"A true artist is not the one who is inspired, but one who inspires others." This quote from Salvador Dalí exemplifies what creativity is all about. It's not about being inspired. Being a true artist is about what you transmit and provoke in others with your art. Inspiration is everywhere. Just look outside the window and discover a world of possibilities. Anything can spark your creative mind. It could be something in nature that caught your attention, the inexplicable greatness of creation itself, or the look of the person next to you. We live in a world with so much diversity that it by itself serves as a propulsion for new and innovative ideas. I use what inspires me to motivate others to look at and discover the greatness that surrounds us. I strongly think that you should always excel in what you do and look for things that promote your personal and professional growth. Creativity is the core of any given art, and it is the ability we have to innovate. That is why I'm always looking for ways to innovate and be creative. I am convinced that we learn from every experience, even the bad ones. One of these not-so-good experiences was when my parents went through some economic hardships. Even when it was not something I had control over, experiencing it impacted my life. At this time, we lost our car and had to walk and take the bus everywhere. We also lost our house and ended up moving into a tiny basement where we had to sleep the four of us together in a small room. As hard as this was, it helped me develop a sense of gratefulness and gratitude. The thing that sustained us and kept us from giving up and quitting was that we stayed together no matter what we encountered. Our love gave us the strength to look above all difficulties and made us work together for a better future. Another problem that impacted my life has been my struggle with social anxiety. A few years ago, I was diagnosed with social anxiety. Contrary to what people think, social anxiety is not about wanting to be alone all the time. We want to have social interactions without feeling anxious or triggering a panic attack. It can be difficult and tiring, even more, when you keep trying to make it and quitting is not in your vocabulary. Creativity and music have become tools to cope with my emotions and gain control over them. Creativity allows me to share my beliefs, fears, struggles, and strengths. I believe that creativity empowers you and helps you overcome your insecurities. When you create something, you present a part of yourself to others. You are letting your guard down and being vulnerable, which takes a lot of courage. I want to use my art to create awareness and help others conquer their fears. Creativity serves as a tool that empowers me with the means to promote social justice. My love and passion for art give me a voice that will not get wasted. I promote fairness and justice and will always use my art to eradicate or fight injustice. Art provides me with a forum to share my creativity and life experiences with others. I'm proud to be an overcomer and will always use my creativity to inspire others.

Have you heard Marie Ann Radmacher's quote: Courage doesn't always roar, sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day that says, I will try again tomorrow? That quote describes my daily struggle. This year I was diagnosed with social anxiety. Contrary to what a lot of people think, social anxiety is not about being anti-social or wanting to be alone all the time. A lot of us with it wants nothing more than to be able to have social interactions without feeling anxious and triggering a panic attack. It can be difficult and tiring, even more, when you keep trying to make it and quitting is not in your vocabulary. Art and Music have become tools to cope with my emotions and gain control over them. Art has been an important part of my life because it's been therapeutic for me. Art gives me the courage I need to overcome my anxiety, and I've learned to know myself through my art. As Henry Matisse said: "Creativity takes courage." I believe that creativity empowers you and helps you overcome your insecurities. When you create something, you are presenting others a part of yourself, you are letting your guard down and letting yourself be vulnerable, and that takes a lot of courage. In order to overcome your struggles and take control of your mental health, it is crucial to accept your condition and admit that you need help. These are key in order to have success. Art has played a major role because it gives me a voice to share my beliefs, my fears, my struggles, and my strengths. I'm proud to be an overcomer, and I'm not afraid to share my story because I know that my experiences can lead others to regain control of their mental health.

I can't choose one favorite anime, is nearly impossible for me. All of my favorites have brought me comfort and joy, even when they make me cry or they’re not necessarily happy (I’m looking at you AOT). I get very attached to characters and I love finding characters I can relate to, it’s something I’ve always done since little. One of my top favorites is Haikyuu. I love everything about it from the characters to the storyline. It’s inspiring to see Hinata’s growth. He’s always determined to do his best and reach his goals. The characters are very lovable to the point where you find yourself wondering which team to root for. The characters are all so different so there’s something for everyone. Some of my favorites are Kenma, Bokuto, Hinata, and Yamaguchi. I’m so glad I decided to watch it. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who asked.

Just take a look outside the window, and you will see many possibilities. Inspiration is everywhere you look. Anything can spark your creative mind. It could be something in nature that caught up your attention, the inexplicable greatness of creation itself, or the look of the person next to you. We live in a world with so much diversity that it by itself serves as a propulsor for new and innovative ideas. One thing that inspires me is music. No wonder people always say that music is a universal language. I think music has a particular way to move people because music speaks to our souls. Listening to it is a joyful experience that produces a sense of belonging that sets my creative mind free. I am always looking for ways to innovate and be creative. Since I want to pursue a career in arts, this desire to be unique and innovative will be a great asset that will positively influence my path. For me, my art is the way I present myself to the world. It is my language, the tool to express my feelings and my thoughts. My art lets me show my unique style and my vision to others. My creativity gives me the courage I need to overcome my anxiety. I believe that it empowers you and helps you overcome your insecurities. When you create something, you are sharing a piece of yourself. You are letting your guard down, and letting yourself be vulnerable. As Henry Matisse used to say," Creativity takes a lot of courage." Who am I as an artist? I value originality and individuality a lot, and I try my best to present myself as whom I am. I love nature and all the beauty in it. I value every blessing I have and use my art to express myself. Art is helping me overcome my social anxiety. It is a tool to share my beliefs, fears, struggles, and strengths. I love to Illustrate because it is a raw form of art that speaks. Illustration opens a wide window of possibilities because there is always something new to discover and explore. I also love photography. Photography gives me a sense of empowerment. Being able to capture a moment, to express emotions and feelings in an image is a great feeling. No wonder why people say that an image can speak louder than words because that is how powerful and strong art is. Art provides me the forum to share my life experiences with others. For me, building a collective culture is super important because we learn from each other visions and perspectives. Our life experiences enrich our creative process and shape us. I am convinced that we learn from every experience we encounter, even the bad ones. These are the ones that fuel your determination and help you grow and thrive. And I believe that my experiences had made me a better artist because they have shaped me into whom I am today. This scholarship will be a great blessing, it will help me buy art materials to keep my creativity flowing.

