I am an artist. That is who I am through and through. I am currently enrolled to attend the School of The Art Institute of Chicago this fall. I would like to gain a broader knowledge base about the different forms of visual art and how to apply them to my work. Currently, the primary forms of media that I work in are oil paint, graphite, watercolor and charcoal. It was stated recently, "I know she is going to art school, but what is she planning on doing for a REAL job?" I can not tell you the satisfaction I had when I heard that this was asked about me, because I honestly didn't think this was something people ask outside of movies & TV shows. I have been immersed in the art world for 6 years now and have such a supportive artistic family, that the idea of visual art being anything other than my "REAL JOB" has NEVER been proposed to me and has never been a thought for me. Art inspires many people to do great things and to change the world around them. Think about that one song, film or painting that just speaks to you in a way that no one else can ever even begin to understand, that is what I want to do. I desire to create pieces of art where at least one piece of work truly resonates with someone and makes them look outside themselves prompting them to think. Think about who they are and the world around them. I don't want to be the next Da Vinci or Basquiat, but rather someone completely new to the art world, something that will inspire a generation.

People often think that receiving a degree in the arts is a waste of time and money, but I would beg to differ. Being an artist doesn't mean that your talents are useless, there have been many artists over the years that have been able to make an impact on society using painting or drawing as their voice. For example, visual artist Keith Haring made a huge splash in the 1980s through his political street art that would touch on political topics such as the AIDs epidemic and the war on drugs. He was able to bring mass awareness to these topics and many more just through his art. I am currently attending my dream school, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and I am so excited. Not only because I have been waiting to go to this university since seventh grade, but also because I am so beyond excited for the skills that this school will help me attain not only as an artist but as a person. I plan to use my newfound experiences that SAIC will give me, to broaden my perspective on society and how I can use my art as a voice for change. There are many things I would like to change about this world, and when I am feeling hopeless I often feel I have no say in what happens and that I don't have the skill set of someone who could draft legislation or someone that can run for office. But, then I remember musicians and visual artists who were able to make a real difference just by bringing to light serious topics that people wanted to pretend didn't exist, like Keith Haring. While I do not live in a big city, like New York where acts like that can be easily recognized, I strive to make just as big of an impact. While all forms of art can be very beautiful, as I have stated before, art can also make an impact. Art is also how we are able to make the impossible possible, whether it is video games, architecture or engineering you need art. I want to make paintings that are so beautiful and awe-inspiring that people can't help but stop and think about what they might be about. I want to be able to build a platform big enough where I can influence others for the good of society. I want to be able to not only bring awareness to these tough topics facing our culture but also bring joy in the darkness, and find beauty in a world where so many people feel hopeless and like there is nothing left. I want to be there to show not only the youth but everyone that there still can be amazing things created despite the chaos.

Exposure to different ways of life is a very beneficial experience for everyone, no matter how young or old. Even the most basic understanding of cultural and societal differences can help broaden one's mind and how they view the world. I was exposed to traveling at a young age through my dad, a cross-country truck driver. Every so often, during long school breaks, I could tag along with him. I live in Arizona, and since my breaks weren't very long I only ever traveled the west coast with him. Despite that, I was still very excited and grateful to see new places. I had many more opportunities to travel to different states like Florida and New York, but I had never experienced life outside the United States. As a Girl Scout I learn tons of skills and travel to many new places, well places in Arizona, but in 2018 I found a program that helped Girl Scouts travel outside of the country. I was so excited, and I knew exactly the first place I wanted to go to: Peru. From my first day there I was already in shock, from my surroundings to the people everything was different. One of my favorite things that I experienced while there was the people's reaction to the Peru soccer team standings in the Copa America Tournament. It was rare for their team to get far, but I was invested the entire trip. Their team reached the semi-finals, and in the heart of Lima, the streets were packed with anyone and everyone. All eyes were on the game, energy high, then they lost. I was devastated, I felt so bad for everyone rooting for them and for the team. But when I looked around everyone was still happy. It was as if they were moving on to the finals. Smoke the color of their flag was burning bright, horns were blaring and music was flowing its way through the city. I didn't understand why everyone was so excited about it. Their team worked so hard just to lose. Then my group's tour guide explained to me that even though they lost this was the first time in a long time that they had gotten this far. There were obvious differences between the U.S. and Peru, such as language and food, but I think this was the most jarring one. In the U.S. people take their sports very seriously, especially when they lose, but Peru was different. Everyone was just happy to be there and to have experienced this. It helped me to learn to not take things too seriously and just enjoy life. There are many more things to be learned through travel, and I highly encourage everyone if they have the means to go outside of their norm and experience a different country's way of life.

