Graphic design has been my creative outlet and passion for as long as I can remember. Even as a child, I found joy in turning abstract concepts into visuals, whether through school projects or personal art. Over the years, this passion grew, leading me to pursue formal education in graphic design at the Columbia Area Career Center. There, I developed essential skills in Adobe software and 3D animation, which formed the backbone of my technical expertise. This vocational training not only deepened my interest in visual communication but also sparked my desire to explore the broader applications of design. What excites me most about graphic design is its capacity to transcend aesthetics. Beyond making something look appealing, design is a powerful tool to solve problems, convey ideas, and foster connections with an audience. I believe that a well-executed design can capture attention, inspire, and communicate effectively. As a designer, my goal is to create visual experiences that are not only functional but also emotionally resonant, always keeping the user’s perspective in mind. I am committed to the idea that design must serve a purpose—it should tell a story, solve a problem, or evoke a feeling. Throughout my internships and academic journey, I have worked on a variety of projects that have shaped both my technical skills and my understanding of design’s impact. For instance, I once worked on a branding project for a small business, where I was tasked with creating a complete visual identity. This involved designing the logo, selecting a cohesive color palette, and developing a style that reflected the company’s values. I worked closely with the client to ensure that the visual identity aligned with their goals while resonating with their target audience. This experience taught me the importance of research, client collaboration, and thoughtful execution in design projects. Another significant project in my portfolio is the redesign of a mobile app interface aimed at enhancing its user experience. The app’s initial layout was cluttered, making it difficult for users to navigate effectively. My role was to create wireframes and prototypes that would prioritize ease of use while maintaining a sleek, modern aesthetic. Through this project, I was reminded that good design goes far beyond visual appeal—it’s about crafting intuitive, functional experiences that make the user’s interaction with a product smoother and more enjoyable. I learned that user experience is just as crucial as appearance when it comes to successful design. Graphic design allows me to merge creativity with problem-solving in a way that constantly keeps me inspired. Whether I’m working on branding, digital media, or UX design, my aim is always to produce work that is not only visually striking but also meaningful and effective. I take pride in my portfolio, which showcases a range of projects highlighting both my technical skills and my creative vision. With each project, I strive to refine my craft, always learning and pushing the boundaries of what I can achieve as a designer.

What motivates me to continue my pursuit and passion in the world of visual arts and design is the power that art holds to communicate ideas and emotions in ways words cannot. I’ve always been inspired by how visual storytelling can connect people, convey complex messages, and create change, and it’s this connection that drives me. My interest in graphic design, animation, and digital art goes beyond aesthetics. I see these tools as a means to push boundaries, to visually advocate for causes I believe in, particularly LGBT rights, and to create narratives that inspire others. With the advancements in technology, like AI and digital tools, the potential to create has expanded dramatically. These technologies have allowed me to refine my skills and bring my ideas to life more efficiently. AI has already helped me pass many of my college classes and has become an invaluable tool in my work, automating repetitive tasks and enabling me to focus on the more creative aspects of design. However, despite these advancements, what continues to set human creativity apart is the spirit behind the art. It’s the intention, emotion, and personal experiences infused goes into each piece. One of my long-term goals is to create a TV show, comic series, movie, or some kind of fictional universe that combines my passion for storytelling with my design skills. I envision a project that weaves together themes of identity, community, and self-discovery, all through the lens of the LGBT experience. As a student of the arts, I plan to carry these themes into my future work, ensuring that my designs and stories aren’t just visually appealing but also meaningful and impactful. Technology may provide the tools, but it’s the artist who brings heart and vision, and that’s what I aim to do in every project I undertake.

My name is Nicholas Melchert, and I am currently a graphic design major at Columbia College of Missouri, where I am deeply engaged in pursuing a career that merges my creative talents with my passion for social justice. One of my biggest life passions is advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights and inclusion, a cause that has been close to my heart for as long as I can remember. As someone who identifies as bisexual, I have experienced both the joys and challenges that come with being part of the LGBTQIA+ community, and these experiences have significantly shaped my goals and dreams. From a young age, I knew that I wanted to use my skills and voice to make a positive impact on the world. This desire led me to volunteer extensively through the A+ program during my high school years. The A+ program allowed me to engage with my community, providing tutoring and mentoring to younger students. It was through this volunteer work that I first realized the power of giving back and how small acts of kindness and support can have a ripple effect, inspiring others to do the same. My passion for advocacy has only grown stronger over the years, and I have used various platforms, including social media, to promote LGBTQIA+ rights. This work has been incredibly fulfilling, as it allows me to connect with others who share my commitment to equality and to educate those who may not fully understand the challenges faced by our community. I have always believed that art and design can be powerful tools for social change, and I aim to use my skills as a graphic designer to create campaigns and projects that uplift marginalized voices and foster a more inclusive society. If awarded this scholarship, I intend to use the money to further my education and invest in projects that align with Coco's legacy of compassion, resilience, and advocacy. Coco's dedication to uplifting the LGBTQIA+ community is something I deeply admire, and I want to continue that work by creating impactful designs that resonate with people from all walks of life. This scholarship would not only ease the financial burden of my studies but also empower me to take on internships and volunteer opportunities that may otherwise be out of reach. In conclusion, my identity as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community has profoundly influenced my goals and dreams. It has fueled my passion for advocacy and shaped my vision of using graphic design to create positive change. With this scholarship, I hope to carry on Coco's legacy and continue to make a meaningful difference in the world.

