Life reveals an abundance of lessons that everyone will eventually learn. Whether it be the easy or hard way, one lesson I’ve learned is that "Life is a journey, not a destination." This quote means that life is not an A to B road trip. You will have to travel through hardships; there will be bumps in the road, hot desserts to cross, rain, and snow to trudge through before you reach the sunny beaches. You will experience failure, loss, and pain to reach your goal of success and ultimately, happiness. Growth and maturity have many stages of emotional trauma, physical loss, realizations of real-world situations, and how to overcome them through positivity and recognizing your strength as a human. But if you can just hold on tight for the ride, it’ll all be worth it in the end. The most life-changing experience that I have gone through would be losing four of the closest people to me in 6th grade. My uncle, cousin, godmother, and my best friend, my dog. At a very young age, I was consumed by depression and grief. Overwhelmed and distraught; I nearly made a suicide attempt. My school had recommended to my mom that I see a therapist at Seven Counties. While receiving help, I realized that I was mentally and physically drained, and unhappy. I was tired of feeling like a failure and a disappointment. So, I decided to do something about it and make a positive change in my life. Completely lost, but optimistic, I began to look for outlets to fill the void. “Where do I start,” was nothing but my first thought. I tried the basketball, track, wrestling, and the swim team; the void still wasn’t filled. I gave playing an instrument a try, starting with Orchestra and Band. Yet, Even the calm feeling I got from playing the Cello couldn’t seem to ease my mind; and though I was mesmerized by the Alto Saxophone for 4 years. It still wasn’t until I began dancing, singing, and acting that the void was filled. Entertaining and performing for an audience opened up my new world of being on stage. I constantly carry a smile on my face, passion in my heart, and anticipate the many different characters I get to portray. Being out of high school for two years now has allowed me to experience many amazing opportunities to work with professional theatre companies such as Actors Theatre and Derby Dinner Playhouse. I also contribute further into my community and inspire the kids and adults that I’ve worked with. I can most definitely say that my life has changed drastically for nothing, but the better. Though my main goal has always been, to be happy, no matter what. I've found a new series of short and long-term goals based on the amazing career that I love the most. The first goal to achieve is going to college. Getting the proper education and training that I need will push me to into succeeding in any, and every way in life.

Being an artist to me means being an influence; to have an effect on someone or something. I live in Louisville, Kentucky, and though we are a small city, we have a strong theatre community. I have quite a bit of people that I would say have influenced my life. However, the award for “Biggest Influence” goes to my vocal coach/mentor, Christina Booker. This amazing woman has helped me over the years with finding my voice and self-worth. Being one of the two black people in my high school visual and performing arts program killed a lot of my confidence. From being told that I have to “sound black” when I sang to being put in the back of every dance number unless it was a hip-hop routine. Miss Christina has trained me to realize that I am not like anyone else. I am Ja’Naye Flanagan, and Ja’Naye Flanagan is a bad mother- Shut your mouth (her word exactly)! She has aided me in understanding my purpose in life and breaking my mental barriers. Her belief in me has pushed me to use my skills in many ways. I’m connected to the arts through dancing, singing, acting, teaching. I currently use my artistic skills to connect to my students at Sacred Heart Arts Academy and to empower young women of color for a non-profit, “300for300,” to express themselves and to use their talents as their voice. I also use my talents to teach choreography for local community theatre shows. Doing so allows me to show people you can be 20 years old, look like me, and have amazing opportunities. But, what I’m most proud of is that I’m able to use my artistic skills to create a safe space and bond with people of all ages, races, and backgrounds. My students and a few adults open up to me in many ways. They come to me for guidance with personal situations. They Depend on me to make sure a goal is met. And they don’t hesitate to reach out to me to listen, watch or watch them perform/practice, and give them constructive criticism. Going into college after a 2 and a half year break is going to be so hard. Especially because I’m leaving the community that I’ve helped build, and the people that I’ve grown to love and be there for. When I graduate college I want to be able to use my artistic skills similar to the way I’ve been able to use them at home. I’d like to make sure everyone that I work with, or teach, knows that no matter what you're going through you can always center yourself through a dance session, a song that touches your heart, by helping others, or by putting yourself into another character as an outlet. That in itself is what makes my artistic skills different. People in the Performance/Entertainment industry tend to forget to care about another person like they would want someone to care for them. I want to fix that by using my artistic gifts to change the way people think and see the world.

