![user profile avatar](https://static.bold.org/profilePictures/untitleddesign59d90fa0d41b4fc0a8b6cbc7c67724c6.webp)
Hobbies and interests
Poetry
Reading
Graphic Design
Bible Study
Business And Entrepreneurship
Church
Community Service And Volunteering
FBLA
Marketing
Studying
Spending Time With Friends and Family
Reading
Academic
Christianity
Social Science
I read books multiple times per month
Kayah Johnson
1,385
Bold Points1x
Finalist![user profile avatar](https://static.bold.org/profilePictures/untitleddesign59d90fa0d41b4fc0a8b6cbc7c67724c6.webp)
Kayah Johnson
1,385
Bold Points1x
FinalistBio
Hello, and welcome to my Bold Profile! My name is Kayah Johnson, and I am an undergraduate student at the University of North Texas. I aim to achieve a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interdisciplinary Art and Design Studies.
After receiving this degree, I plan to enter the field of brand marketing to gain credible experience and eventually open my brand marketing agency. With sponsorships and revenue from my company, I plan to launch a large-scale, inclusive homeless initiative and an entrepreneur mentorship program to bolster my surrounding community and beyond.
Applying for and winning scholarships has been a challenge. I did not know where to start nor did I have all the help I needed. Because of this, I currently have over $10,000 in student loan debt starting my first year of college. On top of academics and managing a life away from home, the financial burden can become stressful and I do not wish for it to be. Hence, I am looking to Bold.org for the financial assistance I need. I am expecting that the generosity of Bold.org's financial assistance will diminish my student debt and pay off my college costs for all four years. These scholarships will bring me significantly closer to achieving my academic and career goals and will allow me to work toward my major as a full-time student at the University of North Texas and graduate debt-free in 2027.
Education
University of North Texas
Bachelor's degree programMajors:
- Design and Applied Arts
Minors:
- Design and Applied Arts
Langham Creek High School
High SchoolLone Star College System
Associate's degree programMajors:
- Biological and Physical Sciences
Miscellaneous
Desired degree level:
Bachelor's degree program
Graduate schools of interest:
Transfer schools of interest:
Majors of interest:
- Graphic Communications
- Visual and Performing Arts, Other
- Design and Applied Arts
Career
Dream career field:
Graphic Design
Dream career goals:
Creative Director
Member
National Society of Leadership and Success2022 – Present2 yearsSecretary
Future Business Leadership2021 – 20221 yearPresident
Future Business Leaders of America2022 – 20231 yearOwner/Operator
Bri Designs2021 – Present3 years
Sports
Taekwondo
Club2019 – 20201 year
Awards
- Orange Belt Certificate, Yellow Belt Certificate
Research
Biology, General
Langham Creek High School — Student2022 – 2022
Arts
Future Business Leaders of America
DesignThe Journey Club Graphic Design Project2022 – 2023Future Business Leaders of America
DesignNaama Dance Studios Website Design2021 – 2022
Public services
Volunteering
The Pool of Life Community Church Media Team — Camera Operator, ProPresenter Tech, Trainer2022 – 2023Volunteering
Interact — Member2022 – 2023
Future Interests
Advocacy
Volunteering
Philanthropy
Entrepreneurship
Reginald Kelley Scholarship
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” “What do you want to do when you get older?” For a long time, I had no answer to these questions. However, when my 10th grade history teacher introduced me to the Canva software, I knew graphic design was the route to take. I utilized Canva for every creative assignment I could, and soon felt an internal push to learn more. So, I enrolled in a Digital Media course in 11th grade and eventually earned a Adobe Photoshop Certification. This was the only graphic design course in my school, so I decided to build upon my skills wherever possible during 12th grade and pursue graphic design in college.
Now, I am majoring in Interdisciplinary Art & Design Studies (IADS) and minoring in Advertising. The IADS program provides me with hands-on graphic design experience, where I can gain more skills in Adobe Creative Suite, advertising, and branding, which will help me reach my goals by strengthening my design portfolio and overall capability to execute effective designs. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts from UNT, I intend to become a graphic designer for a Houston or Dallas-based agency and later become the creative director of my own design agency stemming from Bri Designs, my current start-up graphic design business.
After this, I want to create internships and jobs sponsored by Bri Designs and allow students of all backgrounds and the ones in the academy to have hands-on experience in the graphic design field. I also want to provide entrepreneurial education with these opportunities. This experience and education will help these students be better prepared to enter into their career and provide them with the skills and knowledge to be able to work for themselves. It is important that students have design exposure and are encouraged and informed about the benefits of graphic design because it is traditionally seen as impractical and less lucrative in BIPOC communities. Reducing stigmatization around the design field will allow more students to feel confident entering into it and bring forth new designers to diversify the industry.
