She died alone. Olivia Bruce was my friend throughout high school, and she committed suicide on May 7, 2024, and her body was found on May 9, 2024. I knew she was dead the second she was pronounced missing, but getting the news solidified my devastation. I have never cried so hard in my life. On Friday, May 8th, there were northern lights in Charlotte, NC. They were purple and blue, like her hair. At that moment, all I wanted to do was pick up a brush and paint. I wanted to paint the beautiful colors I saw with my eyes and put them on paper so they could last forever. Every painting I do, I do for her. I do it to tell a story, just like how our ancestors have done for generations. This scholarship would allow me to afford schools providing me with the artistic freedom and knowledge crucial to my career and internal development. I want to show the world what art can do to a person, more specifically how it can help a person cope with life but also grief. The world is forever changing and hardships are around every corner, but I have found that art has been the key to calming my anxieties and depressive thoughts. Art can help people escape the dark mindset that many of us have been living in for ages, and by pursuing further artistic education, I can help the community grow and realize how bright this world can truly be.