My name is Stephanie Ingmire, or in Taiwan 殷星雨 (YinXingYu). I'm a highly motivated international student currently at Ming Chuan University in Taiwan, studying Journalism and Mass Communications and soon International Diplomacy and Relations. The opportunity to receive this $1,000 award would significantly lift the financial burden of pursuing my academic goals as it covers the majority of my tuition as I complete my final year of my undergraduate program and the first year of my master courses. My academic journey began at Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona. After earning my associate's degree in liberal arts, I set my sights on expanding my horizons and led me to pursue an international education experience in Asia, focusing on Taiwan. Moving to Taiwan to study abroad has proved to be a transforming experience given that I had to adjust to a culture that places great value on collectivism. While it has been difficult, it has also influenced my communication style and approach to problem solving. There are many misconceptions about Taiwan, which have been encouraged by limited media coverage and geopolitical tensions. Before arriving in Taiwan, the country received little attention and was frequently mistaken for Thailand. However, studying journalistic communications here in Taipei has been a significant experience. Taiwan's rising tensions with China have brought the country into the international spotlight, presenting a unique journalistic opportunity, providing an invaluable opportunity to learn about propaganda and social media journalism firsthand. Maintaining a 4.0 GPA at MCU hopefully demonstrates my commitment to academic perseverance and my enthusiasm for learning beyond the classroom as I have participated in events such as organizing and hosting the International Hult Prize at our school campus and competing in the International X-Culture business competition. Your scholarship would be immensely beneficial as it would allow me to enroll in additional courses during my senior year, advancing my progress toward a master's degree. Ming Chuan University offers a program specifically designed for high-performing undergraduates like me. This "fast-track" master's program allows students to enroll in additional graduate-level courses in the International Diplomacy and Relational program during their senior year. This opportunity is incredibly appealing as it allows me to pursue my academic goals in a more efficient manner, reducing my master program studies by a year. However, managing this demanding course load while working to cover tuition creates significant financial challenges as I will have limited time to work. My passions embrace education, journalism, diplomacy, and international communications, with an aim of encouraging people to explore the world and embrace our diversity. This direct experience in an environment that is multicultural, such as Taiwan, has greatly influenced my communication style and approach for problem solving. I want to help others understand themselves and others on a deeper level, especially as our global connections grow stronger. This, in return, will help develop a more empathic and connected international community, particularly as our world becomes more interconnected. Thank you for your time and generous consideration.

My family tree is deeply rooted in service with generations donning the uniform, each carrying the weight of duty and sacrifice. Yet, the true cost of that service often goes unseen, etched but in invisible scars. Witnessing its impact on those closest to me has profoundly shaped my understanding of myself, my family, and the world around me. Growing up my grandfather's struggle with PTSD was a chilling presence as we slowly grew to learn the ghosts of his past. Leaving his family to roam across the desert became a tragic consequence of his war experiences. Our family was left fractured and confused as lines were drawn between those who understood his pain and those who saw betrayal. Seeing firsthand the devastating effects of untreated PTSD ignited a deep empathy within me. It taught me the importance of compassion, not just for veterans, but for anyone burdened by unseen wounds, those whose arms were battered as they tried to reach out to loved ones in pain. My father's story furthered the complexities of PTSD. His deployments brought anxiety and anger he couldn't fully contain. His love for us children was undeniable, yet it manifested through impatience and rage. His mother’s passing became a heartbreaking epiphany, while his children love him as he loved his mother? Was there a parallel of devotion? It showed me how PTSD can distort communication, turning expressions of care into displays of anger. His children did not understand his anger and may not give him a chance to express and explain as they grew older. He began therapy and gentled himself to help reconnect with his children. By sharing my family's story, I can help build an understanding surrounding PTSD. Educating others about the invisible wounds of war and creating a safe space for veterans to seek help and kinship. Connecting veterans with resources builds a sense of crucial community. I can advocate for programs that provide peer support groups, where veterans facing similar challenges can learn from each other's experiences. Often, families and individuals are left struggling to understand a loved one's PTSD. Educating families on how to identify triggers, practice healthy communication, and access resources can empower them to become pillars of support. The legacy of service in my family is but a double-edged sword. It carries both immense pride and the scars of war. Through understanding and action I believe all can transform the narrative. I want to be a part of a future where the heroes who serve our country return not just physically unscathed but emotionally whole.

For as long as I can remember, I have been passionate about the US Constitution. Growing up, I was always fascinated by the history and principles that led to the creation of our nation's founding document. I have always admired the way the Constitution has guided our democracy and provided a framework for our society to evolve and adapt to changing times. My favorite field trip was in 8th grade when I traveled with my class to Capitol Hill and many government buildings in DC. Yet, there is still an air of inequality as we are separated by glass upon looking at the Bill of Rights. As I have grown older, my passion for the Constitution has only grown stronger. I believe that the document's emphasis on individual liberties and protections is crucial for ensuring that all individuals are treated fairly and equally under the law, and not just those who can afford to go behind the glass. The Constitution is not just a set of rules, but a living document that evolves with our society, and I believe we must ensure that it is used to promote justice and equality for all. I am committed to using my knowledge and skills to fight for civil rights and promote social justice. I have always been drawn to the legal field because I believe that the law can be a powerful tool for change. Through my work, I hope to advocate for marginalized communities and challenge systemic discrimination. I plan to use my voice and platform to raise awareness about civil rights issues. I am committed to educating myself on these issues and staying informed about current events and policies that impact marginalized communities. I believe that it is crucial to use every available platform to promote equality and justice. Furthermore, as a member of the Dungeons & Dragons community, I feel a responsibility to promote diversity and inclusion in all aspects of my life. I believe that this community's acceptance and celebration of diversity make it an ideal space to inspire change and create more welcoming and inclusive environments. Overall, my passion for the US Constitution drives my commitment to civil rights and social justice. I believe that our nation's founding document provides a powerful framework for achieving these goals, and I am dedicated to using my career to ensure that its principles are used to promote equality and justice for all. For. All.

As a fantasy cartographer, I have always felt that my work is both creative and unique. My maps are not just a simple representation of a fictional world; they are an essential part of the storytelling experience. I take pride in creating detailed and beautiful maps that help bring imaginary worlds to life, and I have been fortunate enough to have my work featured in numerous books and publications. One of the highlights of my career as a fantasy cartographer was being invited to speak at a seminar on world-building and map-making in the world of tabletop role-playing. Being part of the ttrop community has been an amazing experience for me, as it is a place where diversity and acceptance are celebrated. I have been lucky enough to meet many talented artists and writers who have inspired me to keep pushing the boundaries of what I can achieve with my work. Giving back to the community that has given me so much is incredibly important to me. I plan to use my skills as a fantasy cartographer to help create resources for young people who are just starting to explore the world of role-playing games. I want to create maps and other visual aids that are accessible and inclusive so that everyone feels welcome in this amazing community. Many times when an individual becomes successful they try to gatekeep their secrets and hide their knowledge. But we must think about how Bob Ross and Martha Stewart always shared their skills to help better others. They are my role models, I can only hope to be like them. I hope that through maps individuals will grow to love reading more and continue their cartographic adventures to write and make compelling stories of their own. In addition to creating resources for young people, I also want to use my skills to give back to the local community that showed me so much love and acceptance when I was starting out. I plan to offer my services to local schools and community centers, teaching children and adults how to create their own maps and explore their creativity. I believe that everyone has the potential to be creative, and I want to help people unlock that potential and express themselves through their own unique maps. Being a fantasy cartographer is not just a job for me; it is a passion. I love the challenge of creating maps that are both beautiful and functional, and I am constantly seeking out new techniques and styles to improve my work. I am grateful for the opportunities that I have had to share my work with others and inspire them to pursue their own creative passions. And I am excited to see where this journey will take me next, as I continue to explore the amazing world of fantasy map-making.

