My most significant influences in life are my older brother and my parents. Even though we struggled financially, my family always supported my passion for art. Given that we all lived in a small house and I shared a room with my brother practically all my life, my family definitely influenced my creativity and the stories I tell with my art. My parents, seeing me draw little characters in the backs of my brother's old notebooks, eventually decided to buy me a sketchbook and an art kit. Playing pretend with my brother created many of the stories I wrote when I was younger, which evolved as I got older. Without my brother, I wouldn't have the inspiration to tell stories through my art. Without my parents, I wouldn't have the courage or drive to continue the pursuit of this dream. Going to college as an illustration major, I plan on running a business where I can create, publish and animate my own comic book stories. This is a dream I've wanted since I was nine years old. My creative team will be people from various backgrounds, and my stories will positively represent a diverse audience. I’m crafting a grand narrative that shines a light on issues such as race relations, marginalization, and societal standards. I aim to tell stories about growing up and chasing your dreams, especially when the odds are stacked against you. I want to use my stories to take issues normally seen as “black problems” or “women’s struggles” and recontextualize them for everybody to understand; at the end of the day, these issues affect everyone. Most importantly, I strive to find and acknowledge the aspects of life that connect us and bring hope for a better future. I want to use my craft to show people that success is possible--no matter who you are, where you come from, or how difficult it might seem. Beyond creating more positive representations of marginalized groups through my stories, my art is different because of my background. How I discovered my creativity and the influences from my own culture as a biracial African American create a sense that the stories I tell are carefully planned to reflect and celebrate black culture in America while keeping that sense of childlike wonder I always feel when I draw. I use lots of inexpensive media in my traditional works not only because they were all I had access to at the time, but to elevate them as an artform despite their cost or appearance. When I create characters, I always aim to reflect the diversity in my audience and give each one their own personality and sense of importance to the story. I draw animals like the tiger because they always fascinated me as a child, and in some ways, I relate to them--Although the tiger is not known as the "king of the jungle" it doesn't stop them from being strong wherever they are and surviving against the odds.

Community service means to use what you have to uplift those around you--whether it’s taking time out of your day to feed the homeless, donating to a charitable cause, or literally giving a piece of yourself by giving blood or an organ. Service is always done out of the kindness of your heart--not for the sake of praise or a reward, but to help those in need. Today, I serve my community through my creativity. I participated in the Youth Art for Healing Program and led a group of students in painting a mural for our school. Youth Art for Healing is a non-profit organization with the goal to use student art for therapeutic purposes. Students participating in the program are given the opportunity to create pieces of art to be hung in rehabilitation facilities, children’s, and general hospitals, among other places of healing. Research shows that art depicting calming environments, such as a beach or a valley of flowers, quells anxieties and creates a positive environment for patients and their families. Making art for this purpose was the first way I learned to use my creative skills for service. While I didn’t make a hot meal or build a shelter for the needy, I learned I could use my craft to meet the spiritual and therapeutic needs of others. In places such as doctor's offices and hospice facilities, spiritual and therapeutic help can be just as important as physical volunteer service to ease any anxieties and distress patients may experience. I explored making art out of my comfort zone while easing the healing process for someone else. In the spirit of moving out of my artistic comfort zone, I volunteered to design and lead a group of students in painting a mural for my high school. I had never painted one before, so the experience brought an opportunity for me to learn a new skill while brightening the school hall with color. I designed the mural to reflect the diversity of students in school, so I painted a globe with words in different languages surrounding it. Throughout the painting process, I noticed the atmosphere of my school lightening. People became communal and welcoming; smiling more and pointing with recognition when they saw their language on the wall. I found the process of creating this work of art fulfilling because I was able to witness how my creativity can bring positive recognition and representation to those around me, overall bringing my community closer together. In that sense, I wanted to capture the feeling of positive representation and community in creating my current favorite artwork. Although it depicts an original character in a fictional setting, the influences I draw from my culture and community as an African American are apparent throughout--from the character's clothes to the colors and lettering in the background. I feel so strongly about this piece because it's the culmination of what I want to accomplish with my creativity. As an aspiring storyteller, I want to use my work to spread uplifting messages and positive representations of my community--to show that they too can be inspiring and heroic.

