"To choose doubt as a philosophy of life is akin to choosing immobility as a means of transportation," a quote from my favorite book, Life of Pi by Yann Martel. I first read this book in my AP English class in high school. It is unlike any other story I have read, as it is rich in symbolism, emotion, and really makes you think about life beyond the confines of the pages of the book. My favorite kinds of books are those that make you forget you're reading, that suck you into the world on the page. That is exactly what Life of Pi did for me; it is completely engrossing. But while it sucks you in, it also keeps you thinking after you have finished reading. The author expertly crafted the story line in way that made the ending so impactful - he left it ambiguous. This made the book feel interactive, as I could connect the dots of different aspects of the story, trace the themes and symbolism, and decide what I felt the ending should be. All parts of the story came full circle, hence the idea of pi, the Greek letter representing the circumference of a circle (this blew my mind even more). Although tragic and heart wrenching, that is what makes it so special. To me, it was not a story where I could relate to the main character, Pi. He is a young Indian boy who experiences a great deal of trauma, stranded in the middle of the ocean on a small boat after his ship sank with his family in the middle of the night. His beliefs, ideas, and experiences were well beyond anything I would have known, but that is what made it so eye opening and such a memorable read.

I have been drawing ever since I can remember. Whether it was scribbling with crayons or doodling with sidewalk chalk, I have always felt the need to create. When I was five, I watched my nana sketching, fascinated by the flick, flick, flick of her pencil, the shapes and forms she created so effortlessly to bring the flat, smooth page to life. It was then that I discovered my passion for art. I started out with crayons, drawing pictures of my family, of my house and backyard, and of cute animals, the things that made me happy. Even at the age of 5, I the motion of marker strokes across a page was exhilarating. I began to discover new mediums - in elementary school: colored pencils, in middle school: watercolor, and in high school: acrylic paint. The choices were endless. There were so many ways to portray a picture, and so many ways to say different things. To me, that is what drawing and painting is about: saying something without words. The passion that I have garnered over the years has led me to start my own Etsy shop. There, I sell all kinds of hand-painted designs, from canvas paintings to stickers and ornaments. It has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life so far, as I have found a way to share many facets of my creativity with others and pursue my childhood dream of being an artist! I hope to continue this passion project and many more like this as I go through college and begin to build my career. After all, what good is a passion if it is just left to fizzle out?