As someone who has experienced a fair share of unexpected events and mishaps in life, I find myself drawn to Taylor Swift's upbeat and empowering song "Shake It Off." The lyrics, "But I keep cruising, can't stop, won't stop moving, it's like I got this music in my mind sayin' gonna be alright" resonate with me on a personal level. My life, like Taylor's, has been a series of unique and bizarre experiences. I still vividly remember rolling out of a car when I was just four years old and crashing a moped in Thailand, both of which were terrifying but ultimately made me stronger (and learned that I should stick to driving on four wheels). Throughout all of these misadventures, my courageous spirit and willingness to take risks have helped me overcome challenges and grow as a person. The lyrics of "Shake it Off" embody this same spirit of fearlessness and resilience. The song encourages listeners to let go of negativity and focus on their own journey, even in the face of adversity. This message is something that I try to carry with me every day. Whether it's signing up for impromptu speech competitions while having a speech impediment or hop-skippping to a new country to volunteer to help elephants, I am always willing to take risks and embrace new experiences. And when my partner suggested going back to college in our thirties, I didn't hesitate to say yes, despite my fears about the daunting prospect of returning to school. Despite all of my accomplishments, there is still one dream that I have always been too afraid to pursue: obtaining a college degree. But listening to "Shake it Off" reminds me that I am capable of achieving anything I set my mind to, as long as I am willing to persevere and overcome my fears. So as I dust off my Microsoft Word to start writing midterm essays, I play Taylor to keep me motivated. Of course, I also know the importance of staying safe and avoiding unnecessary risks. While I am eager to embrace new experiences and make the most of my college years, I have also learned from my mistakes and have grown to be more cautious, perhaps that is the wisdom that comes with falling down and getting back up so often. In the end, "Shake it Off" is a reminder to stay positive, stay fearless, and never give up on my dreams. With my adventurous spirit and determination to succeed, I know that I can overcome any challenge and achieve great things.

Free speech is a pivotal right that is paramount to the intellectual and personal development of American college students. Allowing individuals to express their opinions and ideas freely, results in a myriad of thoughts and perspectives on campus. It fosters an environment that is conducive to learning and growth, by promoting healthy debate and intellectual discourse. By encouraging diversity of thought and promoting an environment that encourages intellectual conversations, we can help students become more open-minded and better prepared to navigate the complexities of the real world. To advance and preserve free speech on campus, extracurricular activities such as journalism, theater, foreign language, international discussion, and debate clubs can be of great value. These activities provide students with a platform to express themselves freely and engage with others who may have different perspectives. They also foster critical thinking and communication skills that are essential in today's society, as we continue to grow more diverse. Moreover, it is essential to recognize that Americans come from various backgrounds and have diverse viewpoints on issues. Free speech allows individuals from different backgrounds to share their experiences and opinions, leading to a more inclusive and diverse campus community. However, it is imperative to remember that while free speech is critical, it should not be used to promote hate speech or discriminatory behavior. Many other countries have more restrictive laws regarding free speech, often aimed at protecting the government or other institutions from criticism or dissent. Some countries even have laws criminalizing certain types of speech, such as hate speech or blasphemy. Many American colleges have international students that are for the first time experiencing true free speech. To help foster compassionate conversations, all students, both native and foreign, to be educated on how to communicate and discuss with one another. This helps us understand students in our colleges learn how to relate to different cultures and countries. As we prepare for globalization, cultural understanding will continue to be a valuable asset. In conclusion, free speech is an indispensable right that plays a vital role in the intellectual and personal development of American college students. It is necessary to promote an environment that encourages diversity of thought and respectful debate, in order to help students become more open-minded and better prepared to navigate the complexities of the real world. I appreciate the importance of free speech in advancing diversity of thought and critical thinking, and I believe that it is crucial to preserve this fundamental right on college campuses.

My art name is Shing. I love that in English shing is an onomatopoeia for the sound of a sword being unsheathed and that in Chinese Xing ('shing') means star. I am a self-established illustrator that focuses on fantasy and artistic cartography pieces, so in other terms, maps! I started drawing maps when I was a teenager and grew successful through using Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook. Now I have a good following and an abundance of commissions to choose from. I am currently expecting five books out with my map pieces within them. Maps are dear to me because they tell us where we have gone, where we can go, and how we can get there, even if those places are from our imagination or dreams. Art reminds us of the beauty all around us. Sometimes we get so caught up in the neon signs and gray brick buildings that we forget about how wonderful the vibrant colors of nature can be. I love walking down cities streets and finding beautiful murals. Or strolling through a park and finding that there are sculptures. That beauty we see also reminds us that we ourselves are beautiful. That our faces, voices, hearts, and minds are absolutely astonishing. If we were stuck in room with no color, no expression, we would be quick to let it all drain away. Yet art helps us together thrive and feel comfortable. It's truly magic.

1a) What does “influence” mean to you? 1b) How do you influence those around you? I think the word 'influence' has changed this generation. It doesn't mean to persuade, but rather now to help and guide. I am an art influencer, and I use that as a way to help others learn my art techniques and to help people use the best art mediums. I don't want to use it to make people buy weird things on the internet. I just want to help people draw. And I think most influencers feel the same. 2) Describe a time where you have overcome adversity, or how you are currently dealing with a hardship. The world is changing! Before it was so taboo to be a girl that played video games because that is how television and movies portrayed us. Girls have loved video games since their invention. My mother plays COD all the time. However, sometimes I still get get the undermined response of, "Wow, a girl that likes video games." When I explain that I worked with Activision. Sometimes I have to justify wearing my League of Legends hoodies. To me its like opening a window and letting reality gently breeze in. 3a) What field are you currently in or planning to go into? I am currently enrolled in a Mass Media Program! It focuses on video/animation editing but also have many classes in PR. 3b) Why did you choose this field, and what are your goals within it? I want to either work in a video game related field or animation. Like Melinda Dilger who worked on Riot's Arcane as a creative director! Two worlds in one. 4) What would receiving this scholarship mean to you? It provides almost a month of income for me, it would be like I worked OT at my part-time job. I could get more apps to practice digital art for school, or I could get more art supplies for my traditional art hobby.

I draw fantasy maps, and art category that is rather niche. Usually when someone wants to commission a piece from me its either from their favorite show, game, or book. Then one day back in 2018 an angel of a patron asked for a strange commission: an entire original made designed by me. They had no references or agenda, they just wanted a whole world of their own that was designed and crafted by me. This commission truly challenged me and expanded who I was as a fantasy cartographer. I had to design landforms, come up with names, and they also asked I draft out some history behind the continent. So I named the world Kelvoran, and it became my pride and joy. I think this map has a lot of me hidden within it, such a faerie gardens, a glass castle, and a queen's skeleton that sits on her throne and rules her people even in her death. This let me to start making more of my own original maps, one with my own maps names on it, and uncharted/unnamed versions. This allowed those who played table top role playing games to use my maps in their campaigns, and launching into the Dungeons & Dragons community.

