Even as a child, my future in the arts was always a given-- fate, if you will. There wasn’t a moment that my head wasn’t crammed into a sketchbook, doodling the day away. Despite my affinity for drawing, it took pursuing an education in art to give my art its meaning; I enrolled as an animation major with a single goal: to inspire the betterment of society. I have always used my art as a vessel for telling stories. As my artistic journey went on, I found myself drawn to animation. The versatility of such a medium encouraged me to pursue my dream of changing the world with my stories. It is accessible to the public given its depiction of a story through visuals rather than words. Not only that, but it can relate to all types of people: any age, upbringing, or creed. Simply put, animation surpasses language barriers and cultures to inspire change in every individual, no matter who they are. Because of animation’s unique ability to adapt to any subject matter, I was motivated to attend art school-- I wanted to learn to tell my own stories in an effective way that could transform society. Going to an art school allowed me to empower my art and allow these stories to move anyone who watches my animations. In addition to receiving an education, art school has allowed me to find many new sources of inspiration for my work. Not only did I find an outlet for expressing creativity, but I also found many like-minded people that have influenced my journey. All of these new experiences-- the people, the classes, the location-- instilled a new passion for learning in me that was not there before. I arrive to class every day feeling excited for the next lesson sending butterflies to my chest; I’d gained the freedom to branch out my art and find my passion all over again in a fresh, new light. In short, art school has pushed me to new heights that I hadn’t been able to reach before. I have gained new experiences and skills and, with it, new stories to tell-- and I have just started to scratch the surface of learning everything that makes animation great. Receiving an art education has inspired my creations, my goals, and my way of life-- without it, I wouldn’t be where I am now on my art journey.

For most students who struggle with mental health, access to proper resources can be a challenge: whether it is finances, insurance, unsupportive parents, or just having trouble finding the right fit for a mental health professional, many young people have no choice but to nurture their mental well-being on their own. Despite this issue, there are many ways that an individual can work towards managing their stress and improving mindfulness. Expressing oneself can be a valuable tool when managing stress. Putting feelings into something like art, writing, or music can allow one to feel immense relief in ways that may not be able to be expressed through familiar words. Using these outlets does not take any talent, just intent and passion- if it makes you feel good, it is much more important than how good the final product is. Aside from the arts being beneficial for self-expression, it can be valuable to pick up a hobby to relieve stress. Hobbies can provide mental stimulation that can effectively distract from constant rumination over anxieties. Not only can it help relieve stress, but hobbies can teach new skills along the way, providing more benefits than one. Something that brings joy and distraction- like a hobby- can be great for something such as coping with a recent loss or getting out of a depressive episode. Another important tip is to find a safe space. A safe space can be anywhere: your room, a place in nature, or even a place you make up in your head. A safe space can provide a much-needed temporary escape from stressful situations and allow one to step back and have the time to think of a solution to an issue or find peace with what is happening at the moment. Last but not least, one should be mindful of what is- and is not- in their control. Reflecting on what situations one can and cannot control can help alleviate a lot of unnecessary stress- why worry about something unchangeable in the first place? For example, it only adds more stress to an individual if they worry about things such as being late to a function when taking a bus or trying to control the reactions of those around you. Simply worrying about what one can control will put less responsibility on their shoulders and, in turn, reduce stress. In short, being mindful of personal needs and limits as an individual can help to ease the struggles faced with mental health daily. Activities such as expression through art and hobbies can help one to gain a sense of identity and a unique voice to express their struggles. Finding a safe space can allow one to find sanctuary and meditation in challenging times where chaos may trump one’s ability to think clearly. Lastly, being conscious of what one can control can allow one to know what situations should be given a healthy amount of concern and not harbor unreasonable amounts of stress. All these things can help an individual be mindful, especially in such stressful transitional times as pursuing an education.

