I remember back when I was in middle school when I was in my school's literary arts magazine club. Since I'm an artist, I was able to submit art into my school's magazine. Throughout my 6th grade year I created and submitted work but none of it got in, not one. That realization hit me hard because it showed that my current work wasn't good enough, it wasn't up to par. I remember being so depressed that I even skipped the day in which we got to create the physical magazine and threw out my most recent work at that time. I still regret that decision to this day but we live and learn. After that, I decided to improve my work. I could've taken that moment to just stop doing art and find a different career path but no. I decided to spend the next 3+ months learning techniques, anatomy, etc. I did so much studying for my art I could've taught a class but by the time I started my 7th grade year I had a whole arsenal of artwork to release. I knew that it wasn't me personally that wasn't up to par, it was just my work. If I increase my skill in my work, I can achieve my goal. So I did and it even benefited me now. This shaped me because it proved that hard work can lead to success, I always prided myself on diligence and proficiency. This changed my views on failure and helped my process of criticism better, before that I was 50/50 when it came to critiques. I was able to take them at first but wasn't able to process them properly, but when I spent the summer looking at my old work and then seeing where I was with my new work. I understood what my peers meant by the critics they gave me, I was able to efficiently look at my own work to see where possible critics could come in. Things are financially tight due to the more demanding work requirement of my mother's work and having to spend more on transportation and the fact that she's paying for both my brother and me to go through college. This scholarship will help relieve some of the financial burden that is on my mom. The other half of this scholarship helps me because I want to be part of the change in our society, as generations continue we continue to be more inclusive and diverse. I want that represented in our cartoons, comics, or books; even though we're becoming more digitized, we still crave those pieces of fiction to escape reality and not everyone can do that with characters that can't relate to the viewer. Now there's more to a character than their race but it does play a big factor in how our different people from different backgrounds view themselves and how the media views them.

Art has always been an important part of my life, it was both a form of expression and a way to connect with other people. I chose to pursue art because I love the creative process, the sketching, and the satisfaction you get when you finish a piece. Ever since I was young I had an instinct to draw whatever I saw, whether it was my family, friends, or buildings. Art for me was never just a hobby but a central part of who I am and how I express myself. I always knew I wanted to be an artist later pin pointing to being an Illustrator and Graphic Designer. I'm passionate about being an artist because I know I can single-handedly make a change to how we view things. I knew that with this power I can change how people view certain topics, people, and cultures. I will be able to bring awareness to certain subjects and promote diversity. Having the creativity to make anything without a format; that's what I really love about art. There's no rules to how you're supposed to create art, you just do it. I want my career to be an example for the younger generations that being an artist is a possible career and important. My decision to continue pursuing the arts came long ago, I always knew I wanted to be an artist. Later pin pointing it to Illustrator and Graphic Designer. As I hone in my talent of drawing and creative writing, it led me to wanting to create comics. I love reading WEBTOONs and was so inspired by the art and stories I read there that I wanted to make one. I knew how my art looked and that if I kept practicing and challenging myself I could make one. I've chosen to pursue art because I love the general process of creating and displaying it. Being a young Black artist I know the road ahead of me is going to be a little bumpy but I'm willing to take that risk. I'm willing to continue to create for the betterment of my people, to add another piece to my community's rich history. To be an example for the generations above and below me, to show them that everything that they hear about artists isn't true. Art makes me calm, art brings me joy, and most importantly it makes others happy. It's my utmost pride and joy to see my art influencing the younger generation and giving them something they can look at and relate to. I want to change the game on what is promoted in cartoons, comics, stories, and more.

I hope to achieve more diversity throughout the art media, whether it's animation, illustrations, graphic design, comics, or animations. I'm passionate about fulfilling this because I want to create more relatable webcomics and short stories. As a young Black artist, I've noticed how in art or cartoons Black people weren't represented as much as they should and if they were it would be a stereotype. I remember watching cartoons growing up, finding a character to relate to was everything. I remember watching Winx Club and loving Bloom at first sight because I could relate to her and I saw myself in her but when they introduced Aisha I instantly gravitated to her because she looked like me. They didn't make her thicker or speak differently, they made her just like the rest of the girls. But there were still some subtle messages, she wasn't introduced until season 2 and they made her defensive. But what really stuck with me was how all the girls had a boyfriend but her. When she eventually gets hers they kill him off, giving her two white love interests. When I look at it now, it's weird how she was the only character that had a Black love interest that was replaced with two white love interests. I felt that there was something to be done with that because the message it was giving is that black love ends in tragedy. Due to the little representation I see in cartoons, instead of wishing that producers make more inclusive characters. I decided to take it upon myself to be the one to come up with those characters. I want to share the Black experiences for everyone to see and understand, making something that not only Black girls can look up to but something they can see themselves in too. I also want my art to be more inclusive not only to my race but others because I believe in representation across all boards but with the majority reflecting me and my people. I want to build more unity between all races and cultures that exist and have some sort of common ground. We as a society have contributed to the division of us. As much as we scream and post about equality and inclusion, our mindsets tend to think otherwise. I also want to normalize every culture and race without taking previous shows and changing the race of their characters and I plan to address that through comics or short stories. I want everyone to be and feel included when they read a comic, short story, or watch a cartoon. Since everybody's eyes are on the screen and social media, that's the best way to influence and change the ideas of people. Especially children because they are the one consuming and learning from what they see on TV and around them.

I remember back when I was in middle school when I was in my school's literary arts magazine club. Since I'm an artist, I was able to submit art into my school's magazine. Throughout my 6th grade year I created and submitted work but none of it got in, not one. That realization hit me hard because it showed that my current work wasn't good enough, it wasn't up to par. I remember being so depressed that I even skipped the day in which we got to create the physical magazine and threw out my most recent work at that time. I still regret that decision to this day but we live and learn. After that, I decided to improve my work. I could've taken that moment to just stop doing art and find a different career path but no. I decided to spend the next 3+ months learning techniques, anatomy, etc. I first worked on what my mom said was my weak point, the body. I had only the face accurate but when it came to the body I had no clue. So I watched a bunch of "How to draw a female body" and "Tips and Tricks on anatomy" and it really did work. I spent about 3 hours almost a day just drawing, doing art studies, and watching tutorials. I did so much studying for my art I could've taught a class but by the time I started my 7th grade year I had a whole arsenal of artwork to release. I always had my mom look at my work to see where I can improve on or what looks odd in my piece which increased my odds of it getting accepted. I knew that it wasn't me personally that wasn't up to par, it was just my work. If I increase my skill in my work, I can achieve my goal. So I did and it benefited me even now. Overcoming that hardship proved that hard work can lead to success, I always prided myself on diligence and proficiency. This changed my views on failure and helped my process of criticism better, before that I was 50/50 when it came to critiques. I was able to take them at first but wasn't able to process them properly, but when I spent the summer looking at my old work and then seeing where I was with my new work. I understood what my peers meant by the critics they gave me, I was able to efficiently look at my own work to see where possible critics could come in.