Developing my skills and making it my purpose and passion to help others be their best has been a journey shaped by both personal experiences and academic pursuits. My commitment to this mission is deeply rooted in my belief that everyone has the potential to achieve greatness, and it is our collective responsibility to support each other in reaching that potential. My journey began with a strong foundation in graphic design, which I have honed over the years through formal education and practical experience. As a graphic design major at Columbia College of Missouri, I have immersed myself in learning the technical and creative aspects of design. This education has been complemented by internships, such as my recent role at Radical AI, where I applied my design skills to real-world projects. These experiences have not only sharpened my abilities but also taught me the importance of using my skills to communicate ideas effectively and inspire others. However, my passion for helping others extends beyond the technical aspects of design. I have always been drawn to initiatives that empower others, particularly within the LGBTQ+ community. Using social media as a platform, I have actively promoted LGBTQ+ rights, leveraging my design skills to create impactful campaigns that raise awareness and foster inclusivity. This work has reinforced my belief that design is not just about aesthetics but about creating meaningful connections and driving positive change. In addition to my advocacy work, I have embraced opportunities to mentor and support my peers. Whether it’s helping classmates navigate challenging coursework or offering guidance on how to improve their design portfolios, I have found immense satisfaction in seeing others succeed. This mentoring experience has taught me that true leadership is about lifting others up and helping them realize their potential. My dedication to helping others be their best is also evident in my academic achievements. Being placed on the dean’s list and completing the Foundations of User Experience (UX) Design course has equipped me with a deep understanding of how to create user-centered designs that enhance experiences. I am particularly passionate about using UX design to solve problems and improve lives, ensuring that technology is accessible and beneficial to all. In conclusion, my skills in graphic design and my commitment to helping others have intertwined to form a purpose-driven path. I am passionate about empowering others to be their best, whether through my design work, advocacy, or mentorship. As I continue to grow, I am excited to expand this mission, using my talents to make a lasting impact on the lives of those around me.

As a little kid, I viewed my dad as a hero. He worked for the National Guard for almost my entire childhood and, unfortunately, was discharged from his duties due to his diabetes diagnosis when I entered high school. Even today, I feel proud of my father for all he has done for our country. His time in the National Guard is why my family is financially stable; before the National Guard, he had to go back to college job since his first degree in journalism wasn't paying that much. I even had tons of exciting and unique experiences being in a military family. I was in a parade float as a kid, I gained a few benefits through my military ID, and I even went inside military bases. Sadly, some of these unique experiences weren't exciting. Being a soldier meant sometimes he had to be away for extended periods, negatively impacting me during my childhood. I remember him being discharged for a whole year overseas many times, the first time when I was like three and the another time when I was 10. There was a chance my father wouldn't return from his little missions; that was a fear I had even at a very young age. I even had to miss many holidays with him. Like when I was in Middle school, my father had to miss Thanksgiving with the family due to the 2014 Ferguson riots. I also believe the military probably harmed my father's mental health; I am not going into all the details, but one time during my time at community college, I had an argument with my dad, and he screamed at me, then threw a cup full of coffee to the floor and ran to his bedroom weeping. I had fought with my dad before that, but during that moment, I had never seen him that angry before. Currently, I’m pursuing a graphic design degree from Columbia College because I have always felt connected to the arts, and I don't know where this passion for art came from. I know this might sound unrelated, but I believe this passion for art originated and grew from isolation and mental health problems, and these feelings probably got worse due to my dad’s job during my childhood. My dad's military presence makes me want to join it one day. It honestly sounds kinda of exciting in a way, like I’m a star in an action movie. But at the same time, I knew the military, in general, isn't a job for good mental health. My life overall has been great, with a few unusual setbacks, and I can't wait for my future.

I felt I had always been passionate about art. When I entered high school I started to take that passion a lot more seriously. I took tons of art class even some animation classes and a bunch of freelance art too. But when high school graduation was coming closer and closer I wasn’t 100% sure about going to college, because I knew art degrees have a reputation for being considered useless and art jobs don’t pay extremely well. But once I finished community college I soon grew a more nuanced view about all that. Debt isn’t as scary as most people think. I’ve been in debt to a car loan for like two years, and it is not all that bad, and almost all college degrees have value one way or another. Unfortunately my current financial situation, like almost all college students, is pretty bad. I have less than 1,000 dollars in my bank account, and I make less than 300 a week. Luckily I started a community college so I didn't have to worry too much about debt at the time. But then I transferred to a four year university and my current college’s tuition is like 12,000 a semester. I could have chosen a different college but this college was the only one in my area that offered a bachelors degree in graphic design. I couldn’t do out of state either because they are way more expensive. So I had to get two part-time jobs so the debt wouldn’t be so bad. I even gotten a second bank account because I feared my other bank account was more local based and I felt I would need to travel a lot to find a graphic design job. I also invested a little bit of money in stocks just in case. Not sure if they are scam or not so I decided to just invest lest than 40 dollars.

As a little kid, I viewed my dad as a hero. He worked for the National Guard for almost my entire childhood and, unfortunately, was discharged from his duties due to his diabetes diagnosis when I entered high school. Even today, I feel proud of my father for all he has done for our country. His time in the National Guard is why my family is financially stable; before the National Guard, he had to go back to college job since his first degree in journalism wasn't paying that much. I even had tons of exciting and unique experiences being in a military family. I was in a parade float as a kid, I gained a few benefits through my military ID, and I even went inside military bases. Sadly, some of these unique experiences weren't exciting. Being a soldier meant sometimes he had to be away for extended periods, negatively impacting me during my childhood. I remember him being discharged for a whole year overseas many times, the first time when I was like three and the another time when I was 10. There was a chance my father wouldn't return from his little missions; that was a fear I had even at a very young age. I even had to miss many holidays with him. Like when I was in Middle school, my father had to miss Thanksgiving with the family due to the 2014 Ferguson riots. I also believe the military probably harmed my father's mental health; I am not going into all the details, but one time during my time at community college, I had an argument with my dad, and he screamed at me, then threw a cup full of coffee to the floor and ran to his bedroom weeping. I had fought with my dad before that, but during that moment, I had never seen him that angry before. Currently, I’m pursuing a graphic design degree from Columbia College because I have always felt connected to the arts, and I don't know where this passion for art came from. I know this might sound unrelated, but I believe this passion for art originated and grew from isolation and mental health problems, and these feelings probably got worse due to my dad’s job during my childhood. My dad's military presence makes me want to join it one day. It honestly sounds kinda of exciting in a way, like I’m a star in an action movie. But at the same time, I knew the military, in general, isn't a job for good mental health. My life overall has been great, with a few unusual setbacks, and I can't wait for my future.

