The biggest influence in my life has been Jesus/Christ. Growing up, I attended a Christian school and went to church, on Sundays and Wednesday nights, with my family. There I was taught all about the Bible, who God is, and what Jesus has done for us. I was also taught that everybody had a God-given gift, talent, or ability and that we should use that gift to Glorify Him. Since I was a young child, I had an affinity for the arts and craft. I would draw, paint, crochet, sew, and incorporate some type of design to whatever I did. I may not have been the best at it, but I do believe that my gift is in design. Therefore, I attend on continuing to learn and grow so that I can help and show people God’s greatness through it. I also attend on using my artistic skills to design products for people all over the world. I am currently majoring in Industrial Design at Appalachian State University. There I am learning about all the different materials and processes used to create an efficient product. I have worked with wood, metal, plastic, plaster, foam, and CADD, etc. to design my products. I have also learned how to solder and 3D print models, and I plan on learning more about the world of design. With all I have learned and am still learning, I know that these tools with give me the knowledge to create a truly innovative product that will benefit people worldwide. What makes my artistic gift/ skill different is the fact that I engage in those different types of arts and crafts/design. I believe that having a vast knowledge of different field of art will help me to understand more and design better products. Also, as a consumer and having worked at multiple part-time jobs, I can put myself into the shoes of my market and find problems or areas that need improvement. While in school I was taught how different words, colors, and shapes can be perceived differently by different groups of people. I learned about the effects of them on the mental and emotional sphere, and how they can influence our mood, health, and ability to learn. Therefore, when I design, I make sure to take in consideration how my market will use and be affected by my product. Furthermore, I believe that my upbringing has given me a different mindset than others; therefore, allowing me to bring different ideas to the table. I believe many products are beneficial to our communication and growth as a society, but I also believe that too much of something can hinder our growth in other areas. I also value and believe it is our job to take care of the earth because it is the home that we, as a human race, live in. I have a necessity driven mindset, so when designing I think about how something will actually help someone and not hinder them. I think about the pros and cons of a product when developing it. Will this product be truly helpful or will it hinder growth in another area in the long run? I believe it is important to think about not only the short-term effects but the long term as well. What happens in the long run could be more detrimental to our society and environment, so having a mindset that thinks about all the possibilities of usage is important.

The area of design that I am interested in, and currently majoring in, is industrial design. In this field, I am able to conduct research about current and previous products on the market, brainstorm ideas for new products or ways to improve old ones, and how to physically create the product itself. I have been educated on the thought that goes into making an efficient and needed product. Also, I have learned about and been able to experiment with different materials and processes that are used to create a product. I have worked with wood, metal, plastic, and foam, etc. Each material differs in the way that they are harvested and molded into a product; moreover, what may be efficient for one material, could cost a lot for another one. From the material, to labor, to the impact on society and the environment when using and discarding of the product, all have to be considered. I plan on using the knowledge I have gained of different materials and processes to create more sustainable products and a better society. Being able to create a better future and help the environment with my designs is an honor and privilege; moreover, I believe it is important to care of the environment because it is the home that we, as a human race, live in. I do not have a specific product that I wish to create; however, I hope to design products that will be beneficial/sustainability for society as a whole. This previous spring semester, I had the opportunity to work with other design students on a project to change a non-recyclable or difficult-to-recycle product into a new one. My group chose plastic grocery bags, and we created a line of everyday/travel items. Below is a link to our process.