People often think that receiving a degree in the arts is a waste of time and money, but I would beg to differ. Being an artist doesn't mean that your talents are useless, there have been many artists over the years that have been able to make an impact on society using painting or drawing as their voice. For example, visual artist Keith Haring made a huge splash in the 1980s through his political street art that would touch on political topics such as the AIDs epidemic and the war on drugs. He was able to bring mass awareness to these topics and many more just through his art. I am weeks away from attending my dream school, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and I can't wait for this experience. Not only because I have been waiting to attend this university since seventh grade, but also because I am so beyond excited for the skills that this school will help me attain not only as an artist but as a person. While in school I plan to use my newfound experiences to broaden my perspective on society and how I can use my art as a voice for change. There are many things I would like to change about this world, and when I am feeling hopeless I often feel I have no say in what happens and that I don't have the skill set of someone who could draft legislation or someone that can run for office. But, then I remember musicians and visual artists who were able to make a real difference just by bringing to light serious topics that people wanted to pretend didn't exist, like Keith Haring. While I do not live in a big city, like New York where acts like that can be easily recognized, I strive to make just as big of an impact. What interests me about 'STEAM', is that it has truly brought together two worlds that people often thought weren't related in any way shape or form. The addition of the arts into what was originally 'STEM' has helped children and young adults understand that the arts do have a proper place in society. While all forms of art can be very beautiful, as I have stated before, art can also make an impact. Art is also how we are able to make the impossible possible, whether it is video games, architecture or engineering you need art. I want to make paintings that are so beautiful and awe-inspiring that people can't help but stop and think about what they might be about. I want to be able to build a platform big enough where I can influence others for the good of society. I want to be able to not only bring awareness to these tough topics facing our culture but also bring joy in the darkness, and find beauty in a world where so many people feel hopeless and like there is nothing left. I want to be there to show them that there still can be amazing things created despite the chaos.

People often think that receiving a degree in the arts is a waste of time and money, but I would beg to differ. Being an artist doesn't mean that your talents are useless, there have been many artists over the years that have been able to make an impact on society using painting or drawing as their voice. For example, visual artist Keith Haring made a huge splash in the 1980s through his political street art that would touch on political topics such as the AIDs epidemic and the war on drugs. He was able to bring mass awareness to these topics and many more just through his art. I am weeks away from attending my dream school, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and I can't wait for this experience. Not only because I have been waiting to attend this university since seventh grade, but also because I am so beyond excited for the skills that this school will help me attain not only as an artist but as a person. While in school I plan to use my newfound experiences to broaden my perspective on society and how I can use my art as a voice for change. There are many things I would like to change about this world, and when I am feeling hopeless I often feel I have no say in what happens and that I don't have the skill set of someone who could draft legislation or someone that can run for office. But, then I remember musicians and visual artists who were able to make a real difference just by bringing to light serious topics that people wanted to pretend didn't exist, like Keith Haring. While I do not live in a big city, like New York where acts like that can be easily recognized, I strive to make just as big of an impact. I want to make paintings that are so beautiful and awe-inspiring that people can't help but stop and think about what they might be about. I want to be able to build a platform big enough where I can influence others for the good of society. I want to be able to not only bring awareness to these tough topics facing our culture but also bring joy in the darkness, and find beauty in a world where so many people feel hopeless and like there is nothing left. I want to be there to show them that there still can be amazing things created despite the chaos.