In all honesty, I'm pursuing graphic design because I have always been an artistic person. It's quite hard to tell when it originated from some developmental disability, trauma, family, or maybe it's just my personality. I knew when I was a kid, I didn't really have any artistic talent. To be honest, I am not sure if I have any artistic talent currently either. The kind of art I made as a kid was basically the kind of art you expected from a little kid, just colorful stick figures and dinosaurs. There were a few short films in the mix as well. At age 8, I made a Godzilla fan film where I was playing with my Godzilla toys destroying the city. Around middle school, I doodled a lot in my notebooks. Mostly of ideas for films or games, I wanted to make as an adult. When I entered high school, there was a shift in how I viewed art. I watched many videos of critics analyzing media and telling viewers the meanings and themes. This was also heavily touched upon in high school, where our English teachers would discuss themes and meanings in the books we read. And my art teachers would discuss themes of certain media as well. For some reason, this was bizarre to 14-year-old Nick. Before my teen years, I didn't think too much of themes in media or hidden meanings. To me this was eye-opening; there was more to a novel than just some story, or there is more to a painting than just pretty colors. This made me realize I could use storytelling or art to spread a message to people. I also joined various online communities which increased my interest in art. During high school, my artistic talents increased dramatically as well. This became noticeable when I was reading an how to draw dragons tutorial and surprisingly turned out good. So during my high school years, I took classes in animation, art, and digital media. Where I learned Adobe and Maya. Not entirely sure if I can use art to change the world. But I know I can use it to at least spread some kind of message to the world. One that might be hard to grasp for some. I am now at a liberal arts college in Columbia, Missouri pursuing a Bachelor’s in graphic design. Hoping one day to make art the world will love for centuries.

As a little kid, I viewed my dad as a hero. He worked for the National Guard for almost my entire childhood and, unfortunately, was discharged from his duties due to his diabetes diagnosis when I entered high school. Even today, I feel proud of my father for all he has done for our country. His time in the National Guard is why my family is financially stable; before the National Guard, he had to go back to college job since his first degree in journalism wasn't paying that much. I even had tons of exciting and unique experiences being in a military family. I was in a parade float as a kid, I gained a few benefits through my military ID, and I even went inside military bases. Sadly, some of these unique experiences weren't exciting. Being a soldier meant sometimes he had to be away for extended periods, negatively impacting me during my childhood. I remember him being discharged for a whole year overseas many times, the first time when I was like three and the another time when I was 10. There was a chance my father wouldn't return from his little missions; that was a fear I had even at a very young age. I even had to miss many holidays with him. Like when I was in Middle school, my father had to miss Thanksgiving with the family due to the 2014 Ferguson riots. I also believe the military probably harmed my father's mental health; I am not going into all the details, but one time during my time at community college, I had an argument with my dad, and he screamed at me, then threw a cup full of coffee to the floor and ran to his bedroom weeping. I had fought with my dad before that, but during that moment, I had never seen him that angry before. Currently, I’m pursuing a graphic design degree from Columbia College because I have always felt connected to the arts, and I don't know where this passion for art came from. I know this might sound unrelated, but I believe this passion for art originated and grew from isolation and mental health problems, and these feelings probably got worse due to my dad’s job during my childhood. My dad's military presence makes me want to join it one day. It honestly sounds kinda of exciting in a way, like I’m a star in an action movie. But at the same time, I knew the military, in general, isn't a job for good mental health. My life overall has been great, with a few unusual setbacks, and I can't wait for my future.

As a little kid, I viewed my dad as a hero. He worked for the National Guard for almost my entire childhood and, unfortunately, was discharged from his duties due to his diabetes diagnosis when I entered high school. Even today, I feel proud of my father for all he has done for our country. His time in the National Guard is why my family is financially stable; before the National Guard, he had to go back to college job since his first degree in journalism wasn't paying that much. I even had tons of exciting and unique experiences being in a military family. I was in a parade float as a kid, I gained a few benefits through my military ID, and I even went inside military bases. Sadly, some of these unique experiences weren't exciting. Being a soldier meant sometimes he had to be away for extended periods, negatively impacting me during my childhood. I remember him being discharged for a whole year overseas many times, the first time when I was like three and the another time when I was 10. There was a chance my father wouldn't return from his little missions; that was a fear I had even at a very young age. I even had to miss many holidays with him. Like when I was in Middle school, my father had to miss Thanksgiving with the family due to the 2014 Ferguson riots. I also believe the military probably harmed my father's mental health; I am not going into all the details, but one time during my time at community college, I had an argument with my dad, and he screamed at me, then threw a cup full of coffee to the floor and ran to his bedroom weeping. I had fought with my dad before that, but during that moment, I had never seen him that angry before. Currently, I’m pursuing a graphic design degree from Columbia College because I have always felt connected to the arts, and I don't know where this passion for art came from. I know this might sound unrelated, but I believe this passion for art originated and grew from isolation and mental health problems, and these feelings probably got worse due to my dad’s job during my childhood. My dad's military presence makes me want to join it one day. It honestly sounds kinda of exciting in a way, like I’m a star in an action movie. But at the same time, I knew the military, in general, isn't a job for good mental health. My life overall has been great, with a few unusual setbacks, and I can't wait for my future.