"A true artist is not the one who is inspired, but one who inspires others." This quote from Salvador Dalí exemplifies what it is all about. It's not about being inspired. Being a true artist, it's about what you transmit and provoke in others with your art. My dad has been my influence because he abides by what this quote is all about. He is always teaching me how to make my art meaningful. He is always teaching me that anything can spark my imagination. Just take a look outside the window, and you will see many possibilities. Inspiration is everywhere you look. Anything can spark your creative mind. It could be something in nature that caught up your attention, the inexplicable greatness of creation itself, or the look of the person next to you. We live in a world with so much diversity that it by itself serves as a propulsion for new and innovative ideas. One thing that inspires me is music. No wonder people always say that music is a universal language. I think music has a particular way to move people because music speaks to our souls. Listening to it is a joyful experience and produces a sense of belonging that sets my creative mind free. I am always looking for ways to innovate and be creative. My art is the way I present myself to the world. It is my language, the tool I use to express my feelings and my thoughts. My art lets me show my unique style and my vision to others. I try to enrich my artistic abilities by exposing myself to new techniques and new ideas. It's been a crucial part of my life because it's been therapeutic for me. Art gives me the courage I need to overcome my anxiety. I believe that it empowers you and helps you overcome your insecurities. When you create something, you share a piece of yourself and letting yourself be vulnerable. As Henry Matisse used to say," Creativity takes a lot of courage." Who am I as an artist? I value originality and individuality a lot, and I try my best to present myself as whom I am. I love nature and all the beauty in it. I value every blessing I have and use my art to express myself. Art is helping me overcome my social anxiety. It is a tool to share my beliefs, fears, struggles, and strengths. I love to Illustrate because it is a raw form of art that speaks. Illustration opens a wide window of possibilities because there is always something new to discover and explore. I also love photography. Photography gives me a sense of empowerment. Being able to capture a moment, to express emotions and feelings in an image is a great feeling. No wonder why people say that an image can speak louder than words because that is how powerful and strong art is. Art provides me the forum to share my life experiences with others. For me, building a collective culture is super important because we learn from each other visions and perspectives, and we can motivate and influence our respective creative processes. Our life experiences enrich our creative process and shape us. I am convinced that we learn from every experience we encounter, even the bad ones. These are the ones that fuel your determination and help you grow and thrive. And I believe that my experiences had made me a better artist because they have shaped me into the person I am today.

"A true artist is not the one who is inspired, but one who inspires others." This quote from Salvador Dalí exemplifies what it is all about. It's not about being inspired. Being a true artist, it's about what you transmit and provoke in others with your art. Inspiration is everywhere. Just take a look outside the window, and you will see a world of possibilities. Anything can spark your creative mind. It could be something in nature that caught up your attention, the inexplicable greatness of creation itself, or the look of the person next to you. We live in a world with so much diversity that it by itself serves as propulsion for new and innovative ideas. I use what inspires me to motivate others to look and discover the greatness within everything that surrounds us. I strongly think that you should always excel in what you do and look for things that promote your personal and professional growth. I'm always looking for ways to innovate and be creative. I am convinced that we learn from every experience we encounter, even the bad ones. One of these not-so-good experiences was when my parents went through some economic hardships. Even when it was not something I had control over, experiencing it impacted my life. At this time, we ended up losing our car and had to walk and take the bus everywhere. We also lost our house, and we ended up moving into a very tiny basement in which we had to sleep all together in a small room. As hard as this was, it helped me develop a sense of gratefulness and gratitude. The thing that sustained us and kept us from giving up and quitting was that we stayed together no matter what we encountered. Our love gave us the strength to look above all difficulties and made us work together for a better future. Another problem that impacted my life has been my struggle with social anxiety. This year I was diagnosed with social anxiety. Contrary to what people think, social anxiety is not about wanting to be alone all the time. We want nothing more than to have social interactions without feeling anxious or triggering a panic attack. It can be difficult and tiring, even more, when you keep trying to make it and quitting is not in your vocabulary. Art and music have become tools to cope with my emotions and gain control over them. Art gives me a voice to share my beliefs, fears, struggles, and strengths. I believe that creativity empowers you and helps you overcome your insecurities. When you create something, you are presenting others as a part of yourself, you are letting your guard down and letting yourself be vulnerable, and that, as the quote says, takes a lot of courage. I want to use my art to create awareness and help others conquer their fears. Creativity serves as a tool that empowers me with the means to promote social justice. I know that my love and passion for art are giving me a voice that will not get wasted. I promote fairness and justice, and I know that I will always use my art to eradicate or fight injustice. Art provides me the forum to share my creativity and my life experiences with others. I'm proud to be an overcomer, and I will always use my art to inspire others.

