Throughout my life, I have had many people influence my decisions and growth in many aspects. When I visualize my entire story and how I have achieved everything that I have in my life thus far, I can only thank one person overall for overseeing my development as a person. That person is my own mother. My mother has been the biggest influence in my life for many different reasons that have contributed directly to my path throughout my life. Ever since I was a kid, I have always had a creative mind to explore and discover new things to try whether it was art, designing, piano, etc. and my mother would always be my biggest encouragement to continue down the path of exploring and appreciating my talents because they were a gift. I always held those words close to me because I knew that if I worked hard enough, someone would eventually notice, and I would be given a chance to show my creativity to others and be innovative to even more branches of creativity because I never held myself to just one field of work. I always appreciate my mother's encouragement because she works hard to be the best version of herself while continuing to encourage me to work hard to achieve my goals and passions because time moves quickly, and I want to appreciate the time that I have to present myself. When I graduate, I will be innovative with my art skills through branching out to several fields. I am open to all kinds of work whether that is art or design, and I will showcase everything that I have through networking and communication to help develop my skills even further. Art has no limits and showing that I am motivated and determined to create work that is aesthetically pleasing and has purpose is a great step in achieving my goals. My artistic gift is unique because there's no limit to where I can branch out to. I have always been big on discovering new fields that I can apply my artistic skill to such as design, digital art, and even interior design which I share an interest in. I emphasize the importance of time and how time doesn't wait for anyone which helps me remember that I have to present myself strongly for the time that I have and appreciate any moment or opportunity that I have to be great.

Creativity is applied in my life through various degrees and perspectives. From the time I was little, I have always brought about a creative outlook to my daily works and I have evolved so much and envisioned my past perspective growing into my future perspective. I have used various art techniques from pencil and paper to digital art to demonstrate my perspective of creativity. This is applied in my studies and I use the base of it for my growth because I know that creativity can always be applied anywhere that I take it. In a much more complex manner, creativity has evolved so much in my life that I simply look at various scenes and views and recreate them into something much more artistic. I have demonstrated this through the imagination of something simpler like a different layout of the interior of a house or something very complicated to explain like looking down the road and imagining a view that's very aesthetically pleasing but isn't really there. Overall it's very surreal just how my imagination has changed and evolved so much to where everything seems like another creative aspect being applied. I intend to move forward in my studies and demonstrate in the best way possible how creative I can be and even use my studies to better the means of society in any way that I can.

I personally have many interests in terms of areas involving STEM. I am currently working towards a degree in the Technology part of STEM and pursuing a career in the major of Computer Graphics Technology. My goal in terms of my career is to become involved in User Interface and User Experience. I love this career option because it allows me to become connected between human interactions and design where every opportunity presented is based on research from a certain frame audience that is somehow connected to my goals. I want to pursue a career in STEM because it applies many principles from multiple areas that allow you to connect your skill to multiple career options. Because I am taking a path in technology, I am taking multiple courses that relate heavily to all areas in stem while still holding value in areas that I love. I grew up doing art and graphic design and shared a heavy interest in technology-based works and function and always wanted to be able to produce something that was attractive to the eye. I decided to take part in a STEM major like this because of the variety of pathways we are introduced to as STEM students where our classes give us diverse skills to apply in the real world. When I do start to work in my career path with my education from my STEM major, I want to be able to apply these skills to better some point in society. As a kid, I always wanted to help make a difference. A lot of kids back then used to speak about firefighters, doctors, police, etc. and I did too but now I understand that making a difference can be so much more and so because I have taken on that interest of art and design and I'm now learning multiple skills to expand my knowledge and ability, I want to be able to share my experiences with the world. My ultimate goal is to make a difference by creating new interfaces and designs that are both proficient and aesthetically attractive to the audience. I want to be able to help those that may need these interfaces for better purposes or just for entertainment. Anything that will better human interaction and experiences is where I'm heading in my STEM major. This can overall uplift a community because I want to also create interfaces that drive towards a bigger audience so something that can bring people together and give them something to remember for the better of humanity.