As a little kid, I viewed my dad as a hero. He worked for the National Guard for almost my entire childhood and, unfortunately, was discharged from his duties due to his diabetes diagnosis when I entered high school. Even today, I feel proud of my father for all he has done for our country. His time in the National Guard is why my family is financially stable; before the National Guard, he had to go back to college job since his first degree in journalism wasn't paying that much. I even had tons of exciting and unique experiences being in a military family. I was in a parade float as a kid, I gained a few benefits through my military ID, and I even went inside military bases. Sadly, some of these unique experiences weren't exciting. Being a soldier meant sometimes he had to be away for extended periods, negatively impacting me during my childhood. I remember him being discharged for a whole year overseas many times, the first time when I was like three and the another time when I was 10. There was a chance my father wouldn't return from his little missions; that was a fear I had even at a very young age. I even had to miss many holidays with him. Like when I was in Middle school, my father had to miss Thanksgiving with the family due to the 2014 Ferguson riots. I also believe the military probably harmed my father's mental health; I am not going into all the details, but one time during my time at community college, I had an argument with my dad, and he screamed at me, then threw a cup full of coffee to the floor and ran to his bedroom weeping. I had fought with my dad before that, but during that moment, I had never seen him that angry before. Currently, I’m pursuing a graphic design degree from Columbia College because I have always felt connected to the arts, and I don't know where this passion for art came from. I know this might sound unrelated, but I believe this passion for art originated and grew from isolation and mental health problems, and these feelings probably got worse due to my dad’s job during my childhood. My dad's military presence makes me want to join it one day. It honestly sounds kinda of exciting in a way, like I’m a star in an action movie. But at the same time, I knew the military, in general, isn't a job for good mental health. My life overall has been great, with a few unusual setbacks, and I can't wait for my future.

I felt I had always been passionate about art. As a kid, I made short films about dinosaurs and ghosts. When I entered high school, I started to take that passion a lot more seriously, and I took tons of art classes and did freelance work. But when I was in high school and coming closer to graduation, I wasn't 100% sure about going to college because I knew art degrees have a reputation for being considered useless and art jobs don't pay exceptionally well. I wasn't sure if going down this path was the right move, whether college was worth all the debt, whether a degree was really that useful, and honestly, a big part of me didn't want to do college at all. However, I soon developed a more nuanced view of many things after I finished community college. Like I taught myself, debt is not as scary as most people or media say it is. I've been 20,000 dollars in debt to a car loan for about two years and could only pay it with a part-time job that only pays like eight thousand a year. I am still in debt to my car loan, but now the 20,000 turned to 13,000, and I'm 33 percent done with this car debt. The only downside to this car debt was that back then, I couldn't spend much on groceries or social events with friends, leading to awkward situations like not being able to afford everyone's tickets. I also soon learned that almost all college degrees have value in one way or another. The worst thing that could happen to an art major is becoming an art teacher and still be okay. I am now pursuing a graphic design degree from a private 4-year university. Unfortunately, my current financial situation is pretty bad, like most college students. I have less than 1,000 dollars in my bank account, and I make less than 300 a week. My college's tuition is like 12,000 a year. I could have chosen a different college, but this college was the only one in my area that offered a bachelor's degree in graphic design. I had to get two part-time jobs, a part-time Walmart associate and a Doordash delivery driver, so that the debt wouldn't be so bad. I even signed up for a local art show to sell some of my work; hopefully, a rich person will give me a thousand dollars from this art show.

@melchertnick

As a little kid, I viewed my dad as a hero. He worked for the National Guard for almost my entire childhood and, unfortunately, was discharged from his duties due to his diabetes diagnosis when I entered high school. Even today, I feel proud of my father for all he has done for our country. His time in the National Guard is why my family is financially stable; before the National Guard, he had to go back to college job since his first degree in journalism wasn't paying that much. I even had tons of exciting and unique experiences being in a military family. I was in a parade float as a kid, I gained a few benefits through my military ID, and I even went inside military bases. Sadly, some of these unique experiences weren't exciting. Being a soldier meant sometimes he had to be away for extended periods, negatively impacting me during my childhood. I remember him being discharged for a whole year overseas many times, the first time when I was like three and the another time when I was 10. There was a chance my father wouldn't return from his little missions; that was a fear I had even at a very young age. I even had to miss many holidays with him. Like when I was in Middle school, my father had to miss Thanksgiving with the family due to the 2014 Ferguson riots. I also believe the military probably harmed my father's mental health; I am not going into all the details, but one time during my time at community college, I had an argument with my dad, and he screamed at me, then threw a cup full of coffee to the floor and ran to his bedroom weeping. I had fought with my dad before that, but during that moment, I had never seen him that angry before. Currently, I’m pursuing a graphic design degree from Columbia College because I have always felt connected to the arts, and I don't know where this passion for art came from. I know this might sound unrelated, but I believe this passion for art originated and grew from isolation and mental health problems, and these feelings probably got worse due to my dad’s job during my childhood. My dad's military presence makes me want to join it one day. It honestly sounds kinda of exciting in a way, like I’m a star in an action movie. But at the same time, I knew the military, in general, isn't a job for good mental health. My life overall has been great, with a few unusual setbacks, and I can't wait for my future.

I am Nicholas Melchert, and I have been atypical for as long as I can remember. When I was about 4, I remember being in a white room with a woman who looked like a nurse, telling me nonstop that if I was angry, I should pretend I was blowing into a balloon and remember being placed in a room with this indoor window with a table that had cards placed on them. The second I entered school, I was put in tons of special education classes. When I was five years old when I was told I had ADHD as a little kid. I didn't see this all as a problem. But when I entered middle school, I truly understood why the word disorder was in the acronym for ADHD. Even when medicated, my processing speed and behavioral problems were poor. I also suffered from mood problems and couldn't figure out why. In 8th grade, I feared they would hold me back a year. When I got to high school, I had to dump almost all my energy into my classes to graduate. While at community college, I realized I was overmedicated and told my doctor to reduce my dosage, which helped my mood problems. My family suffered from mental health issues as well. My dad told me how messy his parents' house was and how he hadn't spoken to his sister in years. Later, my father told me his dad had paranoid schizophrenia, and his sister had depression. My mother also told me about her family's problems and how much they have been affected by drugs and crimes. It felt like I had to attend two funerals every year from her side of the family, all over drugs. One of my grandfathers even died when I was an infant due to smoking. Not sure what led them into a life like that; I believe it may have been due to depression, or maybe it was because they were just Hatfields. My parents had to go to college and move out of their hometown so they wouldn't suffer the same fate as their families. I did learn from a young age I wanted to avoid ending up like the Hatfields or my father's family. To this day, I continue to struggle with issues regarding my mind, and so does my family. But now I know it's all going to get better with time.