I always told my mother that I wanted to share my dreams. I love to sleep because I would always have vibrant, cinematic dreams, yet would be sad that I could not share them visually. My poor mother is a science teacher, she had no idea what to do with a creative child like me. So she would take me to art museums, to festivals, and sign me up for free art events. She was dumbfounded that I taught myself how to sew just so that I could make sock puppets and animal shaped pillows. She was always proud and supportive of my art, even when my creations flopped, or stained her towels. When I started drawing fantasy maps she insisted that she become my product manager so that I only had to worry about art, rather than supplies and shipping. Having someone believe in you so fervently, helps you believe in yourself. My area does not have a fine arts program, but rather only a digital art and animation. While I prefer traditional mediums, I am absolutely excited to still learn how to photoshop and illustrate. I will continue to practice all mediums, as I just love creating worlds and stories. I want to become the next Miyazaki and Disney. Miyazaki used hand drawn stills for many of his stories. I am eager to learn how to do the same through my courses. I want to mix the past animation styles with the present, and soon future mediums.

My favorite childhood event was called The THE Festival, The Tucson Heritage Enrichment Festival. Every year all of Tucson comes together for an entire week to celebrate the diversity of the city! The entire downtown area becomes a maze of cultural food, art booths, and stages for performances. As a child I would leave with a cascarone, fried flat bread, Swedish meatballs, and a henna tattoo on my shoulder. When I got home I would replicate how I made the cascarone and would pretend that my backyard mud was henna. Every year we would go, and I would seek out the artist booths. I wanted to learn how to work with beds, how to spin wool, watch how to carve and emboss leather. This even taught me that art was more than just paper and pencils. When you are a child, often the only medium you are given is paper. Teachers and parents want to contain the mess a child makes when they “do art.” Yet art is much, much more than that. The art community is important because it opens all of these new mediums to children. While I loved my art teacher, he just let me do whatever I wanted. It was a kind gesture, but it never truly pushed me. My business teacher, however, was quite annoying and wouldn’t leave me alone and had a stare that looked straight through your soul. She made me sign up for business conferences and competitions, encouraged me to partake in impromptu speech events, and firmly suggested I run for Vice Principal of her Future Business Leaders of America club. She pushed me out of my comfort zone many times and challenged me to grow in fields that I did not have much interest in, so I thought. Year after high school, my art started getting popular online. Popular to the point that I had to start handling it as a business, and luckily knew all the basics from Mrs. Hahn. I believe that sometimes beauty is an overlooked factor. When all we have are gray houses and commercial buildings down the entire street, we start to feel rather capitalized. It's when murals, sculptures, and art are added that we begin to feel more at home. I love walking to new parks, and I love finding beautiful sculptures within. They can tell a story, remind us of history, or make us reflect on ourselves. And they’re so, so beautiful. Or seeing a dreary lane come to life with a bright mural. Art rejuvenates our soul, and I believe that is why so many cities are implementing more art throughout neighborhoods. I am going back to college for art because I failed to see that I am an artist through and through, and that I should not have been talked out of becoming one when I was younger. People always say that artists are poor and cannot make a living, yet I have seen rich people live poor lives too. Sometimes we get so caught up in comparing, we don’t realize we need to do what’s best for ourselves. I’m an artist, and so I’m going to go to college so that I can do more art.

My grandfather called himself The Sojourner and I call myself The Nomad. Adventure is in my DNA and I can't fight it, why would I even try? I am constantly travelling, whether it be by my own two feet, or through paper and pen. I love drawing maps because they show us where we have been, where we can go, and how we can get there! Through my medium I have found such beautiful places. I have brought worlds to life! It's an amazing gift to be able to illustrate worldmakers, to see their delight when the place they literally dreamed of has been remade as they envision it. I could never give up fantasy cartography. This art skill has brought my family closer, invited me to different states, countries, and worlds. This year I was interviewed by Glamour UK Magazine about the growth of fantasy cartography, and a few months later was invited to the Canadian Cartography Association Conference to also speak about the topic. What started out as a niche hobby has become a huge piece of my life. I am in a university program that focuses on New Media. While I most likely won't make cartography my dream career, it's has already taught me many skills such as: building a social media presence, negotiating terms with clients, building client trust and positive bpi, brand integrity, quality products, how to conduct a presentation, copyrights and royalties, and how to stock merchandise for online stores and conventions. I will always be an artist, and I will bring these skills with me into my next chapter. -Your local fantasy cartographer, shing

While in Tennessee we adopted a kitten. She was originally named "Anxiety Cat" because she would hide and quiver. I figured that maybe she wasn't meant to be a barn-cat but rather a pampered home cat. I originally wanted to name her Gilarabrywn, but my genius husband said, "Since she has completed our family, why don't we name her Kindred instead?" Within her four years, she has lived in five states (TN, AZ, AL, MN, TX), and in a few months will be moving with us to Taiwan. She's gone from being a scared barn-cat to brave international adventurer.

"Good people attract good people, so be good people." My grandfather would tell me this every year when we went to visit him. He fought in the Vietnam war and felt that he was haunted by his eagerness to enlist and serve. He spent his later years seeking forgiveness from his family, for the man that returned from the war was not the same man before it. I try to be a good person daily, not out of forgiveness, but in a way to bring balance to my life, and out of respect for my grandfather. I have to live with who I am daily. There are no regrets when you try your best, when you're nice to every person you cross, and when you do goods deeds just because you want to. I have no higher purpose, no end game, no expectancies. I want to do good just because I can. I have met many amazing people this way. My best friend is kind and caring and I feel blessed to have her in my life. She is my role model for how diligently she cares for my family. My partner is exceptionally kind, and I appreciate how patient he is with me and my worldly ambitions (I mean how many people would agree to move to Taiwan so that you can go to college again in your 30s?). It's the same as the old passage, "Birds of a feather flock together." You attract others that are similar to you, and I want to be surrounded by good kind people. However, it all starts with me.

Generosity comes from the heart, not from the wallet. We see posts daily about celebrities giving money to foundations, but doesn't that seem more like a publicity stunt rather than the celebrity actually caring? I always feel like it's their publicists donating rather than a celebrity themself. I'm happy there are nice celebrities out there, but millionaires, billionaires, and soon-to-be-trillionaires are not the only genuinely generous individuals (or companies) out there. Generosity is caring. When you're sick, you don't want to have to care about the small things. Giving some of your time and hard work to clean the house, do basic chores, cook food can really help a person. When you're lonely it's nice having someone come by and talk with you. When you've lost everything it's a blessing to have a community help lift you back on your feet. I will always do my best to give back to my community and my family. When I am going through a difficult time, often it is the love and support that pulls me through. Sure, a few dollars help, but what really strengthens a person is knowing that someone loves them and wants them to do their best. In a world dominated by money, sometimes going back to help with the basics is the most generous thing you can do.

