A ray of light that inspired my day throughout high school was the Graphic Design Pathway at Valley High School. This pathway has allowed my creativity to flourish and helped me turn inspiration into meaningful designs. Through graphic design, I learned that small details can have a powerful impact and that even the simplest design choices can bring joy to others. The pathway pushed me to become more disciplined and consistent in how I approached my work. Deadlines and creative blocks are some of the biggest challenges designers face, and this pathway taught me how to work through them. When I began the pathway during my sophomore year, I had to learn how to use professional design software which was quite a challenge considering that I barely knew the basics of regular softwares like docs or Google Classroom at the time. One of our first big projects required us to design an original character while following the specific artistic style from South Park. While the project was fun, it was also challenging. I had to apply specific design techniques, follow clear expectations, and complete my work within a limited time frame. This and many other projects that came later on allowed me to develop strong time-management skills and showed me how to stay focused and adaptable under pressure. In terms of creativity and problem-solving, the Graphic Design Pathway has encouraged me to think more critically about my design choices. I learned how to take feedback, revise my work, and find solutions when something did not turn out as planned just like when I designed a classroom header on canva. I didn’t like this design because all the elements on it were scattered everywhere with no sense of balance. Instead of feeling disappointed when I don’t like my final result, I learned to play and adjust my designs. These abilities will play a key role in my success as I move forward in my future college. I plan to major in UX Design because it combines creativity with research and technology, allowing me to understand not only how designs look, but also how they function for other users. While I am currently waiting for responses from the private colleges that I applied to, I am also considering attending Sacramento State University or San José State University because I want to stay local. The Graphic Design Pathway has given me the skills and the confidence to approach challenges with courage and creativity as I move forward in my future college and goals.