people in my life have given me so many opportunities to me- to go to school, to pursue the art that I love, and to exist in a world full of endless possibilities. When I was young, I was fascinated by the murals that covered my school and the beauty and happiness they brought to my community. Murals have a unique opportunity to represent all people and every fantastical thing to the public the way no other art form has. Now, I create murals that fascinated me when I was young. When I began the Mural Painting Society, I had no idea that it would grow to encompass everything I ever wished. Every day I get to live my childhood dream by providing to others what was once given to me: a world full of amazement, where everything is loved and has a story to be told. Today, I get to be the person who turns a blank wall into a world with creatures that exist because I create them. The person who turns paper into art that demands to be seen. And maybe, if I get lucky, someday someone will look up at the murals I paint and realize there is so much beauty to be found. Maybe they’ll fall in love with life, just like I did when the murals gave me wonder.

Waving at the pigfish painted next to the staircase was the highlight of my elementary school day-to-day. This cute fish painted to look like a pig- pink, with a snout and curly tail- gave me so much joy. It was a silly thing and only a part of the beautiful murals plastered around the school, but it was my favorite part. And on the last day of fifth grade, when I knew I’d never come back, I said goodbye to Pigfish last. But Pigfish was only one piece of my love for all the wonderful things in the world. I had long been collecting pennies, notebooks, and anything interesting I could fit in the space between my headboard and bedroom wall. I loved how coins discarded thoughtlessly onto the street could hold life, how history could be etched into grooves of copper. To find a story to love in everything and give anything appreciation was the most precious facet of my childhood. And I would never let that go. As I grew up, the stories became more complex, and I shared them. Visual arts gave me an outlet for expression: to tell the narratives of my soul that could not be expressed with words. With art, I could connect with people the same way I could with a penny. I could give others the joy I had felt every day staring at the walls of my elementary school. The way I felt looking at Pigfish. For years I voraciously consumed all of the knowledge that was available to me. Bob Ross became my mentor, and "happy little trees" were my guide. For years I had been told it wasn’t worth it to try because I didn’t possess the talent of my peers. But that didn’t matter to me because I was in love with the way art gave everything a voice. I wanted to share all of the stories that made my life bright, so other people's lives could be a little bit brighter too. Being accepted to the visual arts program at my high school was only the beginning for me. My accomplishment fueled my curiosity to continue learning. I soon filled over twenty sketchbooks, each holding so much life that they would rip at the seams. And I improved. I may not have had the natural gifts of my friends who could create magic effortlessly, but I had a collection of pennies in my pocket and a dream to chase. Every day I discover a new story to tell, I fall deeper in love with art. The world is full of so many fantastical things hiding in crevices, waiting to be found, pulled into the open air, onto walls where they can be seen. Now, I create murals that fascinated me when I was young. When I began the Mural Painting Society, I had no idea that it would grow to encompass everything I ever wished. Every day I get to live my childhood dream by providing to others what was once given to me: a world full of amazement, where everything is loved and has a story to be told. Today, I get to be the person who turns a blank wall into a world with creatures that exist because I create them. The person who turns paper into art that demands to be seen. And maybe, if I get lucky, someday someone will look up at the murals I paint and realize there is so much beauty to be found. Maybe they’ll fall in love with life, just like I did when Pigfish gave me wonder.

This piece portrays the relationships between the ideas of tangibility and ephemerality. The materials used to create the sculpture are three-dimensional and can be touched, and the work is in the shape of a heart organ, which also exists in the physical realm. However, what the heart represents- emotions and life- are fleeting. The plants too, will one day die and be carried away by the wind, rain, and animals that live in my neighborhood. As the sculpture coexists with life, even in death, it has tangible consequences, just like emotions. Throughout my life, I have felt most at home in nature. I have struggled to form meaningful bonds with my peers so, in my time of need, I often turn to the nature that surrounds me. With my art, I allow myself the space to express these emotions and search for the connections that I am missing or have found but then lost. The deep emotions that I feel are the reaction I experience to my circumstances, and the plants I incorporate in my work are the remedy. Thus, the intertwining of tangible and ephemeral aspects provides me not only self-expression but also healing. In the future, I hope to study both environmental science and studio art practice. The Earth has given me life, given me hope, and given me a space to fully be, and so in return, I hope to dedicate my life to giving back to it. I believe that art is a powerful tool that we can use for good, so in intertwining art study with environmental study, I can take the nuances I learn about both disciplines to apply powerful messages to conservation efforts. To heal the world, to change people's hearts and minds takes a lifetime of dedication, perseverance, and study.

I’m proud to be a woman because to be a woman means to be beautiful yet strong, courageous yet vulnerable, kind, and compassionate. I’m proud to be among a community that uplifts each other, that always seeks to grow, and that strives to do the best and be the best for the sake of the people. IG/TikTok: @leafysheapy