I’ve been told over and over again that I’m patient. As a child, I could sit quietly and at ease, and long lines at Disneyland meant nothing to me. As an adult, I long plane rides and waiting at airports. I like to look out into the distance and daydream while I wait. Rush hour is just another chance to take a moment and enjoy the world. Being patient has helped me advance in my career. Often I am put on de-escalation calls to help calm down disgruntled patients and clients. I’m able to just listen to someone who is angry and spitting. When someone asks why or how I’m patient, I always explain that it is because of my sister. My younger sister has Aspergers and is autistic. Before leaving the house I always had to wait for me to catch her and put her clothes back on. In public I had to wait for her to finish her tantrums, in every store we had to wait for her to use the bathroom, I mean EVERY store. She had habits that she couldn’t go on without, it would cause her to meltdown if we didn’t successfully accomplish her goals. While at times I would get flustered and upset, I could tell that my anger only hurt my mother more, who was desperately trying to understand her youngest child. No one seemed to know why my sister was odd, and no one seemed to care enough to understand her. They blamed her ADHD and tried to medicate her. I stood up to her bullies, expressed my disappointment in teachers that wouldn’t help her, and made sure all of my friends could carry the weight of being my sister’s friend too. My entire world overlapped and hugged my sister’s world, keeping it as safe and secure as I could. When we were in college we found a therapist that suggested that my sister had Asperger’s. My sister was overjoyed to finally have a term to express herself with. She studied Asperger’s relentlessly, and in addition started seeing this therapist weekly. The therapist took my sister off ADHD medications and replaced them with antidepressants. It was spectacular seeing my sister come back to life. Her confidence in college bloomed as she finally felt ready to take classes on her own. After a few years, she even graduated from college with a certificate in massage therapy. My parents are currently my sister’s guardians and power of attorneys. With them getting older, the more worried I am about them taking care of themselves, and my sister. I do not want my sister to ever feel like a burden, so I have made it known that my sister will be living with me once our parents are fully retired. Yet, I can’t fully provide proper care for her, yet. I am going back to college this year. While I attended classes with my sister, we both only finished two-year programs. I want to continue further so that I can do more in the future. I need to not only take care of my sister but let my parents see that I am fit to do so. I want to relieve my mother, who has spent years protecting and nurturing all of us. Mental illnesses have taught me that the diagnosis is not the person. She is not autistic, she is a person with autism, but most importantly she is my sister and my friend. We need to continue researching and talking about mental illnesses, if it remains a taboo topic many people will go without help. This could lead to individuals living their entire lives without help or care, or worse living with the wrong diagnosis. The more we understand each other, the easier it is to help one another.

"Good people attract good people, so be good people." - R.D. Carnahan My grandfather was my favorite person, at least when I was an adult he was. As a kid, I was slightly afraid of him. He was tall, loud, and had a big bushy beard. He would always ask me difficult questions such as, "What do you think about aliens and what resources do you think they're coming to earth for?" Did I also mention that my grandfather was eccentric? My grandfather loved to "dink," it was his way of saying he was retired and love to fiddlefart about town. He made sure to stop at every store, every morning, and say hello to every person working. He made sure that he knew every person in his town that they felt acknowledged and appreciated. When you're a good person, good people will gravitate towards you. Don't lie, don't cheat, and don't steal, and you'll never have to worry. It all relates to karma and the positive vibes you promote out into the world. My grandfather has passed away. It was a sudden and unexpected death, so that could be why his words still vibrate within me. I try my best to always be a good person. I want to be the best I can for myself and for others, and perhaps to carry on his legacy.

About ten years ago I started drawing fantasy maps, Tolkien style. While I liked that the map helped me plot out the story I was writing, I learned that I loved the contrast of the black pen on the white paper. I continued redrawing my story map multiple times, mostly because I wanted to try different styles of cartography to see which I preferred. I branched out and started drawing different maps too, originals and recreations of famous maps. At work, in class, at home, at parties, I was drawing maps. Eventually, someone suggested I started posting my art online. It was a nice place to keep a portfolio to show everyone my art, rather than pulling out all of my pieces from my backpack and showing them in person (and overwhelming them). It felt like everyone had something to say and advise me on. "You need to draw only mainstream maps." "Maps are too niche, you need to draw other things too." "You need to add a trademark design so that everyone knows your name." "You're a girl, make sure everyone can see that and use it to your advantage." It was nice to see how caring everyone was towards my art, but I always felt like they were wrong. I didn't want to be an artist that only recreated art, I wanted to draw my own pieces. The only thing I wanted to draw were original maps, either mine or others, and I didn't need to be famous or successful for it. Years later down the road, I showed everyone how my intuition was correct. I am able to draw full-time if I choose to, and I only have to draw maps. People can tell they're my maps because I have concreted and perfected my style. I have been interviewed in magazines, I have been invited to speak at conferences and conventions, my art is represented in books and game campaigns. My art is sold internationally, I have patrons, and I have a long list of commission requests. I now get to speak out about how my community of niche fantasy cartographers is growing. Fantasy cartography is a field that will continue to grow as well! I want to obtain my degree to help expand my reach. While I am a self-made illustrator, there is always room to grow and so much more to learn. I want to teach others not only how to find their road to success, but let them know that there definitely is a road for everyone. I had a lot of help to reach my dreams; my family and friends were always there for me, they encouraged and promoted me. I want to give back and help others too.

I am going to be a whale and nothing can stop me. A Ming Chuan University Whale. In 2017 I traveled to Taiwan to visit my best friend after she had recently moved there after her marriage. This wasn’t my first international flight. I began world traveling a few years before and had already seen Thailand and Vietnam. I thought I was rather prepared for my trip to Taiwan, but this visit was different, Taiwan instantly felt natural to me. I was surprised by how much I used my Japanese language skills! I was able to piece together Mandarin Characters to help me navigate through the metro and dinner menus. When I told my friend that to me the characters 出口meant “Departure Mouth” instead of “Exit” she laughed and told me how creative I was. We ventured all around the island during my stay in Taiwan; including Tamsui, Tainan, Banciao, and my ultimate favorite place in the entire world: Wulai. Every moment I spent in Wulai was absolutely incredible. I was mesmerized by the waterfalls, savory foods, and beautiful people. After visiting the museum we walked down to the river shore and sat in the hot springs while viewing the sunset. As we made our way back to the bus I swore to my friend that I was going to retire in Wulai, in which she agreed she would come to join me. For years I joked about retiring early and living in Wulai and would list all the jobs I could work part-time to keep me active in my old age. I could volunteer at the museum or forest recreation area, teach English, or just help keep the rivers clean. To me, it was only a joke since I hadn’t completed my bachelor’s degree yet, so I was able to live fully there without a Visa. It was a dream that I kept wishing would come true without me doing any work to fix it. Luckily, my friend is incredibly smart, and she confronted me asking, “Instead of retiring in Wulai, why don’t you go to college in Taiwan and live there now?” How lucky am I that she is so wise? My purpose in studying in Taiwan is to make my wistful dream a reality. I full-heartedly hope to contribute back to the communities that graciously welcomed me and let me feel so loved. In a way, my purpose is to return and make Taiwan my home.

I was far too busy and too cool to be in love. I had places to see, contracts to fulfill, a life to live. Every year I was in a new town, sometimes every six months. I would go on dates and men would ask me things like, "Would I ever take their last name?" "Could I ever see myself settling down?" "Would you raise my children?" "Would you get a real job?" I don't want to buy a house, I don't even want to own a car. I have arch-supporting shoes, a heavy-duty backpack, my passport, and my skills. I would talk about my venture to Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, and in response, people would tell me that I was irresponsible. They would question me if I had a saving account (I do) if I was preparing for retirement (I am), and if I thought about how traveling so much would leave me lonely (It doesn't). So when I was on a new contract in Tennessee, the last thing I thought would happen would be for me to fall in love. I met Emrys and the galaxy snapped me into place. I still remember the gravitational pull that made me ask him, "Can I hug you? Because I feel like I NEED to hug you." This strong phenomenon terrified me because I knew it would change my life. Yet Emrys held all the answers. He was just like me, he didn't like owning material items and had moved to Tennesse with only his backpack. We're both artists making our waves, a perfect pair. Traveling has become significantly more fun now that I have someone to share and reminisce with. I know I'm lucky, and I thank the stars for the gift.