Mahatma Gandhi used to say: "Be the change you wish to see in the world." I believe that to make real change in this world we need to start within ourselves. When we make changes within ourselves as a consequence, everything starts changing. Art is my medium to communicate ideas and beliefs. Creativity serves as a tool that empowers me with the means to promote social justice. Even that I am pursuing a career in Arts and not in any social area, I know that my love and passion for art is giving me a voice that will not get wasted. I promote fairness and justice, and I know that I will always use my art to eradicate or fight injustice. I strongly think that my art is a crucial tool in serving my community and my country. I have a lot to give. Art provides me the forum to share my creativity and my life experiences with others. I am convinced that we learn from every experience we encounter, even the bad ones. These are the ones that fuel your determination and help you grow and thrive. One of these experiences that changed my perspective on life was when my parents went through some economic hardships. Even when it was not something I had control over, experiencing it impacted my life. At this time, we ended up losing our car and had to walk and take the bus everywhere. We also lost our house, and we ended up moving into a very tiny basement in which we had to sleep all together in a small room. As hard as this was, it helped me develop a sense of gratefulness and gratitude. I learned to appreciate everything I have and that there is always a reward for those who persevere. But if you ask me, the most valuable lesson I learned from all this was to value what is important, my family. The thing that sustained us and kept us from giving up and quitting was that we stayed together no matter what we encountered. Our love gave us the strength to look above all difficulties and made us work together for a better future. Another problem that impacted my life has been my struggle with social anxiety. Have you heard Marie Ann Radmacher's quote: Courage doesn't always roar, sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day that says, I will try again tomorrow? That quote describes my daily struggle. This year I was diagnosed with social anxiety. Contrary to what people think, social anxiety is not about wanting to be alone all the time. We want nothing more than to have social interactions without feeling anxious or triggering a panic attack. It can be difficult and tiring, even more, when you keep trying to make it and quitting is not in your vocabulary. Art and music have become tools to cope with my emotions and gain control over them. Art gives me a voice to share my beliefs, fears, struggles, and strengths. It has been a crucial part of my life because it's been therapeutic for me. Art gives me the courage I need to overcome my anxiety, and I've learned to know myself through my art. As Henry Matisse said: "Creativity takes courage." I believe that creativity empowers you and helps you overcome your insecurities. When you create something, you are presenting others as a part of yourself, you are letting your guard down and letting yourself be vulnerable, and that, as the quote says, takes a lot of courage. I would like to help young people become overcomers, with my art. I want to use my art to create awareness and help others conquer their fears and this scholarship will help me do that. All the difficulties changed my perspective because they taught me to focus more on the little blessings that I receive every day instead of focusing on what I lack. I started treasuring everything, and I started to set better priorities. These lessons helped me gain a lot of determination and resilience and filled me with a great sense of gratefulness. I'm so grateful for all the things and opportunities I've had that I try to pay it forward whenever I can. That is what serving others is all about. I'm proud to be an overcomer, and I'm not afraid to share my story because I know that my experiences can lead others to be overcomers like me.

Last year was full of uncertainty and loss, but it was also full of reflection and lots of learning experiences. For me, 2020 was the year of Changes, some good and some not so good. Everything has changed, and not everybody tends to cope with all these changes. All losses are hard. No one likes to lose the things they love. COVID caused some devastating effects, such as the death of loved ones, loss of employment, loss of feeling safe, and instability. But another thing that COVID has provoked is the loss of human contact. And this is worrying because human interactions are essential to maintain emotional stability. Human touch is key to survival in a world that needs healing. A warm hug, a back-patting, a kiss, or a handshake, all these are expressions of love and care, and they are required to feel safe and complete. Sadly COVID has taken all of them out of the equation because of safety measures. The efforts to prevent the spreading of this virus affected the way we do things forever. Things like school, work, shopping, among others, are being rethought and restructured to serve our new reality. I've lost a lot during this pandemic, not only at school but inside my family environment. I was expecting my senior year with excitement, but it has been way different from what I imagined because of all these changes. Just imagining that all my High School memories will be full of social distancing and behind masks makes me sad. I also feel like I'm losing lots of great memories with my friends and family, like every Summer my grandma and grandpa used to visit us from Puerto Rico, and this year that couldn't happen because of all the risks. I miss them so much, and even that we see each other on facetime or Zoom is not the same as sharing quality time with them and being able to hug them. I also was happy because I was going to see my favorite Kpop group BTS at a concert for the first time, but because of COVID, those plans shattered. Even when the fatal effects of COVID 19 are extensive, and I can be here all day explaining how much we've lost, many positive things are also happening. I have seen how neighbors selflessly help their neighbors, how distant relatives now connect more, parents sharing more quality time with their children, people are looking for more of God and his Word, among other things. Yes, we have lost a lot, but these losses promoted an auto analysis that changed how we see and appreciate things. This analysis was overdue, and thanks to all the time we've had to reflect on our lives and the way we were living, we now have the blessing to make amends and change things for good. It is curious how from the not-so-good experiences, I've learned some valuable lessons. I have learned to set better priorities in my life, to not take things or people for granted. I've also acquired the understanding that I should treasure the time I have with others and not wait for tomorrow because tomorrow isn't guaranteed. These experiences we had to deal with showed me that we need to value our blessings more and be more thankful for them. I look forward to 2021 with optimism. I'm hopeful that we learned the lesson, and we will start making ourselves accountable for our acts. I hope that we start valuing life and not taking it for granted. If this whole situation with the coronavirus did not help us realize the fragility of life nor reminded us of the things that we should have as a priority and value more in our lives, unfortunately, nothing will.