I remember back when I was in middle school when I was in my school's literary arts magazine club. Since I'm an artist, I was able to submit art into my school's magazine. Throughout my 6th grade year I created and submitted work but none of it got in, not one. That realization hit me hard because it showed that my current work wasn't good enough, it wasn't up to par. I remember being so depressed that I even skipped the day in which we got to create the physical magazine and threw out my most recent work at that time. I still regret that decision to this day but we live and learn. After that, I decided to improve my work. I could've taken that moment to just stop doing art and find a different career path but no. I decided to spend the next 3+ months learning techniques, anatomy, etc. I did so much studying for my art I could've taught a class but by the time I started my 7th grade year I had a whole arsenal of artwork to release. I knew that it wasn't me personally that wasn't up to par, it was just my work. If I increase my skill in my work, I can achieve my goal. So I did and it even benefited me now. This shaped me because it proved that hard work can lead to success, I always prided myself on diligence and proficiency. This changed my views on failure and helped my process of criticism better, before that I was 50/50 when it came to critiques. I was able to take them at first but wasn't able to process them properly, but when I spent the summer looking at my old work and then seeing where I was with my new work. I understood what my peers meant by the critics they gave me, I was able to efficiently look at my own work to see where possible critics could come in. That experience influenced my outlook on education by changing how I think and take criticisms. I plan to use my education to positively impact my community and the world by adding more representation in cartoons and comics. Due to the little representation I see in cartoons, instead of wishing that producers make more inclusive characters. I decided to take it upon myself to be the one to come up with those characters. I want to share the Black experiences for everyone to see and understand, making something that not only Black girls can look up to but something they can see themselves in too. I also want my art to be more inclusive to other races because I want to build more unity between all races and cultures that exist and have some sort of common ground.

My favorite athlete to cheer for is Simone Biles because of how resilient she is, despite everything that has happened to her she still proceeds to push and break the limits. Seeing her in the 2024 Paris Olympics was honestly amazing, I've never been one to do gymnastics but I do appreciate the time and dedication that people put into it. How hard she trains to the comedic moments she displays is all something to admire and look up too. She's the type of role model the Black community needs and as a Black young woman myself I definitely appreciate everything she has done and contributed despite what the internet says. She reached the highest amount of points on the board and married a wonderful man who she stands by, a lot of women today aren't that loyal to who they considered their significant other. She displays what a virtuous woman is supposed to be and acts, it's nice to see a young black healthy couple who doesn't let social media dictate their relationship. That's the main thing I admire about her, she isn't so caught up in social media and letting it bring her down or dictate if she should stay with her husband.

Literacy has benefited me because it allowed me another way to express myself. I was once in a rock and a hard place with a guy that I liked. I couldn't understand how someone who is supposed to be your friend and potential significant other could treat you with such disrespect at times. That was one of my strongest poems I've ever created and that's what settled my passion for literature. I gained first hand experience of how people's feelings can be translated into creative writing for others to feel. Picture books played an important part in my life because I was more of a visual learner than a reading learner and pictures always helped me develop. That also helped me discover my love for art and comics, so much so that I want to somehow create or participate in the creation of one. It was also nice seeing pictures of the impossible or fantasy like The Powerpuff Girls or Bubble Guppies. Picture books are what spur the imagination and provide kids that magic sense when growing up. I hope to achieve a way for my art to influence the younger generation and give them something they can look at and relate to. I want to change the game on what is promoted in cartoons, comics, stories, and more. I plan to use my talent and skill in art to create more well rounded webcomics, illustrations, and more. I've noticed how in art or cartoons Black people weren't represented as much as they should and if they were it would be a stereotype. I remember watching Winx Club and I loved Bloom because of her relatability but when they introduced Aisha I instantly gravitated to her because she looked like me. But what really stuck with me was when they killed off her boyfriend and gave her two white love interests instead. I find it weird how she was the only character that had a Black love interest that was replaced with two white ones and there's something that has to be done because the message was giving that black love ends in tragedy. This award will help since everybody's eyes are on the screen and social media, that's the best way to influence and change the ideas of people. Especially children because they are the one consuming and learning from what they see on TV and around them. I'd be able to maybe create concepts for characters or illustrations for books for people to enjoy.

Something unique about myself is that I can draw anything with just a few words or prompt, say the word and I'll give it a whirl. Being able to come up with ideas and sketches on the spot is a major deal in the business and art world because it shows how creatively your brain processes words. I feel that I should be a recipient of this scholarship because I think my skills and talent can apply post college and do some good in the world. I feel like I could help people start their first businesses or provide prints or wraps for small or developed businesses. Art is all around us and not every artist is able to provide or draw up ideas on the spot. I've chosen to pursue art because I love the process of creating and how it affects others. Being a young Black artist I know the road ahead of me is going to be a little bumpy but I'm willing to take that risk. I'm willing to continue to create for the betterment of my people and add more pieces to my community's rich history. Art has always been an important part of my life, it was both a form of expression and a way to connect with other people. Art for me was never just a hobby but a central part of who I am and how I express myself. It's my utmost pride and joy to see my art influencing the younger generation and giving them something they can look at and relate to. I want to change the game on what is promoted in cartoons, comics, stories, and more. I plan to use my talent and skill in art to create more well rounded webcomics, illustrations, and more. I've noticed how in art or cartoons Black people weren't represented as much as they should and if they were it would be a stereotype. I remember watching Winx Club and I loved Bloom because of her relatability but when they introduced Aisha I instantly gravitated to her because she looked like me. But what really stuck with me was when they killed off her boyfriend and gave her two white love interests instead. I find it weird how she was the only character that had a Black love interest that was replaced with two white ones and there's something that has to be done because the message was giving that black love ends in tragedy. Since everybody's eyes are on the screen and social media, that's the best way to influence and change the ideas of people. Especially children because they are the one consuming and learning from what they see on TV and around them. I'm distinguished from other applicants because of my tenacity, positivity, and creativity. I want to be someone who others can lean on and be inspired from, I want to make the world a better place and I want to be able to do that with my art. I pride myself in making art that the younger generation can look at and relate to. I want to inspire them that you are heard and seen, to influence the way they view each other. Especially the Black community, I feel we definitely need more Black love in the media. To write to them that they have a voice just like me and can achieve what I have achieved. I want art to be a way to unite us as people instead of dividing us and bringing more awareness to societal issues.