Since I was a kid, I always wanted to do something that would make a positive impact on the world. I have shown creativity and originality in art from a young age and always have shown an interest to be able to share it with the world. I have worked for 3+ years as a freelance designer and now I am taking steps to apply what I have learned to user experience. Taking this step wasn't the easiest but I have learned that I wanted to take a step into Computer Graphics Technology to improve the lives of those who interact with my interfaces. I want to create work that is aesthetically and visually pleasing to users. I have involved myself in a STEM degree because this allows me to gain knowledge of how to improve human interaction through digital processing and usability. I can develop skills in so many areas in a STEM major especially my major because it provides so many pathway options that correlate well with one another. With my involvement in Computer Graphics, I will develop skills through user-based research and analysis and produce prototypes that will show growth in functionality. I want any project development to be better than before and be enjoyable for all users that interact with them. I can make a positive impact on the world by using the data and analysis solely from society to improve my designs because I value user feedback and experience. My role in society is to innovate for to better humanity. With my involvement in the STEM field, I am taking various courses to improve my human-interaction and communication skills. I am fit for this area because of my applied skills from a young age. I have always been interested in creativity and originality and my STEM major is driving me to improve my values and skills as I mature. As I develop in the early stages of my education, I value moving forward because no matter where I am, I want to work towards learning more. I can carry this as a lesson in my lifelong learning. I'm prepared to take on the challenges that approach me and use problem-solving skills to produce solutions that correlate with principles of humanity. I have shown multiple instances of courageousness, self-discipline, and responsibility towards my goals. My STEM major is directing me towards how I can move towards my career and life goals.

When it comes to friendship, the real understanding can sometimes be misunderstood. I think a friend contrasts a bit from a friendship just for a few different reasons. Many people have friends but when you value the importance of that friend and what friends do, then you're starting to think about a friendship. A friendship has trust. This is limited to a friendship because when you spend enough time around a friend and learn more about each other, you begin to trust that person to learn more and keep learning as you both build that friendship bond with each other. There is also a connection somewhere between friends that is valued through their friendship. This is why friends often spend more time together to entertain each other's time because they know that they have a connection where they value each other's company. A friendship means the value of one another to me because when you have a friendship, you build a bond and become more comfortable with continuing to learn about one another and find your strengths and weaknesses in that friendship.

All my life I've been taught information that I needed to be able to take financial responsibility once I was older. One key investing tip that I've taken to heart is, "Never invest blindly." This tip is so valuable because nowadays especially with the surging number of younger investors, tend to become convinced that investing gets you to a higher financial status overnight which isn't the case. I've seen both sides where people have invested in stock because they were convinced to or they saw many of their friends doing it, so they invest without really knowing what they invested in and how the market works. I've also seen people who have done many years of studying behind the market and when investing functions in the best manner for them. I have taken part in the good and bad sides of investing and I'm still young so I take it little by little and I never invest blindly because when you become knowledgeable about the market and the financial assets available to you, you learn how to manage your funds in the market rather than invest and wait out.

The most helpful piece of financial advice I've ever received was from my mom who still shares this a lot with me as I continue to develop in my adult life. She always told me that "your property is your investment". Now, why is this relevant you ask? Well, it's actually very important because it holds multiple meanings. When she told me this, she meant that you get out what you put in. This can mean anything in relation to the worth of a specific something. One of the main meanings that she wanted me to get out of this is when I'm spending, whatever I spend on is my investment, in other words, take care of what you invest in. This could be a car, a house, a video game, or a phone. The point is to always make smart decisions with your investment and remember to never take it for granted because the way you treat that specific something is a reflection of your investment in it, to begin with. I take this into full consideration especially now that I am older because my investments nowadays are very important to how I move up in my life and I value how my investment choice is reflected upon. I never want to look back and regret an investment or wish that I had done better with the investment. Even if I for some reason never have to worry about my financial status ever again, I will always hold on to those words that my mom said because it's in my character to remain humble and be responsible with my investment choices.

I am passionate about STEM because it opens my interests up by allowing me to heavily explore the options and pathways that are available to me. Different majors and programs want students to find themselves within these fields of study because they can commonly share elements that students might be interested in. They also tend to engage in multiple elective options so students can take extra classes in areas that they're interested in but may not be sure of. I am personally enrolled in a technology major for Computer Graphics Technology. I have shared an interest in quite a few STEM majors but this has aspects that really connect with my character. I enjoy this program with STEM because I have quite a few options for electives to allow me to test the waters and see what kind of career pathway might be a good fit for me. I will be able to develop skills and knowledge about multiple directions I can take through STEM and become an engaged student to analyze multiple solutions through critical thinking. My interest in the STEM field was drawn back to when I was little because fields in Math and Technology have always been a part of my life as I grew in my knowledge and developed my skills. I used these small skills as well as a few of my art skills to start to analyze simple solutions through basic designs and images. Once I got used to the interfaces I was dealing with, I started to advance my skills through practice in and out of school which allowed me to overall function better when presented with a new challenge. Now that I am older, I committed myself to a STEM major to continue to develop my skills to be able to present them in the real world when faced with real-life innovation that needs to be completed. There are so many options in the STEM field and this makes it easier to become so engaged because you never stop learning in a STEM major. I was always taught that you can get a hold of anything you want if you try. I want to eventually get an introduction to various areas of study in the STEM fields to see how much I can learn because I very well may eventually be able to apply it in the future in my career. This lets me become diverse in the STEM-based career paths.

