I am currently a Senior in high school. A little about myself, I’ve spent much of my life feeling like an outsider in school–quiet, independent, and unsure where I fit in. Over time, being on the outside has taught me it's okay to be myself, to do things alone, and to follow my own interests. I found my place in art and sports broadcasting. I have worked for my local radio station for six years. They have a broadcasting company where they broadcast high school sports games. I help by running a camera and filming the live sports. I like doing this because I can capture tight replay shots and make the live broadcast like a story on tv. Being part of this production team has taught me responsibility, teamwork, dedication, how to talk to people, and being teachable. My experiences in sports media have shaped me into a confident, adaptable, and teachable person–skills that will help me with future challenges. I also love art. I am a very creative person. I’m always doing something creative like art, scrapbooking, and filming. Art has truly become a part of who I am. I love to draw with a colored pencil or paint with a paintbrush. I love to express my thoughts and feelings on paper. Over three years at my state’s Art Symposium, I’ve earned eight ribbons, and only ¼ of the total art pieces at state art get a ribbon. Art has taught me patience, creativity, and commitment. I have volunteered for my local food pantry many times and have enjoyed every visit. It is always rewarding to help those in my community that need a little more support. I have also volunteered for my community or ward by helping setting up and taking down ward parties. My plans for the future are to attend college and further my education in Fine Arts, Art Education, and Sports Media or Broadcasting. I would like to get a position for an Elementary art teacher or a camera operator for a live sports network. My goals are to have one of my art pieces displayed somewhere like a museum or gallery. These goals have pushed me to work hard now and stay motivated for the future. If I could start my own charity, it would be for kids who don’t have access to books. I love to read and not every kid gets the same chances I get. I would like to start a program where we can get books to every kid in the world. I also would like a learning program to be a part of this charity. Learning to read is the most important education a person will need for any future. Think of a career or job where you don’t need to read. I can’t think of any. Reading is so important for our future and if kids are not getting that education, what kind of future does this world have? I would have children all over the globe to have books at home to read and to be able to read as well. I have no idea how to start a charity like this, but maybe one day I would start one.

I did not realize how much an educator could shape who I am and see my whole potential until I met Denise Frazier in seventh grade. Mrs. Frazier has been my art teacher for 5 years. She was my art teacher for seventh and eighth grade. I moved to high school and had a different teacher for my Freshman year. My Sophmore year, Mrs. Frazier transferred over to the high school to take over the art teacher position. I had no idea art would take over my life. Mrs. Frazier is the first educator who truly saw me for who I was and believed in me and my abilities. Art has always been a part of my life and will continue to because Mrs. Frazier made art so memorable and powerful. Mrs. Frazier has taught me that with hard work comes results that you wanted. She has also taught me to finish what I have started: stay committed. Mrs. Frazier pushed me out of my comfort zone with skills and techniques and helped me grow not only as an artist but as a person. Through her support, I learned how to take constructive criticism on my art, learn from my mistakes, and trust myself when my art does not always turn out the way I wanted it to. I never really had a best friend to walk to class with or sit at lunch and talk about everything. I would always go home and tell my mom everything, but my mom can’t come with me to school. Mrs. Frazier is the one teacher I truly had a connection with. She knows my family, so it was easy for her to connect with me and find what I liked. I remember in middle school spending some of lunch with her in the art room, working on my project and chatting with Mrs. Frazier. When she moved to the high school, I was overwhelmed with joy because now I had a constant friend in the school who I can always talk to. These moments I will always look back on and know I always had a friend at school and she always made me feel wanted and comfortable when school was depressing and chaotic. Because of Mrs. Frazier, art class was more than just a class. Art became part of who I am. I plan to major in fine arts and art education in college and further my education to become an art teacher. Because of Mrs. Frazier, I had a friend in high school who I can always count on, and I gained confidence in myself and my art.

This past year, I was called to be the Young Women’s president in the oldest class in my ward. Our stake split and made two new wards. My community was one of them. I was called to be the first president in the YW’s oldest class. I had no idea what I was doing; I was very nervous at first. How was I supposed to be a leader to these new groups of girls when I am not a leader? I am quiet, shy, independent and not a leader. I looked up to God often asking for comfort and help. I begin learning more about what I’m supposed to do in the handbook and help from leaders and parents. I found a groove that worked for me and my group. We learned how to work together and build each other up. One of the girls in my class is inactive. I have reached out to her a few times, texted back and forth, getting to know each other. I invited her to class one day because she hasn’t been in a while and I was the one teaching, so I thought she would feel more comfortable. She, indeed, came and I was overwhelmed with joy. I service to her over text made her feel comfortable enough to come to church and come learn with us. I continued to reach out to her and get to know her more. This calling has shown me that being a leader does not always mean having the loudest voice. I continue to serve my group, showing Christlike love.