It’s honestly hard to say why the Millennials and Gen Z are struggling more than the previous generations. With my generation, Gen Z having the worst outcomes than Millennials. Things are more expensive these days. When my parents were in college, a summer job could afford you a college degree. Nowadays, a college degree costs more than a one-story house. It doesn’t help that degrees aren’t as valuable as they were 30 years ago and that there are hundreds of useless ones too. I feel like a homeless man out on the streets begging for change every second despite the fact I currently have a roof over my head and food for me. When I was at community college and being covered by scholarships. I rarely pulled money from my bank account despite the fact I had like 1000 to 4000 dollars in cash because I knew I was going to pay thousands in student loans eventually. Everyone thought I was a cheap stake, including my own parents. I was even thinking about dropping out of community college because I was so scared of debt. But I was afraid that my parents would be disappointed in me. I wish there would be some kind of law to fix all this and have the boomers stop electing evil politicians.

I am Nicholas Melchert, and for as long as I can remember, I was always atypical. When I was about 4, I remember being in a white room with a woman who looked like a nurse, telling me nonstop that if I was angry, I should pretend I was blowing into a balloon and remember being placed in a room with this indoor window with a table that had cards placed on them. The second I entered school, I was put in tons of special education classes. When I was five years old when I was told I had ADHD as a little kid. I didn't see this all as a problem. But when I entered middle school, I truly understood why the word disorder was in the acronym for ADHD. Even when medicated, my processing speed and behavioral problems were poor. I also suffered from mood problems and couldn't figure out why. In 8th grade, I feared they would hold me back a year. When I got to high school, I had to dump almost all my energy into my classes to graduate. While at community college, I realized I was overmedicated and told my doctor to reduce my dosage, which helped my mood problems. My family suffered from mental health issues as well. My dad told me how messy his parents' house was and how he hadn't spoken to his sister in years. Later, my father told me his dad had paranoid schizophrenia, and his sister had depression. My mother also told me about her family's problems and how much they have been affected by drugs and crimes. It felt like I had to attend two funerals every year from her side of the family, all over drugs. One of my grandfathers even died when I was an infant due to smoking. Not sure what led them into a life like that; I believe it may have been due to depression, or maybe it was because they were just Hatfields. My parents had to go to college and move out of their hometown so they wouldn't suffer the same fate as their families. I did learn from a young age I wanted to avoid ending up like the Hatfields or my father's family. It is unfortunate that as I grew older, I soon learned my parents are also a bit mentally unwell. My parents argue over the stupidest of things every week. I believe they both turned out this way because of their history of smoking as well. Not to mention my dad was in the national guard throughout my entire childhood, where he had to be deployed to places overseas and help out with local stuff constantly. To this day, I continue to struggle with issues regarding my mind, and so does my family. But now I know it's all going to get better with time.

I don't if I count as a non-traditional student to be honest.

My Barbie dream house would probably be an anti-barbie house or a parody of a Barbie house. The house will be black and have a gothic aesthetic, and it will definitely be located in Transylvania or New Jersey and will most likely be deep in the woods. The house would probably be surrounded by a moat full of sharks or maybe gators. The entrance to this castle will have a huge sign written in pink blood that says, "Come on, Barbie, let's go party." Guests who come inside would come to face with my bloody grand staircase. All the rooms in this house would have their own theme, and there would definitely be skulls and pink blood almost everywhere inside this dream house. There would be an endless library full of books that are nothing but horror stories and pagan books to satanic spells. The basement would be a dungeon where all my prisoners reside. There will also be a torture chamber down there as well with iron maidens and acid pits. There would tear up Barbie dolls all over the floor in the dungeon. No one will be sent to the dungeon except people who refuse to party with Barbie.

Ever since I came to the world, I have been an artsy person. I made fictional universes and stories when I played with friends or my sister. Some of these worlds were so complicated to almost Tolkien-level in a way, with lore that spanned thousands to even millions of years and societies with unique social structures. Like all children, I doodled with crayons and colored pencils and maybe a few finger paintings. I even made a few fan films as a kid; I made a Godzilla fan film where Godzilla was destroying an entire city. But I didn’t take art all that seriously until I entered my teen years when I was introduced to online fandoms. Many of the fandoms I was involved with were for sci-fi, anime, or horror games. A common activity in these communities was fan art, where members would create artwork to share their appreciation for what they love. I wanted to get involved in this activity, but I was afraid my art skills weren't good enough. So I watched a ton of drawing tutorials and took a bunch of art classes in high school. Since I lived in a college town, I was fortunate to be able to take high school courses in digital media and 3-D animation. The moment I realized I was good at art was during study hall. I had nothing to do, so I read a how to draw a dragon tutorial. I followed the directions with my mechanical pencil moving across the notebook page. When I was done, I was amazed that it turned out decently. Then I did freelance work. I drew a comic for a friend and drew art for online friends too. When I entered community college, my love for art didn't fade, and I took art classes there. Unfortunately, Covid-19 nearly destroyed my dreams entirely, and I was close to dropping out. But I pushed through and managed to transfer to Columbia College. I hope to get my Graphic Design degree so I can pursue my dream of getting a job in the arts and get out of my lame retail job. If I earn enough money, I may also in the future move to a different state like California, possibly going to Calarts one day so I can get an animation degree and maybe one day make films. I can't wait to see the future.

