Netflix is like the Niagara Falls of binge-worthy T.V. shows and movies. The selections are so vast that subscribers often spend a great deal of time searching for what to watch before they can settle in. However, when the recommendations start to stream in, or they find just the right show, they are for built the binge! Let me share a fantastic recommendation to view on Netflix. As an aspiring animator and illustrator, TV has opened my eyes to a whole world of creativity. There has never been a second in early mornings and late nights when the TV was not playing an animated movie or show. I can say that the animated film, The Mitchells vs. the Machines sparked a flame of inspiration for me as a visual artist but the overall content is quite entertaining for all audiences. In the film, the character Katie Mitchell struggles with life and growing up. Her overactive imagination did not help the situation either. In time, she reaches the stage where she applies to college to flourish in her talents and connect with other students like her. With her being so emotionally tied to her family, her dad encounters some hardship with letting her go. Instead of having Katie taking a flight to her college, her parents, brother and even the dog take one final road trip with her to school before saying their final goodbyes. Meanwhile, a genius tech-savvy is unveiling his latest technology update; a robot that can support everyday needs and help humans improve their lives. Unfortunately, the robots go rogue and are out to kidnap all humans. Since they were the only ones spared from abduction by the robots, it is up to the Mitchells to save the day. The movie is a hilarious, creative blend of 2D and 3D animation with lovable characters the whole family can enjoy. It is also a great coming-of-age story for kids to witness transferring from one stage in life to another. It provides a snapshot of the challenges of parenting and illustrates what a huge step Katie's journey to college was for both her and her family. Overall, the main plot with the robots' quest for domination gives us a glimpse into the pros and cons of robotic influence, especially with the rise of A.I. in the world today. It truly leaves much for the imagination. The movie is an excellent representation of a possible detrimental outcome when things go off track. My recommendation for this film is 10/10.

Being a recipient of the Sheman S. Howard Legacy Foundation Scholarship would add to the ribbon of my achievements, which are tied to service, leadership and character. This scholarship is a monetary award but it would also highlight my dedication, diligence and the expression of my creative talents to my community that I would not have without Jesus. I love to serve and be of service to my peers and people in general. With a humble heart, I embrace my role as an usher for NABCOR. I enjoy establishing a warm and welcoming connection to all who enter the sanctuary. My spiritual growth and strength allowed me to utilize social media platforms to carve out a haven for fellow Christians of my age to come together to unload their burdens, worship and pray. My most memorable community service however were my first and last assignments. I experienced immense gratification as a liaison for the Summer Reading Program designed to increase literacy and then helping to pack 19,800 meals for “Feed the Children”. There was so much power in being able to give back to the community and people across the globe. I have never been a follower, so I project leadership as a believer in Christ, a big sister, a student and a citizen. The only thing that I follow are established rules of conduct and I can influence others to do the same. I take the initiative to pick up the torch to show others the way. In this world, my character is as good as gold. It is a currency that is high in value but can easily be worthless if not maintained properly. I am proud of my character as a Christian as it speaks for me even when I am not present. It is a treasure I will always protect. My word carries integrity that validates my character. I do what is right in the sight of God, treat others with respect, show empathy and project the best of myself to the world. In a decade and nine years, I have matured and developed a keen sense of self. I worked to prepare for the obstacles I would face on my life’s journey. I embraced those struggles to find my way, my voice and my passions. “If God is for us, who can be against us?” – Romans 8:31. Everything in my life has led up to this moment and I am more than ready to push open any gates and march right on through. I aspire to surpass any limits encountered by students before me. I believe that I am poised and positioned to leverage past experiences and benefit from newfound growth. I am convinced that Christ can guide and lead me out of any valley. Whatever the season, it is well with my soul. My involvement in my local church set that foundation for me. I see me expanding my horizon and dipping my feet into a wide pool of the many opportunities this world has to offer. I plan to continue to always put God first in my life. I am confident that belief in His greatest will help me to materialize my dreams and desires!

After watching Barbie for years, I've always wanted a dream house like hers. The complicated but extravagant architecture of her home is only something one can imagine. Now, if I had my own dream house, it would be located in my hometown Baltimore, possibly on a high hill so it overlooks the city and a view of the Inner Harbor. It will have a 2010s-type modern look and measure three stories tall. The roof will have an upper deck with a seating lounge and an automatic covering in case of rain. We all know that Barbie has an iconic pink interior. I would want the same but include the colors black, white, and gold. The entrance covered in beautiful black and gold wallpaper with a white outline, a two-way rose gold staircase leading up to the second floor, and a white and pink marbled floor. On the same level, there is a kitchen that supplies an unlimited amount of my favorite foods and a living with a 1000-inch Tv. The next room will have a display closet of everything I have ever worn. Outside has a giant pool with my initials engraved in fancy black cursive on the pink pool floor. The second floor has over ten rooms for friends and family, each customized to their liking. But my bedroom will have a giant canopy bed and a starry ceiling with gold and pink wallpaper. My room will also have an expandable closet filled with memorabilia from my life. And how could I forget the landscape? The front of the house will have heart-shaped hedges measured at 3 feet tall. I am fascinated with hydrangea flowers; being on the dream house lawn will give it a classy look. Near my pool is a garden with a giant statue of my logo centered in the middle. Flowers and bushes wrap around it, forming an impossible-to-complete maze.

