I'm a storyteller when it comes to painting, drawing inspiration from lived experiences. I re-tell these experiences, whether positive or negative, to connect with others while also healing myself. I've focused my recent work on the hardships of my transgender identity for the AP Art Portfolio. While starting my first painting for the series, I grabbed the scenes from my head as if I were re-living them, picturing myself hiding in the bathroom stall while several men stormed in to barate me. I've never painted on a canvas so large, and it was my second time using oil paints. This was an intimidating experience; I felt like I wouldn't be able to complete it on time or that I would fail. Maybe I wasn't strong enough to paint such a scary moment. Instead, this piece helped me grow as an artist, enabling me to overcome my fears. Not only that, it healed me; I no longer thought of the hate crime as a traumatic experience, but as an experience that gave me something beautiful. I used to recall the events and couldn't help but cry; now I think of my painting. I think of how it gave me new experiences, such as winning awards, discovering new human connections, and bringing me to where I am now. Because of the series, I can now study art at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit with a scholarship. This was the first time as an artist that I looked deep within myself to paint. I realized before that I only created things that I thought looked cool or that I liked; I never tried to tell a story. Art made me take that next step, to go further into the unknown, even when I doubted myself. The outcome of this was growth, and I haven't stopped growing since. I also realized that my art, although about trans identity, does not have one meaning but multiple. This came to me after a mother cried over one of my watercolor paintings; she said it reminded her of a faint memory of her son. I felt a fulfillment and connection with the stranger I had just met, knowing that she was able to transform my painting into one of her own stories. These conversations I've had at galleries whilst people view my art gave me a reason to keep going. I want to tell more stories, no matter the medium, and I want to make people feel heard. I used to take my talents for granted, not realizing the power they had. However, it is clear to me that I can create a safe environment for others that I never had while growing up. I can become an advocate for minorities, especially the transgender community. I will use my art to communicate my beliefs in equality, love, and growth. I want to show people that no matter the hardships you've faced, there is always a way to find light. The lesson I learned and the one thing I want to share is that everything good takes time. I would work on communicating my beliefs throughout college and after I've graduated. I want to travel with a remote job, to move from being local and instead become global. I will experience new cultures, meet more people, and learn about traditions. All while sharing the universal language of art. I would love to tell the stories of others as well, and their struggles. I know that I can communicate inclusivity and equality more proficiently when I experience my travels. I hope to continue to grow.

Although Wicked, a musical fiction, is set in a fantasy world, it closely resembles the real world in many ways. It makes those who are different feel seen, heard, and uplifted. Wicked is not just about Elphaba's story; it is about telling a story of oppression that many people face historically to the present day. As a transgender man, I know what it feels like to grow up different and to be ostracized for not following the norm. This is why I was able to have a deep connection with the movie. It showed a reality that not many people are willing to accept; this is how minorities are treated. It shows what it is like to be discriminated against for your race, ethnicity, identity, sexual orientation, and much more. This is not a story about magic, wizards, or flying monkeys; it is a deeply tragic story that develops with self-love. When a minority receives hate for their differences, the way to survive is a deep self-love of staying true to themselves, fighting for what's right. That is exactly what Elphaba did. She stayed true to herself, even when being devastatingly betrayed and wrongly portrayed; she still knew deep down not to become a product of her environment. Elphaba reveals the injustices and flaws of the Emerald City's authoritarian ruler: the Wizard of Oz. She does this by standing up for another race that was being wrongly discriminated against because she knew exactly what it felt like. She knew it was wrong, and when her beliefs were put under pressure and her reputation was threatened, she stayed strong. These series of events are what follow before every movement or protest done against the government. Elphaba embodies real-world heroic figures who fought against racism, sexism, and discrimination. Such as Martin Luther King Jr. or Rosa Parks, and movements like the Stonewall Riots, or the Black Lives Matter protests. Wicked gives a voice to the silenced and undoubtedly opens the eyes of the many to the plays of oppression. Wicked fights against prejudice, injustice, and racism; it is a political parallel for human rights and equality. It is an example of what happens when those in power are not checked and are given unlimited authority. The message is to not repeat history, to fight for equality, and to always stay strong and fight for your beliefs. This is why I appreciate the movie Wicked so deeply. It tells a story in a magical world while also retelling stories in the real world.

When I experienced a hate crime, my life took a drastic turn, more so than when I first discovered I was transgender. It took a steep toll on my well-being, and I no longer felt connected to reality. Every day, I felt like an empty vessel, only able to observe my surroundings without emotion. The words “It was your fault” circled endlessly in my mind. That’s what my mom told me when I came home crying after school that day. I thought to myself: How could I have prevented the dozen men that piled into the bathroom to harass me, slam and hit my stall, and berate me with slurs, while I sat there, frozen? “What did you expect?” my brother asked after I opened up to him. I’m not sure what I expected. You don’t expect much when you use the bathroom like everyone else. Except, I’m not everyone else. I’m not seen as a human being deserving of rights, I’m seen as a political play, a predator to those around me, a “phase” to outgrow. To my parents, it was a disease that arrived overnight and infected their daughter, leaving behind someone they no longer recognized. I couldn’t sit and process these emotions. All I knew was: go. The constant arguments, lack of support, and the hate I received pushed me into a dark place. I can barely recall parts of the last few years. But I was able to make it through these hardships. I can say with confidence that now I am the happiest and healthiest I’ve ever been. I didn’t let the darkness of my mind defeat me. I became my own biggest supporter. I chose not to become a product or a victim of my environment. I took this dark animosity inside of me, it boiling over, and poured it into the thing I loved most: art. I created beautiful paintings, my art told stories that resonated with others, and people cried. They shared their own experiences with me. Within my darkness was a gift in disguise. It was only up to me to take that void and fill it with something beautiful. Through my pain, I found purpose, and a platform. I discovered I was not alone. For the first time, I felt truly seen. I turned an inhumane experience into something that connected with others, giving it humanity. They may have felt sympathy, but I no longer feel sorry for myself. I feel grateful because without those struggles, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I’ve earned scholarships, recognition, meaningful connections, and acceptance to my dream college to study art. My once dark mindset became the pivot toward success. I learned I could transform negativity into growth. What was meant to break me, built me. Now, I make it a goal to keep moving forward. I work out five days a week, eat healthy, and enjoy hobbies that inspire me. It's important that I make these goals, without them I would've never changed. Weigh lifting helps my energy levels, art helps process my emotions, these both keeping me balanced. Now I’m flourishing because I did not sit in resentment, I chose action. Every day I learn and seek new experiences. There will always be challenges, progress is never smooth, and we are always making progress. I fall behind sometimes, retreating to that dark place in my mind. But I always come back stronger, because I’ve grown to know what’s right for me. My message is simple: never give up. Because even in the darkest moments, insane self-belief can lead to insane outcomes.