I am Nicholas Melchert, and for as long as I can remember, I was always atypical. When I was about 4, I remember being in a white room with a woman who looked like a nurse, telling me nonstop that if I was angry, I should pretend I was blowing into a balloon and remember being placed in a room with this indoor window with a table that had cards placed on them. The second I entered school, I was put in tons of special education classes. When I was five years old when I was told I had ADHD as a little kid. I didn't see this all as a problem. But when I entered middle school, I truly understood why the word disorder was in the acronym for ADHD. Even when medicated, my processing speed and behavioral problems were poor. I also suffered from mood problems and couldn't figure out why. In 8th grade, I feared they would hold me back a year. When I got to high school, I had to dump almost all my energy into my classes to graduate. While at community college, I realized I was overmedicated and told my doctor to reduce my dosage, which helped my mood problems. My family suffered from mental health issues as well. My dad told me how messy his parents' house was and how he hadn't spoken to his sister in years. Later, my father told me his dad had paranoid schizophrenia, and his sister had depression. My mother also told me about her family's problems and how much they have been affected by drugs and crimes. It felt like I had to attend two funerals every year from her side of the family, all over drugs. One of my grandfathers even died when I was an infant due to smoking. Not sure what led them into a life like that; I believe it may have been due to depression, or maybe it was because they were just Hatfields. My parents had to go to college and move out of their hometown so they wouldn't suffer the same fate as their families. I did learn from a young age I wanted to avoid ending up like the Hatfields or my father's family. It is unfortunate that as I grew older, I soon learned my parents are also a bit mentally unwell. My parents argue over the stupidest of things every week. I believe they both turned out this way because of their history of smoking as well. Not to mention my dad was in the national guard throughout my entire childhood, where he had to be deployed to places overseas and help out with local stuff constantly. To this day, I continue to struggle with issues regarding my mind, and so does my family. But now I know it's all going to get better with time.

I see beauty in almost everything, to be honest. The colors in nature from flowers to butterflies, bring ideas for color schemes in my pieces. Songs also inspire me as an artist. Where I create narratives in my head that might not have been there. Like if a song is sad my mind thinks of a man walking through the rain.

For as long as I can remember, I was always atypical. When I was about 4, I remember being in a white room with a woman who looked like a nurse, telling me nonstop that if I was angry, I should pretend I was blowing into a balloon and remember being placed in a room with this indoor window with a table that had cards placed on them. The second I entered school, I was put in tons of special education classes. When I was five years old when I was told I had ADHD as a little kid. I didn't see this all as a problem. But when I entered middle school, I truly understood why the word disorder was in the acronym for ADHD. Even when medicated, my processing speed and behavioral problems were poor. I also suffered from mood problems and couldn't figure out why. In 8th grade, I feared they would hold me back a year. When I got to high school, I had to dump almost all my energy into my classes to graduate. While at community college, I realized I was overmedicated and told my doctor to reduce my dosage, which helped my mood problems. My family suffered from mental health issues as well. My dad told me how messy his parents' house was and how he hadn't spoken to his sister in years. Later, my father told me his dad had paranoid schizophrenia, and his sister had depression. My mother also told me about her family's problems and how much they have been affected by drugs and crimes. It felt like I had to attend two funerals every year from her side of the family, all over drugs. One of my grandfathers even died when I was an infant due to smoking. Not sure what led them into a life like that; I believe it may have been due to depression, or maybe it was because they were just Hatfields. My parents had to go to college and move out of their hometown so they wouldn't suffer the same fate as their families. I did learn from a young age I wanted to avoid ending up like the Hatfields or my father's family. It is unfortunate that as I grew older, I soon learned my parents are also a bit mentally unwell. My parents argue over the stupidest of things every week. I believe they both turned out this way because of their history of smoking as well. Not to mention my dad was in the national guard throughout my entire childhood, where he had to be deployed to places overseas and help out with local stuff constantly. To this day, I continue to struggle with issues regarding my mind, and so does my family. But now I know it's all going to get better with time.

Ever since I came to the world, I have been an artsy person. I made fictional universes and stories when I played with friends or my sister. Some of these worlds were so complicated to almost Tolkien-level in a way, with lore that spanned thousands to even millions of years and societies with unique social structures. Like all children, I doodled with crayons and colored pencils and maybe a few finger paintings. I even made a few fan films as a kid; I made a Godzilla fan film where Godzilla was destroying an entire city. But I didn’t take art all that seriously until I entered my teen years when I was introduced to online fandoms. Many of the fandoms I was involved with were for sci-fi, anime, or horror games. A common activity in these communities was fan art, where members would create artwork to share their appreciation for what they love. I wanted to get involved in this activity, but I was afraid my art skills weren't good enough. So I watched a ton of drawing tutorials and took a bunch of art classes in high school. Since I lived in a college town, I was fortunate to be able to take high school courses in digital media and 3-D animation. The moment I realized I was good at art was during study hall. I had nothing to do, so I read a how to draw a dragon tutorial. I followed the directions with my mechanical pencil moving across the notebook page. When I was done, I was amazed that it turned out decently. Then I did freelance work. I drew a comic for a friend and drew art for online friends too. When I entered community college, my love for art didn't fade, and I took art classes there. Unfortunately, Covid-19 nearly destroyed my dreams entirely, and I was close to dropping out. But I pushed through and managed to transfer to Columbia College. I hope to get my Graphic Design degree so I can pursue my dream of getting a job in the arts and get out of my lame retail job. If I earn enough money, I may also in the future move to a different state like California, possibly going to Calarts one day so I can get an animation degree and maybe one day make films. I can't wait to see the future.

I am Nicholas Melchert, and for as long as I can remember, I was always atypical. When I was about 4, I remember being in a white room with a woman who looked like a nurse, telling me nonstop that if I was angry, I should pretend I was blowing into a balloon and remember being placed in a room with this indoor window with a table that had cards placed on them. The second I entered school, I was put in tons of special education classes. When I was five years old when I was told I had ADHD as a little kid. I didn't see this all as a problem. But when I entered middle school, I truly understood why the word disorder was in the acronym for ADHD. Even when medicated, my processing speed and behavioral problems were poor. I also suffered from mood problems and couldn't figure out why. In 8th grade, I feared they would hold me back a year. When I got to high school, I had to dump almost all my energy into my classes to graduate. While at community college, I realized I was overmedicated and told my doctor to reduce my dosage, which helped my mood problems. My family suffered from mental health issues as well. My dad told me how messy his parents' house was and how he hadn't spoken to his sister in years. Later, my father told me his dad had paranoid schizophrenia, and his sister had depression. My mother also told me about her family's problems and how much they have been affected by drugs and crimes. It felt like I had to attend two funerals every year from her side of the family, all over drugs. One of my grandfathers even died when I was an infant due to smoking. Not sure what led them into a life like that; I believe it may have been due to depression, or maybe it was because they were just Hatfields. My parents had to go to college and move out of their hometown so they wouldn't suffer the same fate as their families. I did learn from a young age I wanted to avoid ending up like the Hatfields or my father's family. It is unfortunate that as I grew older I soon learned my parents are also a bit mentally unwell. My parents argue over the stupidest of things every week. Like one time my mom screamed to my dad, “I don’t wanna see you!” And dad stomped to his room. Over McDonald’s fries. I believe they both turned out this way because of their history of smoking as well. Not to mention my dad was in the national guard throughout my entire childhood, where he had to be deployed to places overseas and help out with local stuff constantly. To this day, I continue to struggle with issues regarding my mind, and so does my family. But now I know it's all going to get better with time.