I feel most creative when I watch or view other artists on Instagram and YouTube because of the amount of creativity and ideas other artists come up with. So many artists create original characters, webtoons, manga, and so much more inspires me to do the same. Another is from the cartoons I grew up on and anime I watch. I love mixing and matching elements from different genres to create something new. When taking an Aesthetics class at school, I was told this phrase. Nothing is original when it comes to art and that's fine because if someone didn't make that initial idea, what comes after wouldn't exist. Artists need each other in order to create more, it's just all in not stealing the idea. All of our creativity and findings bounce off each other and influence us to create more. My inspiration comes from all over, it can be from personal experience to historical events. I've used countries and places around the world for inspiration for my characters. I incorporate this through my characters, I have 11 original characters. Each of my characters represents a part of me as their personality trait. Lynn was my first ever original character and resembles me to a T besides looks, she has orange fiery hair and inspiration was based on Bloom from Winx Club. She holds my artistic values and stubbornness, out of the 11 she is one of the most hard headed and can butt heads with the others but also has the most empathy. She's also just as silly as me but I digress. I also try to be more inclusive to more than just my race because I believe in representation across all boards but with the majority reflecting me since I'm a Black artist. All my characters as of now are minorities; black, asian, and hispanic but I want to bring more representation to my people without having to black wash existing characters. I even use my friends in real life to help develop my characters, my character Crystal is based on my BFF. She's shy, quiet, and gets scared fairly easily; I added that to enhance the character but in real life she isn't. I also gave some of my characters experiences either me or my friends have gone through to make them feel more alive and easy to relate too. Like Skylar, she has strict parents like one of my friends because of her background and how relatively often parents of her race are strict.

I remember back when I was in middle school when I was in my school's literary arts magazine club. Since I'm an artist, I was able to submit art into my school's magazine. Throughout my 6th grade year I created and submitted work but none of it got in, not one. That realization hit me hard because it showed that my current work wasn't good enough, it wasn't up to par. I remember being so depressed that I even skipped the day in which we got to create the physical magazine and threw out my most recent work at that time. I still regret that decision to this day but we live and learn. After that, I decided to improve my work. I could've taken that moment to just stop doing art and find a different career path but no. I decided to spend the next 3+ months learning techniques, anatomy, etc. I did so much studying for my art I could've taught a class but by the time I started my 7th grade year I had a whole arsenal of artwork to release. I knew that it wasn't me personally that wasn't up to par, it was just my work. If I increase my skill in my work, I can achieve my goal. So I did and it even benefited me now. This shaped me because it proved that hard work can lead to success, I always prided myself on diligence and proficiency. This changed my views on failure and helped my process of criticism better, before that I was 50/50 when it came to critiques. I was able to take them at first but wasn't able to process them properly, but when I spent the summer looking at my old work and then seeing where I was with my new work. I understood what my peers meant by the critics they gave me, I was able to efficiently look at my own work to see where possible critics could come in. My advice would be to keep pushing forward and don't give up. Despite how you may feel or what you may think, there's a reason for why things happen. If I were to have artwork accepted into the magazine my 6th grade year then I wouldn't have ever improved to what I create today. Don't take criticisms in whatever profession people may inquire in as a direct attack but as a stepping stone, a path way to improve and better yourself.

My biggest influence in my life is my village, everyone who supported and encouraged me. Another is artists I follow on YouTube and Instagram, they really helped develop my techniques and art style over the years. I was able to experiment with digital, color pencils, acrylics and more through them. I even did art studies of two: samdoesarts and likelihood_art. I plan to use my art and creative writing skills to create more relatable webcomics and short stories. As a young Black artist, I've noticed how in art or cartoons Black people weren't represented as much as they should and if they were it would be a stereotype. I remember watching cartoons growing up, finding a character to relate to was everything. I remember watching Winx Club and loving Bloom at first sight because I could relate to her and I saw myself in her but when they introduced Aisha I instantly gravitated to her because she looked like me. They didn't make her thicker or speak differently, they made her just like the rest of the girls. But there were still some subtle messages, she wasn't introduced until season 2 and they made her defensive. But what really stuck with me was how all the girls had a boyfriend but her. When she eventually gets hers they kill him off, giving her two white love interests. When I look at it now, it's weird how she was the only character that had a Black love interest that was replaced with two white love interests. I felt that there was something to be done with that because the message it was giving is that black love ends in tragedy. Due to the little representation I see in cartoons, instead of wishing that producers make more inclusive characters. I decided to take it upon myself to be the one to come up with those characters. I want to share the Black experiences for everyone to see and understand, making something that not only Black girls can look up to but something they can see themselves in too. I also want my art to be more inclusive not only to my race but others because I believe in representation across all boards but with the majority reflecting me and my people. I want to build more unity between all races and cultures that exist and have some sort of common ground. The thing that sets me apart from other artists is that I make graphic designs, animations, and illustrations. I'm capable of doing many styles from stylized, semi realism, and realism. I'm diverse in a multitude of mediums, from digital to traditional. Most will stay to perfect one medium but I like experimenting from time to time while different mediums. I know how to work digital programs like: Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, MediBang, Flipaclip, and IbisPaint X and traditional mediums like: acrylics, oils, watercolors, paper, and color pencils. I aspire to create art that can draw in a variety of viewers.

Art has always been an important part of my life, it was both a form of expression and a way to connect with other people. I chose to pursue art because I feel personally it's my calling, I've been doing art for so long that it just comes naturally. I love the creative process, the sketching, and the satisfaction you get when you finish a piece. Ever since I was young I had an instinct to draw whatever I saw, whether it was my family, friends, or buildings. The people surrounding me always encouraged me and nurtured my creativity. Art for me was never just a hobby but a central part of who I am and how I express myself. My decision to continue pursuing the arts came long ago, I always knew I wanted to be an artist. Later pin pointing it to Illustrator and Graphic Designer. As I hone in my talent of drawing and creative writing, it led me to wanting to create comics. I love reading WEBTOON and was so inspired by the art and stories I read there that I wanted to make one, I knew how my art looked and that if I keep practicing and challenging myself I could make one. I'm passionate about fulfilling this because I want to create more relatable webcomics and short stories. As a young Black artist, I've noticed how in art or cartoons Black people weren't represented as much as they should and if they were it would be a stereotype. I remember watching cartoons growing up, finding a character to relate to was everything. I remember watching Winx Club and loving Bloom at first sight because I could relate to her and I saw myself in her but when they introduced Aisha I instantly gravitated to her because she looked like me. They didn't make her thicker or speak differently, they made her just like the rest of the girls. But there were still some subtle messages, she wasn't introduced until season 2 and they made her defensive. But what really stuck with me was how all the girls had a boyfriend but her. When she eventually gets hers they kill him off, giving her two white love interests. When I look at it now, it's weird how she was the only character that had a Black love interest that was replaced with two white love interests. I felt that there was something to be done with that because the message it was giving is that black love ends in tragedy. Due to the little representation I see in cartoons, instead of wishing that producers make more inclusive characters. I decided to take it upon myself to be the one to come up with those characters. I want to share the Black experiences for everyone to see and understand, making something that not only Black girls can look up to but something they can see themselves in too. I also want my art to be more inclusive not only to my race but others because I believe in representation across all boards but with the majority reflecting me and my people. I want to build more unity between all races and cultures that exist and have some sort of common ground.

