One of the most meaningful influences on my motivation to pursue higher education comes from growing up in a family where creativity was always present but not always treated as a stable career path. Art was appreciated, but it was often seen as something that could not provide long-term security. Watching this shaped my perspective early on. I understood that many people feel forced to separate their passions from their future to survive. Instead of accepting that mindset, I became motivated to prove that creativity and stability do not have to exist separately. I want to build a future where art is respected as both meaningful and practical, especially for students who may feel discouraged from pursuing their interests. Throughout my education, I have experienced firsthand how artistic expression can be misunderstood. For years, some of my art teachers told me that my art style resembled anime and described it as dark, scary, or lacking emotion. This was discouraging because my artwork was simply a reflection of my hobbies and interests as an alternative student. My style was not meant to be negative; it was honest. It stood for the characters, aesthetics, and creative influences that inspired me to keep improving. Being told that my art lacked emotion made me realize that many people only recognize emotion when it appears in familiar or traditional forms. This experience helped me understand that creativity looks different for everyone, and no one should feel pressured to change their identity just to be accepted. At the same time, my mother has always been one of my biggest sources of encouragement. She is both a baker and an artist whose strengths are rooted in realism, yet she always appreciated my more cartoon-inspired style. Instead of discouraging my interests, she actively supported them. She would ask me to draw her favorite characters in icing on baked goods or create designs on old clothes for her to wear. Seeing her proudly display my work showed me that art does not need to fit one definition to have value. Her encouragement reminded me that creativity can be shared in everyday life, whether through food, fashion, or personal expression. Her belief in my abilities helped me continue developing my style even when others did not fully understand it. As a Black high school senior in Washington, DC, I have also seen how access to creative opportunities and emotional support can vary depending on environment and resources. In many communities, students are encouraged to focus only on careers that are considered traditionally stable, often at the expense of their personal interests or emotional well-being. Creative subjects are sometimes undervalued, even though they can help young people process stress, build confidence, and communicate ideas that may otherwise go unheard. My personal experiences with criticism, balanced with the encouragement I received at home, helped me realize how important it is for students to have mentors who encourage individuality instead of discouraging. Higher education is a major step in helping me build the knowledge and qualifications needed to achieve these goals. Attending Wayne State College will allow me to strengthen both my artistic abilities and my understanding of how to support others through education and counseling. I want to become the type of educator who recognizes that emotion can be expressed in many ways, including styles that may not always be traditionally.

One of the most meaningful influences on my motivation to pursue higher education comes from growing up in a family where creativity was always present, but not always treated as a stable career path. Art was appreciated, but it was often seen as something that could not provide long-term security. Watching this shaped my perspective early on. I understood that many people feel forced to separate their passions from their future in order to survive. Instead of accepting that mindset, I became motivated to prove that creativity and stability do not have to exist separately. Throughout my education, I have experienced firsthand how artistic expression can be misunderstood. For years, some of my art teachers told me that my art style resembled anime and described it as dark, scary, or lacking emotion. This was discouraging because my artwork was simply a reflection of my hobbies and interests as an alternative student. My style was not meant to be negative; it was honest. It represented the characters, aesthetics, and creative influences that inspired me to keep improving. Being told that my art lacked emotion made me realize that many people only recognize emotion when it appears in familiar or traditional forms. This experience helped me understand that creativity looks different for everyone, and no one should feel pressured to change their identity just to be accepted. At the same time, my mother has always been one of my biggest sources of encouragement. She is both a baker and an artist whose strengths are rooted in realism, yet she always appreciated my more cartoon-inspired style. Instead of discouraging my interests, she actively supported them. She would ask me to draw her favorite characters in icing on baked goods or create designs on old clothes for her to wear. Seeing her proudly display my work showed me that art does not need to fit one definition in order to have value. Her encouragement reminded me that creativity can be shared in everyday life, whether through food, fashion, or personal expression. Her belief in my abilities helped me continue developing my style even when others did not fully understand it. As a Black high school senior in Washington, DC, I have also seen how access to creative opportunities and emotional support can vary depending on environment and resources. In many communities, students are encouraged to focus only on careers that are considered traditionally stable, often at the expense of their personal interests or emotional well-being. Creative subjects are sometimes undervalued, even though they can help young people process stress, build confidence, and communicate ideas that may otherwise go unheard. These experiences influenced my decision to pursue a career as both an art teacher and a therapist. I want to create spaces where students feel comfortable expressing themselves without fear that their ideas will be labeled as wrong simply because they are different. Art has always been one of the main ways I understand the world, and I believe creative expression can help people process emotions that may be difficult to put into words. My decision to pursue higher education is not only about personal success, but also about helping create a future where creativity is respected as a meaningful form of communication. I hope to contribute to a society where students feel encouraged to explore their interests without being told their voice is incorrect or lacking. Through education, empathy, and creativity, I plan to support individuals in feeling confident in their ideas and empowered to express themselves honestly.

I see myself as a positive force in society by using art to support emotional expression, confidence, and understanding in others. Even now, art allows me to connect with people and communicate ideas that may be difficult to express with words. I believe creativity can help individuals process experiences, cope with stress, and feel seen. Because of this, I plan to become both an art teacher and a therapist, combining education and emotional support to help students grow academically and personally. From my personal experience, growing up in an artistic household, art is subjective, and most teachers do not teach that. Students are not pushed to believe that even if you don’t know how to draw a circle or a straight line, your art still matters, your creativity still matters and the emotions that you put on your paper do matter, so even if your art isn’t perfect, it’s you and we should teach kids to be confident in their own creativity something that many art teachers didn’t do for me, but my mom did. Current societal norms often place high pressure on productivity and success while overlooking the importance of emotional well-being and creative development. Many students feel discouraged from pursuing artistic interests because art is sometimes viewed as less practical or less stable than other career paths. These norms have shaped my thinking by motivating me to challenge the idea that art is not essential. I see art as a powerful tool that can strengthen mental health, encourage individuality, and build confidence, especially for young people who may struggle to express themselves in traditional environments. The rise of AI has changed society for the worst leading kids to lose their creativity. If our youth lose their creativity, it would be the worst for humanity. I do not want them to grow up in a world where they are too lazy or bashed for being creative. As society becomes more aware of mental health and the importance of self-expression, there is an increasing need for educators who understand both creativity and emotional development and push them to be creative in a world where creativity is dying. By becoming an art teacher and therapist, I hope to create supportive environments where students feel encouraged to explore their ideas without fear of judgment. I want to contribute to a future where artistic expression is respected as both meaningful and valuable, not only as a skill but to improve overall well-being. Attending Wayne State College will help me build the knowledge and experience needed to support others through both education and counseling. My goal is to positively influence society by helping individuals feel confident in their creativity, understand their challenges, and empowering them to grow into their full potential.