Just take a look outside the window, and you will see many possibilities. Inspiration is everywhere you look. Anything can spark your creative mind. It could be something in nature that caught up your attention, the inexplicable greatness of creation itself, or the look of the person next to you. We live in a world with so much diversity that it by itself serves as a propulsor for new and innovative ideas. One thing that inspires me is music. No wonder people always say that music is a universal language. I think music has a particular way to move people because music speaks to our souls. Listening to it is a joyful experience that produces a sense of belonging that sets my creative mind free. I am always looking for ways to innovate and be creative. Since I want to pursue a career in arts, this desire to be unique and innovative will be a great asset that will positively influence my path. For me, my art is the way I present myself to the world. It is my language, the tool to express my feelings and my thoughts. My art lets me show my unique style and my vision to others. My creativity gives me the courage I need to overcome my anxiety. I believe that it empowers you and helps you overcome your insecurities. When you create something, you are sharing a piece of yourself. You are letting your guard down, and letting yourself be vulnerable. As Henry Matisse used to say," Creativity takes a lot of courage." Who am I as an artist? I value originality and individuality a lot, and I try my best to present myself as whom I am. I love nature and all the beauty in it. I value every blessing I have and use my art to express myself. Art is helping me overcome my social anxiety. It is a tool to share my beliefs, fears, struggles, and strengths. I love to Illustrate because it is a raw form of art that speaks. Illustration opens a wide window of possibilities because there is always something new to discover and explore. I also love photography. Photography gives me a sense of empowerment. Being able to capture a moment, to express emotions and feelings in an image is a great feeling. No wonder why people say that an image can speak louder than words because that is how powerful and strong art is. Art provides me the forum to share my life experiences with others. For me, building a collective culture is super important because we learn from each other visions and perspectives. Our life experiences enrich our creative process and shape us. I am convinced that we learn from every experience we encounter, even the bad ones. These are the ones that fuel your determination and help you grow and thrive. And I believe that my experiences had made me a better artist because they have shaped me into whom I am today.

I love this quote from Aristoteles that says: "It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light." I know by experience that this quote is true. I'm convinced that we learn from every experience we encounter, even the bad ones. These are the ones that fuel your determination and help you grow and thrive. I had to overcome many difficult times, and now I'm a better artist because they have shaped me into the person I am today. One of these experiences that changed my perspective on life was when my parents went through some economic hardships. Even when it was not something I had control over, experiencing it impacted my life. At this time, we ended up losing our car and had to walk and take the bus everywhere. We also lost our house, and we ended up moving into a very tiny basement in which we had to sleep all together in a small room. As hard as this was, it helped me develop a sense of gratefulness and gratitude. In the middle of these losses, I learned not to take anything for granted. But if you ask me, the most valuable lesson I learned from all this was to value what is important, my family. The thing that sustained us and kept us from giving up and quitting was that we stayed together no matter what we encountered. Our love and our faith gave us the strength to look above all difficulties and keep ongoing. Another problem that impacted my life has been my struggle with social anxiety. Have you heard Marie Ann Radmacher's quote: Courage doesn't always roar, sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day that says, I will try again tomorrow? That quote describes my daily struggle. This year I was diagnosed with social anxiety. Contrary to what people think, social anxiety is not about being anti-social or wanting to be alone all the time. We want nothing more than to have social interactions without feeling anxious or triggering a panic attack. It can be difficult and tiring, even more, when you keep trying to make it quitting is not in your vocabulary. Art gives me the courage I need to overcome my anxiety, and I've learned to know myself through my art. As Henry Matisse said: "Creativity takes courage." I believe that creativity empowers you and helps you overcome your insecurities. When you create something, you are presenting others a piece of yourself. You are letting your guard down and letting yourself be vulnerable, that takes a lot of courage. My advice to others is that you need to reach for help, and you will be surprised by the number of people you have by your side. Art is giving me a voice to share my beliefs, my fears, struggles, and strengths. It is empowering me and giving me a platform to share my testimony with others. When things seem impossible, if you apply what you've learned, you can overcome anything. If we are determined to make amends and grow, the possibilities become endless. All these lessons made me gain a lot of determination and resilience. They filled me with a great sense of gratefulness and changed my perspective because they taught me to focus more on the blessings that I receive every day instead of focusing on what I lack. I started treasuring everything I acquire more. I try to make better choices and set better priorities. I also learned how to administer my belongings better and to take better care of them. Gratefulness for what I have serves as an inspiration to me and drives me to give back. I'm proud to be an overcomer, and I'm not afraid to share my story because I know that my experiences can help others overcome their problems.

Albert Einstein once said: "In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity" That quote is inspiring for me. It gives me a different view of my struggles. This year I was diagnosed with social anxiety. Contrary to what people think, social anxiety is not about being anti-social or wanting to be alone all the time. We want nothing more than to have social interactions without triggering a panic attack. It can be difficult and tiring, even more, when you keep trying to overcome it and quitting is not in your vocabulary. Art has been a crucial part of my life because it's been therapeutic for me. Art gives me the courage I need to overcome my anxiety. As Henry Matisse said: "Creativity takes courage." I believe that creativity empowers you and helps you overcome your insecurities. When you create something, you are presenting a piece of yourself to others. You are letting your guard down, letting yourself be vulnerable, and that takes a lot of courage. I've learned so many things in the past year. To my surprise, I've learned that the number of people struggling with social anxiety is higher than I imagined. That anxiety does not have to rule your life, that there are coping mechanisms to ease and control it. All these coping mechanisms are giving me control over my emotions. I also learned that every individual is different, and what works for one person does not necessarily work for you. It is a trial and error game, and you have to be open to immerse yourself in it. It's crucial to accept that you need help to regain your health. It is also fundamental to have support groups and therapy to overcome any mental illness. You don't have to be ashamed nor discouraged because of it. On the contrary, when you recognize the power of therapy and start enjoying its benefits, you are taking control of your life. You only have to reach for help, and you will be surprised by the number of people on your side. Another tool that has helped me a lot is to use my abilities and talents to express my feelings and emotions. Art gives me a voice to share my beliefs, fears, struggles, and strengths. As you can see, I'm very passionate about art, and I try to continuously enrich my artistic abilities by exposing myself to new techniques and new ideas. That's what learning is all about. But you have to be open to acquiring knowledge from every experience, even the bad ones. These are the ones that fuel your determination and help you grow and thrive. I had to overcome many difficulties, and now I'm a better artist because they have shaped me into the person I am today. One of these experiences that changed my perspective on life was when my parents went through some economic hardships. At this time, we ended up losing our car and had to walk and take the bus everywhere. We also lost our house, and we ended up moving into a very tiny basement in which we had to sleep all together in a small room. As hard as this was, it helped me develop a sense of gratefulness and gratitude. In the middle of these losses, I learned I should always appreciate and value what I have. We should not take anything for granted. But if you ask me, the most valuable lesson I learned from all this was to value what is important, my family. The thing that sustained us and kept us from giving up was that we stayed together no matter what we encountered. Our love gave us the strength to look above all difficulties. The important thing I want you to learn is to be open to learn from difficult times and to see beyond it. If we are determined to learn and grow, the possibilities become endless. All these lessons made me gain a lot of determination and resilience. I'm proud to be an overcomer, and I'm not afraid to share my story because I know that my experiences can help others acquire a different perspective that could lead them to overcome their problems.