Art has always been an important part of my life, it was both a form of expression and a way to connect with other people. I chose to pursue art because I feel personally it's my calling, I've been doing art for so long that it just comes naturally. I love the creative process, the sketching, and the satisfaction you get when you finish a piece. Ever since I was young I had an instinct to draw whatever I saw, whether it was my family, friends, or buildings. The people surrounding me always encouraged me and nurtured my creativity. Art for me was never just a hobby but a central part of who I am and how I express myself. My decision to continue pursuing the arts was due to the little representation I saw in cartoons growing up, instead of wishing that producers make more inclusive characters. I decided to take it upon myself to be the one to come up with those characters. I wanted to further my education in the arts to achieve that goal of one day making my own webcomics or publishing my creative writing. I knew that waiting for some of my favorite artists or other artists to do it wasn't going to be the way to make change. I knew making my characters and plot line will help guide the people who watch me find more Black relatable characters or any other ethnic characters. As I continue to do art, I plan to pursue the road of growth. Having the ability to experiment, improve, and expand my artistic voice is the number one reason behind my dedication. I chose this journey because it lets me express what's really on my mind while learning new ways to express myself freely. I am committed to the road I have paved for myself and my artistic skills, using my work to inspire others just like I have been. The impact of this scholarship will help me achieve representation across all races. I want to share the Black experience for everyone to see and understand, making something that not only Black girls can look up to but something they can see themselves in too. I just want my art to be more inclusive not only to my race but others because I believe in representation across the board. I want to build more unity between all races and cultures that exist to create some sort of common ground. I want everyone to be and feel included when they read a comic or short story. I feel this will help bring understanding because art lasts for a long time. As time goes on and society advances, we all have to realize that we're all the same. We all have the same makeup in structure and are made of the same molecules. With that comes acceptance, the more we push and create things that aren't the norm, it will eventually be normalized and no one will see it as a weak attempt in being inclusive.

Design to me means framework, the starting process of things before they reach perfection. I see this as an analogy to people because we all are works in progress until we reach our full potential and as an artist, we are always working to progress our art. That is the same for me, I strive to create more diverse characters and short stories for my community and others. Art has always been an important part of my life, it was both a form of expression and a way to connect with other people. Art for me was never just a hobby but a central part of who I am and how I express myself. I knew that with this power I can change how people view certain topics, people, and cultures. Bringing awareness to certain subjects and promoting diversity while having the creativity to make anything without a format. Design is more than just the framework of ideas, it's the process of how we got to those ideas. A career in design would be transformational because I would be able to share the Black experience to everyone, making something that not only Black children can look up to but also see themselves in too.

Art has always been an important part of my life, it was both a form of expression and a way to connect with other people. I chose to pursue art because I love the creative process, the sketching, and the satisfaction you get when you finish a piece. Ever since I was young I had an instinct to draw whatever I saw, whether it was my family, friends, or buildings. Art for me was never just a hobby but a central part of who I am and how I express myself. I always knew I wanted to be an artist later pin pointing to being an Illustrator and Graphic Designer. I plan to use my talent and skill in art and creative writing to create more relatable webcomics and short stories. As a young Black artist, I've noticed how in art or cartoons Black people weren't represented as much as they should and if they were it would be a stereotype. I remember watching cartoons growing up, finding a character to relate to was everything. I remember watching Winx Club and loving Bloom at first sight because I could relate to her and I saw myself in her but when they introduced Aisha I instantly gravitated to her because she looked like me. They didn't make her thicker or speak differently, they made her just like the rest of the girls. But there were still some subtle messages, she wasn't introduced until season 2 and they made her defensive. But what really stuck with me was how all the girls had a boyfriend but her. When she eventually gets hers they kill him off, giving her two white love interests. When I look at it now, it's weird how she was the only character that had a Black love interest that was replaced with two white love interests. I felt that there was something to be done with that because the message it was giving is that black love ends in tragedy. Due to the little representation I see in cartoons, instead of wishing that producers make more inclusive characters. I decided to take it upon myself to be the one to come up with those characters. I want to share the Black experiences for everyone to see and understand, making something that not only Black girls can look up to but something they can see themselves in too. I also want my art to be more inclusive not only to my race but others because I believe in representation across all boards but with the majority reflecting me and my people. I want to build more unity between all races and cultures that exist and have some sort of common ground. I want everyone to be and feel included when they watch a cartoon or read a book. I feel this will help bring understanding because art lasts for a long time. As time goes on and society advances, we all have to realize that we're all the same. We all have the same makeup in structure and are made of the same molecules. With that comes acceptance, the more we push and create things that aren't the norm, it will eventually be normalized and no one will see it as a weak attempt in being inclusive.

Art has always been an important part of my life, it was both a form of expression and a way to connect with other people. I chose to pursue art because I love the creative process, the sketching, and the satisfaction you get when you finish a piece. Ever since I was young I had an instinct to draw whatever I saw, whether it was my family, friends, or buildings. Art for me was never just a hobby but a central part of who I am and how I express myself. I always knew I wanted to be an artist later pin pointing to being an Illustrator and Graphic Designer. I plan to use my talent and skill in art and creative writing to create more relatable webcomics and short stories. As a young Black artist, I've noticed how in art or cartoons Black people weren't represented as much as they should and if they were it would be a stereotype. I remember watching cartoons growing up, finding a character to relate to was everything. I remember watching Winx Club and loving Bloom at first sight because I could relate to her and I saw myself in her but when they introduced Aisha I instantly gravitated to her because she looked like me. They didn't make her thicker or speak differently, they made her just like the rest of the girls. But there were still some subtle messages, she wasn't introduced until season 2 and they made her defensive. But what really stuck with me was how all the girls had a boyfriend but her. When she eventually gets hers they kill him off, giving her two white love interests. When I look at it now, it's weird how she was the only character that had a Black love interest that was replaced with two white love interests. I felt that there was something to be done with that because the message it was giving is that black love ends in tragedy. Due to the little representation I see in cartoons and wishing that producers make more inclusive characters, I decided to take it upon myself to be the one to come up with those characters. I want to share the Black experiences for everyone to see and understand, making something that not only Black girls can look up to but something they can see themselves in too. I also want my art to be more inclusive not only to my race but others because I believe in representation across all boards but with the majority reflecting me and my people. I want to build more unity between all races and cultures that exist and have some sort of common ground. I want everyone to be and feel included when they watch a cartoon or read a book. I feel this will help bring understanding because art lasts for a long time. As time goes on and society advances, we all have to realize that we're all the same. We all have the same makeup in structure and are made of the same molecules. With that comes acceptance, the more we push and create things that aren't the norm, it will eventually be normalized and no one will see it as a weak attempt in being inclusive.