Compared to cosmetology or interior design, I believe graphic design is the career for me. Not only can I combine my creativity and analytical skills, but I can use graphic design to help businesses of all sizes effectively communicate with their audiences. I can also use the income I earn to help my family and the causes I care about. It is a lifelong dream of mine to have an enjoyable career and make an impact. I simply needed to grow up to discover what I wanted to be and do. With the Reginald Kelley Scholarship, I can be another step closer to achieving it all.
Alicea Sperstad Rural Writer Scholarship
Writing became the megaphone for individuals like me. People have labeled me quiet and shy for years, and I let those labels silence me. What’s more, is that COVID-19 exacerbated my quietness and social anxiety. My high school shifted to online learning as cases rose, and I became distanced from my peers. This decision further diminished my desire to speak out in conversation and expression. The summer of 20202 made me feel like I had no voice. The murders of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and George Floyd were wake-up calls that America is dangerous, especially for Black men and women. Aside from the empowering protests and demonstrations, I was terrified for my family and myself. Our skin color made us targets. This fear drove me to hide out in my home. I had many unanswered questions about those murders, yet I did not speak out. I did not feel it was my place. I was a suburban Black girl, and I had never encountered racism. However, those Summer 2020 experiences hurt me like they were my own. Heartbreak and angst turned into discomfort as I entered my sophomore year and progressed to my junior year. The uneasiness of speaking out carried over into these academic years, keeping me silent and uncomfortable with the weight of my questions and thoughts. Soon, I found relief through my creative writing class. When I wrote, I heard myself clearly where others could not and felt free where I was bound. I wrote several free-verse poems, short stories, and whatever else came to mind. The confidence in speaking my written voice drove me to take every opportunity to write, including the Scholastic Art and Writing Contest. Quietness still enveloped me, but my Summer 2020 narrative was louder. So, with fearful courage, I drafted, revised, and submitted a personal essay about my experience. Scholastic awarded me a Silver Key for my writing and invited me to the awards ceremony. I walked into the building that day and felt no need to shout my name because my work spoke volumes. Even the judges remembered and commenced my powerful writing peace. The event coordinators treated me like a VIP, and it was the first time in a while that I felt heard. Soon, I let go of the fear of what others may think of what I say. By the end of my junior year, I became more outspoken than ever. Looking back, I thought quietness would characterize my whole life. However, I thank God for stepping in and bolstering my confidence through writing. I am a multifaceted individual with a new story, and I cannot wait for the world to hear it.
Alicea Sperstad Rural Writer Scholarship
Writing became the megaphone for individuals like me. People have labeled me quiet and shy for years, and I let those labels silence me. What’s more, is that COVID-19 exacerbated my quietness and social anxiety. My high school shifted to online learning as cases rose, and I became distanced from my peers. This decision further diminished my desire to speak out in conversation and expression. The summer of 20202 made me feel like I had no voice. The murders of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and George Floyd were wake-up calls that America is dangerous, especially for Black men and women. Aside from the empowering protests and demonstrations, I was terrified for my family and myself. Our skin color made us targets. This fear drove me to hide out in my home. I had many unanswered questions about those murders, yet I did not speak out. I did not feel it was my place. I was a suburban Black girl, and I had never encountered racism. However, those Summer 2020 experiences hurt me like they were my own. Heartbreak and angst turned into discomfort as I entered my sophomore year and progressed to my junior year. The uneasiness of speaking out carried over into these academic years, keeping me silent and uncomfortable with the weight of my questions and thoughts. Soon, I found relief through my creative writing class. When I wrote, I heard myself clearly where others could not and felt free where I was bound. I wrote several free-verse poems, short stories, and whatever else came to mind. The confidence in speaking my written voice drove me to take every opportunity to write, including the Scholastic Art and Writing Contest. Quietness still enveloped me, but my Summer 2020 narrative was louder. So, with fearful courage, I drafted, revised, and submitted a personal essay about my experience. Scholastic awarded me a Silver Key for my writing and invited me to the awards ceremony. I walked into the building that day and felt no need to shout my name because my work spoke volumes. Even the judges remembered and commenced my powerful writing peace. The event coordinators treated me like a VIP, and it was the first time in a while that I felt heard. Soon, I let go of the fear of what others may think of what I say. By the end of my junior year, I became more outspoken than ever. Looking back, I thought quietness would characterize my whole life. However, I thank God for stepping in and bolstering my confidence through writing. I am a multifaceted individual with a new story, and I cannot wait for the world to hear it.