From a young age, many facets of the art world have been a significant part of my everyday life. It wasn't until 7th grade, however, that I discovered my love for visual art. I had been asked to draw or paint an animal to accompany a research paper that I had written. I chose the mahi-mahi, or common dolphinfish. After looking at images of the fish, I quickly decided that the vibrant colors of the mahi-mahi were too beautiful to leave to a pencil sketch, so I found some acrylic paints and a small canvas in a box and began my project. Before I knew it, art supplies were all I asked for on my birthday or for Christmas. I had been struck with a love and passion for art like never before and I knew that I wanted to pursue art in some way, shape, or form. The artistic process is something inexplicably good for a person. I've come to believe that art is the language of the soul. Beautiful poetry, choreography, musical pieces, and visual art pieces evoke unexplainable emotion. They can make a person feel deeply about something they've never experienced or seen, which is incredible. Beyond evoking emotion in the viewer or listener, however, art is a form of expression for the artist as well. I paint and draw to appreciate the world and the things in it. By pursuing a career as an art teacher, I want to share my love for art. The world is not always a beautiful place, but I want to encourage children to look for things that inspire them and to be creative with their lives. I believe that creativity is essential in the healthy development of a child and that it should be readily encouraged. I was homeschooled until high school, and my mother has always been one of my biggest supporters. She has poured her heart out into my education and constantly pushes me to pursue my dreams. I am beyond thankful to her, and I can't wait to pour into others as she has poured into me. As a teacher, I hope to be a mentor and a supporter as each child grows and discovers their passion, whether it be for visual art or not. I am so grateful for the ability to create art; a piece that one is proud of gives a feeling of accomplishment and joy like no other, a feeling that I hope to help others find in the future. I have been blessed with some of the most wonderful teachers in the world, and I've realized what a lasting effect that a good teacher can have on a child. I want to become what my teachers have been for me. With heartfelt encouragement and instruction from my teachers and mentors, I've been able to achieve so many of my goals throughout high school. I'm so excited to continue my educational journey through college and eventually inspire others to find their passion as I have. I believe that art can be more than a hobby. To appreciate art is a lifestyle. My love for art is something that I can't entirely explain. There are only so many words in the English language, and I don't have the talent to put them together to entirely convey what I feel. That's why I want to become an art teacher. If I can't explain the joy of art, I want to inspire other people to create so that they can feel this way about the beauty that is found in creation.

Sometimes I think being raised in a Christian home confuses your faith a bit. Growing up “knowing the Lord”, I didn’t even consider whether I was truly saved until I was in high school. I gave my life to Christ one night while looking out my bedroom window when I was 8, but I don’t think I really comprehended it all at the time. At a youth camp in 9th grade, I accepted the Lord as my Lord and Savior. I got baptized the next day and was on a spiritual high for months. And then high-school kicked in. Drama with friends, the pressure of grades, and an overarching feeling of anxiousness were at the top of my mind. Soon they consumed me. I began trying to fix all of my friends' problems, and I idolized my grades, constantly focusing on anything but my own shattered heart. I had lost the smile and zest for life that I knew should’ve been there. As my school load and friend drama got heavier, so did my anxiety and sadness. I hated and blamed myself for everything that was going on around me. Soon, sadness turned into something more, something seemingly inescapable. It felt like a weight that I just kept pushing up on, but couldn’t lift. My motivation for everything disappeared. I kept trying so hard to push through. And then I didn’t anymore. I didn’t try, because it felt okay to wish that I was gone. It felt okay to sit on the bathroom floor at night. And eventually it felt okay to hurt myself too. Then the guilt kicked in. My conscience was awakened by the Lord and cried out that this was not what I was made for, and I reached out for help. I knelt at the altar and accepted the fact that I wasn’t enough on my own. That I would never, ever make it alone. I realized that I wasn’t supposed to make it alone. And God met me there, in the lowest place I’ve ever been. In the darkness and the suffering. I thank God that He provided me with a family and teachers who loved me, who cared for me. Through them, the Lord lifted me up. God took my hand and told me that I was made for a purpose, but that I would have to heal my own heart before I could be a witness to others. And the re-stitching of my soul began, this time with God as the surgeon rather than my own unsteady hand. I now feel joy and peace and hope like never before. I am seen in my anguish, I am known in my pain, and I am loved through it all. And I can have confidence like none other, knowing that I have a Father who loves me unconditionally. And praise God, I am free. My faith and my Savior will contintue to be my guide for the rest of my life. I hope to become an art teacher in order to encourage young people to find beauty in the wonderous creation of God. I use art as a form of worship. I believe that God designed each thing in this world with great care for us to enjoy and admire. Every sunrise, every flower, and every person is a work of art. The entirety of nature is one massive, incomparable piece of divine artwork. I strive to use my God-given talent to express gratitude and awe of His creation and to inspire others to do the same.