I plan to use my skill in art and creative writing to create more accurate webcomics and short stories. As a young Black artist, I've noticed how in art or cartoons Black people weren't represented as much as they should and if they were it would be a stereotype. I knew that with this power I can change how people view certain topics, people, and cultures. I will be able to bring awareness to certain subjects and promote diversity. Having the ability to make anything without a format; that's what I really love about art. There's no rules to how you're supposed to create art, you just do it. I want my career to be an example for the younger generations that being an artist is a possible career and important. I pride myself in making art that the younger generation can look at and relate to. I want to inspire them that you are heard and seen, to influence the way they view each other. Especially the Black community, I feel we definitely need more Black love in the media. To write to them that they have a voice just like me and can achieve what I have achieved. I want art to be a way to unite us as people instead of dividing us and bringing more awareness to societal issues. We as a society have contributed to the division of us. As much as we scream and post about equality and inclusion, our mindsets tend to think otherwise. I also want to normalize every culture and race without taking previous shows and changing the race of their characters and I plan to address that through comics or short stories. I feel my vision of this will be through comics or short stories, I want everyone to be and feel included when they read a comic or short story. I remember growing up and watching Winx Club. I loved Bloom because of her relatability but when they introduced Aisha I instantly gravitated to her because she looked like me. They didn't do anything to make her different but there were still some subtle messages. What really stuck with me was when she gets her boyfriend they kill him off, giving her two white love interests. I find it weird how she was the only character that had a Black love interest that was replaced with two white love interests. I felt that there was something to be done with that because the message it was giving is that black love ends in tragedy. Since everybody's eyes are on the screen and social media, that's the best way to influence and change the ideas of people. Especially children because they are the one consuming and learning from what they see on TV and around them. I want everyone to be and feel included when they watch a cartoon or read a book. I feel this will help bring understanding because art lasts for a long time. As time goes on and society advances, we all have to realize that we're all the same. We all have the same makeup in structure and are made of the same molecules. With that comes acceptance, the more we push and create things that aren't the norm, it will eventually be normalized and no one will see it as a weak attempt in being inclusive.

Art has always been an important part of my life, it was both a form of expression and a way to connect with other people. I chose to pursue art because I love the creative process, the sketching, and the satisfaction you get when you finish a piece. Ever since I was young I had an instinct to draw whatever I saw, whether it was my family, friends, or buildings. Art for me was never just a hobby but a central part of who I am and how I express myself. I always knew I wanted to be an artist later pin pointing to being an Illustrator and Graphic Designer. I knew that with this power I can change how people view certain topics, people, and cultures. I will be able to bring awareness to certain subjects and promote diversity. Having the creativity to make anything without a format; that's what I really love about art. There's no rules to how you're supposed to create art, you just do it. I want my career to be an example for the younger generations that being an artist is a possible career and important. I pride myself in making art that the younger generation can look at and relate to. I want to inspire them that you are heard and seen, to influence the way they view each other. Especially the Black community, I feel we definitely need more Black love in the media. To write to them that they have a voice just like me and can achieve what I have achieved. I want art to be a way to unite us as people instead of dividing us and bringing more awareness to societal issues. We as a society have contributed to the division of us. As much as we scream and post about equality and inclusion, our mindsets tend to think otherwise. I also want to normalize every culture and race without taking previous shows and changing the race of their characters and I plan to address that through comics or short stories. I feel my vision of this will be through comics or short stories, I want everyone to be and feel included when they read a comic or short story. I remember growing up and watching Winx Club. I loved Bloom because of her relatability but when they introduced Aisha I instantly gravitated to her because she looked like me. They didn't do anything to make her different but there were still some subtle messages. What really stuck with me was when she gets her boyfriend they kill him off, giving her two white love interests. I find it weird how she was the only character that had a Black love interest that was replaced with two white love interests. I felt that there was something to be done with that because the message it was giving is that black love ends in tragedy. Since everybody's eyes are on the screen and social media, that's the best way to influence and change the ideas of people. Especially children because they are the one consuming and learning from what they see on TV and around them.

I plan to use my talent and skill in art and creative writing to create more accurate webcomics and short stories. As a young Black artist, I've noticed how in art or cartoons Black people weren't represented as much as they should and if they were it would be a stereotype. I remember watching cartoons growing up, finding a character to relate to was everything. I remember watching Winx Club and loving Bloom at first sight because I could relate to her and I saw myself in her but when they introduced Aisha I instantly gravitated to her because she looked like me. They didn't make her thicker or speak differently, they made her just like the rest of the girls. But there were still some subtle messages, she wasn't introduced until season 2 and they made her defensive. But what really stuck with me was how all the girls had a boyfriend but her. When she eventually gets hers they kill him off, giving her two white love interests. When I look at it now, it's weird how she was the only character that had a Black love interest that was replaced with two white love interests. I felt that there was something to be done with that because the message it was giving is that black love ends in tragedy. Due to the little representation I see in cartoons, instead of wishing that producers make more inclusive characters. I decided to take it upon myself to be the one to come up with those characters. I want to share the Black experiences for everyone to see and understand, making something that not only Black girls can look up to but something they can see themselves in too. I also want my art to be more inclusive not only to my race but others because I believe in representation across all boards but with the majority reflecting me and my people. I want to build more unity between all races and cultures that exist and have some sort of common ground. I want everyone to be and feel included when they watch a cartoon or read a book. I feel this will help bring understanding because art lasts for a long time. As time goes on and society advances, we all have to realize that we're all the same. We all have the same makeup in structure and are made of the same molecules. With that comes acceptance, the more we push and create things that aren't the norm, it will eventually be normalized and no one will see it as a weak attempt in being inclusive.