I am Nicholas Melchert, and for as long as I can remember, I was always atypical. When I was about 4, I remember being in a white room with a woman who looked like a nurse, telling me nonstop that if I was angry, I should pretend I was blowing into a balloon and remember being placed in a room with this indoor window with a table that had cards placed on them. The second I entered school, I was put in tons of special education classes. When I was five years old when I was told I had ADHD as a little kid. I didn't see this all as a problem. But when I entered middle school, I truly understood why the word disorder was in the acronym for ADHD. Even when medicated, my processing speed and behavioral problems were poor. I also suffered from mood problems and couldn't figure out why. In 8th grade, I feared they would hold me back a year. When I got to high school, I had to dump almost all my energy into my classes to graduate. While at community college, I realized I was overmedicated and told my doctor to reduce my dosage, which helped my mood problems. My family suffered from mental health issues as well. My dad told me how messy his parents' house was and how he hadn't spoken to his sister in years. Later, my father told me his dad had paranoid schizophrenia, and his sister had depression. My mother also told me about her family's problems and how much they have been affected by drugs and crimes. It felt like I had to attend two funerals every year from her side of the family, all over drugs. One of my grandfathers even died when I was an infant due to smoking. Not sure what led them into a life like that; I believe it may have been due to depression, or maybe it was because they were just Hatfields. My parents had to go to college and move out of their hometown so they wouldn't suffer the same fate as their families. I did learn from a young age I wanted to avoid ending up like the Hatfields or my father's family. It is unfortunate that as I grew older I soon learned my parents are also a bit mentally unwell. My parents argue over the stupidest of things every week. Like one time my mom screamed to my dad, “I don’t wanna see you!” And dad stomped to his room. Over McDonald’s fries. I believe they both turned out this way because of their history of smoking as well. Not to mention my dad was in the national guard throughout my entire childhood, where he had to be deployed to places overseas and help out with local stuff constantly. To this day, I continue to struggle with issues regarding my mind, and so does my family. But now I know it's all going to get better with time.

In the future I see myself being a successful artist of some kind. Maybe make movies or novels.

To be honest, I would say I have always been healthy—at least 90 percent of the time, that is. As a little kid, I was always on the go. I played on playgrounds like most elementary school kids; I went on hikes and went outside a lot. Yet I have never broken a bone as a child and haven’t broken one to this day. The only unhealthy thing I may have done was eat tons of candy, like most children. I unfortunately rarely brushed my teeth, which resulted in a lot of cavities. My pediatric dentist even thought I had acid reflux. I also had difficulty going to bed and getting up on time. When I went into middle school, I kept being physically fit even during my adult. But I wasn’t very healthy in my diet. I was somewhat picky and didn’t eat many greens as I should have. Also, I ate a lot more than I used to at this point. But because I was constantly on the move, I didn’t gain too much weight. But when I was 13, I didn’t go outside very offer and preferred to stay inside and scroll through social media on my computer. Which I believed made me a bit more lazy. When high school rolled around, I became more invested in what was happening online instead of in the real world, which harmed my social life, my mental health, and my physical fitness. But by this time, I was no longer picky in my food, and I ate more fruits and vegetables than I used to. However, I still had a pretty big appetite which led to excessive eating, but I was still kind of a skinny kid. Luckily during my senior year of high school, I decided to stop using the internet nonstop, only using probably 2 hours or less per day instead of 7 to 9 hours a day. I When I reached the drinking age, unfortunately, I do think I got attached to alcohol more than I should have. Not to the point I became an alcoholic, but to the point I became drunk probably once a month. I did go to the gym with my buddies at this time and got myself pushed to higher limits than I used to. When I became an adult going to bed became more manageable, and waking up earlier became easier. As time progresses, I know that my healthy habits will increase too.

I am Nicholas Melchert, and for as long as I can remember, I was always atypical. When I was about 4, I remember being in a white room with a woman who looked like a nurse, telling me nonstop that if I was angry, I should pretend I was blowing into a balloon and remember being placed in a room with this indoor window with a table that had cards placed on them. The second I entered school, I was put in tons of special education classes. When I was five years old when I was told I had ADHD as a little kid. I didn't see this all as a problem. But when I entered middle school, I truly understood why the word disorder was in the acronym for ADHD. Even when medicated, my processing speed and behavioral problems were poor. I also suffered from mood problems and couldn't figure out why. In 8th grade, I feared they would hold me back a year. When I got to high school, I had to dump almost all my energy into my classes to graduate. While at community college, I realized I was overmedicated and told my doctor to reduce my dosage, which helped my mood problems. My family suffered from mental health issues as well. My dad told me how messy his parents' house was and how he hadn't spoken to his sister in years. Later, my father told me his dad had paranoid schizophrenia, and his sister had depression. My mother also told me about her family's problems and how much they have been affected by drugs and crimes. It felt like I had to attend two funerals every year from her side of the family, all over drugs. One of my grandfathers even died when I was an infant due to smoking. Not sure what led them into a life like that; I believe it may have been due to depression, or maybe it was because they were just Hatfields. My parents had to go to college and move out of their hometown so they wouldn't suffer the same fate as their families. I did learn from a young age I wanted to avoid ending up like the Hatfields or my father's family. It is unfortunate that as I grew older I soon learned my parents are also a bit mentally unwell. My parents argue over the stupidest of things every week. Like one time my parents argued over McDonald’s fries, at the end of the argument my mom screamed to my dad, “I don’t wanna see you!” And dad stomped to his room like a child. I believe they both turned out this way because of their history of smoking as well and their other unhealthy habits. Not to mention my dad was in the national guard throughout my entire childhood, where he had to be deployed to places overseas and help out with local stuff constantly. Possibly making him more angry. To this day, I continue to struggle with issues regarding my mind, and so does my family. But now I know it's all going to get better with time.