After an outstanding freshman year at Lynn University, I am Candace Gordon and I'm very excited to say that I'm a sophomore with a 3.9 GPA! I am a freelance artist, character designer, and aspiring animator. Still, when I'm not drawing, I love playing Badminton, doing puzzles, and reteaching myself to play the piano and Kalimba. I've been drawing for over a decade now. My humble origins track back to elementary school. I've watched many animated shows and wondered, "What if my work brought joy and laughter to those who watch it." I often thought about contributing to upcoming shows and movies. My dream career is to one day apply my skills at an animation studio, comic art, or commission work. I have a million reasons for how this scholarship will help me, but I will save you the reading time and shorten it to only a few. Before discovering this scholarship, I toured Japan for three weeks during the Summer Study Abroad Program at Lynn. Although focused on the language and culture, we visited an animation museum highlighting the history of anime and how far it has come. Usually, animated shows from the U.S. travels overseas and are worked on by the animators there. With this scholarship, I hope to one day return to Japan to overlook and assist with animation production. Money can be challenging to come by, especially for college. Sometimes, students can work diligently to obtain top grades to soak up as many opportunities as possible; often, in the end, it may not be enough. Ugh, what a downer! There is so much competition on scholarship websites, giving applicants only 1 in every 100,000 chances to win such an award. I wouldn't want to miss out on such a lifetime experience due to financial distress. This scholarship will let me focus on my studies, relieving me of any worry about when the next award opportunity will come around again. Below are a few examples of my artwork. My personal favorite is the angel gliding down upon the crystal waters. I've come a long way from simple stick figures. Digital Art was the easiest and most challenging thing I've ever learned. Early on, I was balancing between choosing seven different majors to pursue. I'm glad I have chosen Illustration, Animation, and Graphic Design as majors, and I hope that this scholarship will more than help me achieve my dreams.

I have thought about the infinite possibilities for the dream version of my future self and settled on me being a spectacular animator whose illustrations will create pure joy as a comforting break from the harsh realities of this world.

My favored piece of artwork is a drawing I made recently of a celestial goddess. She plays a golden harp on a sunset cloud as an enchanting melody makes its way to the heavens. I carefully picked out bright colors to match the astrological theme. What makes this piece so special to me is the time and effort that went into every detail, from the hand positions to the constellation in the sky. My fascination with my zodiac sign, Leo the Lion inspired the look for my goddess, the sparkling gold dress and harp, her makeup palette and the brown to yellow gradient in her hair. Out of all my attempts for a Leo recreation, this artwork takes the cake. This was not only of my most challenging piece but the one artwork I am very proud of. This artwork even got an honorable mention at my local artist exhibition.

Although I was very young during the last Great Recession in 2007, I do remember my parents tighten the belt on spending and being very cautious about savings after my mother was laid off from her job. Then during the middle of my sophomore year in high school, I have to witness the devastation of COVID-19 on both lives and economies across the world. I have learned that money is commodity like food that you always have to have on hand and in surplus because you never know what crisis will arise and how long it will last. My goal is to be financially fit, with multiple investments, liquid assets and sense of security with money. I read a quote once, “Money is good for nothing unless you know the value of it by experience.” This is perhaps my best lesson learned. I am just wanted to fill a financial gap to ease an burden my parents may have to undertake to ensure that I have my full tuition August 1st. I dug in and worked extremely hard to have an rather impressive student resume in the hopes that my efforts would equal merits that could pave the way to a few scholarships.

The hands of time stretch back to the post millennium years. August of 2004, a premature Leo is born. Fragile in size but strong in nature, she’s determined to fulfill the hopes and dreams her parents whispered into her ears on that sunny afternoon. Astrology portrays Leo as a pillar of power, courage and a leader in spirit. Candace, my given name, in which the Bible calls queen and in Greek means white fire; each name coming together like yin and yang, shaping the foundation of my destiny. Tick Tock—the clock counts down. Seconds to where my future unfolds, revealing the doors that opens experience and growth. I reminisce about the many days that lead to this moment. The simplicity of elementary school years with new friends and new beginnings. Middle school years that were insolated with discovery and the sheer enjoyment of being able to experiment with different activities and personal creativity. Then I dove into my high school years, prepared to overcome the many obstacles faced by some freshman. I embraced those struggles to find my way, my voice and my passions. As an introvert, I settled into a more comfortable swing during sophomore year, calmer days and passive focus on the next steps in life. Then my sixteenth birthday rolled around, secluded but secured by virtual learning and apple gadgets. With each passing moment in 2020, I inched closer to having to make decisions about vaccinations, finding work, returning to in-person learning for my senior year and of course the serious pursuit of my future goals. “To college or not to college?” that was my question. It’s not hard to imagine how the lack of a college education could affect my life. It became crystal clear that I needed to leave that door closed. Door number two opened to my career interests. Which path should I take? Would it bring me joy or regret? Rhetorical questions really but each path could help uncover my life’s mission. Architectural Design represents my love for building structures and their complex designs. Interior Design involves finding color schemes and materials to create an emotion in any room. Engineering stirs endless ideas in order to promote and ensure lasting innovation in our world. Graphic Design provides me the power to use imagery to build brands and eventually launch a business of my very own. Lastly, through Technology I can invent machinery that could continue to advance humanity further in the digital age. It may seem like trying to boil the ocean but it all comes down to determination, desire and dedication. I’m seeking that delicate balance that’ll bring me ultimate gratification. In a decade and seven years, I have matured tremendously and developed a keen sense of self. I have a deep appreciation for the connections I have forged over the years. My beliefs have helped me evolve into a responsible, generous and understanding person on a quest to make a difference in this world. I have so many people in my corner that have shared their wisdom to help me steer my course. I do not take any of my experiences for granted. I know that the time for procrastination or any indecisiveness has passed. Whatever path I choose, I’ll be ready to face it head on and dig in with both heels to gain the achievement that so many have wished for me all my life. Everything in my life has led up to this moment. I am finally ready to push open those doors of opportunity and march right on through. There’s no turning back now!