I'm inspired by the cartoons I grew up on and anime I watch. I love mixing and matching elements from different genres to create something new. My inspiration for art was when I was young watching cartoons. As a young Black artist, I've noticed how in art or cartoons Black people weren't represented as much as they should be and if they were it would be a bad stereotype. While watching cartoons growing up, finding a character to relate to was everything. I remember watching Winx Club and loving Bloom at first sight because I could relate to her and I saw myself in her but when they introduced Aisha I instantly gravitated to her because she looked like me. They didn't make her thicker or speak differently, they made her just like the rest of the girls. But there were still some subtle messages, she wasn't introduced until season 2 and they made her defensive. But what really stuck with me was how all the girls had a boyfriend but her. When she eventually gets hers they kill him off, giving her two white love interests. When I look at it now, it's weird how she was the only character that had a Black love interest that was replaced with two white love interests. I felt that there was something to be done with that because the message it was giving is that black love ends in tragedy. Due to the little representation I see in cartoons, instead of wishing that producers make more inclusive characters. I decided to take it upon myself to be the one to come up with those characters. That's what really inspired me and influenced the characters I've created. I was once in a rock and a hard place with a guy that I liked, I didn't understand how someone who is supposed to be your friend and potential significant other treat you with such disrespect at times. That was one of my strongest poems I've ever created and that's what settled my passion for literature, how people's feelings can be translated into creative writing for others to feel. I've never shared the poem because it's too personal but I named it I Don't Understand. As for art, it was when I won my first award back in 7th grade. After spending that past summer honing my craft, watching endless YouTube tutorials, and getting critiques from my teachers. It finally paid off in me earning an award, that happening drove me to continue and make something out of my talent. Now, I've been featured and displayed in magazines and buildings.

I love writing poems, songs, and short stories. As a young Black artist and writer I feel they kind of go hand in hand, for me at least. I discovered my writing abilities in my 8th grade during Covid, since I had this new found time and my new form of learning was through a screen. My English teacher introduced poetry to my class and the different poetry forms. That's when I fell in love with writing, after doing every poetry style she had us do I started doing it on my own. Later in that year she had us create a short story and that's when I applied my visual arts to the formula, I used at the time 2 of my original characters. After creating that short story, I started to think and plan a world for my characters. This turned out to develop into me making comics, combining both my skills in art and writing. But I mainly focused on poetry and creating poems until my freshmen year when I joined EDDA, my school's Literary Arts Magazine. After that I expanded into short stories and then world building for my characters. Finally finding a way to express what I was thinking about when I couldn't exactly draw it was amazing, anytime I was in a dark place or felt love I would write. A lot of my pieces came from places of emotion and rough patches in my life. I love how easy it is to get started on writing and the process even though it can be difficult. Even when I have writer's block and can't think of anything, it's very fulfilling when I finish a story or song. I plan to continue this by joining any poetry club, literary arts club, or the school's magazine. I really want to in the future be able to publish a graphic novel or webcomic because I feel that we don't have enough teen or young adult stories that are geared towards those ages. I noticed it myself, it's either little kid stuff or 18/21+ and I want to make something that the younger generation can read and relate to growing up and entering that phase. Something like Winx Club, I loved watching it growing up and related to its characters. It stood in the middle ground of what the audience could be, it covered a multitude of topics that little kids may not be able to understand but teens and adults can.

One of my favorite local community events I have participated in was the Griffin Museum's Black Creativity's Exhibition. I think this was my favorite because it was filled with artists that looked like me, it was such an enriching environment to be in. It was so meaningful to me because I saw it as a place I can keep being involved in past high school and college. Another bit was meeting the artists, since I won Best in Show I was able to tell my story and hear advice from the elders. I also got to meet the Best in Show in the adult category and see what the preferences are for the adults. The experience altogether was serial and just so fun because I also got to meet some of the other Teens' who got accepted too. Another reason for its meaningfulness was its support of local and statewide Black artists, we already know that Black people tend to be pushed aside in society and have our abilities downplayed. But with Black Creativity, they deliberately made it to exemplify the works we create and continue to push the promotion of Black artists. Especially the young Black artists like me who are often told that art isn't a career or sustainable enough to live. Now, winning in the show might not pay the bills but getting an extra $2,000 in the bank is better than nothing (the $2,000 is the winning prize for Best in Show Adult category). But even if you don't win, you gain that public exposure that can result in clients if you are a freelance artist like me. I would just like to see the continuance of diversity amongst local and other artists. I feel that artists are too often downplayed because of AI and people's understanding of art. People who don't know anything about art and drawing think it's easy and something that isn't worth the value some artists charge. I think holding more events like these would help put young artists like me who are now stepping out into the world gain that exposure to be seen or scouted by companies to work for. I know personally that I generate A LOT of artwork over the years and would love to display or potentially sell it instead of having it at home collecting dust. The last thing I want to see is confidence in our local artists. I know kids who have work can easily win contests or exhibitions but don't do it because they feel their work isn't good enough. I just think we should help encourage the younger artists to apply themselves into something that can benefit their future.

As a young Black artist, I've noticed how in art or cartoons Black people weren't represented as much as they should be and if they were it would be a bad stereotype. While watching cartoons growing up, finding a character to relate to was everything. I remember watching Winx Club and loving Bloom at first sight but when they introduced Aisha I instantly gravitated to her because she looked like me. What really stuck with me was how all the girls had a boyfriend but her. When she eventually gets hers they kill him off, giving her two white love interests. I felt that there was something to be done with that because the message it was giving is that black love ends in tragedy. Due to the little representation I see in cartoons, instead of wishing that producers make more inclusive characters. I decided to take it upon myself to be the one to come up with those characters. My passion derives from bringing inclusion to animated comics or stories. I want to share the experiences of Black backgrounds for everyone to see and understand, making something that not only Black girls can look up to but something they can see themselves in too. I've demonstrated leadership by assisting the younger artists in my school. Since I am a senior and took all the classes for art, I know the techniques and work that is done in the courses. I took a sophomore under my wing to help her get into contests I've previously done and tell her about the art classes I'm currently taking. I know after winning Best in Show for the Griffin Museum of Science & Industry they are looking up to me, I am an example of what they could be next year. I hope to create more art for the betterment of my people and add another piece to my community's rich history. I want to be an example for the younger generations to show them that everything that they hear about artists isn't true and it is possible to have a career as an artist. It's my utmost pride and joy to see my art influencing the younger generation and giving them something they can look at and relate to. I want my art to be more inclusive to not only my race but others because I believe in representation across all boards but with the majority reflecting me since I'm a Black artist. All my characters as of now are minorities; black, asian, and hispanic but I want to bring more representation to my people without having to black wash existing characters. Books like Avatar The Last AirBender and My Hero Academia shaped my goal of providing and storyboarding more black characters because of the few Black characters featured within those books/manga. Characters like Katara, Kora, and Miriko gave me characters I can see myself in and take inspiration from. To how they interact with other characters to their character designs, that's how I knew I wanted to create a world for my original characters to live and exist in.