Inspiration is everywhere you look. Anything can spark your creative mind. It could be something in nature that caught up your attention, the inexplicable greatness of creation itself, or the look of the person next to you. We live in a world with so much diversity that it by itself serves as a propulsor for new and innovative ideas. There are so many things that inspire me, but one of them is music. No wonder people always say that music is a universal language. I think it has a particular way to move people because it speaks to our souls. That feeling I get when I'm listening to my favorite songs is indescribable. Listening to it is a joyful experience and produces a sense of belonging that sets my creativity free. I'm always looking for ways to innovate and be creative. I strongly think that you should always excel in what you do and look for things that promote your personal and professional growth. Since I want to pursue a career in arts, this desire to be unique and innovative will be a great asset that will positively influence my path. I am convinced that we learn from every experience we encounter, even the bad ones. These are the ones that fuel your determination and help you grow and thrive. I had to overcome many difficulties, and now I'm a better artist because they have shaped me into the person I am today. One of these experiences that changed my perspective on life was when my parents went through some economic hardships. At this time, we ended up losing our car and had to walk and take the bus everywhere. We also lost our house, and we ended up moving into a very tiny basement in which we had to sleep all together in a small room. As hard as this was, it helped me develop a sense of gratefulness and gratitude. In the middle of these losses, I learned I should always appreciate and value what I have. We should not take anything for granted. But if you ask me, the most valuable lesson I learned from all this was to value what is important, my family. The thing that sustained us and kept us from giving up and quitting was that we stayed together no matter what we encountered. Our love gave us the strength to look above all difficulties. Another problem that impacted my life has been my struggle with social anxiety. Contrary to what people think, social anxiety is not about being anti-social or wanting to be alone all the time. We want nothing more than to have social interactions without triggering a panic attack. It can be difficult and tiring, even more, when you keep trying to make it quitting is not in your vocabulary. For me, my art is the way I present myself to the world. It is my language, the tool I use to express my feelings and my thoughts. It is my gift to the world, my art lets me show my unique style and my vision to others. I believe that art empowers you and helps you overcome your insecurities. When you create something, you are sharing a piece of yourself. You are letting your guard down, and being vulnerable. As Henry Matisse used to say," Creativity takes a lot of courage." Who am I as an artist? I value originality and individuality a lot, and I try my best to present myself as whom I am. I love nature and all the beauty in it. I value every blessing I have and use my art to express myself. I love to Illustrate because it is a raw form of art that speaks. I also love photography. Photography gives me a sense of empowerment. Being able to capture a moment, to express emotions and feelings in an image is a great feeling. No wonder why people say that images can speak louder than words because that is how powerful and strong art is. Art provides me the forum to share my life experiences with others. All these situations made me gain a lot of determination and resilience. I'm proud to be an overcomer, and I'm not afraid to share my story because I know that my experiences can help others acquire a different perspective that could lead them to triumph.

Have you heard Gandhi's quote: "Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength". This quote means a lot to me because it encourages me to keep on going no matter what. This year I was diagnosed with social anxiety. Contrary to what people think, social anxiety is not about being anti-social or wanting to be alone all the time. We want nothing more than to have social interactions without feeling anxious or triggering a panic attack. It can be difficult and tiring, even more, when you keep trying to overcome it and quitting is not in your vocabulary. Whenever I am anxious or sad, I like to listen to music, read, draw, or dance to help distract and calm myself. Art and music have become tools to cope with my emotions and gain control over them. Art gives me the courage I need to overcome my anxiety. Art is giving me a voice, it is empowering me, and giving me a platform to share my testimony with others. I've been through many changes in my life. One of these experiences that changed my perspective on life was when my parents went through some economic hardships. Even when it was not something I had control over, experiencing it impacted my life. At this time, we ended up losing our car and had to walk and take the bus everywhere. We also lost our house, and we ended up moving into a very tiny basement in which we had to sleep all together in a small room. As hard as this was, it helped me develop a sense of gratefulness and gratitude. I learned to appreciate everything I have and that there is always a reward for those who persevere. As Gandhi's quote says, the important thing is to decide to not surrender, is to learn from your struggles and losses, and keep on going forward. In the middle of these losses, I learned to appreciate and value what I have. We should not take anything for granted. But if you ask me, the most valuable lesson I learned from all this was to value what is important, my family. The thing that sustained us and kept us from giving up was that we stayed together no matter what we encountered. Our love and our faith gave us the strength to look above all difficulties and made us work together for a better future. The important thing I want you to learn is to be open to learn from difficult times and to end negative cycles. If we are determined to make amends and grow, the possibilities become endless. All these lessons made me gain a lot of determination and resilience. I'm proud to be an overcomer, and I'm not afraid to share my story because I know that my experiences can help others acquire a different perspective that could lead them to triumph.

