Art is more than expression, it's a language that can inspire, unite, and heal. As an artist, my dream is to use animation as a tool to make a meaningful and lasting impact on the world. Through stories, characters, and vibrant visuals, I want to communicate messages of hope, resilience, diversity, and imagination to audiences of all ages. Animation is a powerful medium because it blends storytelling, art, sound, and emotion into something universal. No matter where you’re from or what language you speak, a well-crafted animated story can make you laugh, cry, or reflect. I plan to use this ability to highlight important issues such as mental health, self-identity, community struggles, and cultural appreciation. Whether it's through short films, TV shows, or digital content, I want my work to speak to people who feel unseen or unheard, and remind them that they matter. I also want people to connect with my work and feel empowered and entertained. I also want them to have some laughter and enjoyment with the cartoons I plan to make. Representation is also key to my mission. I want to bring more underrepresented voices and experiences into the spotlight, especially through characters from different cultures, backgrounds, and walks of life. Kids should be able to see themselves as heroes, dreamers, and creators; not just side characters. I believe animation can be a mirror and a window. A mirror to reflect your own life, and a window to understand others. When I decided to attend Elizabeth City State University for my collegiate journey, I finally realized what my parents had been preparing me for. I went to a predominantly white high school and I did receive a great education. As I look back though, I see that I really didn't know who I was. My parents knew the power that a black college would bring me. Having finished my first semester at an HBCU, I have seen myself in others that I share this collegiate experience with. People that know the struggle of being young black students just trying to navigate this expansive world. I knew from my first official visit to ECSU that it was somewhere that I could prosper. I also had the chance to integrate my thinking and ideals, with people that have been in my shoes. That was in a way, manufactured during my high school years. I just accepted the way things went and never tried to purposely step outside of my comfort zone. Having the chance to ingrain myself with people that look like me, and have similar aspirations as me, really invigorated my thirst to learn and grow as an individual. To this point I have maintained a 4.0 as a freshman. I want to be looked upon as an amazing student. To do that, I have to do amazing things in the classroom. The culture at this HBCU allows me the freedom to achieve the results I want out of this journey. The faculty has embraced me and encouraged me every step of the way. Even though an HBCU was not my first choice, it was the best choice for me as a black man and as an artist. Art has the power to heal, educate, and transform. With animation, I can tell stories that not only entertain but also plant seeds of kindness, curiosity, and courage in the minds of those watching. Even if just one person feels uplifted by something I create, that’s a positive impact. An impact that I hope to multiply over time. In the end, I don’t just want to make cartoons. I want to make change. Through art and animation, I aim to connect with hearts around the world, spark important conversations, and remind people, especially the younger generation, that their stories are worth telling.

Growth. A simple word with complex parameters. I only have to look back a few months to see the growth I have made. I'm currently in the second semester of my freshman year and I can see how much college means for my future. I have come a long way in a short period of time, and I'm not stopping any time soon. I love drawing. I keep all of my old artwork with me as a reminder of where I started, to where I am now. When I pull out my old drawings to look back on and reflect, I see where the winds of creativity have blown my ambitions. Laughing at the stick figures and basic landscapes I use to create, I see where my growth as an artist has taken me. From crayons to pencils, water colors, and magic markers, to paint pens and digitally created portraits is something I really didn't see myself being drawn to. I wanted to be a comic book artist and had tunnel vision with that obsession. I soon realized that no matter what medium or genre of art I chose, my artistic flair would rise to the occasion every time. When my professor gave my classmates and I an assignment to do self-portraits, I came to a realization. Out of all those old drawings I kept as a child, I did not have one self-portrait to look back on. I had a bit of self doubt that had crept in and shocked my system. I had finally been pushed from my comfort zone. I was forced to use my creativity to create something I had never really focused on. The perception of my own face. Surprisingly, none of my high school art teachers gave us an assignment that made the students draw a self portrait. So this would be my first attempt at it. As I looked at a photo of myself, all the inspiration I needed was right there in plain sight. My smile. When I looked at my smile, I immediately felt at ease. How can a smile induce calm and inspiration you may ask. Well for me, it just gave me a jolt of confidence. Looking at myself in that picture opened my creativity even further. I accepted the challenge of recreating that smile on a canvas. Once I began my self-portrait drawing assignment, I felt my artistic juices flowing. I got more and more comfortable taking my reflection and transferring it to paper. When my professor walked around the classroom looking at everyone's work, he came to look at my drawing and the first thing he said was, "Great job on capturing your smile". I immediately let out a sigh of relief, because in that moment, my determination to capture my essence was validated. Since that assignment, I had another assignment to create a self-portrait using digital media. I applied the same motivation to that art work as well. Inspiration comes in many forms. On that day, and at that time, all it took was a smile to fuel my creativity. My first official self-portrait was somewhat of a springboard for me. It helped me realize that I am an artist. I can create anything that I set my mind to. Something as simple as a smile can become a muse. That is why I will always have a love for art. Inspiration is never hard to find.

