From what I recall, ever since I was 4, I liked drawing and painting over any other activity and growing up, I always took school electives involved in the arts. I have taken ceramics, advanced art, and digital illustration all leading up to high school as well. But initially, I didn’t know what I wanted to pursue when I was in middle school, my family constantly pestered me with questions about what I wanted to do with my life, I was only 13, and I knew I wanted to do something involving art, but my family wanted a lawyer, a doctor, or someone who would guarantee economic stability and success. My family saw art as a joke, as a Latina growing up in a Latin household, art was, in their terms, “not going to bring you success.” During that time, I polluted my mind thinking maybe I shouldn’t do art, give up my dreams, and listen to my family. Back then I didn’t know how to respond and today I don’t respond at all due to fear of misjudgment and them not understanding that art is growing and becoming more successful than ever before. Today, I am more confident than ever, it is because of my contribution in high school that I am more confident than ever before! In my sophomore year, I took digital illustration, and through this class, I learned how to draw with a stylus and on an iPad, I have been so used to paper and paint, that this opened new doors for me without even realizing it. Eventually Junior year, I participated in my school's sticker design prom fundraiser. Eventually, my teacher, who was in charge of the fundraiser, contacted me and told me that she loved my designs and wanted me to make more. I gladly accepted and I became a part of the prom committee for some time. This experience exposed me to something I never would have imagined doing. During the process of my designs, I discovered graphic design through that same teacher who included me in the prom committee. I did some research, and that opened my eyes to a different level of design. I have never been so passionate about anything in my life. I thought to myself, this could be it, this is where I am meant to be. I knew that this was what I wanted to do because of my work for the past 4 months I volunteered to design stickers. My state of mind has thus solidified, and I was able to confront my family, saying loud and proud, I know what I want to do, I want to be a graphic designer! I have come so far and built my skills, no longer that lost 13-year-old girl doubting her ability to pursue an art career. My mind is made up and I won’t let anyone change that, I won’t let others make me believe something I am not. I look forward to college, and I hope to get into the school of my dreams to continue this path. However, through this process, I couldn’t do it all alone. I am grateful to the teacher who supported me along the way, and I am grateful to my favorite musical artist whom I looked up to and who has inspired some of my artwork. Especially the people who purchased my designs, I am forever so grateful to see those smiles, and I hope to make others around me happy and inspired through my art.

From what I recall, ever since I was 4, I liked drawing and painting over any other activity and growing up, I always took school electives involved in the arts. I have taken ceramics, advanced art, and digital illustration all leading up to high school as well. But initially, I didn’t know what I wanted to pursue when I was in middle school, my family constantly pestered me with questions about what I wanted to do with my life, I was only 13, and I knew I wanted to do something involving art, but my family wanted a lawyer, a doctor, or someone who would guarantee economic stability and success. My family saw art as a joke, as a Latina growing up in a Latin household, art was, in their terms, “not going to bring you success.” During that time, I polluted my mind thinking maybe I shouldn’t do art, give up my dreams, and listen to my family. Back then I didn’t know how to respond and today I don’t respond at all due to fear of misjudgment and them not understanding that art is growing and becoming more successful than ever before. Today, I am more confident than ever, it is because of my contribution in high school that I am more confident than ever before! In my sophomore year, I took digital illustration, and through this class, I learned how to draw with a stylus and on an iPad, I have been so used to paper and paint, that this opened new doors for me without even realizing it. Eventually Junior year, I participated in my school's sticker design prom fundraiser. Eventually, my teacher, who was in charge of the fundraiser, contacted me and told me that she loved my designs and wanted me to make more. I gladly accepted and I became a part of the prom committee for some time. This experience exposed me to something I never would have imagined doing. During the process of my designs, I discovered graphic design through that same teacher who included me in the prom committee. I did some research, and that opened my eyes to a different level of design. I have never been so passionate about anything in my life. I thought to myself, this could be it, this is where I am meant to be. I knew that this was what I wanted to do because of my work for the past 4 months I volunteered to design stickers. My state of mind has thus solidified, and I was able to confront my family, saying loud and proud, I know what I want to do, I want to be a graphic designer! I have come so far and built my skills, no longer that lost 13-year-old girl doubting her ability to pursue an art career. My mind is made up and I won’t let anyone change that, I won’t let others make me believe something I am not. I look forward to college, and I hope to get into the school of my dreams to continue this path. However, through this process, I couldn’t do it all alone. I am grateful to the teacher who supported me along the way, and I am grateful to my favorite musical artist whom I looked up to and who has inspired some of my artwork. Especially the people who purchased my designs, I am forever so grateful to see those smiles, and I hope to make others around me happy and inspired through my art.