Where do I get inspiration as an artist? I get inspiration from life itself. Just take a look outside the window, and you will see many possibilities. Inspiration is everywhere you look. Anything can spark your creative mind. It could be something that caught up your attention, the inexplicable greatness of creation itself, or the look of the person next to you. We live in a world with so much diversity that it serves as a propulsion for new and innovative ideas. When I started analyzing what type of art to do that conveys the message: Conserve Life, I immediately remembered a piece I did last year for the painting class; an artwork called, A walk in Nature. This piece gave me the inspiration for the artwork I'm presenting for this award. The art piece I want to submit is called Deforestation Madness. Why Deforestation Madness? I used this theme because deforestation is not just about us losing trees. We are losing much more; we are losing ecosystems, habitats, and lives because of its devastating effects. We need to make conscience and be more accountable for our actions and choices. Unfortunately, as the quote of the art says: "We are living in this world as if we had another one to go to." We are passing through this world thinking about possessing every piece of land, and we don't think about the consequences of our actions. Life is a gift, and it is a precious blessing that we should not take for granted. We should appreciate lives more and be aware of their value, and one way to do that is by taking care of nature and appreciate it as the precious gift it is.

I strongly think that you should always excel in what you do and look for things that promote your personal and professional growth. I'm always looking for ways to innovate and be creative. Creativity is the core of any given art, and it is the ability we have to innovate. Since I want to pursue a career in arts, this desire to be unique and innovative will be a great asset that will positively influence my path. I'm always looking for ways to promote growth in my artistic abilities and love to move around environments that influence and inspire my creative mind. Colleges have so many great programs, lots of new and exciting opportunities that I know will not only give me the tools and platform I need to enrich my college years but will also help me strengthen my network of peers that are creative like me. It will challenge me to develop my interpersonal and communicative skills and will provide the support and environment strongly needed in the first years of college. I know that being part of any college family, a family that has a strong sense of purpose, leadership, and innovation, will be a great opportunity for me. But life is not only what you take is most importantly about what you can give. I personally think that I have a lot to give, and any college will provide me the forum to share my creativity, my unique style, and my vision with others. I also think that my determination and my strong desire to collaborate with other artist and learn from them makes me the perfect candidate to be part of any college. For me, building a collective culture is super important because we learn from each other experiences, and we can motivate and influence our respective creative processes. I know that my life experiences, my love for art, and my multicultural background are great assets that will continue influencing my development as an artist. I’m convinced that we learn from every experience we encounter, even the bad ones. These are the ones that fuel your determination and help you grow and thrive, and I believe that my experiences had made me a better artist because they have shaped me into the person I’m today.

Art has been an important part of my life. Since my parents also love art, they've exposed me to creativity from a very early age through things like books, crafts, music, and many other things. By pursuing an Art based academic program, I hope to acquire all the knowledge and experiences necessary to become a complete artist. I want to improve and develop my skills and abilities up to a professional level to pursue other goals and dreams. I'm always looking for ways to promote growth, and I love to move around environments that influence and inspire my creative mind. Colleges have exciting opportunities that I know will not only give me the tools and platform I need to enrich my college years, but it will also help me strengthen my network of peers that are creative like me. Being part of any College family with a strong sense of purpose, leadership, and innovation will be a blessing. I am very passionate about art because it gives me the courage I need to overcome my anxiety. I believe that creativity empowers you and helps you overcome your insecurities. When you create something, you are presenting others a piece of yourself, you are letting your guard down and letting yourself be vulnerable, and creativity takes a lot of courage as Henry Matisse always said. I think that I have a lot to give. Art provides me the forum to share my creativity and my life experiences with others. I am convinced that we learn from every experience we encounter, even the bad ones. These are the ones that fuel your determination and help you grow and thrive. And I believe that my experiences had made me a better artist because they have shaped me into the person I am today.

Mahatma Gandhi used to say: "Be the change you wish to see in the world." I believe that to make a change in this world, we need to start in ourselves. When we make changes within ourselves as a consequence, everything starts changing. It is the same with mental health. If we want to overcome it, we need to take charge, accept our condition, and seek help. This year I was diagnosed with social anxiety. Contrary to what people think, social anxiety is not about being anti-social or wanting to be alone all the time. We want nothing more than to have social interactions without feeling anxious or triggering a panic attack. It can be difficult and tiring when you keep doing your best to overcome a mental illness or when quitting is not in your vocabulary. Art and Music have become tools to gain control over my emotions. Art gives me the courage I need to overcome my anxiety, and I've learned to know myself through my art. As Henry Matisse said: "Creativity takes courage." I believe that creativity empowers you and helps you overcome your insecurities. When you create something, you are presenting a part of yourself. You are letting your guard down and letting yourself be vulnerable, and doing this takes a lot of courage. As you can see, art is playing a crucial role in my process by providing me a voice to share my beliefs, my fears, my struggles, and my strengths. To overcome your insecurities and take control of your mental health it is crucial to accept your condition and admit that you need help. These are the keys to having success. Therapy is a great tool to overcome any mental illness, and you don't have to be ashamed nor discouraged because of it. On the contrary, when you start therapy, you regain control of your life. I'm proud to be an overcomer, and I am not ashamed to share my story because I know they can help others acquire a different perspective that could lead them to success.

