I have been vegan since I was 5 years old, when my grandfather died too young. At that point my parents realized they needed to eat healthier. Initially they went vegetarian but after watching the film Earthlings, they immediately decided they had to go vegan. At the time I did not know anything about veganism besides the fact that I did not like almond milk very much, I was a picky 5-year-old. However, as I grew up veganism became more and more important to me as I understood the horrible things animals have to go through, and the detrimental effects animal agriculture has on our planet. Veganism is especially important to me because of my proximity to the potential victims of animal agriculture. My father owns a farm animal sanctuary where we rescue animals from bad situations. Because of this, I have grown up surrounded by pigs, chickens, cows, turkeys, sheep, and more since I was around 10 years old. In my short 18 years I have already participated in plenty of vegan activism. I've stood on many a street corner along with my father holding signs. When I was 12, we traveled around the east coast visiting colleges with the documentary The Last Pig by Allison Argo and bringing along our own pigs. My father also runs multiple successful social media accounts under the username, LifeWithPigs. I help him create content and art to post online. One of our largest projects that we collaborated on was a children's book about our cow, Jenna who we have raised since she was a calf. We co-illustrated Dr. Seuss-esque story which my father wrote. He sketched the images, and I did the line art, colors, and shading. This was an amazing project to work on, because my dreams are to become an artist and that is exactly what I plan on going to college for. It can be hard to get people to see the value of veganism, I know I have tried many methods. One of the most effective ways to get people to understand is through art. Art can be persuasive without being aggressive as some people are intimidated by aggressive pleas for their compassion. However, art can also be used aggressively to depict the horrors that animals go through, contrasted with the lives they should be able to lead. Art can show the potential future we are pushing our planet towards. In my experience of advocacy art has been one of the most impactful tools to plant a seed in people's minds to grow a tree of compassion. One day that tree will break through their preconceived notions of how the world should be. I am so glad my parents were able to teach me compassion for our earth and her animals. Veganism has always been and will remain to be a large part of my identity. It has been 13 years since I went vegan, and I feel stronger in my decision to remain vegan along with my parents than ever.

Stepping into my first art class as a homeschool kid gave me a chance to break out of my shell while doing something I loved. As a nine-year old who had never been to school, I was extremely shy, but art class taught me something I never thought it would; how to communicate. For me art has always been about connection and my art education throughout my years of homeschooling and high school has only amplified that definition. My passion for art began at birth, where in lieu of formal education I learned alongside my dad. Through cold winters in Maine, we would stay warm by the fire sketching from how-to-draw books. Even though he is no longer my main art teacher he is still the one who inspires me the most to keep drawing. My dad is always building on his art abilities, and he pushes me to do the same. In fact, both my parents are integral to my journey. When I am unsure of my path forward, they encourage me to keep going. My art teachers throughout high school have been my favorite teachers. Other students have mixed opinions on the art teachers at our school, while I think I connect with them through our shared passion. Their classes provided a safe space for self-expression and an escape from the mental health issues I struggled with throughout high school. They have always pushed me to enter art contests and helped me go through the process of applying to the governor’s school art program twice. I would not be the artist I am today without their help. In art classes I met some of my best friends and it was easy for us to connect because we liked art. One of those friends is going to the same college, so we can continue learning and growing together. Community is fostered in the sharing of ideas and inspirations that take place in every art class I have been in. Whenever you feel stuck in an art project you can ask your creative classmates for their input. There is so much to be learned from not only art teachers but also from peers. My education in art has helped shape not only my artistic abilities but also taught me how to connect with other people. I am forever inspired by my art teachers and classmates. Art classes have given me a community where I can be myself freely. I cannot wait to continue my art education in college. Thank you for the scholarship opportunity that will help me do that.