As I put down my paintbrush after the final brushstroke on my newest painting, I noticed how much emotion was hidden beneath the thin layer of paint. The aspects of creative freedom have grasped me throughout my childhood till today, pushing me past my comfort zone and allowing me to fall in love with painting and writing. Art and writing continue to hold comfort throughout every stage of my life, posing as a way to work through my emotions and explore challenges. Through high school, I explored my artistic abilities to their full potential, taking six art classes throughout my four years. As I challenged myself to keep up with the continuous deadlines and develop my artistic skills, I began to notice the impact my love for writing could have on my artwork. During my junior year, I dedicated my AP Drawing portfolio to exploring the aspects of different cognitive disabilities, inspired by my experiences while volunteering with a student with Autism Spectrum Disorder. I paired my paintings with detailed descriptions and explanations, combining my skills in art and writing together. After earning a 4 on my first AP art exam, it became my push to take my interests to university. I chose to major in English and Graphic Design at Northeastern University, allowing me to further develop my skills and passions. Through my creative works, I have learned how important utilizing my creative passion is to me, holding the power to speak words I am unable to express.

My genuine passion for reading was apparent from the moment I confidently recited every word of Pinkalicious at three years old. From a young age, my parents fed my imagination by providing a wide genre of fantasy novels, yet they could not keep up with the weekly Barnes & Noble visits. Rereading novels quickly became my new hobby, creating new endings, personalities, and sequels for every book on my shelf. With every page turned, I would be whisked away into an imaginary world, my favorite being one full of wizards, potions, and letters dropped from owls' claws. Staying up until 4 am with a flashlight and Harry Potter book in hand became a nightly ritual, emerging me into the life I wish I could live. J.K. Rowling was the first author who had a significant impact on my academic career, influencing me to fall in love with storytelling and creative writing. There was not a single book that Rowling had written that was not on my bookshelf, dedicating a special shelf to my favorite childhood series. Although I idolized Rowling's use of imagery and character development, I always craved seeing my favorite imaginary world come to life. I remember sitting in a sandwich shop in Manhattan Beach when I glanced up at the television and saw Harry and Hermione on the screen. The joy that filled me was indescribable, and when I got home I watched the entire series. The feeling of seeing my favorite books come to life was fascinating, adding more love to how much I loved the series. After rewatching the first movie at least ten times a week, I sat down and felt like I was meant to accomplish the same success as J.K Rowling. A purple notebook covered in galaxy duct tape became a vault to hold my writing. Soon, every page within was covered in messy scribbles of green ink, an attempt to capture every detail of my developing plot. Over the years I lost track of my creation; however, my creative writing continued to grow through journals, poems, and essays. With every journal completed, I can remind myself how much comfort and familiarity pen and paper hold, transporting me back to the whimsical world that influenced me to write. Now going into college, I have decided to major in English to continue my passion. Without the Harry Potter books and movies, I know that no other writer could fascinate me as much as Rowling.

Layered. If I were to simplify my character to two of my passions, my dedication to the craft of writing and art is what helped me create security in myself. My passion for literature is apparent to anyone who examines my bookshelves, post-its peeking out of the hundreds of novels I hold. Reading has been embedded in my nightly routine since I can remember, looking up to authors from J.K Rowling to F.Scott Fitzgerald. Reading stories others have created motivates me to create my own, writing cover to cover in every journal I hold. The aspects of creative freedom have grasped me through my childhood till today, pushing me past my comfort zones and allowing me to fall in love with painting. Art continues to hold comfort throughout every stage in my life, posing as a way to work through my emotions and explore challenges. Since I was little, there has always been a sketchbook full of doodles in my backpack, an escape from the chaos around to express my thoughts. I’d pull it out whenever I needed to reflect and narrow my focus to just the paper and pencil. As my art education continued, my doodles evolved into acrylic pieces and experiments with mixed media. My artwork has become more complex,capturing my greater understanding of my own emotions and those surrounding me.Through my work, I have learned that each layer conveys a different meaning, holding the power to speak words I am unable to express.

I believe that the most impactful movies are those that pay homage to the passionate, and there is no better movie to capture that feeling than La La Land. Since I was a little girl, I've been captivated by how movie storylines and tensions can relate to so much going on in my life, giving me something to relate to. Creative freedom has always been a passion of mine, finding pure love in painting, writing, and films. However, I never thought I could turn my passions into a career. That is until I watched La La Land for the first time with my family. I became mesmerized by the passion one can hold for the arts and the successes that can emerge from creativity. The movie perfectly captured the true passion and risks needed to become successful in the industry. Every time I watched it, I was transported to a world of song, romanticization, and hardships. La La Land never failed to make me feel like an outcast, pulling me into a different version of myself where I could see what my life could look like in the future if I believed in my passions. La La Land became like an "older sibling" to me, inspiring me to take a chance and major in English. I had always excelled in creative writing, but I never thought it could be socially acceptable to pursue my passion. Now that I'm at the end of my college application process, I have been accepted to schools like Northeastern and the University of Michigan because of the chance I took, just like Mia did with her acting career. Looking back, I realize how much La La Land impacted my educational journey. Through constant Friday night viewings of the movie, the one lesson that stuck with me was that just because my dreams may be different, they are just as important as everyone else's. The impact that this cinematic masterpiece has had on me is incredible, leading me to decide that La La Land is the one movie I could watch for the rest of my life. The impression left on me after every viewing is always incredible, leaving me with a passion to make my name known as well. La La Land's ability to relate to every stage of my life is incredible, always giving me hope for the future and what my life could be.