Ever since I was young, I’ve had a deep love for creating and drawing. It wasn’t something I was pushed into it was something that felt natural, something I gravitated toward. I chose to pursue art because I truly enjoy it. There’s a sense of freedom and expression that comes with drawing, especially when I get to bring my own cartoon characters to life. Whether it’s a quirky character, an imaginative world, or just a funny moment I sketch out, it’s always fulfilling to turn my thoughts into something visual that others can connect with. Cartoons were my earliest and biggest source of inspiration. Growing up, I was constantly surrounded by animated shows that sparked my creativity. These weren’t just shows to me they were windows into different worlds, each filled with unique personalities, humor, and style. I’d find myself sketching out characters I saw on TV, then gradually began developing my own. These cartoons taught me that storytelling can come in many shapes, sizes, and colors, and that art can be a powerful way to express emotion, imagination, and identity. What inspires me artistically isn’t just the cartoons themselves, but the way they made me feel. The joy, the humor, the creativity, those emotions, those are what I strive to capture in my own work. I’m inspired by the ability of art to connect people without needing any words. A drawing can make someone laugh, wonder, or relate. That’s a powerful thing, and it's why I keep pushing myself to grow as an artist. Art is more than a hobby for me it’s a passion and a purpose. It’s how I process the world, how I share my ideas, and how I contribute something positive to others. My goal is to use my creativity to make people smile, think, and dream a little bigger. Whether it’s through animation, comics, or visual storytelling, I want to create something that leaves an impression, just like those cartoons did for me. Pursuing art isn’t just a career choice; it’s a reflection of who I am. I don’t just draw to pass the time I draw because it’s how I speak. It’s how I show the world what’s in my mind and in my heart. With every character I design or scene I bring to life, I’m building the world I want to share with others one character at a time. This scholarship would mean so much to me. It will help lift the burden of constantly wondering how I will continue to pay for my college education. Being able to just concentrate on the academic endeavors I am pursuing, and not the bill, would boost my morale on a day to day basis. I am in a good place currently. I want to continue to establish the momentum I have built, so that I may continue to prosper on my collegiate journey.