Influence; to have an effect on someone or something. The award for “Biggest Influence” goes to my vocal coach/mentor, Christina Booker. This amazing black woman has helped me over the years with finding my voice and self-worth. Being one of the two black people in my high school visual and performing arts program killed a lot of my confidence. From being told that I have to “sound black” when I sang to being put in the back of every dance number unless it was a hip-hop routine. Miss Christina has trained me to realize that I am not like anyone else. I am Ja’Naye Flanagan, and Ja’Naye Flanagan is a bad mother- Shut your mouth (her word exactly)! She has aided me in understanding my purpose in life and break my mental barriers. Her belief in me has pushed me to use my skills and accept the skin I'm in. I dance, sing, act, and teach. I currently use my artistic skills to motivate my students at Sacred Heart Arts Academy and to empower young women of color for a non-profit, “300for300,” to express themselves and to use their talents as their voice. I choreograph for local black community theatre shows; and doing so allows me to show people you can be 20 years old, look lovely and black like me, and have amazing opportunities. But, what I’m most proud of is that I’m able to use my artistic skills to connect with people of all ages, races, and backgrounds. My students and a few adults open up to me in many ways. They come to me for guidance with personal situations. They Depend on me to make sure a goal is met. And they don’t hesitate to reach out to me to listen, watch or watch them perform/practice, and give them constructive criticism. Going into college after a 2 and a half year break is going to be so hard. Especially because I’m leaving the community that I’ve helped build, and the people that I’ve grown to love and be there for. When I graduate college I want to be able to use my artistic skills similar to the way I’ve been able to use them at home. I’d like to make sure everyone that I work with, or teach, knows that no matter what you're going through you can always center yourself through a dance session, a song that touches your heart, by helping others, or by putting yourself into another character as an outlet. That in itself is what makes my artistic skills different. People in the Performance/Entertainment industry tend to forget to care about another person like they would want someone to care for them. I want to change that by using my artistic gifts to change the way people think and see the world; most importantly how they see black women. We can be imaginative, smart, bold, and daring. We can be strong, we can be sad, we can not be okay. We can be.

Dancing, Singing, and Acting has impact my life in many ways. It has allowed me to open up and communicate with people. It has allowed me to be unapologetically myself. Goofy, sassy, creative, and overall authentic. Growing up I was always a sensitive person that would horde all my emotions. When my uncle committed suicide in August of 2011 my whole world fell apart. My uncle was my best friend and because my dad wasn’t in my life I looked to my uncle as a father figure. He believed in me no matter what I thought negatively about myself. So when I lost him it felt like I lost any self hope that I could be great, or be anything in life; I fell into a deep depression. The summer I was transitioning from middle school to high school my church was holding auditions for a Harlem Renaissance play titled “Cotton Comes to Louisville.” Though I was hesitant, I decided to give it a try, and simply fell in love with the whole process on day one. We learned to tap dance, received vocal training, and wore the most amazing costumes. It was the opening day when I realized, I want to do this for the rest of my life. It brought me this unlimited amount of happiness that I hadn’t felt in so long. Even to this day, I feel that sense of freedom and unlimited happiness. Now, I currently use my artistic skills to motivate my students at Sacred Heart Arts Academy and to empower young women of color for a non-profit, “300for300,” to express themselves and to use their talents as their voice. I also use my talents to teach choreography for local community theatre shows. Doing so allows me to show people you can be 20 years old, look like me, and have amazing opportunities. But, what I’m most proud of is that I’m able to use my artistic skills to connect with people of all ages, races, and backgrounds. My students and a few adults open up to me in many ways. They come to me for guidance with personal situations. They Depend on me to make sure a goal is met. And they don’t hesitate to reach out to me to listen, watch or watch them perform/practice, and give them constructive criticism. Going into college after a 2 and a half year break is going to be so hard. Especially because I’m leaving the community that I’ve helped build, and the people that I’ve grown to love and be there for. When I graduate college I want to be able to use my artistic skills similar to the way I’ve been able to use them at home. I’d like to make sure everyone that I work with, or teach, knows that no matter what you're going through you can always center yourself through a dance session, a song that touches your heart, by helping others, or by putting yourself into another character as an outlet. That in itself is what makes my artistic skills different. People in the Performance/Entertainment industry tend to forget to care about another person like they would want someone to care for them. I want to change that by using my artistic gifts to change the way people think and see the world as a whole.

