Growing up, I was the type of kid that would do anything to stay out of the spotlight. The slightest bit of attention would draw me back into the shadows. One of my biggest forms of escaping the light was with a single piece of paper. Blank sheets were my favourite things, they gave me full control to dive deep into my imagination. I would draw all sorts of things. My mom was often asleep during the day from her third shifts, so it gave me company. I was under the impression that as long as I had my drawings, I would never be alone, and that's how I planned to be for the rest of my life. I was good on my own now, so why would I need anyone else? The plan was sailing smoothly until l received a compliment from a classmate. She had told me "You draw so well!", and it was a simple compliment, but it meant the world to me. It meant so much that I drew them something immediately to express my gratitude. Their eyes almost immediately lit up to my gesture. Seeing their reaction sparked a small, yet significant flame in me. Who knew I could make such an impact in someone’s life with just a piece of paper? I wanted to be able to make others smile like this, it had become a new goal of mine. This also uncovered my love for giving back, it had become my love language. I had wasted so much time avoiding others that I never realized the impact I could make. Although I do regret some of the missed opportunities I had due to my fears, there is not benefit to sticking to these regrets. Instead, I take them as my encouragement to put myself out there even if it means doing it alone. That interaction has stuck with me to this day, and since then, I have joined all sorts of volunteering organizations, as well as thrown my artwork out there for everyone to see. I want to make everyone around me feel the way my class mate did eleven years ago, and I will continue to find ways to do so. This scholarship will be a brick to the home I am trying to build for others to feel comfortable in, to help others come into the light the way I did.

Growing up, I was the type of kid that would do anything to stay out of the spotlight. The slightest bit of attention would draw me back into the shadows. One of my biggest forms of escaping the light was with a single piece of paper. Blank sheets were my favourite things, they gave me full control to dive deep into my imagination. My mom was often asleep during the day from her third shifts, so it gave me company. I was under the impression that as long as I had my drawings, I would never be alone, and that's how I planned to be for the rest of my life. I was good on my own now, so why would I need anyone else? The plan was sailing smoothly until l received a compliment from a classmate. It was something simple as "You draw so well!", but it meant the world to me. It meant so much that I drew them something immediately as a thank you. Seeing the way their eyes lit up to my gesture sparked a tiny. yet important, flame in me. I wanted to be able to make others smile like this, and who knew it could be achieved with just a piece of paper? I had wasted so much time avoiding others that I never realized the impact I could make. That interaction has stuck with me to this day, and since then, I have joined all sorts of volunteering organizations, as well as thrown my artwork out there for everyone to see. I want to make everyone around me feel the way my class mate did eleven years ago, and I will continue to find ways to do so. This scholarship will be a brick to the home I am trying to build for others to feel comfortable in, to help others come into the light the way I did.