This past year, I was called to be the Young Women’s president in the oldest class in my ward. Our stake split and made two new wards. My community was one of them. I was called to the first president in the YW’s oldest class. I had no idea what I was doing; I was very nervous at first. How was I supposed to be a leader to these new group of girls when I am not a leader. I am quiet, shy, independent and not a leader. I looked up to God often asking for comfort and help. I begin learning more about what I’m supposed to do in the handbook and help from leaders and parents. I found a groove that worked for me and my group. We learned how to work together and build each other up. One of the girls in my class is inactive. I have reached out to her a few times, texted back and forth, getting to know each other. I invited her to class one day because she hasn’t been in a while and I was the one teaching, so I thought she would feel more comfortable. She, indeed, came and I was overwhelmed with joy. I service to her over text made her feel comfortable enough to come to church and come learn with us. I continued to reach out to her and get to know her more. This calling has shown me that being a leader does not always mean having the loudest voice. I continue to serve my group, showing Christlike love. My life is going in all different directions; school; church callings; family, yet whenever I have a colored pencil or paint brush in my hands, all of that chaos goes silent, and it’s just me and my art. Art is in my blood. The main mediums I work with are colored pencils and oil paints. Summer of 2024, I decided I’m going to challenge myself with my colored pencils and see what I can do. My inspiration came from artwork and painting of Jesus Christ. I have always loved the beautiful artwork people create, and it made me want to challenge myself and see if I can create my own vision of Him. I found a few references that I liked and I wanted to piece them all together into my own version of Christ. I got to work right away. I got all the sketching done and now it was time for the colored pencils. This art piece took me about two months. I have learned so much from this experience, and it definitely challenged me to use my imagination and skills with colored pencils. Each time I was working on my artwork of Jesus, I lost track of time, I was completely submerged into my artwork. I learned so many techniques about blending my colors and color theory that now I use these techniques every time I use color now. I have shared this artwork of Jesus to many people in my community and so many want copies of it. Art is a talent I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

I’ve spent much of my life feeling like an outsider in school–quiet, independent, and unsure where I fit in. Over time, being on the outside has taught me it's okay to be myself, to do things alone, and to follow my own interests. With that confidence, I’ve discovered passions that bring color and purpose to my life: artI choose to be involved in AP Art because it pushes me to grow as an artist and a person; I challenge myself with new mediums, techniques, and subjects. I choose to take two classes of art each trimester to give me at least two hours each day devoted to art. I like to challenge myself with the subject of people. The human body is the most complicated things to draw, so I take the challenge and draw and paint mostly people. I choose to participate in art because art is my happy place; it’s what I do when my busy schedule gets overwhelming. I loose track of time when I’m painting. I also choose to participate in Art Club after school on Wednesdays. I get to do service for others and use my creativity and art talent at the same time. My freshmen year, my town hosted an event called, The Journey Through Bethlehem. The community did a recreation of the streets of Bethlehem during the Birth of Christ. There were stores with things to buy, tax collectors, a random wedding, and people selling food. The people who organized the event, asked the Art Club to paint large backdrops to look like stone walls. I got to participate in this activity and found it really fun. I choose to be involved in art and art club because it gives me a place to belong, to be myself, and to use my art abilities. My family has always been my biggest cheerleaders. They support me in everything I do. They help me realize that there’s more to life than high school and to look for the best in every situation. I lean on my family for everything; I tell them everything. My family is the greatest blessing I have ever received. Art has always been my refuge. Through art, I transform my thoughts and ideas into characters, landscapes, and images that bring my imagination to life. I work in the mediums: colored pencils and oil paints, and drawing inspiration from the world around me. Over three years at my state’s Art Symposium, I’ve earned eight ribbons, and only ¼ of the total art pieces at state art get a ribbon. Art has taught me patience, creativity, and commitment. Art has truly become a part of who I am.

I’ve spent much of my life feeling like an outsider in school–quiet, independent, and unsure where I fit in. Over time, being on the outside has taught me it's okay to be myself, to do things alone, and to follow my own interests. With that confidence, I’ve discovered passions that bring color and purpose to my life: art and sports broadcasting. Art has always been my refuge. Through art, I transform my thoughts and ideas into characters, landscapes, and images that bring my imagination to life. I work in the mediums: colored pencils and oil paints, and drawing inspiration from the world around me. Over three years at my state’s Art Symposium, I’ve earned eight ribbons, and only ¼ of the total art pieces at state art get a ribbon. Art has taught me patience, creativity, and commitment. Art has truly become a part of who I am. I’ve also found a home in sports media. For six years, I’ve filmed high school games for my local broadcast team. Being part of this production team has taught me responsibility, teamwork, dedication, how to talk to people, and being teachable. My experiences in sports media have shaped me into a confident, adaptable, and teachable person–skills that will help me with future challenges. Looking to the future, I hope to one day have one of my art pieces in an LDS temple and to film a live sports game. With my hard work and dedication, I hope to build my life around purpose and creativity through the work I create.