Early in my academic career, I wasn't as successful as I envisioned myself. My parents, whom I love dearly, made the difficult decision to enroll me into special education classes in middle school. Turns out it was the best decision for my academic future. Having an IEP with structure, a strong core of teachers that believed in me, and a plan. With each year I got stronger as a student. Even being set back by the Covid lock down, and classroom time taken from me, I was still able to achieve good grades since I was organized and focused during that time. My parents helped motivate me even more during that period. Checking in on me as I worked from a laptop computer as a substitute for actual school. They could barely help me with my math because our concepts of learning today are so much different than theirs. I took it upon myself to dig down and do what I needed to do to get better every day. I'm more comfortable with math, even though I struggle sometimes. When I ultimately grasp a mathmatic concept or equation, I easily advance in whatever comes my way. My grasp of language arts has vastly improved from my earlier years. Once I was able to get organized and learn how to break down what I read, my reading comprehension went to another level and Language Arts became one of my better subjects. Through high school I had maintained a 3.0 or better leading into my senior year. I am very proud of that accomplishment. I played sports and participated in several clubs during my time in high school. Being able to play sports was a privilege afforded to me by my parents for maintaining my academic success. They supported me through it all and I thank them so much. Although they are both college graduates, college is expensive. My mom is still paying back student loans to this day and works hard to provide for our family. I want this scholarship to help them. I want this scholarship to help me pay something towards my college education. It's the least I could do to help them see me achieve my academic goals and become a fruitful member of society. I am an artist with aspirations on working in the field of animation. This scholarship will help put me on the right path to becoming a professional in a field not many black kids like myself aspire for. If I receive this scholarship, I will do everything in my power to honor the donors legacy and strive for greatness as I continue my collegiate journey and beyond. Art is more than expression, it's a language that can inspire, unite, and heal. As an artist, my dream is to use animation as a tool to make a meaningful and lasting impact on the world. Through stories, characters, and vibrant visuals, I want to communicate messages of hope, resilience, diversity, and imagination to audiences of all ages. Art has the power to heal, educate, and transform. With animation, I can tell stories that not only entertain but also plant seeds of kindness, curiosity, and courage in the minds of those watching. Even if just one person feels uplifted by something I create, that’s a positive impact—and one I hope to multiply over time. In the end, I don’t just want to make cartoons. I want to make change. Through animation, I aim to connect with hearts around the world, spark important conversations, and remind people, especially the younger generation, that their stories are worth telling.

At a young age, I always had an active imagination. My parents always told me growing up, even a paper bag in the middle of the floor was my playground. I guess it didn't take much for me to have an adventure. When I found the artist trapped inside of me is when I truly found my calling in life. Now I am an 18 year old young man about to embark on my collegiate journey. My creativity has always been a driving force in my scholastic endeavors. I am on a trajectory to become an art major with a concentration in graphic design and animation. That is my passion. I love to create and develop characters. Using today's technology to create images and stories is what keeps me dialed in to my academic success. I want to have my own production company one day. I know that dream will not become a reality without a college degree. I have participated in several clubs and lettered in 2 varsity sports, while participating in another. Those experiences helped me with my discipline and work ethic, all the time honing my skills as an artist. My father is an artist as well. His artistic flair is a personality trait that was passed on to me. He always encourages me to dig deeper into my artistic bag, so that I may fully develop my creativity and purpose. What is a Legacy? 1. An amount of money or property left to someone in a will. 2. The long lasting impact of particular events, actions, ect. that took place in the past, or of a person's life, is how it is defined. Both my parents are products of HBCU's. My Father attended North Carolina Central University, and my mother attended Saint Augustine's University here in North Carolina. Both of them received their degrees. I was not considering attending an HBCU initially. I wanted to go to a large school and get the full collegiate experience that most people only dream about. I was accepted to several (Division 1) 4 year universities. All the dreams I had, to make that come true, were in front of me. My parents know the value that HBCU's bring to the life and well-being of a young black person, and they made sure to make sure I knew the value as well. It didn't take long before I started to see that value for myself. I received a generous financial offer to attend Elizabeth City State University. That was the first sign that an HBCU was in my future. After my official visit to the prestigious eastern North Carolina school, I was ready to commit to become a Viking! If having a perfect fit for my academic endeavors was part of my cards, then me being able to attend ECSU in the fall of 2025 is going to be, the best hand I have ever been dealt. The faculty and facilities exceeded my expectations. The campus life and traditions only add to the allure of attending this acclaimed university. I owe my parents for pushing me to keep my options open, while investigating which school I would thrive at for the next 4 years. I now have an opportunity to continue the legacy that my family has started. I will be the third member of my immediate family to attend an HBCU with pride.