When you ask a child what they want to be when they grow up, “comic book creator and animator” isn’t the typical answer you’d expect. Especially from a child who cycled from wanting to be a doctor in kindergarten to wanting to be a cop in the first grade; with a mob boss, rock star, knight, and superhero thrown in the mix. But at nine years old, sitting before the TV with paper and pencil in hand, making comics felt right for me. I loved watching cartoons and doodling in the back of my brother’s old notebooks. I loved detailing the action-packed journeys of my characters on the page, and the faces of my classmates when they asked what happened next. It felt like something I could do for the rest of my life. As I grew older, that vague want to “make cartoons” solidified into a desire to make an impact with my art. I don’t want to just make comic books; I want to create a world of magic, superpowers, and wonder. This world will be vast yet interconnected, unbelievable yet relatable, an escape yet a mirror. I want to build my own brand in the entertainment industry, telling unforgettable stories capable of bringing people together. I want to use my craft to uplift my community and give a voice to underrepresented people in the industry--particularly women and people of color. Attending college as an illustration major, I plan on running a business where I can create, publish and animate my own comic book stories. My creative team will be people from various backgrounds, and my stories will positively represent a diverse audience. I’m crafting a grand narrative that shines a light on issues such as race relations, marginalization, and societal standards. I aim to tell stories about growing up and chasing your dreams, especially when the odds are stacked against you. I want to use my stories to take issues normally seen as “black problems” or “women’s struggles” and recontextualize them for everybody to understand; because at the end of the day, these issues affect everyone. Most importantly, I strive to find and acknowledge the aspects of life that connect us and bring hope for a better future. I want to use my craft to show people that success is possible--no matter who you are, where you come from, or how difficult it might seem.

1. I deserve this scholarship because money good, college ain't cheap, and I am so so poor :( 2. My goal is to earn a BFA in Illustration so I can make comic books as a career. I want to achieve this goal because comics good and I think tigers are cool. 3. I overcame many obstacles. Last night, I didn't sleep until 12 am when I knew I had classes the next morning. When the alarm went off at 6 am, I overcame the urge to hit my clock with a hammer, I overcame the dread of getting out of bed on a cold morning, and I overcame the exhaustion I felt by consuming coffee with an ungodly amount of sweetened creamer.

When asking a child about their future, “comic book creator and animator” isn’t the typical, expected answer. Especially from a little girl who cycled between wanting to be a doctor and being a cop; with a mob boss, rock star, knight, and superhero thrown in. But, at nine years old, sitting at the coffee table, paper and pencil in hand, making comics felt right for me; like something I could do for the rest of my life. As I got older, I read more and more–I wanted to learn about the inner workings of comics and impactful storytelling. This creative journey led me to several realizations: There is an imbalance in representation when it comes to women and minorities in comics, both on the page and behind the scenes; stories are impactful not because of race, gender, or demographic of their characters, but how they can be relatable and empowering; and like other women and minorities breaking out in the comic book industry, I too can be the change I want to see in the art form I’ve loved since I was a kid. My vision is to run a studio where I can make, publish, and animate comic book stories. Being involved in these steps of production not only limits the roadblocks to expressing my own creativity, but it helps me pave the way for other minority women to do the same. As a biracial woman, I want to use my platform to create opportunities for voices like mine to be heard and appreciated–on and off the page. Currently, I’m an Illustration major at Maryland Institute College of Art. With the Terry Crews “Creative Courage” Scholarship, I will be able to continue my studies and further explore opportunities in creative entrepreneurship.

When you ask a child what they want to be when they grow up, “comic book creator and animator” isn’t the typical answer you’d expect. Especially from a child who cycled from wanting to be a doctor in kindergarten to wanting to be a cop in the first grade; with a mob boss, rock star, knight, and superhero thrown in the mix. But at nine years old, sitting at the coffee table before the TV with paper and pencil in hand, making comics felt right for me. I always loved watching cartoons and doodling short scenes in the back of my brother’s old notebooks. I loved detailing the action-packed journeys of my characters on the page, and the faces of my classmates when they asked what happened next. It felt like something I could do for the rest of my life. As I grew older, that vague want to “make cartoons” for a living solidified into a desire to make an impact with my art. I don’t want to just make comic books; I want to make comics unlike anyone has ever seen. I want to create a world of magic, superpowers, and wonder. This world will be vast yet interconnected, unbelievable yet relatable, an escape yet a mirror. I want to build my own brand in the entertainment industry, telling unforgettable stories capable of bringing people together. I want to use my craft to uplift my community and give a voice to underrepresented people in the industry--particularly women and people of color. Going to college as an illustration major, I plan on running a business where I can create, publish and animate my own comic book stories. My creative team will be people from various backgrounds, and my stories will positively represent a diverse audience. I’m crafting a grand narrative that shines a light on issues such as race relations, marginalization, and societal standards. I aim to tell stories about growing up and chasing your dreams, especially when the odds are stacked against you. I want to use my stories to take issues normally seen as “black problems” or “women’s struggles” and recontextualize them for everybody to understand; because at the end of the day, these issues affect everyone. Most importantly, I strive to find and acknowledge the aspects of life that connect us and bring hope for a better future. I want to use my craft to show people that success is possible--no matter who you are, where you come from, or how difficult it might seem. “To make cartoons” isn’t a typical answer you’ll get when you ask a child what they want to do when they grow up. Then again, I was never a typical child, to begin with.