Being an artist doesn't solely mean that you can draw, paint, or are artistically skilled. There wouldn't be paintings of dots and lines at an art gallery or museum if that were true. Just recently, I went to an art museum, and there I saw many impressive things; however, there were many things that, in my opinion, looked like hot garbage. From that, I concluded that being an artist must be about more than just talent. I believe that being is an artist is more of a way of expression. To those who may not talk as much, they may use art mediums as a way of communicating or expressing their innermost thoughts and feelings. It is like a diary where one can make a point or tell a story, someone's story. It doesn't matter if someone thinks your artwork is good or bad because it is your piece of work. No one else can tell you how it is supposed to look; moreover, looks are not everything. Of course, it is good if your artwork is pretty, but that's only half of the equation. For example, a person can look very attractive but be shallow at heart. Like anything, art needs to have substance. It needs to carry a message or express emotion. If you think about it, art makes up the word heart. If your piece doesn't come from the heart, then it is trash. As a kid/teenager, I was never really into writing diaries or talking about my feeling, but doing art allowed me to relax. Whether it was crocheting, sewing pillows, drawing, painting, or designing games, etc. I felt alive. I honestly could work on them all night long, or at least till my parents told me to go to bed. When I made different things, I was moving at my own pace. More so, whenever I would draw, paint, or do any crafts, I can felt a sense of ease and peace wash over me. I also love it when I can share it with others. When I can do the things I love with others and make them smile, I feel great. There is nothing better than being able to share your knowledge or love with others. My dad always asks me, what is the point of having all your gifts, talents, or intelligence if you don't share it with anyone. The only person that benefits from it is you. Not only does it not help the environment, but it loses value over time. Therefore, as I go through life, I plan on designing and creating things that will help others as they go through life. I don't want to make things for people to be lazy, tv already does that, but I want to design something that will promote learning and be better for both people and the environment. I want to create things that will encourage people to dream big and to take those things which may seem impossible and make them possible.

Everything you want in life comes at a price. Whether it be with your time, your money, or something you like to do/habits, etc., you will need to sacrifice them to achieve greatness. You must be able to do whatever it takes to get it done. In my case, I need money to get a degree in Industrial design; therefore, for me to obtain it, I have to sacrifice my free time. To achieve my goals and live a life worth living, I have to work harder and smarter than before. I believe that nothing in this world is free and that somebody is paying for it; therefore, I will prove myself worthy of such an investment. As an upcoming freshman in college, I need the scholarship money. So that I can live out my dreams, I will have to take hold of every opportunity that comes my way. As this is one of the opportunities to receive the money, I will take hold of it and not let go. It would be a shame to be presented with such an opportunity as this and to miss it. This time I will not miss out on the opportunities that come my way or hinder myself from greatness with a lazy mindset. I would appreciate the investment in my future through the scholarship money. Every dollar is appreciated and will be used to benefit not only me but others in this world.

In my life, I have had many teachers who have impacted me, but there is one teacher who stands above the rest. Her name is Miss Williams, and she is my biggest fan. Although middle and high were in the same building, I did not know her until I got to high school. While in high school, she served as my Homeroom/Bible teacher, Chemistry teacher, and AP Calculus teacher. Whenever she would teach, it would never be boring or meaningless, but everything had a message. When she would teach the class, she would make us think and not let us slack off. I also liked her ever-growing pursuit for knowledge and the way she would challenge me to become great. Throughout high school, math was my least favorite subject. However, through Miss Williams, I started to not only like math but want to know more. When I did not know how to do something, she would make it her mission to explain it to me, even if it was after school. Miss Williams not only helped me to become better, but she also believed in me when I did not even believe in myself. Whenever I would doubt my ability to do something, she would assure me that I could by reminding me that I have the mind of Christ. She not only would encourage me through her words, but she would put me in places that would challenge me, Whether it be the M3Challenge, Science bowl team, the Bridge building team, or Rocket team. One of these areas would continue to inspire me. While being on the rocket team, I have developed an unquenchable passion for flying. My team had to build a rocket that would maintain a certain height and weight while flying to a certain altitude and coming down at a specific time, all while protecting an egg inside it. It was so much fun to build a rocket and fly a rocket, but not all the time was it fun being on the team. Many times, my teammates would either not come to practice, come there to talk, and many times they would not understand what we are doing. I felt like I was the only person who cared, but Miss Williams was always there. Even when I would be close to giving up hope, she would always be there telling me to never give up and to stay strong. While at the competition, my team flew well, but we could have done a lot better. We did not win, but afterward, Miss Williams introduced me to one of the people in charge of the competition. He talked to me about rocketry and his experience, asked me about my plans for the future, and encouraged me to continue pursuing rocketry; after all, I do not think I would want to live not flying rockets. All of this leads back to Miss Williams. If she did not introduce me to rocketry, I would not have found what I am passionate about; therefore, I am saying thank you. Nobody has a more beautiful heart than her. My appreciation for Miss Williams goes to infinity and beyond.

Have you used your gifts or talents to help other people in need this year? Well, through my school, I was able to do just that. I was given the opportunity to paint an inspiring message on the top of a desk and give it to a child who didn't have one. I painted the desk in hope that the person who received it would smile and be motivated to push forward, giving their all every day. To have the chance to positively impact another person's life and help them achieve great things is simply the best.