What we thought was another temporary illness that we could overcome easily is threatening the stability of the World and has changed life itself forever. Not only have we lost many irreplaceable things, but this virus has also filled us with uncertainty and fear. Beyond the evident and devastating effects, such as the loss of lives, employment, safety, and stability, another negative thing that COVID has provoked is the loss of human contact. And this is worrying because human interactions are essential to maintain emotional stability. Human touch is key to survival in a world that needs healing. A warm hug, a back-patting, a kiss, a handshake, all are expressions of love and care, and they are required to feel safe and complete. Sadly COVID has taken all of them out of the equation because of safety measures. All the efforts to prevent the spreading of this virus have affected the way we do things, like school, work, shopping, among others. Everything has changed, and not everybody tends to cope with all these changes. I've lost a lot during this pandemic, not only at school but inside my family environment. I was expecting my senior year with excitement, but it has been way different from what I imagined because of all these changes. Just imagining that all my High School memories will be full of social distancing and behind masks makes me sad. I also feel like I'm losing lots of great memories with my friends and family, like every Summer my grandma and grandpa used to visit us from Puerto Rico, and this year that couldn't happen because of all the risks. I miss them so much, and even that we see each other on facetime or Zoom is not the same as sharing quality time with them and being able to hug them. I also was happy because I was going to see my favorite Kpop group BTS at a concert for the first time, but because of COVID, those plans shattered. Even when the fatal effects of COVID 19 are extensive, and I can be here all day explaining how much we've lost, many positive things are also happening. I have seen how neighbors selflessly help their neighbors, how distant relatives now connect more, parents sharing more quality time with their children, people are looking for more of God and his Word, among other things. Yes, we have lost a lot, but these losses are provoking a necessary auto analysis that is changing the way we see and appreciate things. This analysis was overdue, and thanks to all the time we've had to reflect on our lives and the way we were living, we now have the blessing to make amends and change things for good. I've learned a lot during this pandemic. I have learned to set better priorities in my life, to not take things or people for granted. I've also learned to make the most of the time I have with others and to not wait for tomorrow because tomorrow isn't guaranteed. If this whole situation with the coronavirus did not help us realize the fragility of life nor reminded us of the things that we should have as a priority and value more in our lives, unfortunately, nothing will.

Have you heard Marie Ann Radmacher's quote: Courage doesn't always roar, sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day that says, I will try again tomorrow? That quote describes my daily struggle. This year I was diagnosed with social anxiety. Contrary to what a lot of people think, social anxiety is not about being anti-social or wanting to be alone all the time. A lot of us with it wants nothing more than to be able to have social interactions without feeling anxious and triggering a panic attack. It can be difficult and tiring, even more, when you keep trying to make it and don't quit. Whenever I am feeling anxious or sad, I like to listen to music, read, draw, or dance to help distract and calm myself. Art and Music have become tools to cope with my emotions and gain control over them. Art has been an important part of my life because it's been therapeutic for me. Art gives me the courage I need to overcome my anxiety, and I've learned to know myself through my art. As Henry Matisse said: "Creativity takes courage." I believe that creativity empowers you and helps you overcome your insecurities. When you create something, you are presenting others a part of yourself, you are letting your guard down and letting yourself be vulnerable, and that takes a lot of courage. I've learned so many things in the past year. To my surprise, I've learned that the number of people struggling with social anxiety is higher than I imagined. That anxiety does not have to rule your life, that there are coping mechanisms to ease and control it. All these coping mechanisms are giving me control over my emotions. I also learned that every individual is different, and what works for one person does not necessarily work for you. It is a trial and error game, and you have to be open to immerse yourself in it. In order to overcome your struggles and take control of your mental health, it is crucial to accept your condition and admit that you need help. These are the keys to having success. Therapy is the most important part of all this, and you don't have to be ashamed nor discouraged because of it. On the contrary, when you recognize the power of therapy and start enjoying its benefits, you are taking control of your life. You just have to reach for help, and you will be surprised by the number of people that are by your side. Another tool that has helped me a lot is to use my abilities and talents to express my feelings and my emotions. Art has played a major role in this because it gives me a voice to share my beliefs, my fears, my struggles, and my strengths. As you can see, I'm very passionate about art, and I try to continuously enrich my artistic abilities by exposing myself to new techniques and new ideas. That's what learning is all about. But you have to be open to acquiring knowledge from every experience even the not-so-good ones. These are the ones that fuel your determination and help you grow and thrive. I believe that my experiences had made me a better artist because they have shaped me into the person I am today. I'm proud to be an overcomer, and I'm not afraid to share my story because I know that my experiences can help others acquire a different perspective that could lead them to their triumph over failure.

I am convinced that we learn from every experience we encounter, even the bad ones. These are the ones that fuel your determination and help you grow and thrive. I have overcome many difficult times, and this has made me a better artist because they have shaped me into the person I am today. One of these experiences that changed my perspective on life was the time that my parents went through some economic hardships. At this time, we ended up losing our car and had to walk and take the bus everywhere. We also lost our house, and we ended up moving into a very tiny basement in which we had to sleep all together in a small room. As hard as this was, it helped me develop a sense of gratefulness and gratitude. I learned to appreciate everything I have and that there is always a reward for those who persevere. In the middle of these losses, I learned that we should appreciate and value what I have and that we should not take anything for granted. It also taught me that we should always be grateful for the blessings we have even if they seem little because there's always someone that is desiring that you have. But if you ask me, the most valuable lesson I learned from all this was to value what is important, my family. The thing that sustained us and kept us from giving up and quitting was that we stayed together no matter what we encountered. Our love gave us the strength to look above all difficulties and made us work together for a better future. Now I know that even when things seem difficult to overcome if you apply what you've learned from past experiences you can overcome anything. The important thing is to be open to learn from difficult times and to work to end negative cycles. If we are open to make amends and grow, the possibilities become endless. When we start learning from our past, we start making ourselves accountable for our decisions instead of blaming others, and that is what growing is all about. These difficulties changed my perspective because they taught me to focus more on the little blessings that I receive every day instead of focusing on what I lack. I started treasuring everything I acquire more, now I make better choices, and set better priorities. I also learned how to administer my belongings better and to take better care of them. All these lessons made me gain a lot of determination and resilience and fill me with a great sense of gratefulness. Gratefulness for what I have serves as an inspiration to me and drives me to give back. I'm so grateful for all the things and opportunities I've had that I try to pay it forward whenever I can. That is what serving others is all about. It is about not being selfish and trying to be more empathetic with the needs of others. I'm proud to be an overcomer, and I'm not afraid to share my story because I know that my experiences can help others acquire a different perspective that could lead them to their triumph over failure.

