I have been surrounded by music and art my entire life. I’ve attended musical festivals since I was six months old, I’ve participated in theatre productions since I was eight, and I’ve enjoyed visual arts since I was twelve. Throughout High School, I started to focus more and more on these hobbies of mine. I joined a rock band, participated in my school’s choir, started taking advanced art classes, and joined an audition-based theatre group. The arts have motivated my passion for the past four years, and I plan to continue my involvement long after graduation. In ninth grade, I decided to take advanced art, and have spent the past four years developing my art skills and portfolio during school. Now, in senior year, I’m one of two students in AP Art V at my school. Throughout these years, I have learned many artistic techniques that have helped me develop as an artist and discover the kind of artist that I was to be. Through trial and exploration, I have learned my strengths and weaknesses, as well as where I am passionate. I have poured my heart into every piece I have created. Telling my story through visual art has been a gift that not many are given. It helped me connect with classmates and friends beyond just words, as a language of storytelling. At the start of tenth grade, I joined the rock band my best friend was in, Abuse of Gravity. For two years, I performed as the band’s lead singer, and was provided with numerous performance opportunities I never thought I’d see. Being a part of this band taught me how to rely on my fellow musicians for support and community. Leaving Abuse of Gravity was a difficult decision to make, but I knew I had to focus my senior year on college applications, to work towards my future. I hope to participate in another musical experience like this again in the future. Being in a rock band connected me to so many new people, and I look forward to returning to the stage later in life. For most of my life, I have participated in the art of Musical Theatre in and out of school. When I reached High School, though, I decided to try out tech crew for my school. I spent time in many different crews, including set, sound, and lighting. I fell in love with the backstage elements of theatre productions. At the end of my Junior year, I ran alongside one of my close friends, and was elected as co-head of set crew for my school. In this position, I serve as a student creative director of our set builds. I assist in making creative decisions about the set, and lead all of the set crew in building and painting the sets for our school productions. Art is one of the only truly universal languages of the world, transcending both time and distance. It connects all kinds of people to one another, and helps to convey emotions that would otherwise be difficult to share. This year, I am a participant in 3 Arts honor societies- Tri-M Music Honor Society, National Art Honor Society, and officer of International Thespian Society. These experiences have shaped me into the artist I intend to be in my professional career. Next year, I plan to attend Pace University to study Production and Design for Stage and Screen. Here, I want to discover how design can amplify the impact of Musical Theatre on audiences, and use this education to reach the hearts and minds of audiences.