Has anyone ever asked you what year you would go back to if you could? I would go back to 2015. The year in which my entire family went on vacation to our secret beach in California. The beach I frequented as a child every summer with my siblings and grandfather. Even my grandparents made the trip from their new homestead in Oklahoma. It was such a treat, and definitely my favorite memory. My paternal grandmother passed away in 2002, I wasn't quite shocked. Her health had been failing for a few years, and she left peacefully in her sleep. It was my first embrace with death, as before I had only been to funerals for distant family. In 2016 my maternal grandfather, and dearest friend, went to a routine operation. But the surgeon blundered. For hours he was in surgery, only for us to find that extended time was because the doctors were trying to fix their mistakes. He had been dead for hours on the operating table. Before his surgery, he said, "I'm so excited for my new body! I have been so healthy and ready! No smoking, no bad foods, no alcohol! Just my new mind and my new body!" My step-grandmother fell into shock. Everyone skipped trying to console her and started to talk to her about suing the hospital for negligence and malpractice. My grandfather was her caretaker, she was the sick one, and life cruelly took him away from her. She needed time to come to terms with her new future. When she finally came forth with the gusto to act on the situation, the lawyers said that she had waited too long. She was told that she had grieved too long. She focused on taking the time to heal and to remember their love, rather than take legal actions and lashing out with anger and vengeance. To me, that is what matters most.

I was born into generational poverty. While I enjoyed my childhood, there are usually parts of it that I like to omit when I'm asked about my past. I'm not embarrassed about my past, nor do I resent it. My parents worked extremely hard to give us everything they didn't have, and I feel like talking about the hard times dampens the product of their efforts. I had a childhood that was filled with hotdogs, rice, and evaporated milk. I lived with my four siblings, paternal grandmother and uncle, maternal aunt, and my four cousins. My aunt was on and off methadone, so very often my mother was the acting guardian of my cousins. My grandmother had suffered a head injury and needed my father and uncle to supervise her. We walked everywhere, even on the hottest of Tucson days. To nearby playgrounds, grocery stores, to the mall during the hot summer days, to church on Sundays, usually with a wagon in tow. I didn't know clothes could come as "new" as I always wore hand-me-downs. My father was always at work, I can't imagine a day in my childhood in which my father didn't spend a day at work. As the anchor in our family, he worked multiple jobs so that my mother could start attending university classes. My father's childhood was very different than mine. My paternal grandfather favored alcohol over everything else in life. On one unfortunate evening, my grandfather picked a fight, but it was my father who suffered the consequences. My father joined the Marines to get away from the abuse. When he returned home from boot camp he learned that his father had sold all his belongings to pay off his bar tab. So when the military shipped my dad off to Japan, he swore he would never return. My mom spent her childhood hopping from house to house across the Heartland. She tells me stories about how sometimes for dinner they would scout of the fields behind their current house for wild fruits and vegetables, and that one night all they ate for dinner was wild asparagus. When she was 18 she immediately joined the Marines, knowing that if she stayed with her family that she would only be a financial burden. My grandmother was raised in a one-room farmhouse along with her five siblings. Her mother was a German immigrant that had left during the second world war, coming to America with only a suitcase. My grandfather was one of the oldest of fourteen (14) siblings, a few of his siblings died from starvation and other misfortunes. Sometimes I think to myself, "I escaped." I no longer live on the shady side of town. I no longer depend on dollar stares and food cards. Old ladies never slip my $20 bills and tell me, "God bless you and your struggles." Most importantly I do not have to live off hotdogs anymore. However, there are many life lessons that I carry. I will never take a sturdy house for granted. I will forever be grateful for having all my utilities accessible. I am eternally grateful for my health. My parents still struggle, so I do my best to always help them when I can. The years of being overworked have been very rough on my father, but luckily he is living out his retirement peacefully. I am always aware that poverty lurks behind me, but it is not a fear. I survived it before, and I will know how to survive through it again if it comes knocking. But I will always put up a fight and work hard against it.

There are times in which we have all felt like we were just down with the world. When I think about the pandemic, climate change, hungry children, cancer, racism, brutality, pollution, unfair quality of life, and everything that gets bundled into my pit of despair, I feel completely lost and hopeless. There are many terrible, terrible things in the world, and I am angered that I alone cannot fix them all. So I make myself a cup of tea, sit outside, and stare at the trees. I watch the wind ruffle through the leaves, I listen to the birds chirp, I try and spot squirrels and rabbits. I take a moment to observe the peace in the world. What keeps me going are the small things in life. I've noticed that when I take the time to appreciate the small things, I feel better. When I hug my mom, I really hug her and I always tell my dad that I love him and that I'm proud of him. When I go to gatherings, I play with the kids; I teach them that adults can still have fun and play. I cook good, healthy food, and I enjoy every bite. When I lie down for bed, I take note of how soft my pillow and blankets are. Life inspires me.

Being an artist means being at peace with chaos. I live in a world of accepting mistakes since I am a freehand illustrator. There is no backspace, to delete button, and often times no eraser. When that black ink pen smears in the wrong direction, the world explodes within my mind, my heart drops, my stomach sinks, but my hands respond. I know tips and tricks for fixing ink on paper. I know how to "artistically" change my work to cover my errors, and it's never an easy fix. I learned how to alter my errors from my grandmother. When she worked on typewriters she wasn't allowed to make any mistakes, and of course, she did. Grandma told me about how she measures her speed and learned to pay attention to it, about how when she was going too fast was when she actually needed to stop and take a break. She taught me about quality pencils and erasers, and how just a dab of bleach can help remove the ink. It was always about measuring things just right, putting in the exact care that was needed. I love that traditional art contains errors and mistakes that become part of the masterpiece. As the artist, your eyes will dart straight to where your mistake is, but as the viewer you rarely see it. I will continue to do physical art and illustrations because of the challenges in makes an artist overcome. Now through life, I'm not afraid to make mistakes. Art has helped me become a reliable, courageous, patient, and wise individual Throughout my career as an artist, I have had many questions about how I do my art and how I deal with mistakes. I often get worried when someone tells me that they are too afraid to draw with ink because of how permanent ink is. While digital art is amazing, it does not teach us how to creatively fix our mistakes and instead cradles us with scapegoats of the back button, and erase-all key. Just like my grandmother helped me with my art, I hope to help future artists. I draw as much as I can with my nephews and I make sure that they use my expensive art tools. I want to ensure that they have the confidence to pick up a pen and use it well, to know at a young age how the tools feel, to recognize when they're using too much pressure, how to show respect to the work that they created. We are all going to make mistakes, but it's comforting to know that we can embrace them.

