From Creativity to Community: My Journey Forward I am a dedicated student who loves taking on challenges, serving my community, and finding creative ways to make a difference. I learned these qualities from my family as I was growing up. I love challenges because I have a twin sister, and we are always competing and pushing each other to do our best. My family always encouraged me to serve those around me and use my creative skills to help others. This is why I want to pursue a Business Administration and an Art Degree. Activities are a large part of my life that encourage me to grow. At my school, I am a part of the student council. I joined my freshman year, became secretary my sophomore year, and am currently the treasurer. I enjoy working with the student council to plan dances, events, and fundraisers for my school. Martial arts has been a great way for me to challenge myself. Last spring, I earned my black belt after nine years of dedicated training. Something else I have been doing for years is acting. I joined drama my freshman year. In drama, I have learned how to memorize many lines, create props, and speak in front of others. Another large part of my life is volunteering at church. I enjoy helping with children’s church and helping with outreach events such as back-to-school carnivals, movie nights, and community dinners. Activities have been a great way for me to connect with others in my community. I have worked several different jobs throughout the last few years. Each job has taught me unique, valuable skills. My first job was as a nanny, where I learned patience, organization, and responsibility. My second job was working at Kwik Trip, which gave me hands-on experience in a busy retail setting. My current job is a barista position. As a barista, I have learned how to multitask quickly, which is a useful skill in all areas of my life. All of my jobs have helped me grow as a person and taught me different skills for accomplishing my goals. I am going to college to major in business administration and minor in art. During my business classes, I want to learn about management, marketing, entrepreneurship, and leadership. Taking art classes would help advance my creative skills, too. I want to learn more about different forms of art, develop new techniques, and receive feedback from art professors on how to improve. Business and art degrees would help me reach my career goals. With my major and minor, I want to open my own business or work for a nonprofit. I can see myself launching my own business someday, teaching art classes, and running a gallery that highlights the work of local artists. But I’m just as excited about the idea of working for a nonprofit, using my creativity to design posters, create visual materials, and even take photographs that help tell their story. No matter what I do, a business administration major and an art minor will help me achieve my career goals. The Joanette Coogan Memorial Scholarship will help me reach my goals by supporting me financially. The scholarship will help support my tuition, materials, and living expenses. With less financial stress, I’ll be able to focus on my academics and improve my art skills. The scholarship would support me in my goals of helping local artists or working with a non-profit. The Joanette Coogan Memorial Scholarship would not only support my education but also allow me to make a difference in other people’s lives.