As an artist, creativity is rooted deeply in everything I do in my life; it inspires my career and hobbies, and it allows me to form meaningful connections with friends. Without it, I wouldn’t be able to do half the things I do daily. The future of my career depends heavily on my creativity. My vision to become the founder of an animation studio requires that I have a constant flow of ideas to create a product that is impactful and able to carry out its intended message. My creativity also makes my hobbies more enjoyable. The ability to use my imagination to make everyday tasks more exciting in ways such as pretending every hike is an adventure, experimenting with new art mediums, or listening to my favorite music and creating a story in my head to go along with it. These activities are the foundation of my art and passion and allow me to prepare for a future filled with creativity. Most of all, I apply creativity to my relationships. It is part of my love language to create things for my loved ones, and I consider spending time figuring out what I can make to evoke happiness in the people a meaningful bonding experience. In my life, I use creativity to be a helper. I create to brighten a smile on someone’s face, entertain strangers who view my art, and inspire change in our world. My abilities give me a unique gift to share my creativity with others, and it is exactly what I do every day.

It isn’t unheard of that many LGBTQ individuals- particularly transgender individuals- experience more struggle with mental health than the average individual. The experience as a transgender person, whether supported by others or not, can feel incredibly isolating as we navigate through a complex exploration of our identities that most of the world labels as taboo or just plain wrong. However, my struggles with mental health as a transgender individual have allowed me to find support and love within a unique community that has inspired me to give back to its members. It isn’t difficult to recount the times in my life when I struggled mentally due to my experiences. I grew up in a conservative, religious household that made my realization of my identity feel more like a burden than a catharsis. I had to carry the weight of who I was in utter silence, which took a toll on my mental health. At the time, I didn’t know anyone else who was like me- I knew plenty of people who were gay, lesbian, and bi, but not any other transgender people. It made me feel like I didn’t belong with my family, friends, or classmates. I was completely and utterly alone. My feelings began to brighten when I came across an ad for an LGBTQ support group at my local library. I joined the group and felt an immediate sense of belonging and understanding when I found other transgender youth who spoke about their issues and loneliness growing up in the same small town I lived in. Knowing that other people were out there with the same struggles and pain impacted me in a way that made me realize I was no longer as much of an outcast as I had once thought. In the end, it was my own community that had found me and saved me. My experience with mental health has shaped my idea of just how important support from others truly is. When I was in the lowest moments of my mental health, I thought that I would be able to improve all on my own; however, having others to talk to and relate to were the ones that ultimately guided me towards a brighter future. Through my mental health journey, I have also made new, lasting relationships. I have had the chance to connect with other transgender individuals who have allowed me to grow comfortable in my skin. I know that around them, I can not only express my true identity, but express my deepest emotions and struggles. They have empowered me to thrive in every aspect of my life and find ambition toward making a better future for other transgender people like me. My mental health has influenced my goals in a way that has inspired me to create more representation for transgender and other LGBTQ people in media. As an animator, I have the vision to create an animation studio that focuses on the stories of marginalized voices such as myself in hopes of encouraging change in our current society. I intend to use my creativity to become an agent for change and give strength back to the same community that inspired me to be the best version of myself.

As an artist, I feel no greater joy than when I have the opportunity to express myself. Everything I do has art woven into it: my friends, my career, and my hobbies; it is a vital part of who I am. Without it, I wouldn’t have room to express myself the way I do. Whether it's my music or drawings, the arts encourage me to go through each day confidently and optimistically. Art allows me to create a sense of community and love surrounding me. In music, I bond with fellow musicians and share their passion for playing an instrument. With art, I can use my skills to make gifts for friends and share relatable messages with others through my drawings and animations. When I share my creative side with others, the joy I spark in them is what makes me the happiest. Being able to express myself through art is like a form of therapy to help keep my spirits high. All of the hard-to-express feelings that I have bottled up can be put on a page as a drawing, or hammered out on a drum in a way that leaves me feeling much more light and refreshed than I was before. Making art has helped me through the hardest times in my life to keep a clear head and have a future to anticipate. When I make art, it allows me to feel like I can make a positive change in myself and those around me. It gives me an outlet for my feelings and a way to bond with my friends, and form a unique community of creative minds. Expressing myself in the arts leaves me fulfilled and looking forward to a bright future where I can use my skills to spread happiness to even more people.