Many things in life can influence artistic expression and for me it was when I emotionally went through tough times. As a recovering people pleaser, I drew some pieces to help cope with my emotions. I let the experiences I've been through flow into my art to make it feel more alive. The more I do art, the more I discover myself. In recent times I had to really question myself on why I do certain things. Why do I choose these colors, why do I have the tendency to draw girls, why did I choose this pose. It's through my art that I can ask myself these things and explore the complexities of my life. The process of making art allowed me to delve into my thoughts and fears, finally having a way to put them to rest and comfortably confront them. In a way, art is my personal version of therapy. Allowing me to revisit past memories and get clarity. Art has been used as a form of expression by making a statement. For example the Harlem Renaissance, Black people used music and visual art to project the struggle they faced from oppression. From creating paintings to singing blues, it all was a way to tell their story and open the eyes of America to what they have been through. It was effective too because the Black community was able to gain more control over how they would be represented, laying the framework for the Civil Rights Movement. As an artist, I feel it's my job to engage and interact with the viewer. Art is meant to be something you see and feel just like the artists themselves. The work I submitted shows my dedication to representing my community. I'm willing to continue to create art for the betterment of my people, to add another piece to my community's rich history. To be an example for the generations above and below me, to show them that everything that they hear about artists isn't true, and give them something they can look at and relate to. I want my art to be more inclusive to more than just my race because I believe in representation across all boards but with the majority reflecting me since I'm a Black artist. All my characters as of now are minorities; black, asian, and hispanic but I want to bring more representation to my people without having to black wash existing characters. I want to change what is shown in animations about black people and how we aren't gangsters or a stereotype.

Art has always been an important part of my life, it was both a form of expression and a way to connect with other people. I'm passionate about my art medium because I feel personally it's my calling, I've been doing art for so long that it just comes naturally. I love the creative process, the sketching, and the satisfaction you get when you finish a piece. Ever since I was young I had an instinct to draw whatever I saw, whether it was my family, friends, or buildings. The people surrounding me always encouraged me and nurtured my creativity. Art for me was never just a hobby but a central part of who I am and how I express myself. I do a multitude of mediums, digital art to traditional art. All I get to convey the story of whatever my imagination comes up with, I get to generate a world for others to experience and step into. I knew with essentially this power I can change how people view certain topics, people, and cultures. Having the creativity to make anything without a format; that's what I really love about art. There's no rules to how you're supposed to create art, you just do it. I will be able to bring awareness to certain subjects and promote diversity. Whether I'm doing digital art, traditional art, or drawing portraits, all of them allow me to send a message that others can relate to. Having the ability to experiment, improve, and expand my artistic voice is the number one reason behind my dedication and passion. I chose this journey because it lets me express what's really on my mind while learning new ways to express myself freely. I am committed to the road I have paved for myself and my artistic skills, using my work to inspire others just like I have been. It has enhanced my life by discovering more about myself. In recent times, I had to really question myself on why I do certain things. Why do I choose these colors, why do I have the tendency to draw girls, why did I choose this pose. It's through my art that I can ask myself these things and explore the complexities of my life. The process of making art allowed me to delve into my thoughts and fears, finally having a way to put them to rest and comfortably confront them. In a way, art is my personal version of therapy. Allowing me to revisit past memories and get clarity.

Art has always been an important part of my life, it was both a form of expression and a way to connect with other people. I chose to pursue art because I feel personally it's my calling, I've been doing art for so long that it just comes naturally. I love the creative process, the sketching, and the satisfaction you get when you finish a piece. Ever since I was young I had an instinct to draw whatever I saw, whether it was my family, friends, or buildings. The people surrounding me always encouraged me and nurtured my creativity. Art for me was never just a hobby but a central part of who I am and how I express myself. My decision to continue pursuing the arts came long ago, I always knew I wanted to be an artist. Later pin pointing it to Illustrator and Graphic Designer. I knew with essentially this power I can change how people view certain topics, people, and cultures. Having the creativity to make anything without a format; that's what I really love about art. There's no rules to how you're supposed to create art, you just do it. I will be able to bring awareness to certain subjects and promote diversity. Whether I'm doing digital art, traditional art, or drawing portraits, all of them allow me to send a message that others can relate to. One way I am inspired artistically is from the cartoons I grew up on and animes I watch, I love mixing and matching elements from different genres to create something new. When taking an Aesthetics class at school, I was told this phrase. Nothing is original when it comes to art and that's fine because if someone didn't make that initial idea, what comes after wouldn't exist. Artists need each other in order to create more, it's just all in not stealing the idea. All of our creativity and findings bounce off each other and influence us to create more. The more I do art, the more I discover myself. In recent times since I'm taking AP Studio, I had to really question myself on why I do certain things. Why do I choose these colors, why do I have the tendency to draw girls, why did I choose this pose. It's through my art that I can ask myself these things and explore the complexities of my life. The process of making art allowed me to delve into my thoughts and fears, finally having a way to put them to rest and comfortably confront them. In a way, art is my personal version of therapy. Allowing me to revisit past memories and get clarity. As I continue to do art, I plan to pursue the road of growth. Having the ability to experiment, improve, and expand my artistic voice is the number one reason behind my dedication. I chose this journey because it lets me express what's really on my mind while learning new ways to express myself freely. I am committed to the road I have paved for myself and my artistic skills, using my work to inspire others just like I have been.

As a young Black artist, I feel it's my job to engage and interact with the viewer. Art is meant to be something you see and feel just like the artists themselves. My creative process is fairly simple, it can be divided as such: Research, Brainstorm, Sketch, Product. I first start with research because who doesn't go into anything head first. I do extensive searches on what colors to use, poses, clothing, and artists to see what will stick together. Next, I'll brainstorm. I'll take all those ideas and mix and match them to see what combinations go together. Sometimes I'll write out a short description of what I'm thinking to help keep the idea on track. Then I'll create sketches of my idea until I get the desired vision, here and there I'll backtrack to do more research or brainstorming if new ideas come. Lastly, I sit down and create the artwork. By this point my vision is solid and I'm drawing off my sketch. I want my artwork to represent me and people who look like me since Black representation in character art isn't always featured online. I let who I am show through my characters, I have 11 original characters. Each character represents a part of me as their personality. I also try to be more inclusive to more than just my race because I believe in representation across all boards but with the majority reflecting me since I'm a Black artist. All my characters as of now are minorities; black, asian, and hispanic but I want to bring more representation to my people without having to black wash existing characters. When I was younger and watching cartoons, Winx Club was my favorite to watch. I loved Bloom because I could relate to her but when they introduced Aisha I gravitated towards her because she looked like me. But there were still some subtle messages and what really stuck with me was how they treated her first love interest. They killed him off and gave her two white love interests. I felt that there was something to be done with that because the message it was giving is that black love ends in tragedy. Due to the little representation I see in cartoons, instead of wishing that producers make more inclusive characters. I decided to take it upon myself to be the one to come up with those characters. As a Black artist I feel that it's important to include not only my community but others too, to share the experiences of everybody for everyone to see and understand since my passion is to be an illustrator and graphic designer. I want to be and make something that not only Black girls can look up to, I want it to be something they can see themselves in too. I want to make a webcomic or graphic novel on the characters I have and written stories for them.