"Your sister is weird." A phrase I have heard throughout my entire life. Sometimes I'm able to be cool and shrug the comment off, sometimes I see red. I'm a calm soul and always have been since I grew up having to be very, very, patient, and openly understanding. I was raised in poverty, the type that is inherited, and while my parents did the best that they could for us, therapy, consultants, psychiatrists, or any special type of doctor wasn't a priority on our health list. So when my younger sister refused to wear clothes, constantly peed her pants in public, and licked her feet just to laugh about it, my parents just concluded that she was, "spirited." However, it wasn't my parents taking care of my sister in school, it was me. It was me cleaning up my sister's urine, chasing down her clothes, and standing up to her bullies; who were often the teachers themselves. There were years of trials and errors. Many doctors wanted to over-medicate my sister and a few told my sister that she just needed to lose weight. It wasn't until my sister was an adult that we learned that she had autism; and in her case, she didn't need medication and intervention, she needed to talk through therapy. She needed extra guidance on how to live life on her own terms. I'm interested in becoming a volunteer because, sometimes, what we need is help to pave our own paths.

Finally, my time to shine! When I was 19, I took on loads of creative projects. I started drawing fantasy maps and sewing cat-head-shaped pillows that I called "Fu-Fu-Chan." With my sewing, friends really love my pillows, which influenced to me start taking sewing classes at a local atelier. I started crafting my own cosplay costumes, which led me into modeling. From modeling, I began acting in local shows, where I would offer my sewing skills to the wardrobe departments. I was eventually recommended to the crew working on Bill O'Reilly's documentary, "Legends & Lies." The film crew offered me a full-time position, which moved me out to Richmond, VA from Tucson, AZ. I worked on the feature film, Josephine, produced by Rory Feek. During post-wrap I talked with him about how I love drawing maps and sewing, in which he confided that while filming they needed a battle map for a scene, but couldn't find one that they liked! At that moment I knew I had messed up, I should have shouted from the hills my love of drawing maps, but instead, I stayed humble and hid my hobby. So now I talk about my maps as much as I can. I worked hard, very hard while on set for Josephine. My endurance was noted and appreciated, and I was offered a contract position as Rory Feek's personal assistance and coordinator in Tennesee. While I absolutely loved working in Tennessee and helping Mr. Rory, it left me very little time for my own creative outputs. So after my contract ended I moved back to Arizona and spent an entire year working on my fantasy art. I set up my first convention booth and totally crushed my goals. Now in 2021, I will be featured in a novel and two indie tabletop roleplaying campaigns, with more projects to come! My illustrations do very well, even though all I do to promote myself is post on Instagram, where I've managed to collect 12k followers. I am fortunate that the passion I have for my maps has been noticed. It has become a hobby that I have turned into a side-business that I can not only take internationally but can run with my family. My mother handles shipping, supplies, and gallery/con bookings, my sister handles prop photos, and I take care of commissions, social media, and illustrating! And to end it all, I was interviewed by Glamour UK Magazine! I am so excited that I was featured in a beauty magazine for my art! My next goal is to get my verification blue check mark. I have a way to go, but there's nothing stopping me.

My partner and I wanted to get married in Japan, well, elope. We had reserved a beautiful space as Lake Ashi just below Mt. Fuji. My parents met on a blind date in Japan in the '80s, so to me, this quest was romantic and poetic. One week before our trip, Japan closed its borders to protect its country from COVID. I was deeply upset and now stressed about all of the reservations I would have to cancel. Then work started talking about how they were going to handle COVID in the states. I had just started this new position to help me save up for school, and now was panicking that I would be let go. With luck my job let EVERYONE transition to work from home. They gave everyone computers and testing supplies, as well as opportunities to be reimbursed for elevated internet bills. The family I live with also started remote working and schooling from home. While at first, this was fun, almost like a family vacation, it soon started to rub at our edges. The house was never silent, the children grew restless, the extraverts started to heavily drain the introverts. New rules had to be implemented: who would be the selected adult to go out and retrieve necessities? Who was able to go outside and feel least anxious? How were we going to help the children learn how to zoom call and who was going to watch them during the day while all the adults worked? To help us find a cure for being bored and to find a way to be useful, we started a sewing circle. We started sewing masks for everyone and anyone that needed them. We started by contacting the emergency hospital near our house. After a month of helping the ER doctors, we started supplying masks to other medical offices, schools, and churches. If a company needed masks, we would create and donate masks to them. We refused payment and only asked that if materials could be gifted to us, it would be appreciated. My story with COVID has been extremely fortunate. I often feel so bad that my biggest issue has been that I just have not left the house days and that my fingers are raw from being poked with sewing pins. I have learned that there is always work to do and that there is always a way to help. I helped by staying indoors and going outside for only necessities. I'm healthy and showed no signs of COVID throughout the entire year, but knowing that I could carry COVID and still feel fresh meant that it was important for me to still tuck away and keep other safes. Why I wear a mask? In video games you are often given an item, sometimes insignificant, that is often along the lines of, "A magic ring with 5% fire-resistance." If you have an open ring slot, you would most likely equip this ring until a new, better ring came alone. The ring won't do much, but its 5% chance of fire reduction is better than 0%, especially if you are about to fight a fire-boss. If I'm willing to protect my videogame character by 5%, I can protect myself. My facial/mask slot is open anyway, might as well equip "A face mask with 5% COVID-resistance."

I am a self-made illustrator. My first memory of art was from age 7 in which my oldest sister encouraged me to draw Winnie the Pooh. I was ecstatic that my drawing looked so similar to Pooh, so much that I held on to the picture for years. I continued drawing throughout life, continuously called, "the art kid," in school. In high school, I picked up on anime which led me to start drawing bodies and studying anatomy. I was constantly drawing, which I am sure some of my teachers didn't appreciate. I would doodle through lectures, during downtimes at work, and during my free time. While traveling internationally I would bring small pocketbooks and draw pictures of my meals, exotic flows, temples, and friends. It wasn't until I was 25 that I received my first commission request: the map of Eorzea from Final Fantasy. This was a huge request since it was the centerpiece for a wedding. I posted pictures of this map onto Instagram and from there, my cartography illustration hobby took off. I started receiving multiple requests for map illustrations. I became so popular that my mother needed to step in and help me organize my prints, galleries, interviews, and conventions. With this grant, I will use the funds to help continue my online illustration business. It will help pay for prints and shipping costs, higher quality materials, website fees, and most importantly, it will allow me to pay my mother for all of the hard work, devotion, and love she has put into my illustration company. I do not make much from my maps and illustrations, most of the profit goes back into materials and online fees. She is retired and has been helping me with my illustrations as a volunteer, but I would like to be able to give her more.

Growing up we did not know my sister was mentally ill, we just called her a ‘wild child.’ During her youngest days, she would be run around the yard naked and constantly pee her pants. Middle school life was worse, it was when vicious bullying began, as well as her symptoms becoming more serious. After being spat on at church school, my mother pulled her from our town’s public services and transferred my sister to a very small high school forty miles away, and enrolled her with a therapist. She was diagnosed with ADHD, trailed on different medications, and given weekly therapy. She was still ‘weird’ but she was improving. When we moved back to Arizona during high school, my sister was left with no therapist while we situated her insurance. The stress from a new environment was the tipping point. My sister was enraged when she saw me in her room one day and snapped. At first, I thought she was acting until she grasped her hands around my neck and began to strangle me. I was still laughing in confusion until I couldn’t breathe anymore. Luckily my father saw us fighting and pulled us apart. We found a new psychologist immediately after the incident. With luck, the new doctor recognized all of my sister’s symptoms. My sister didn’t have ADHD, she was autistic with Asperger’s and severe depression. The only medication she put my sister on was an anti-depressant, as well as mandatory counseling sessions. Today she is 28 and a certified massage therapist and has had no violent episodes. She is proud to be autistic and is happy to talk and educate others about her autism. My sister has taught me how to be patient and how to communicate calmly, even when I’m the one upset. To this day my strongest trait is my patience. I often feel that our first reactions are almost always angry. We need to practice patience with ourselves and each other.

