My favorite piece of art is "Princezna Hyacinta" or "Princess Hyacinth" by Alphonse Mucha. It is a lithograph print from 1911, depicting a smirking and stunning princess. It was made to advertise the ballet of the same name set to perform in Prague. Mucha used the image of Andula Sedláčková, who played Hyacinth. The ballet focuses on a blacksmith, who dreams that his daughter becomes a princess and is abducted by a suitor. The subject's gaze was beguiling and enchanting. Her eyes were full of life despite only being two-dimensional. She is beautiful, and my favorite. She makes me think about how amazing it is that humanity is capable of such extraordinary art. This piece especially makes me yearn for a fairytale life of my own, just like the story behind the artwork. It was in Prague that I was fortunate enough to see this beautiful piece. I visited the Mucha exhibition in the Central Gallery Prague, which displays many of his works and their history. I was obsessed and teary-eyed the moment I saw it. Hyacinth's gaze was exquisite and alluring, entrancing the viewer completely. Her countenance paired with her jewelry and crown demanded and commanded respect. As the viewer, you cannot help but respect her despite her casual position. The 300 Czech Koruna was beyond worth it to see Mucha's masterpieces. I love all of Mucha's works, but Hyacinth just spoke to me like no other. His command over color and expression is simply stunning. He captivates not only the gaze of Hyacinth, but her soul as well. Mucha's art speaks to me like no other, and Princezna Hyacinta makes me think about otherworldly beauty. One only has to look at his beautiful work to see why Mucha is the master of Art Nouveau.

Many people like to argue over the idea of Nurture v.s. Nature. Not me. I fully believe that nurture triumphs over nature, thanks to how I was raised. When I was young, my dad was the parent who stayed home. He taught me how to be curious. I would often find myself riding on the bus with him, passing through town, and going about our day. We would sit together, counting trees and everything in between. He would take me to Walmart and let me meet the fish. By constantly adventuring I came to view the world through the lens of an explorer. I hope to continue with this passion by exploring the world. He also taught me to treat myself with kindness. Every Tuesday, he would take me to the donut shop. Treating myself is still a continued tradition. Instead of donuts, I now get both of us Starbucks drinks to remember that life is sweet. The most influential thing that he taught me was to love stories. Since the day I was born, my dad would always be reading a book or making up a story. He got me a library card when I was only four. He helped me curate my own library! He made up the story of an adventurous pirate, and so I followed suit. Since then, I’ve written many stories about fantastical lands and fun people. I plan to write many more and publish them. It is literature that taught me: “To thine own self be true.” Thanks, Polonius. Even though I’m only 17, it is nurture that taught me everything I may not have discovered otherwise. Ultimately, it was the continued nurturing of curiosity, self-love, and love that will undoubtedly take me far in life and remind me to be myself. Thanks, Dad.

I have loved to tell stories since before I could remember. My parents have told me countless times how even as a child, I would constantly weave together fantastic stories full of adventure and excitement. Writing and storytelling have been my most influential hobbies and have allowed me to find my purpose. My passion for storytelling continued into my teenage years when I realized I had a love for creative writing. I read books constantly, and creative writing was the gateway to discovering that I wanted to create my own literature. During my first year of high school, I took this hobby and began to write even more constantly than before. So far, I have written almost one full-length novel and have plotted many others! My favorite type of writing focuses on fantasy worlds or space operas with plenty of romance on the side. I find writing and world-building so enchanting! Nothing brings me more joy than using my imagination to create characters and worlds from nothing but my thoughts. Writing has been a crucial hobby for me, serving not only as a creative outlet to express myself but also as a much-needed form of escapism. I love to come home from a long day at school and just immerse myself in a world of my own creation. Writing has become such a significant hobby of mine that I hope I can turn it into a professional career and publish young adult novels one day.