The ability to learn how to put my emotional health before the needs of others when it comes to friendships, has been one of the greatest obstacles I have faced. When I was little, I would think other kids were my friends as soon as we met. I didn’t have the life skills to know who they were as a person in order to determine if they had my best interests at heart. As a result, I would simply walk up to the first person I saw at school and, because they seemed nice, I thought, “You’re my friend now”. That was fine when I was in preschool. In fact, I am still extremely close with two friends I met then. However, after I moved schools in the middle of first grade, I gradually began to learn a new side of people that took years for me to understand. The students I met when I transferred schools seemed nice, and I treated them in the way I knew how to be friends. In reality, these people didn’t like me, one girl in particular. Since they were little and didn’t know how to kindly express their feelings, they instead, pretended to like me for the next five years. Then, during sixth grade, I was relentlessly bullied, and one person ended up turning our small class against me. This bully convinced my classmates that I was rich, because of the things I was able to experience, which were perks of my mom’s job. I would have to explain to them, “No we got this for free”, and regularly tell them “I have less money than you do”. Then, in the middle of sixth grade, one classmate told me how our class had a vote, led by my bully, and it was decided that they thought I shouldn’t exist. I know the girl who told me was doing the right thing by letting me know this, but sometimes I wish she had never told me. I actually gained some strength from discovering this and confronted my classmates. Most of them stated, “I only said that because she (my bully) was saying that, but I don’t really think it, I like you.” I realize now, that they were scared, but at the time I no longer trusted these people and this caused suspicion of everyone. I became deeply depressed and this started my severe anxiety related to social interactions. This experience caused severe self-esteem issues and now when genuine friends do things for me, I truly don’t feel it is done because they like me. I still think my friends do things to either make fun of me behind my back or to feel good about themselves, which is obviously unfair to them. All of this has been a regular focus within my counseling sessions. However, I still am unable to comfortably define interactions and struggle to create connections that are deeper than acquaintances. I am a huge people-pleaser. I don’t want anyone to be mad, sad or hurt. I am actively working on seeing people in shades of friendship, rather than as either friends or acquaintances; I realize it is not that cut and dry. In addition, I have had to learn how to put myself first in a healthy way. With the help of my counselor and my immediate family, I am starting to realize I am worthy of existing, and I hold value as I am and others do care about me.

When it came to my education my parents wanted the best for me, and preschool was no exception. Choosing the right school was their top priority; so when it came down to it they put me in Khalsa Montessori. Khalsa was the epitome of every “child matters” and they truly knew what it meant to be inclusive. As a student I was allowed to choose what I wanted to learn and my teachers knew the best way to help me grow and move forward in my academic journey. However, as I grew and eventually moved schools I found that not all educators would be as caring as others. Third grade was my first taste of that, I had a teacher who would use academics as a weapon and instill fear into children between the ages of six and nine. I had her in my ear for a whole year telling me that if I didn’t pass the big test at the end of the year I would be held back and watch all my friends move on to fourth grade without me. That stuck with me, and as I progressed in school so did my anxiety. I became a perfectionist and would become physically unwell if any test scores were lower than eighty percent. The first time I got a C in in eighth grade I cried so hard I couldn’t see. My Mom had no idea how to help me, and I didn’t know how to help myself. I wanted to do well and enjoy school but every time I tried it seemed to be the reason I would fall deeper into depression. I decided to try a work on myself when I got to high school I made sure I sat in the front of the class, did my work on time and tried to ask for help, but I just didn’t understand the curriculum and it felt like I was always falling further and further behind. This situation was not helped by being put in lockdown, during this time I was ghosted by the few friends I made in school, so I isolated myself from talking to anyone, and even though I passed my classes I became dangerously depressed. I wouldn’t take care of my basic needs such as brushing my teeth, showering and even eating, I had no desire to continue doing anything. Even when school became in-person again for my junior year, I only talked to one girl in the morning and then sat alone for the rest of the day. Even though I was in NHS and had a decent GPA I was constantly worried that I would flunk and be rejected from any colleges I applied to. My senior year, I decided enough was enough and I truly applied myself not only academically but socially. I started socializing in class and even signed up for the fall play. I created a safe space to be myself and relieve my anxieties and even helped relieve some academic stress. I had allies in every corner and I finally realized how loved and supported I was. I was able to rekindle my passion for theater while also maintaining my grades enough to be accepted into my dream school. I got awarded thespian of the year and even spoke for my academy at graduation. I was able to accomplish all of this despite my depression and anxiety by building a proper support system and realizing that I am only human, and I am allowed to be imperfect and make mistakes.

