My home, Milford, Pennsylvania, may be a small and quiet town, but fortunately there has always been an appreciation for the arts. Going down Broad Street alone, you will see The Artery, the Artisan Exchange, and the Golden Fish Art Gallery, all of which are galleries that showcase and sell artworks and handmade crafts by local artists. Once a year the town hosts the Milford Music Festival and the Black Bear Film Festival, where local musicians and filmmakers can show off their work to the public for several days. For the film festival, people decorate “Artful Bears,” which are elaborate black bear statues. Everywhere in town there are old preserved historical buildings, including our own Grey Towers, a large mansion built in 1886 by the Gifford Pinchot, the founder of the US Forest Service. I have always supported artists just by living in Milford and buying locally. Realizing the importance of artists to our community as well as the support they receive has motivated me to involve myself in community events and pursue a career in art myself. In 9th and 10th grade I volunteered for the Buddy Walk, an annual event that promotes inclusivity for those with Down Syndrome. I helped set up the event and paint faces both years. I loved to bring joy to kids’ faces and make peoples’ days better. This event had a large impact on me, bringing me out of my comfort zone by forcing me to interact with so many people and putting my art on strangers’ faces, but also by directly showing me how I can use art to help the community, even in simple ways. In 10th grade I was chosen to become a member of the National Art Honor Society (NAHS) for my involvement and achievements in art. NAHS members meet to organize service projects based around art. This year, I was elected president of the organization. I lead meetings and have planned different events. During the holidays we made ornaments to sell and raise money to donate to a nearby nursing home. We also had a day where teachers could drop off their children to make several holiday art projects, teaching them to use acrylics, watercolors, and clay. This event was fun and educational for the kids and the NAHS members who learned how to teach others and see how they can use their skills to support the community. We have organized other fundraisers to raise money for the art club and art scholarships. Artists have a symbiotic with the community, in which community members find enjoyment through art and artists are supported in exchange. Art brings a community closer together and establishes a cultural identity. I am eager to discover more about art and expand my techniques, knowledge, and creative abilities in college so I can continue to support my community through art.