I am Nicholas Melchert, and I have been atypical for as long as I can remember. When I was about 4, I remember being in a white room with a woman who looked like a nurse, telling me nonstop that if I was angry, I should pretend I was blowing into a balloon and remember being placed in a room with this indoor window with a table that had cards placed on them. The second I entered school, I was put in tons of special education classes. When I was five years old when I was told I had ADHD as a little kid. I didn't see this all as a problem. But when I entered middle school, I truly understood why the word disorder was in the acronym for ADHD. Even when medicated, my processing speed and behavioral problems were poor. I also suffered from mood problems and couldn't figure out why. In 8th grade, I feared they would hold me back a year. When I got to high school, I had to dump almost all my energy into my classes to graduate. While at community college, I realized I was overmedicated and told my doctor to reduce my dosage, which helped my mood problems. My family suffered from mental health issues as well. My dad told me how messy his parents' house was and how he hadn't spoken to his sister in years. Later, my father told me his dad had paranoid schizophrenia, and his sister had depression. My mother also told me about her family's problems and how much they have been affected by drugs and crimes. It felt like I had to attend two funerals every year from her side of the family, all over drugs. One of my grandfathers even died when I was an infant due to smoking. Not sure what led them into a life like that; I believe it may have been due to depression, or maybe it was because they were just Hatfields. My parents had to go to college and move out of their hometown so they wouldn't suffer the same fate as their families. I did learn from a young age I wanted to avoid ending up like the Hatfields or my father's family. To this day, I continue to struggle with issues regarding my mind, and so does my family. But now I know it's all going to get better with time.

As a kid, I dreamed of being a scientist. At age 5, I dreamed of cloning people, building robots, making potions that turn people into dragons, and discovering new worlds. When I was 6, I fell in love with sharks; I even knew sharks had been around for hundreds of millions of years at that age. At age 7, like any other young boy, I was obsessed with dinosaurs. I am still determining where this obsession came from. It may have come from my childhood obsession with Spider-Man, Jurassic Park, or Godzilla, or maybe from my dad taking me to museums and his obsession with Star Wars. Whatever it was, I knew that something about the aesthetic of Sci-fi pulled me in. But little did I know that this love for the sciences pulled me closer and closer to a different area, which I soon realized I could not get out of. When I entered my teen years, I took a few art classes to get easy credits and thought it might be fun. I wasn't even sure what I wanted in my future then and if I would pass my adolescence. But when I got more into social media, I came across fan groups online, which I soon realized were called fandoms. These communities were over various topics like anime, celebrities, horror games, and shows, but most of the fandoms I was involved in were sci-fi or had an element of the genre. It became apparent that fandoms had a considerable art element, with various online forums full of fan art, fan animations, fan games, and even fan music. I wanted to get involved in this aspect of these communities, but I was scared because I didn't see myself having any artistic talent and could only draw stick figures. So I watched drawing tutorials, which were nearly impossible to follow. During my sophomore year of high school, I took a class for digital media where I got to work in Adobe, like Photoshop and Illustrator. I also took a class for 3D animation, where I made 3-D models and short animations. I didn't take art too seriously until I was in a study hall class. I had nothing else to do since I finished all my homework, so I read an art tutorial on how to draw a dragon. I drew in my notebook with the mechanical pencil, following the tutorial's directions best, and was surprised by how well it looked. I then started making free art requests online, and with people I knew in real life. I took more art-related classes. However, when I entered my first year in community college, I lost interest in art and feared it wouldn't be a field worth pursuing. But then I took a painting class during my last semester at this community college, and I remembered how everyone praised me. But I still wasn't sure what my future would look like, so after that semester ended, I decided to take some time off to think about it. After talking with some friends and family, I transferred to Columbia College to pursue a graphic design degree.

Mental health is essential because an individual's mental health affects almost every aspect of their personal life. Mental health can affect how a person sees the world; individuals with mental disorders such as schizophrenia are disconnected from reality, harming things like school and work. Mental health can affect your social life; being in a good mood makes people connect more and communicate with others, making them feel happier and reducing stress. However, a bad attitude can result in social withdrawal, making you more stressed, depressed, and lonely. Mental health is also vital for your physical health as well. For example, anxiety or depression, if left untreated, can result in chest pains and, in extreme cases, heart attacks. Overall I don't believe I have been intelligent in maintaining my mental health. As a kindergartener, I was diagnosed with Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and put on medication. Then during the same year, I had a neuropsychological assessment where I was confirmed not to have autism but was diagnosed with Oppositional defiant disorder. I threw away ADHD medication a lot around this time because I was not too fond of the side effects of the pills, and I believed I was overmedicated. I didn't tell my parents, which made things worse. When I was a preteen, I remember feeling so stressed about my health nonstop to the point I began feeling chest pains every day, and I thought I would die. The younger me didn't wish to tell anyone, which worsened with age. At age 11, I purposely wouldn't eat anything at lunchtime and wanted to die badly. I didn't tell my parents what was happening at this time either. During my teen years, I socially isolated myself, which made my parents believe I had autism or something. So my parents tried to get evaluated for it when I was 15, but it was denied because I was assessed for autism at age five and didn't meet the criteria. I didn't tell my parents about anything happening, which made things worse. Then my parents forced me to attend community college when I graduated high school. Then the Covid-19 pandemic happened, which made my mental health worse. When The Covid-19 pandemic was over, there was a nationwide shortage of ADHD medication which made me realize my mood problems were due to my medication. So I told my doctor to reduce the dosage, which overall fixed the issues.