Art is to make something out of nothing. It is seeing the magnificent where everyone sees the mundane--finding the opportunity in the hardship. It is how we can carve people out of stones, make symphonies out of sounds, create worlds out of our words. Whether it’s making a meal out of leftover scraps or repurposing old notebooks to make stories, art saved me from many hardships and scarcity. Art is the beacon of hope and belonging for those who don’t fit in anywhere else. It is how people can make their own success when all the other doors are closed. Art is what shapes me into the person I am today and who I want to be tomorrow. Ever since I was nine, I knew I wanted to use my art to tell a story. From sketching short scenes in the backs of old notebooks to drawing on printer paper and stapling it together, my love for art and creativity had grown into a dream. In the future, I want to run a studio where I can make, publish and animate my own comic book stories. My goal is to create seven comic books and seven shows simultaneously, so I can reach an audience across two platforms. Then I want to combine those seven stories into one, as the main characters from each story come together to form a team to save the world. As a creator and as a woman of color, this is unheard of; but I am not afraid to chart my own path. I’ve always dreamed of having a positive representation of people like me in entertainment--as a hero, a warrior, a mentor, or a survivor. I believe that in order to write powerful, impactful stories, you first need to establish a connection with your audience. Stories should reflect the diversity of the audience they’re for. There need to be more storytellers of color and female voices in the entertainment industry. For my dream, I want to be one of those voices. This dream to share my stories with the world is what drives me to keep creating and striving for success. With my biggest ambition in mind, I dove into my studies with the intent to apply whatever I learned to my craft--whether it’s in my stories or in daily life. With this mindset, I was able to earn my IB diploma from high school in 2019 and graduate from community college with an associate’s degree and a 4.0 GPA in 2020. Running a comic book-animation production studio isn’t something that can be achieved alone, so I surrounded myself with people with similar goals, talents, and ambitions as myself. That way, I’m able to push myself toward my goal while learning from and being supported by my peers. Art is what makes us human. It is the avenue through which we find new solutions to problems and rise above the struggle. Art is the foundation of my dreams--why I continue to go to school despite living with two unemployed parents in the midst of a pandemic. This scholarship will help me continue the path towards my ambition and prove art is the essence of human innovation.

I have mixed parents: a black father, and a white mother. Usually, I didn’t think much of it--they’re good parents like every child should have. However, there were times when I felt different from those around me--being the only colored kid in an upstate New York classroom or sitting with my mother and brother at an all-black family gathering. Being a “tomboy” didn’t help either. I drew pictures and played tag instead of dressing up dolls. Sometimes kids ask me if I was a boy or a girl. I wasn’t bothered at first, but eventually, it started feeling like I didn’t belong--the girl too soft for roughhousing, yet too energetic for tea parties. Once, I spoke with my dad about it after school. We talked about race in class and when I mentioned I was black, another girl said, “No, you’re not. You’re light-skinned.” I wanted to know why people always talked about my hair, asking where I came from. I wanted to know why I had to dress modestly and be constantly alert to my surroundings. Mostly, I wanted to know why the world I loved to live in doesn’t love me back. He sighed and said, “I don’t know, baby. That’s just how the world is.” It bothered me when adults said it, even back then. The sentiment strips away the accountability people take when they do something wrong. It shatters the hope of what we can do as individuals to make things better. Most maddening of all, it fosters a sense of defeat in people-- because to strive for positive change is to strive for something unnatural; impossible. Thinking change is pointless because ‘that’s just how the world works’ is believing a lie. Normalizing that idea is worse because it creates a population of bystanders instead of leaders. I go to college because we’re all capable of making changes, but it must begin on an individual level. Any impact, big or small, makes a difference in the way the world works. I use my college experience to serve my community through volunteer organizations such as Youth Art for Healing and school outreach projects. I plan on earning a degree in illustration so I can run a studio where I make, publish and animate comic books. I will use my storytelling platform to spread messages of positive change and emphasize the parts of our stories that connect us. I intend to use my studio to create jobs for women and people of color because our voices should be heard in the entertainment industry. With two unemployed parents, this scholarship will help me continue the pursuit of my goals. I want to live in a world where my race, gender, religion, sexual orientation-- none of it hinders my voice in society. I’m pursuing education because making a positive impact shouldn’t be fruitless. The world doesn’t “just” have to be this way. Instead, we should say: “That’s how the world is now, but you can always change it.”