I grew up in a South Western Metropolis. If you didn’t speak or understand at least 3 languages, then you weren’t going to be able to find where to eat good food. When I was 12 my mother moved us from our sunny city to the Heartland, specifically to a township with a population of 3300 people. This was going to be such an exciting time for me because I was starting 7th grade, which I thought meant I was going to junior high. Turns out in the midwest they went to ‘middle school.’ Unfortunately, all the cliques had been made the year before, but I didn’t know that. So I marched into school wearing my goth sister’s camo pants with bobbed hair. They hated me. It took me an entire year to get people to talk to me, after which I learned people thought I was mean because I came in so confidently! However, that was just the start of my troubles. I started to fall in love with anime, Japanese animation, which led me to draw anime and read the manga. I was soon teased, and teased often, for being in love with anime. I didn’t dress cute, I didn’t have nice hair, and I wasn’t allowed to wear makeup, so naturally, I was an outcast. Once high school started I was able to find a few more people that loved anime as well, and we soon formed our own group. I spent a lot of my high school career drawing, which is what I believe defined my art skills. Now anime is socially accepted and loved! I’m so glad that something that made me so happy in my youth is more acceptable and enjoyed!

1. As a child my older sister was in the chess club. Afterschool she would play chess against my uncle. I always thought that she was so amazing because she was able to beat me every time! Then again, I am about 6 years younger than her and at the time I was only 11. 2. Chess has taught me to always have plans. If I do this, then I can do that. If you are mentally prepared for things to happen, it's easier to react and solve. 3. I have lived a very blessed life. I taught myself how to sew, which landed me a position working on filmsets. That let me start working on productions and media. I want to continue what I have learned by majoring in Media Communications and Public Relations. If I can accidentally become a model, actress, and costume designer, then maybe I can help someone else do it!

I draw maps. Specifically fantasy maps. It seems like at times it's all I ever talk about! When I first started drawing maps it seemed like everyone had an opinion. They wanted to tell me how to draw my maps, that I need to be flashy to stand out, or that maps were stupid. Now that I have over 12,000 followers… they all still say the same things! I still get messages from family, friends, and fans suggesting to me how I should improve or advance my art. My art is very traditional. I draw with pens and pencil, not photoshop or any computer at all to help me with editing. It’s very time consuming and even frustrating at times (not to mention tiring). There are times in which I wish I would listen to everyone, their advice definitely seems easier, but then the world wouldn’t be able to see my art. I appreciate so much all the love and support I have gotten not only from my family, but from the art community. Fantasy Cartography seems very niche until you dive into the map world. You come to find that there are SO many different styles with cartographers being excited to help and share their work. I love maps because, to me, they pave new worlds. Maps show us where we’ve been, where we can go, and how we can get there! Plus, I get to help people bring their stories and dreams to life! How amazing is that?!

Home Made Kazoku - Thank You!! I've always had a unique taste in music. My friends never hand me the aux cord. The music I listen to is compiled of songs that projected how I was feeling at a certain moment or were played during a significant moment in my life. I traveled a lot right out of high school, which meant I had to face many fears by myself. When we're afraid it is often music that we turn to for solace. Songs that keep me confident, humble, and secure are the songs that are on my playlist.

"There's something about you that's unique." This is the compliment we all strive for. What makes us unique? I want to be an individual that helps others shine and become successful, to help find, develope, and proper that uniqueness. I had to opportunity to assist a talent manager that worked alongside country musicians. Within the year I was contracted to work I was thrown into a world of art and negotiations. Every week there were meetings for book releases, creative circles to discuss scripts, talk shows, new lyrics, and on set film set ups for commercials, television shows, and movies. There was always someone to reach out to, a new idea to brainstorm on, a location to scout. The talent manager was the one that opened doors for his clients so that their artistic dreams could come true. He was not aggressive, nor mean. He also was not a pushover. He listened to his clients' goals and firmly compromised. Extraordinary communication and negotiation skills are pivotal for this roll. When you represent and artist, you are the often the first face that a company sees. It's imperative that you set up the artist for success, otherwise what use are you to the artist? I love helping my friends and family feel better about themselves. I like listening to people and giving them an opportunity to shine as they discuss their dreams and passion. Let me take that a step further and project it into a profession. I want to grow to become that confident person that can stand my ground and help dreams come true. That is why I am aiming for a PR related major.

Amazon - my whole family uses it now since my mother immunocompromised and in-store shopping can be a safety issue. Etsy - I love supporting small businesses and artists!! eBay - Its like an online yard sale!

I thought I had to do everything by the book. Graduate high school and go straight to college. Thank sort of worked, except I couldn't pay for my first semester so I held off for 6 months and worked to save up. Then I started school... but it was STILL too much money (I was out of state for 2 years). After a year of college, I applied for loans, because that what everyone does, right? Now I'm $8k in debt, and still, I don't have enough for the next semester coming. So I get a third job because that's what you do, you keep working until you succeed. Then the day before rent is due both of my roommates moved out. No warning, no heads up, no discussion about it. I came home to find my apartment trashed with a note saying, "We took your cat." Now on top of three jobs and paying for my full-time classes, I have to get my cat back and find out how I'm also going to find new roommates and pay full rent. Which I couldn't do. With most people mocking me for not being prepared, I had to break my lease and go to court. The apartments charged me $10,000 in damages (well, all three of us, but I knew they weren't going to pay up). It was absolutely awful. Within one year I was $20k in debt, and more was expected of me just to get a degree. So I dropped down to part-time school and found a full-time job to replace two of the part-time ones. This was normal too, right? A lot of people just did part-time school. Yet the stress of not being in school like all of my friends and classmates was difficult. I felt like a rotten person because I was not doing what everyone else was doing, even though I was just doing my best. So when the opportunity for me to work on film sets came up, I was hesitant. Isn't this a dream job? How would it just be handed to me? It paid me to travel and be creative, plus I'd always be staying in a hotel with internet access for my classes. Many people were also skeptical, told me it was too good to be true, that I was getting scammed or would be left in the ditch. It was so unconventional to me, I almost didn't take the offer! After working on film sets, my life being even more unique. I started drawing more, which grew an audience. I then finally took a big leap and traveled to Thailand! I started doing more and more of what I wanted to do rather than what I thought I should do. I'm now in a position in which I have an interesting resume filled with Entertainment and Media positions, I've traveled all over the world, I have a steady income from my hobby, and a lot of mistakes that helped me get to where I am now: going back to school! I thought I was supposed to live a normal life. There's no such thing!

My family is amazing. Sure they're also a little hectic and loud, but I know through and through, they have my back. My mother is a saint. I cannot believe how kind and patient she is, especially since she raised five kids! Yet she raised us all to be so confident and authentic. I wanted to repay my mother so badly that I even volunteered to enlist in the Marines to carry on her legacy. She hugged me and told me that I needed to follow my own path. I haven't had the most common life. I've accidentally stumbled my way through great opportunities. I have been able to model, work on film sets, and travel across the world. I know that even if I fail, I have a family that will catch me. It's a tremendous gift that not everyone has. My family is definitely not rich, we live in poverty. Yet the rules are in our household are rich: No one goes hungry. No one sleeps in the cold. No one has to go through life alone. While I depend on them, I also must be a person that they can depend on too. Success to me is being a capable person that can help others whenever my help is needed. I have flown across countries to be there for my family. I have never regretted helping them, nor will I ever. My family is incredible. They love my art and have encouraged every adventure I have been on. I appreciate and adore them. I will always go forth and do my best for them.