With all of the new ways that this COVID 19 pandemic imposed on us, online shopping has gained popularity and is steadily thriving. People are looking for more ways to avoid large crowds and stay safe. But staying safe doesn't mean shopping has to be boring nor should be a hassle. I will share with you my three favorite online stores: First, https://www.yesstyle.com/, this Asian online store is a must for all of you who like the Kpop style and those who love that fresh, unique, and juvenile style. Their online store has a great variety of clothes and accessories that will satisfy the most demanding shopper. Second, https://cokodive.com/, this Kpop online store is all about those Kpop groups you love. Whether you are looking for merchandise, clothing, records, or even learning a little Korean, Cokodive store has it all. Lastly, but not less relevant is Amazon. I love that you can find anything, and they have affordable options for whatever it is you are looking for. Whether you are looking for ingredients for your next meal, buying a book, or renting a movie, Amazon's options are endless.

Just take a look outside the window, and you will see many possibilities. Inspiration is everywhere you look. Anything can spark your creative mind. It could be something in nature that caught up your attention, the inexplicable greatness of creation itself, or the look of the person next to you. We live in a world with so much diversity that it by itself serves as a propulsor of new and innovative ideas. There are so many things that inspire me, so it's hard to pinpoint each one of them. One thing that inspires me the most is music. No wonder people always say that music is a universal language. I think music has a particular way to move people because music speaks to our souls. That feeling I get when I'm listening to my favorite songs is indescribable. For me listening to music is a joyful experience and produces a sense of belonging that sets my creativity free. I strongly think that you should always excel in what you do and look for things that promote your personal and professional growth. This scholarship would be a blessing for me and winning it will confirm that I'm on the correct path towards being a complete artist. I'm always looking for ways to innovate and be creative. Since I want to pursue a career in arts, this desire to be unique and innovative will be a great asset that will positively influence my path.

If I were to describe my life with one phrase, it would be ever-changing. Change has been a constant in every stage of my existence. Whether they were negative or positive most of these adjustments have shaped me into the person I am today. Who am I? That's a very complex question to answer, but I'll try my best. Most of my friends and family would say I'm an awkward, perfectionist introvert and extremely stubborn, just like my mom (especially if you ask my dad). Contrary to what most people may think of me, I'm actually not anti-social and unsympathetic. I like to think of myself as someone kind, caring, soft-hearted, friendly, and loyal. Of course, I'm not perfect, and I have flaws and insecurities just like anyone else. For example, I’ve been told before I have quite the temper, but thankfully I learned to control it as the years passed. As much of a daydreamer and fantasizer as I may be, I actually tend to have a realistic mindset that can sometimes come across as me being pessimistic. I value originality and individuality a lot, and I always try my best to present myself to people as I really am. Art and music have always been an important part of my life. This isn't a big surprise considering both of my parents have always been very creative and artistic as well. Ever since I was a baby, I have been exposed to creativity through things like books, crafts, music, and many other things. One of the most prominent memories of art and music I have as a child is the Baby Einstein videos that my parents used to play for me. The videos were full of colorful shapes, objects, and fun images, even had classical music that I still love to this day. Music and art have become therapeutic and a sense of comfort for me. Speaking of art and music being therapeutic for me, I was actually diagnosed with social anxiety. Contrary to what a lot of people think, social anxiety is not about being anti-social or wanting to be alone all the time. A lot of us with it wants nothing more than to be able to have social interactions without feeling anxious and triggering a panic attack. It can be hard and tiring. Whenever I am feeling really anxious or sad, I like to listen to music, read, draw, or dance to help distract and calm myself. Art and Music have become tools to cope with my emotions and gain control over them. I strongly think that we can learn from any situation and that no matter your circumstances you should always excel in what you do and look for things that promote your personal and professional growth. I'm always looking for ways to innovate and be creative. Creativity is the core of any given art, and it is the ability we have to innovate. Since I want to pursue a career in arts, this desire to be unique and innovative will be a great asset that will positively influence my path. I'm always looking for ways to promote growth in my artistic abilities and love to move around environments that influence and inspire my creative mind. Going back to what I mentioned in the beginning, I've been through many difficult times in my life. One of these difficult times was the time when my family and I went through some big economic hardships. We ended up losing our car and had to walk and take the bus everywhere. We ended up losing our house too and had to move into an apartment in which we slept together in only one room. As hard as this was, it helped me develop a sense of gratefulness and gratitude. I learned to appreciate everything I have and that there is always a reward for those who persevere. The other memory I want to talk about is when I moved from Puerto Rico to Florida. We had to leave our friends, family, belongings, and even our pet behind. We only brought our clothes, nothing more. Even though these memories aren't the best, they have taught me to appreciate everything I have and that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. I'm a very nostalgic person, so doing this brought back many good memories I had forgotten about. I don't usually tend to talk about myself a lot, so this was a bit of a challenge for me. It also helped me realize how much I have overcome. Even though I tend to worry about what the future holds, I have faith that in the end, everything will work out according to God's will.

As Henry Matisse said: "Creativity takes courage." I believe that creativity empowers you and helps you overcome your own insecurities. When you create something, you are presenting others a part of yourself, you are letting your guard down and being vulnerable, and that takes a lot of courage. Art has been therapeutic for me by helping me overcome my social anxiety. Contrary to what people think, social anxiety is not about being antisocial or wanting to be alone. We just want to be able to have interactions without a panic attack, and art is helping me take control of it.