I am an artist. When people hear that statement they usually are confused, they will say things like, “Yeah, but what do you want to do when you get older?” or “That’s a nice hobby”. However, just a hobby is not what art is to me; It is my passion, my love and my life. I express my innermost thoughts and feelings through my work, and I am going to make as much of an impact on the world with my art as my art has had on my life. I view the works of influential artists throughout history, such as Da Vinci and Basquait, and see how I can develop my work to become as inspirational for others as theirs was for me. I want to be able to convey complex emotions through my art, I want people to have their own Ferris Bueller's Day Off Moment with one of my pieces. I want people to view my work and truly connect with it, I want to be able to share my personal beliefs and hopefully make a difference in the world. Although I work in different mediums, I enjoy painting in oil the most because of its flexibility and forgiving nature, which allows me the ability to take my time, even step away when I get stuck and come back later to pick up where I left off. I find it is smoother than acrylic, giving me more freedom to blend and create texture over time. As a whole, I connect tactilely with my art through the smell of the oil paint, the feeling of that one special eraser I use against the paper and the motion of my hands as they put down the image in my head. It is the connection with my mediums as well as my thoughts that pull me to do another piece. If I had an extra 24 hours in the day I would spend it painting. I feel most creative after all of my previous obligations of the day have been fulfilled, so if I had an extra 24 hours I would be able to do more of what I love and make my artistic visions come to fruition. I would be able to create without the pressures of everyday life, and truly invest myself in my work. I want to expand how I create and with an extra 24 hours of peak creativity, I can improve my skills and achieve my artistic goals.

Who is the best Spider-Man? When I first read this prompt I immediately knew my answer, but my word alone doesn’t make something or someone the best. So, I turned to the people I know and asked them the same question. I received a variety of answers, and reasons like: “Tobey, because I grew up with him” and “Tom, I don’t know I just really like him as Spider-Man”, everything I heard was more than valid, however, some reasons really caught my attention. Each time someone answered Andrew, I saw not only a true love and devotion for Spider-Man in the films, but Spider-Man as a whole. This was because they identify with Andrew’s Peter on an emotional level and they feel his portrayal is the most true to the comics. Before I can state who is the best Spider-Man, I have to tell you who Spider-Man is. Created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, the first appearance of Spider-Man was in August of 1962, he was developed to give young readers a new youthful hero to look up to while still being relatable. When he was first introduced Peter Parker didn’t have cosmic problems, he was just an everyday high schooler that struggled with anxiety, self-esteem and financial issues. However, Spider-Man quickly became a prominent sidekick turned hero, and unlike those of comic past he didn’t have a superhero mentor, although he did have the guiding hand of his uncle and other adult figures in his life. His comics contained the societal and political struggles of 1960s youth and how he as a hero and citizen dealt with them. For the younger generation, Spider-Man became a symbol to strive towards something greater, even when life deals bad cards, Spider-Man taught them to help others and be the best version of themselves. How does this apply to Andrew? The reason his Peter Parker captured so many Spider-Man fans around the globe is, simply put, he embodied everything Spider-Man is and was. His movies perfectly show Peter’s journey to becoming a true hero. Peter is an outcast, bullied and berated, he is so powerless that he can’t even fight his own battles and all he has is himself. He can’t even go to his aunt and uncle, even though they love him dearly. Andrew’s portrayal truly shows how alone Peter felt, this is why it was so impactful when Peter got his powers, he finally had a sense of control in his life that he had never experienced before. He developed into the best version of himself after multiple trials and tribulations. Unlike, others in his situation he learned to grow from his pain and that nothing good would come from seeking vengeance. Peter went from the skinny nerd who couldn’t possibly be weaker to someone given the chance to fly above everything, both literally and figuratively, while becoming a better version of himself. He chose to be himself and not let the darkness of life and the world corrupt him, always getting up even if it would be easier not to. Andrew’s Peter never gave up on others, even when he was at his lowest he chose to make the lives of others better. I believe that Andrew shared that same passion, and in my opinion, his movies reflect that in a way that Tobey’s and Tom’s representation of Spider-Man couldn’t achieve. The entire feeling of Andrew’s films, from the swinging, the acting to the way they wrote the story, shows the freedom and weight that comes with being Spider-Man, making Andrew the best.

