Art has never really felt like just a career path to me, its more like how I naturally connect with people and tell stories and show up for my community. Right now I'm studying Motion Graphics and Studio Art at Austin Community College after already finishing my Associate Degree in Graphic Design and through all of that I've built up skills in digital illustration, branding, animation, video editing, and traditional art. The part that matters most to me is using creativity to actually help people. I've put my skills to use in educational settings, community projects, and faith based work, making artwork and visual materials and presentations that are meant to encourage people and mean something to them. Doing that kind of work made it really clear to me that art isn't just decoration, it communicates things words sometimes can't and it builds connections in a way not a lot of other things do. Motion graphics and graphic design combined is where I feel most excited creatively because there's so much you can do with it and I want to eventually work professionally in that space while still doing volunteer projects on the side that actually benefit people not just clients. The legacy of Phillip Morales resonates with me because he clearly cared about more than just making things look good, he wanted to inspire people through his work and that's something I think about a lot with my own. This scholarship would help me keep going with my education and keep developing the skills I want to use to make a real difference.

A lot of my inspiration comes from everyday life; conversations, environments, and small details that most people overlook. I’m constantly noticing how people express themselves, how spaces feel, and how emotion can be communicated visually. That carries into both my digital work and my traditional art. I’m currently pursuing a Studio Art degree, which is the closest thing to fine arts at my college, and it’s helped me grow a more hands-on side of my creativity. I started painting with acrylics in 2020, and the very first pieces I made were small landscape paintings on mini canvases. I’ve always loved capturing the beauty of nature and the feeling it gives. During the pandemic, I would gift these tiny paintings to friends and family, trying to make each one match something about them or something they would connect to. That’s when art started to feel more personal to me. Since then, I’ve just kept creating and figuring out what I like. I enjoy painting people I care about and capturing them in a way that feels real. I also like switching styles depending on what I’m trying to say or what I’m into at the moment. My background in graphic design and motion graphics also plays a role in how I think about composition and how everything fits together. Being around different people has also shaped how I approach my work. It’s helped me understand how to communicate better and make things that actually connect. At the end of the day, I just want my work to feel genuine and meaningful.