My Mexican grandmother has lived a whirlwind life since she settled in the United States. She has struggled and worked incredibly hard to be where she is today. Somehow, she always has the time to lend a helping hand to those in need or lend an ear to someone who is struggling. My grandma and her life story motivate me every day. With vivid imagery, my grandma once told me the story of her childhood which made me want to work hard and become a better person. After years of hard work and service, my grandma earned her U.S. citizenship and has remained a beacon of authenticity and industriousness that inspired me. When I was young, I used to play “doctor” on my stuffed animals, and I once melted the eye off of a stuffed penguin. She consoled me and sought to help me fix the penguin’s eye despite the bizarreness of the situation. My grandma also is always thinking of others. Whenever she goes out shopping and something catches her eye, she always makes sure to get it as a gift to her loved ones. My grandmother adores knitting and has knit many tiny hats and blankets for premature babies to keep them warm. She has also made little bunnies for all her grandchildren with little clothes so that they all match. Not only is my grandma generous, but she also passes down traditions such as old family recipes from Mexico to our family I hope to one day inherit her knowledge of old Mexican dishes to one day share with my own family. Her generosity and family-oriented nature motivate me to work hard to be able to give back to my community. I hope to make her proud one day.

He has four legs, somewhat smells, and always bumps into walls, but has a big smile and wagging tail. Meet Vinny! Vinny is my three-year-old Australian Shepherd mix who is super sweet and loving. I have wanted a dog for as long as I can remember, and Vinny has been a wonderful addition to my family. He has truly helped me during my most stressful year of high school. Vinny is always there for me, and I could not ask for a better buddy. He listens to me talk about my problems, and he is always there when I need a hug or a lick on the face. Petting him has helped me calm down countless times. I can always count on his playful nature to cheer me up! He loves playing with a goofy rubber duck I bought him in Prague. It makes me so happy to see that he loves me just as much as I love him. He has gotten me into going on walks with him around the neighborhood. I can't help but smile when I see him wagging his tail and sticking his tongue out in happiness while he trots around. I have found myself to be in much higher spirits thanks to my furry friend!

The song that most inspires me is “Phantom of the Opera” from the musical of the same name. I first saw the 2004 movie adaptation while I was in the third grade, and the titular song changed my life. Although it is the longest-running Broadway musical, not many kids my age had known much about it at the time, and it made me feel special and unique. This song has inspired my love for musical theater, and I listen to it constantly. My favorite rendition is probably a tie between Emmy Rossum’s movie version and Sierra Boggess’s Broadway anniversary version! Both are so unique and bring a different perspective to the character of Christine. The storyline within the song always makes my head turn and has made me daydream for years. I’ve done so much daydreaming to this song. Last year, I even decided to write a novel to put my twist on the musical and story of the Phantom! This song has inspired countless ideas and dreams that, like the Phantom, I one day hope to make a reality.

Vanity is typically a trait regarded as merely hubris or a fatal flaw, but it is a complex mindset that I find absolutely fascinating. To be vain is regarded as only narcissistic, but in plenty of literature, vanity is a trait that keeps characters interesting, such as Daisy Buchanan or Dorian Gray. A piece of art that deeply inspires me is the painting titled “Vanity” by Frank Cadogan Cowper. It is an early 20th-century painting that was inspired by “vanitas” paintings, which are still lifes that focus on mortality, and of course, vanity. The painting was also inspired by the style of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, who is a great inspiration in my own creations. The stunning image of a redheaded woman found in Pre-Raphaelite paintings emerges in the modern “Vanity”, and one cannot help but be intrigued by her conceited expression. To be able to convey thinly veiled contempt in a painted figure is astounding! To me, the girl resembles a corrupt and vain Juliet from Romeo and Juliet. Unlike the young, innocent dreamer that is Juliet, this Renaissance-inspired figure seems to have a darker air about her, despite having a similar countenance. I have taken inspiration from “Vanity” in both a self-portrait and a short story in an attempt to immortalize this unique idea in my own work. Overall, this art deeply inspires me because it is so much more intriguing to create a piece or a character based on a flaw rather than a virtue.