I stay true to myself in my daily life by remembering where I'm going. I have many goals in my life that I want to achieve and the main principle I stand by is to remain humble. I was always taught to be thankful for every opportunity that faces me and thank God for the gift of even being considered for an opportunity. Because I've been taught these principles for so long, I never forget my why and reason for pushing through challenges that face me every day. I've had moments in my life where I have slipped off but don't we all? The path is there and it's up to us if we want to follow it. I pray every day that I don't go off the path because I want to live a life where I know I stayed true to myself no matter what because at the end of every day, I know that it will all be ok. I continue to push through my education, no matter the assignments, my job, no matter the tasks, and my daily life, no matter what's going to face me now or later. My principle is to remain humble, always thank those that helped me along the way, and just take a deep breath at the end of every day because it will indeed all be ok if you believe it will.

Independence is a strong trait that is important to find in oneself. I believe that this is a key that many unlock as they grow but it can be tricky to determine what independence is. Some may say that it’s moving out or getting a job. Others might say it’s being able to pay bills or being able to generate ideas on your own. While I agree with all of these, let me tell you what I think about independence. To be independent to me is almost less of a trait but more of a being in itself and to take ownership of this being means you’re being your own character with your truths and your beliefs. Many thoughts and actions are shared in this life and it’s easy to hear and build a character from others but I feel that independence takes a form of being honest with yourself. Once you do this, the results are found in that job or ability to pay bills or being able to handle your own responsibilities. Independence really is something interesting and anyone can find this at a point in their lives.

If I were a highly influential figure, My message would be “Exploring Breeds A Story”. This message expands to so many levels and says a lot for anyone who feels like they don’t know what they are passionate about. As someone who is still discovering themselves, I want to motivate others to follow me on my creative journey to find my passion in art and design. I hold many other interests as well hence the “Exploring” part of my message. This message holds a lot of meaning to it mainly because it speaks volumes to which someone can discover themselves through testing the waters and going out and trying new things. Getting out of the little bubble they may be stuck in because I have been in their shoes and it’s not fun, but as an influencer, I can bring those people together so they know that they are not alone. Together, we can discover. Together, we can learn. Together, we can breed a story to be able to tell and share with the world.

I am passionate about art and design. Growing up, I have always built my creativity off of experience and the things I have seen in the world around me. Doing so made an opportunity where I could express how I visioned the world and how I implement those ideas when I create. As I got older my experiences throughout my childhood began to fade away from me, which ended one opportunity but shined a light on a new one. Since I didn't have any real inspiration at this time, I almost lost hope. That's when I took my first art class. Throughout the process of schooling, many students will take some type of art class. These classes helped me implement my current skills into new material. Something as simple as using pencil and paper was becoming more detailed and having actual messages of what it meant to me. I was learning new styles as I got older such as charcoal, painting, realism, etc. This built my passion for art and design because I was learning more and more that art and design aren't things that come and go. If you truly believe in your imagination, art and design can have endless opportunities for creation. Because of my deep passion for art and design, I plan to find a career path so I can implement my ideas into reality every day. Society has no limit of where to begin when it comes to the world of art and design. This is why the next steps are very crucial for figuring out how I want to visualize my creations. I have taken various art and design classes throughout high school to help pinpoint my interest in what I want to study. I am currently going to be studying Computer Graphics Technology to narrow down what career I might want to take part in. I have also done multiple portraits, artworks, designs, and research to help me make this decision. I know that these steps will help me build more knowledge of my passion and where it can take me in the world of art and design. Last year there was an art show and my teacher was entering those who were interested. We were already planning a project for portraits, but my teacher told me he wanted to see what I could do. I wanted to do a self-portrait, but this was my senior year and I haven't attempted a portrait since my freshman year. That portrait was my first and I didn't know if I still had the skill to create one. Despite me not having any recent experience, I had confidence and took the chance. I was then able to freehand a self-portrait and was honored by the art show, which made me realize that I can do anything if I put my mind to it.