The Dave Ramsey Show Mrs Dow Jones Dr. Brad Klontz

My dearest Ping, When I think about who I am, I know that a small piece of me is you. I was just a scared girl when I met you. I went off into the world when I wasn't ready, and in a way, I think you saw yourself in me as well. I first saw you on my very first day of college. You were the coolest girl I had ever seen! And you stood out because I had never met an Asian girl before, is that weird to think about now? You were having a hard time understand our art professor's Spanish accent, and I secretly worried about if you were going to pass the class or not. I felt like such a strange person watching you from across the room, just the quiet new girl, fresh to college. It took me almost three months to work up the courage to talk to you. When I finally mustered the strength to say hello, you said to me, "Oh! You're that Happy Sunshine girl! Hello!" I was the "Happy Sunshine Girl" to you. Not a random person in our class, but someone you too had spotted and watched. I have lived the last 10 years with that monicker stitched to my heart. You have been my absolute best friend. I feel incredibly blessed that you chose me to be part of your life. I miss you SO much and I hope you are doing well in Australia. I hope to visit you soon once border are open and the world is safe. Take care! With all my love, Shing

I have always been a fan of yoga, tai-chi, qigong, and pilates. I travel and move often, so keeping a gym membership can be quite difficult. I appreciate Youtube for the ability to lessons on hand wherever I am. Luckily, I’m in decent shape and have no health issues. I love doing yoga to make sure that my body doesn’t remain stiff and to give myself a moment to just slow down and breathe. Stretching is very important to me. The older I get the more I have to get up and stretch while working long hours. Now that I am in isolation, I am eternally grateful to those that are masters in yoga that give advice and fun routines online. I am currently working between 60-70 hours a day in front of the computer. I need yoga and stretches more than ever this year! I often do yoga with others as well, especially if I find a new pose that I truly feel helps me stretch. My niece and nephew love it when we give different yoga poses Pokemon names! It’s a great way to help them get involved and stay active since they cannot go out and play with their friends. It’s a routine we have in place for when winter comes and outdoor activities are completely canceled from the snow. I also love world travel and have been to a few Asian countries. In Vietnam, Thailand, and Taiwan there are parks that host morning stretch routines, and everyone in the community participates (well, mostly the elderly). This is something that I truly wish would carry over to the states!

A lot of people tried to tell me how to do it. They told me to cater to people, make sure I was giving the world what they wanted, make sure I wasn’t too “niche”. I’m sure they had my best interests in mind, but I could feel how wrong they were. I started drawing fantasy maps when I was 19. At first, it was just a tool to help me write stories; however, the drawing maps part became more fun. I would draw for friends, family, even for my crushes. They would tell me to use my face because people like pretty girls. That I needed to draw only maps people knew and care about, like Neverland and Middle Earth, that I needed to draw more than just maps. Yet, I didn’t listen to their advice. I am a firm believer that you have to show the world what it’s missing, not what it wants. The world was missing MY art. My maps consist of my original ideas and dreams. These were unique places that were uncharted and unexplored and I wanted to share that with others. So I kept drawing MY maps and sure enough, my passion was recognized. Passion is contagious and we LOVE it when someone has a passion for their projects. What started as a hobby has become a side project that now brings in weekly income for me and my mother. She is able to help me manage my art shop and is in charge of my gallery and convention bookings while I handle negotiations for my art to be in books, games, and movies. My current goal is to publish a book of my maps with stories and campaign intro for table-top role players (like Dungeons and Dragons). Drawing maps has taught me to be more confident in myself. That I am able to overcome and create far more than I originally thought I could. That while putting your art and life out into the world is scary, that criticism is harsh, that there are still a lot of people out in the world that eager to admire and appreciate me and my art.

When I travel I like to ensure that I get to visit museums and other natural sites. There is so much folklore in the world that I have never learned about. For example, Thai Temples have a variety of creatures. The one the struck me was the Elephant Fish. They look like mermaids of the sort. There are also lions with dragon heads, Naga, Qilin, Hussadee Birds, Eagles, and many more. Some of these creatures represent protectors and guardians of the sacred spaces. There are lush gardens filled with beautiful statues, often found basking in the sun or posed delicately by a waterfall. It can be overwhelmingly enchanting. I draw fantasy maps. Many times with my art I am gifted with the chance to create new worlds. In order to make a world seem real, you have to make it relatable. The environment needs diversity, people need conflict, the land needs lore. Broadening my horizons helps me become a more assorted artist. And truly, we all know the best part of the map is the creatures. Tolkien had dragons. I have Elephant Fish.

You know that type in which you panic, lose control, and hide under desks and in corners while shaking and crying, type of anxiety. That's what I had. I felt that somehow I had lost control of everything in my life and that at any moment I was going to lose my job, lose my apartment, lose the grip of my life. So I made a bucket list. I had always wanted to travel but always thought that I was too poor or too lonely to go anywhere. After seeing Phang Nga Island in Thailand I was filled with confidence. If I could just go to Thailand, I would be okay. So once my lease was up I left my job, I said "Feck it I'm going to Phuket." Travel lets you choose every day what you are going to do, where you're going to venture, what you're going to eat. The 10 days of being in complete control of my schedule revitalized me. I had forgotten how to take life by the reigns and was letting it stampede over me. This led me to change my lifestyle. I realized I was much braver than what I was giving myself credit for. I pet a tiger, I drove a moped through the hectic highways in Phuket, I even ate a bbq’d worm. Surely I would be able to speak up when I was unhappy or over-stressed. Maybe I wasn’t as unqualified for jobs that I was too afraid to even try to apply for. So much of my life has changed since hopping on that plane to Thailand. I was given a chance to model, I worked on film-sets, I even got to work for a video-game company. However, I’m not done. There were still things on the bucket list waiting for me to visit. Like finishing college. I kept putting it off. I would apply to a university, get accepted, then move on to the next gig. I kept waiting for a university to be convenient. It will never convenient, not for me. I have always been deeply stressed about student loans and debt, which is why I never attended school. I always thought that scholarships were for the perfect GPA students, so I never bothered to even look at them. However, just like going to Thailand, it will always be just a fretful thought until I tackle it. Which is what I’m doing every day now, fighting against that fear. I am going to go to college. I'm not going to let fear and anxiety control me.

This is Kindred, or KinKin Kitten. Born under a barn in Tennessee under the name "Anxiety Cat." I have never met had such a tender cat. Even as a kitten she was so gentle and kind. She likes to sit on the porch and sing with the birds. She loves to hop with frogs. She cuddles with EVERYONE. I'm so glad she is my kin. Name: Kindred IG: Shing.Cartography https://www.instagram.com/p/Bwkp8PuDzSI/

What if you regret this? I had severe anxiety, I felt like I had control over nothing. What was I afraid of? Dying? Why? Because there was so much I wanted to do before I died? While online I saw a picture of Phang Nga Bay in Thailand, I felt electricity flow through my body: I needed to go to Thailand. My family was doubtful, “What if you regret this?” What if I needed to do this? So I went to Thailand. I proved to myself that I had control. And I had an amazing adventure!