1. I deserve this scholarship because there is a possibility that I am secretly 20 hamsters controlling a robot. This feat alone displays our- or, my- passion, not only to create a robot but also to take that robot to college because I just love school so much. Education is important to humans, and I am definitely a human. 2. My goal for a future career is to become the world's first hamster educator. I hope to one day teach hamster students about the world and important life skills they will need to succeed in the future, such as Math, English, World Domination, and Science. Other humans do not understand the intelligence of hamsters, but I know their minds and understand the importance of providing them with a good education. 3. A time that I had to overcome an obstacle was when one of my... pet... hamsters, Sunflower, ran away (something about bad dental insurance). It devastated me so much emotionally that my eyes suddenly forgot how to blink. However, I overcame the loss of Sunflower by regrouping my thoughts (definitely not hamsters) and better dividing my responsibilities to allow myself to blink. 19 hamsters are better than 20, anyways.

Like many people in this world, I am superstitious about good and bad karma. The concept is simple: do good for the world, and the world will do good to you. If I'm generous to others, we can push each other to new highs as a collective. Because of this, I think that giving is important because it allows for the success of everyone, including me, and what I give back to. In my everyday life, I give back in a lot of ways. I participate in beach and park cleanups to thank the Earth for supplying me with a beautiful place to live. I also like to participate in nonprofit events through my school, such as donating food to help my community thrive. In my personal life, I am careful to tend to my friends to make sure that they are feeling their best mentally and physically, as I know they will do the same for me in return. Such relationships are essential, especially in the hard times we have faced in the past years. All of these ways I give back help me feel comforted that I am doing my best to make the world a brighter place. I heavily value giving because I know that it will allow for a chain of good events to continue onward in the world that can lead to nothing but positive change. I also believe that giving back will benefit me due to good karma and allow me to live a satisfying life. Giving is good for all, and is something that should be done at every available opportunity.

I believe that the most important personal finance lesson- to put it plainly- is to set aside at least 20 percent of everything you earn into savings. While the concept itself seems simple, a little discipline now and then, I find, can be incredibly beneficial in the long run when it comes to building up a considerable amount of savings. Whenever I come across money- whether a check from work, a recent cash gift, or even a dollar I find in the street- I consciously set aside a small portion of it in my savings account. At first, doing this may seem redundant or annoying when you can't use all of your gift money. However, it can prove an essential practice when saving up for more expensive things such as a car or college, or simply ensuring that one has the funds to cover an emergency. This practice is vital because it allows one to face future financial roadblocks with confidence; there is no worry that one will not have the funds to cover something important. Aside from preparation, setting aside savings can also foster a strong sense of discipline that can influence other aspects of one's life. Such a trait is crucial in our working society and is an added plus on top of improving one's personal finances. In conclusion, I find that setting aside 20 percent of every bit of money that a person comes across can be incredibly worthwhile when managing personal finances. Not only can it help one prepare for emergencies, but it can aid in saving up for larger purchases and teach a meaningful lesson of self-discipline that can carry over into other aspects of everyday life.

As an aspiring animator, I want to use my skills to tell the world the fictional stories in my head that I've itched to share for years. Every day I find myself adding layers to the universes that I create in my head, and I want nothing more than to entertain and teach important lessons to people with them through the form of a TV show. Through a TV show, I want to show people these universes and teach important messages of acceptance and the power that people can have in numbers. Especially inspired by current events in 2020, my creations revolve around showing how people can use their power to come together and overcome a common enemy of oppression that holds society back from moving forward. Along with this, I believe that tolerance and acceptance is one of the most important things to teach young minds (my ideal demographic) as there are many and unique kinds of people one will meet in their lifetime. In brief, I strive to one day teach the world how it can be better for itself. Growing up, I always used these fictional characters and places that I think up as a form of escapism from my daily life, and my goal is for others to see my creations on a screen and use them as a way to distract from the weary world around them, just as I have. If I can provide sanctuary for at least one teen in a bad situation, then I know I'll feel complete in my work as a creator. On that note, I also want to strive for people to be able to relate to the content I create: making characters from all walks of life, relatable situations, and a world with problems not too different from our own. I hope for people to feel appreciated and included when they see what I produce, whether it be their appearance, their sexuality/gender, or a portrayal of a mental disorder; I want people to feel seen. In conclusion, my goals to create a TV show of the fictional universes that stem from my mind come from a place of hoping to teach more love and tolerance in this world, as well as give watchers a feeling of belonging. I think that especially now media like this is crucial, and it is my aim to create something that will leave a lasting imprint on everyone who comes across it.