Dancing, Singing, and Acting has impact my life in many ways. It has allowed me to open up and communicate with people. It has allowed me to be unapologetically myself. Goofy, sassy, creative, and overall authentic. Growing up I was always a sensitive person that would horde all my emotions. When my uncle committed suicide in August of 2011 my whole world fell apart. My uncle was my best friend and because my dad wasn’t in my life I looked to my uncle as a father figure. He believed in me no matter what I thought negatively about myself. So when I lost him it felt like I lost any self hope that I could be great, or be anything in life; I fell into a deep depression. The summer I was transitioning from middle school to high school my church was holding auditions for a Harlem Renaissance play titled “Cotton Comes to Louisville.” Though I was hesitant, I decided to give it a try, and simply fell in love with the whole process on day one. We learned to tap dance, received vocal training, and wore the most amazing costumes. It was the opening day when I realized, I want to do this for the rest of my life. It brought me this unlimited amount of happiness that I hadn’t felt in so long. Even to this day, I feel that sense of freedom and unlimited happiness. Now, I currently use my artistic skills to motivate my students at Sacred Heart Arts Academy and to empower young women of color for a non-profit, “300for300,” to express themselves and to use their talents as their voice. I also use my talents to teach choreography for local community theatre shows. Doing so allows me to show people you can be 20 years old, look like me, and have amazing opportunities. But, what I’m most proud of is that I’m able to use my artistic skills to connect with people of all ages, races, and backgrounds. My students and a few adults open up to me in many ways. They come to me for guidance with personal situations. They Depend on me to make sure a goal is met. And they don’t hesitate to reach out to me to listen, watch or watch them perform/practice, and give them constructive criticism. I plan to touch the lives of others through dance and performing arts by making sure everyone that I work with or teach, knows that no matter what you're going through you can always center yourself through a dance session, a song that touches your heart, by helping others, or by putting yourself into another character as an outlet. That in itself is what makes the arts different. However, people in the performance/entertainment industry tend to forget to care about another person like they would want someone to care for them. I want to change that by using my artistic gifts to change the way people think and see the world.

Influence; to have an effect on someone or something. I live in Louisville, Kentucky, and though we are a small city, we have a strong theatre community. I have quite a bit of people that I would say have influenced my life. However, the award for “Biggest Influence” goes to my vocal coach/mentor, Christina Booker. She has helped me over the years with finding my voice and self-worth. Being one of the two black people in my high school visual and performing arts program killed a lot of my confidence. From being told that I have to “sound black” when I sang to being put in the back of every dance number unless it was a hip-hop routine. Miss Christina has trained me to realize that I am not like anyone else. I am Ja’Naye Flanagan, and Ja’Naye Flanagan is a bad mother- Shut your mouth (her word exactly)! She has aided me in understanding my purpose in life and break my mental barriers. Her belief in me has pushed me to use my skills in many ways. I dance, sing, act, teach and assist with the construction side of theatre. I currently use my artistic skills to motivate my students at Sacred Heart Arts Academy and to empower young women of color for a non-profit, “300for300,” to express themselves and to use their talents as their voice. I also use my talents to teach choreography for local community theatre shows. Doing so allows me to show people you can be 20 years old, look like me, and have amazing opportunities. But, what I’m most proud of is that I’m able to use my artistic skills to connect with people of all ages, races, and backgrounds. My students and a few adults open up to me in many ways. They come to me for guidance with personal situations. They Depend on me to make sure a goal is met. And they don’t hesitate to reach out to me to listen, watch or watch them perform/practice, and give them constructive criticism. Going into college after a 2 and a half year break is going to be so hard. Especially because I’m leaving the community that I’ve helped build, and the people that I’ve grown to love and be there for. When I graduate college I want to be able to use my artistic skills similar to the way I’ve been able to use them at home. I’d like to make sure everyone that I work with, or teach, knows that no matter what you're going through you can always center yourself through a dance session, a song that touches your heart, by helping others, or by putting yourself into another character as an outlet. That in itself is what makes my artistic skills different. People in the Performance/Entertainment industry tend to forget to care about another person like they would want someone to care for them. I want to change that by using my artistic gifts to change the way people think and see the world.