Hi, Barbie's, Ken's and Allan! As an artist Barbie, my Dream House is very spacious to make room for all of the accessories I come with, including but not limited to, paints, brushes, an easel and multiple canvases. My extension set (which is sold separately) contains two cats, Kit Kat and Bella. The creative team at Mattel wanted to put a new spin on the generic Barbie Dream House that the world has grown to know. My Dream House resembles a High Victorian Gothic manor and includes a grand window to view the magnificent landscape, heavy dark red velvet curtains and intricate wallpaper. Mattel thought it would be a bold move to make my Dream House made out of dark stone, and just as well because it complements the aesthetic of the Dream House very nicely. Mattel wanted to place my Dream House in a setting that would juxtapose the darkness of my house, so they thought it would be nice to have it set in Iceland. Even though, you would not see this kind of architecture in Iceland in the real world, in Barbieland anything is possible! Needless to say, I was very excited about this creative decision. On the ground floor, there is a high ceiling lined with stone and dark wooden arches, a living room that contains a giant bookshelf with any book that I could ever want, a luxurious sitting area and of course a television plus an Xbox (I mean artist Barbie has hobbies other than art you know). I also have a dining room and an old greenhouse that was made into an art studio for maximum lighting and ambiance. Then to the next level which is led to by a grand staircase lined with a crimson red carpet. My bedroom resembles the furniture in the living room using dark wood and has a high four-post bed with deep red curtains. I have a wooden armoire to hold all of my clothes and accessories (which are sold separately). Connected to my room through a door there is another similarly sized room that is set up for my two adorable menaces, Kit Kat and Bella. This room is any cat's dream which includes tables filled with things that they can knock off, plastic straw wrappers to bat around, tons of paper bags to crawl in, extra soft pillows to lay on and of course feathers. There is also a small sitting room on this level which is reserved for listening to music and has all of my vinyls, cassettes and CDs, ranging from Camille Saint-Saëns to My Chemical Romance. This room has a bay window that looks out onto the beautiful Icelandic landscape where you can perfectly make out Gullfoss, also known as "Golden Waterfall". It is the perfect room, (and my personal favorite), I can relax and take in the world around me while listening to my most cherished songs. Mattel knew anything that I could ever want in a house and they executed it perfectly. I love my Dream House and all of the amazing features that it comes with. I am very happy to call this place home.

I sat and drew in the middle of the floor between my mom's empty cubicle and another waiting for her to return from a meeting with some buyer so we could go home and eat dinner. My mom finally came back after what felt like forever (or at least forever to a seven-year-old), she seemed very happy and I could see she was holding some papers. I stood up to meet her and she handed me the papers, she told me that one of the buyers gifted them to her after hearing she had a young daughter and he thought I would enjoy it, but I remember very clearly staring at the paper in confusion and asking my mom, "Who's Taylor Swift?" She told me that she was a singer and these were tickets to her upcoming tour 'Red'. I was very grateful that we were given these tickets, especially since we couldn't usually afford to, but I felt bad. I didn't know who this singer was and I didn't even know any of her songs so I felt like I would be a fraud going to her concert without knowing any of her songs, so over the next week my mom and I got all of her CDs and listened to them any chance we got. The excitement started to build, this would be my first concert ever and as I continued to listen to her music I became glad that I got to have Taylor be the first musician I see live. I waited and listened until it reached the end of May, the concert; I was ready. We got to the arena and I didn't know what to expect, there were so many people. As we were walking to our seats my mom explained to me that we would be sitting in a box and that these were very expensive seats, so I knew they were going to be good but I still didn't know what to expect from Taylor. I stood next to the glass barrier and watched her emerge from the darkness of the stage, I was so excited I couldn't contain my screams. Over the next hour and a half, I was entranced, I had never been to a concert before but I knew nothing could ever top this. Taylor became my favorite artist, but in 2014 a statement like that could get you severely ridiculed. I would start lying when people would ask who my favorite artist was and have to pretend to hate Taylor so I wouldn't get bullied. When 1989 came out I got the pre-order and of course, begged my mom to go to the concert, she thought she was an amazing artist as well so that didn't take much convincing. Her music and concerts brought me so much joy that when the Reputation tour rolled around I was going to be unable to attend the Arizona show, I was crushed. However, that didn't stop us. We drove to Texas to hear her sing, and I am so glad at that time we were able to do that because when they announced the Eras Tour so much had happened personally and financially in our lives that we just couldn't afford to go. I was devastated because her music helped me become more confident in myself and stand up to others. This new generation of young Taylor fans can proudly sing her songs, and I thought to myself, maybe another nine-year-old can see Taylor emerge from the darkness for the first time and fall in love.