Becoming an artist was always in my blood. I can't remember a specific time when art struck me; it has just always been there. One of my earliest memories was sneaking into my grandparents' basement, past the 20-gallon fish tank, and through a small wooden door into my grandpa's painting room. The moment you walked in, you were immediately struck by the smells of acrylic paint and turpentine. It was a humble room with hand-built wooden shelves and paintings filling every inch of the walls. In the middle of the tight space stood a little easel with his current painting. I would marvel at his progress and get so excited to see it finished. While everyone else was trying sports, math, and dance in grade school, I was devoting countless hours to art. I was so invested in my improvement that I quit all extracurricular activities, wanting to spend every minute creating. Over the years, I explored pottery, painting, drawing, and animating, but I never strayed far from the arts. I never grew out of that drive. When I was still in grade school, my grandpa pulled me aside and gifted me some of his paint supplies (I had only been drawing with pencils before this). He told me he noticed how much I loved doing art. He was proud of me and wanted to see what I could create. As someone I look up to in so many different aspects, I was absolutely beaming. My creative bone came from him and will always remind me of him, even though he passed away a year ago. For the inspiration he gave me and the support he showed, my grandpa is my favorite artist. Like Hilda Klinger, my grandpa never had the opportunity to attend art school—or even finish grade school. As an immigrant, my grandpa raised his seven children in a country he didn't know. He had a lot of responsibility but never gave up on art. His paintings were of simple towns and seascapes. His signature elements were cranes and lighthouses, which he just loved to include and I love to point out in real life. My grandpa's dedication to his art, despite his challenges, mirrors Hilda Klinger's own journey and passion. Stories like these inspire me to pursue my dream of becoming a professional artist, despite hardships. This scholarship would provide me with the financial support I need to follow in their footsteps and continue to grow as an artist. Thank you for considering my application for the Hilda Klinger Memorial Scholarship.