As a young Black artist, I've noticed how in art or cartoons Black people weren't represented as much as they should be and if they were it would be a bad stereotype. While watching cartoons growing up, finding a character to relate to was everything. I remember watching Winx Club and loving Bloom at first sight because I could relate to her and I saw myself in her but when they introduced Aisha I instantly gravitated to her because she looked like me. They didn't make her thicker or speak differently, they made her just like the rest of the girls. But there were still some subtle messages, she wasn't introduced until season 2 and they made her defensive. But what really stuck with me was how all the girls had a boyfriend but her. When she eventually gets hers they kill him off, giving her two white love interests. When I look at it now, it's weird how she was the only character that had a Black love interest that was replaced with two white love interests. I felt that there was something to be done with that because the message it was giving is that black love ends in tragedy. Due to the little representation I see in cartoons, instead of wishing that producers make more inclusive characters. I decided to take it upon myself to be the one to come up with those characters. As a Black artist I feel that it's important to include not only my community but others too, to share the experiences of everybody for everyone to see and understand since my passion is to be an illustrator and graphic designer. I want to be and make something that not only Black girls can look up to, I want it to be something they can see themselves in too. The resilience and dedication to my craft not only drives me to move forward but also my BFF. She saw first hand how my passion led me to reaching goals and achievements I never thought would happen. When we were both in middle school, she saw how I was submitting work to my school's literary arts magazine and later winning Second Best in the book. She was writing short stories and coming up with characters to go with it. Never was she into the arts or even think she could do art until she looked at my beginnings and where I am now. The fact that she saw what I can do and had enough confidence and a will to do it herself makes me want to continue on this journey of mine just so she has me as that beacon. When we got into high school I encouraged her to join EDDA which was my school's literary and arts magazine, to which this year won the Senior Essay Contest. My resilience to keep on creating work even when some didn't like it or thought it wouldn't be good enough only fueled me more to progress and her to keep trying to see what works for her. My display of discipline and passion for what I do gives her more confidence in what she wants to do, even if it's not in the art field. She knows that with hard work, self discipline, and confidence with one self. You can achieve goals you never thought were imaginable.

As an artist, I feel it's my job to engage and interact with the viewer. Art is meant to be something you see and feel just like the artists themselves. My creative process is fairly simple, it can be divided as such: Research, Brainstorm, Sketch, Product. I first start with research because who doesn't go into anything head first. I do extensive searches on what colors to use, poses, clothing, and artists to see what will stick together. Next, I'll brainstorm. I'll take all those ideas and mix and match them to see what combinations go together. Sometimes I'll write out a short description of what I'm thinking to help keep the idea on track. Then I'll create sketches of my idea until I get the desired vision, here and there I'll backtrack to do more research or brainstorming if new ideas come. Lastly, I sit down and create the artwork. By this point my vision is solid and I'm drawing off my sketch. I want my artwork to represent me and people who look like me since Black representation in character art isn't always featured online. I let who I am show through my characters, I have 11 original characters. Each character represents a part of me as their personality. I also try to be more inclusive to more than just my race because I believe in representation across all boards but with the majority reflecting me since I'm a Black artist. All my characters as of now are minorities; black, asian, and hispanic but I want to bring more representation to my people without having to black wash existing characters. Despite art giving various people an outlet of self expression, it holds its importance in society for its unique ability to be indispensable. Offering in a way a value that exceeds more than just aesthetics. It catches subjects like the human experience, cultures, emotions, and personal creativity. Art can reflect those complexities of life and give people the opportunity to express themselves. It has given people a way to capture and reflect on the human experience, throughout history artists were used to record history since cameras weren't a thing. From cave paintings to Egyptian Hieroglyphics to now, all show the history and story of us as a race. If it wasn't for artists all the things we know about Cavemen and ancient civilization would have been lost in time, thanks to them we see how life was for them and their cultural practices. Art in a way is a living history book that records and documents all societal shifts and revolutions.Take for example the Harlem Renaissance, Black people used music and visual art to project the struggle they faced from oppression. From creating paintings to singing blues, all was a way to tell their story and open the eyes of people to show them a day in their shoes. Showing that human experience and cultural enrichment. For the cherry on top it was effective, the Black community was able to gain more control over how they would be represented, laying the framework for the Civil Rights Movement. All in all, art is important because it tells the stories of those who are willing to create and be heard, opening the door to different people's worlds and cultures. Without art the world would be a gloomy, lost place due to the lack of history we would have.

Video Games impacted my life by providing me more than just entertainment, they were few of the first things that helped me develop academically and personally. I remember growing up playing Mario Kart, Kirby Air Ride, and Sonic Riders with my brother who was always beating me since he was better than me. Despite me being bad at the games I still played against him later being just as good as him, it taught me how practice makes perfect and eventually with time you'll improve. Every video game I've played, whether it's action or adventure, has taught me value that exceeds more than just what's on screen. Games like Minecraft that I've been playing since 2011 taught me that the skies are the limit when it comes to the mind's creativity, with the moral of the game being to explore your creativity. The game also shows a theme of you having the power to change the world but also in the lore of how we have to treat our planet. Along with the moral lessons, it also helped me with social connections. We all know that gamers get a bad rap for not being outside enough, having awful communication skills, and being isolated but that couldn't be more false when it comes to me because I thrive off of talking about video games. It was a way for me to connect to others and have topics to talk about when meeting someone new. Not only did it help me speak to people, it also helped collaborate with others. For example Super Smash Bros. when you play teams, having communication and cooperation is key when fighting. With that I learned the importance of teamwork, effective communication, and trust in others. Sometimes I would have to let someone else take the wheel and coordinate or compromise ideas to achieve something better; it also allowed me to give and take criticism that can help me in both personal and professional settings. I've always loved video games because of the amount of work that's put into them and since I'm an artist, the concept art that comes with it. The creativity and inspiration from real life that game developers use to create their fictional worlds inspires me to create literature versions of the games I see and play. I've personally taken games like Sonic Riders and Phantasy Star Online 2 as inspiration for my work and play them frequently for research but also the storytelling, I feel that a really good game has you coming back to it due to its storytelling. Take MDHR's game Cuphead for example, their games wouldn't have been a big hit if it didn't have a good story. Both the story and gameplay is fantastic and you can see the effort that was put into it, coming from someone who plays it. Lastly, video games impacted my life by how culturally diverse it is. It allowed me to connect to people all around, once I met someone from New Zealand. Playing with people from different parts of the world gave me access to others point of view and personal life experiences, expanding my knowledge of the world around me. With the gaming community being so diverse you hear stories and jokes from all over, creating moments you can tell later in life as a memory. I've made many connections through video games online and in real life, having a way to spend more time with them and find even ground.