A life of experiences, good or bad, can really create a scene of where you stand and where you're going from that point forward. Growing up, I never knew what my interests were until I started drawing. I was motivated through scenes from long drives and different things I seen because as a kid, you pick up ideas from the visuals of the world around you. It could be mountains or the skies or a long narrow road on a sunset that just attracts your attention. When you go back to thinking about your next creation, you don't forget these things. One of the biggest hits to my creations was when I spent two summers in the house after 3 surgeries. This demotivated me because I wasn't free anymore to experience life outside during those times. When I created art, I had to learn to develop my own images from past experiences of my childhood so far. Now in the present day, I use the skills from the passion I have built to discover a world of creation where you can express yourself on paper, on a computer, in 3D, anything you desire. This has guided me to now create portraits and realistic art of my visions. This shapes my artistic dream because I still don't forget my experiences of the past as I now prepare to enter college and continue to build my passion moving forward.

My craft in the arts is drawing. I love to draw because it's a creative way of expressing and to be able to recreate your thoughts or real-life images on paper is a real blessing. I am currently working on a portrait of Kobe Bryant and his daughter. I am doing this based on a real-life image. I do what I do because I always had an interest in art. Ever since I was little, I have had this talent in art that I never appreciated until I was older. I now know that having creativity and the ability to draw is a gift that should be approached with care. I want to be able to share my thoughts of creativity with others and show that it is very much so possible to advance your skill in the arts whether that is music, sculpting, or anything else that you want to do in your life involving a creative imagination. My ambitions for the future are to take my skill and turn it into something that I could utilize in my future career. I want to increase my skill as I build on a passion for art every day in my life.

Many people have their story to lead them where they are or where they’re going. Mine is one of seven billion to tell. The difference is, mine is going to tell you how I plan to take a different route than a lot of people and reach new heights. My name is Nick King. I’m eighteen years old with big thoughts and big plans. Growing up wasn’t easy. I was usually hidden in the shadows and scared to speak and wasn’t really aware of what I meant to me to be African American. My household was commonly reserved with two parents and three siblings. I’m the last of them with little to follow. Growing up none of us really had a direction or plans. I didn’t have a guide to really help me grow my talents or gifts. I thought these would come and go followed by many others. When I was three years old, I got my first taste of being ahead. I was still a reserved and shy kid, but I showed ability to move ahead to the point where I was ready to go into school before I was four. I was described as a unique kid with a lot of potential academically. I didn’t know much of my own potential but I was always told I had a gift. At five I got my first taste of art. I thought it was just another skill but I soon realized that I could make it into something great. Growing up I developed more skills in areas such as drawing, playing piano, house designing, and graphic designing. I always considered these as hobbies that could go away but my parents always told me that as a African American male, I should take advantage of my gift and show it to the world. At about fifteen, I drew my first portrait which received a lot of attention and it was more of a hint to my talents. More recently I drew my second portrait which was a large step up and now I know for sure. I’m learning everyday that you have a imagination with so much versatility for a reason. We were made to do great things and I finally realize that as I’m slowly learning what I want to do for the rest of my life. I am dreaming big by turning a childhood hobby into my real life career. I want to create art and graphic designs beyond imagination. Everywhere we go, we see things so inspiring and it’s amazing that we can take these little pieces of inspiration and turn them into something better, greater, and fascinating upon sight. My goal is to show people that it’s ok to think outside the box. That’s an old phrase but it works so much coming from someone who was reserved so much up until recently. I’m trying to help inspire people to get them to follow their hearts. Don’t ignore that voice telling you to go beyond because it’s worth it and it will help your future. There’s a reason why you draw so much, or like to cook a lot, or have a lot of interest in space and the things in it. Follow that path and see where it takes you because you’ll look back and be glad you never crossed any other path. Once again, My name is Nick King, I’m eighteen, and I’m here to achieve great things, like you.

In this world, it can be hard to be noticed in a crowd of 7 billion people. We all are different so it’s hard to find unique features that’ll make you stand out. My personal thought is if you want to be heard, you have to put your creativity in this world to the test. Think loud, speak loud, make the world hear you and see your creation. I want to create art, designs, and graphics beyond what everyone has seen. That may sound normal since many artists and graphic designers have done great things, but I want to take it even further. Imagination is a beautiful thing and even as a kid we’d imagine things that weren’t even of this world. I want to utilize those imaginations as I step up and take a chance to create. I want my art to shine out and give a reason for all eyes to land upon it. This can take multiple forms. Branding, Portraits, Futuristic Thoughts, or some crazy species that may not exist. If I think and work hard I can create work that defines my imagination. I want my work to tell people that it’s okay to think different. There’s so many of us in this world and you can’t be scared to stand back in the crowd and blend in. If you want to stand out, you’ll do what you can to push your way to the center stage and reach a new level where you are seen and heard. I always used to think about what I can do to be better. Everyday I have the same thought as I take little steps to try and show that I want to be better. These little steps can be at work, in the classroom, or even on a video game. With your creation, you let your imagination do the talking to stamp your legacy forward.