I was diagnosed with Sickle Cell as a baby and had my first of many hospitalizations when I was nine months old. Throughout my younger days, I was hospitalized numerous times to treat an ongoing pain crisis. On bad days, the pain can be so debilitating that I cannot get out of bed because any movement causes excruciating pain. Art has become my way of coping with the daily challenges I face, and I plan to use my artistic talents to impact the world positively. One day, during a particularly long hospital stay, I began sketching while lying in bed. I was shocked that drawing was a solace, and I quickly became engrossed in sketching as it became a distraction from the constant pain. My doctor was astounded by how well I was coping with my pain while drawing and suggested I draw more often. That was the start of my love for art. I began to draw every spare moment I had every day. Being in the hospital so often has shaped how I see life and the world around me. Today, my love for art is ingrained in my life. I can spend countless hours drawing and painting. Art has become a reprieve that incites a creative flow that comes forth effortlessly and ceaselessly. Today, my goal is to be one of the best artists in the world. I love art and enjoy creating original pieces. I feel most creative when I have a paintbrush in my hand. Whether it be a sketch, painting, or sculpture, art gives me an opportunity to show people who I am and what I am thinking without me having to say a word. The feeling of enjoyment art gives me makes me want to share my excitement. Consequently, I decided to help younger children appreciate my true passion for the arts. During the summers in high school, I volunteered as a camp counselor at the Museum of Contemporary Art. As a former art camp participant, I had first-hand knowledge of how beneficial this program could be to encourage youth involvement in the field of art. As a counselor, I organized and assisted with the daily activities of the camp to ensure campers were exposed to various aspects of art. But the greatest joy came from the one-on-one time I spent with campers who seriously loved art because I was a camper just like them a few years before. I was able to channel my love for art to these young, gleaming faces and encourage them to be great artists. I was effective in motivating and persuading the love of art in campers who may never have been exposed to so many different art mediums and areas of the art world. Once I complete college, I plan on starting more programs like this in my community to ensure everyone has access to art. My dream is to provide free art programs and classes to introduce children of all ages to the tools that can make a difference in their lives by shaping their identity and lifting them up, no matter what their circumstances may be. The arts have shaped my life and lifted me up in unimaginable ways. My experiences have taught me that sharing my passions with others is much more rewarding than keeping them to myself. My future path is clear. I plan to complete my undergraduate studies in fine arts and become an artist, curator, and educator. If I can nurture and encourage one child, I will be successful in making a positive impact in the world.

The dream version of my future self encompasses completing an undergraduate degree in fine arts and becoming an artist, curator, and educator so I can start art programs at the local level in my community to ensure everyone has access to art.