I first watched "The Map of Tiny Perfect Things" when I was 15. It looked like a rather simple movie, perhaps a cute romance story. I was fully unprepared for the mental shift that it would bring to my life. This movie is, in fact, a cute little romance movie, but it also taught me to appreciate every moment. So many beautiful things are happening in the world and I don't want to miss them now. "The Map of Tiny Perfect Things" illustrates the reality that there are beautiful moments everywhere, if only you look for them. I know strive to find and capture these moments, holding onto them forever. I hope to become an art teacher so that I can inspire other people to also find the moments of beauty in their lives. I believe that art is the language of the soul. Beautiful poetry, dance choreography, musical pieces, and visual art pieces evoke unexplainable emotion. They can make a person feel deeply about something they've never experienced or seen, which is incredible. Beyond evoking emotion in the viewer or listener, however, art is a form of expression for the artist as well. I paint and draw to appreciate the world and the things in it. I use art as a form of worship. As a Christian, I believe that God designed each thing in this word with great care for us to enjoy and admire. Every sunrise, every flower, and every person is a work of art. I strive to use my God-given talent to express gratitude and awe of His creation. Having been classically educated, I also believe that there is an ultimate good, truth, and beauty. By pursuing a career as an art teacher, I want to share my love for art. The world is not always a beautiful place, but I want to encourage children to look for the things that inspire them and to be creative with their lives. I believe that creativity is essential in the healthy development of a child and that it should be readily encouraged. When I struggled to find happiness and joy in my Sophomore and Junior year of highschool, my counselor suggested that I create more. The difference that artistic expression made to my mental health was astounding. When I was painting or drawing I felt peace. I hope to be a mentor and a supporter as each child grows and discovers their passion, whether it be for visual art or not! I am so grateful for the ability to create art; a piece that one is proud of gives a feeling of pure joy like no other, a feeling that I hope to help others find in the future.

I was homeschooled for much of my life, and my mother has always been one of my biggest supporters. She has poured her heart out into my education and constantly pushes me to pursue my dreams. I am beyond thankful to her, and I can't wait to pour into others as she has poured into me. As a teacher, I hope to be a mentor and a supporter as each child grows and discovers their passion, whether it be for visual art or not. I am so grateful for the ability to create art; a piece that one is proud of gives a feeling of accomplishment and joy like no other, a feeling that I hope to help others find in the future. I have been blessed with some of the most wonderful teachers in the world, and I've realized what a lasting effect that a good teacher can have on a child. I want to become what my teachers have been for me. With heartfelt encouragement and instruction from my teachers and mentors, I've been able to achieve so many of my goals throughout highschool. I'm so excited to continue my educational journey through college and eventually inspire others to find their passion as I have. I believe that art can be more than a hobby. To appreciate art is a lifestyle. The creation of art is therapeutic and it helps me feel more connected to the goodness and truth in the world. I've never written an artist statement before, but if I did, I believe it would be something like this: I love art. In my heart there is an inexplicable desire to create that I could never have put there myself. This love for creativity is a gift from God, and I cherish it. I cherish the ability to capture even a sliver of the glory of God's creation and I worship His matchless name for all of the wonderful things that He has made. My love for art is something that I can't entirely explain. There are only so many words in the English language, and I have not the talent to put them together to entirely convey what I feel. That's why I want to become an art teacher. If I can't explain the joy of art, I strive to inspire other people to create so that they can feel this way about the beauty that is found in creation. I'm so grateful for this talent I've been blessed with and I can't wait to cultivate it further through my college education.

I have always loved the arts. I began classical ballet lessons when I was just two years old, I played piano for several years, and I participated in theater productions at my school. It wasn't until 7th grade, however, that I discovered my love for visual art. I had been asked to draw or paint an animal to accompany the research paper that I had written and I chose the mahi-mahi, or common dolphinfish. I quickly decided that the vibrant colors of the mahi-mahi were too beautiful to leave to a pencil sketch, so I found some acrylic paints and a small canvas and began my project. By the time it was finished, I was shocked at how it had turned out. Ever since, it has been my goal to cultivate my talent and to push my artistic limits. Before I knew it, art supplies were all I asked for for my birthday or for Christmas. I had been struck with a love and passion for art like never before. I believe that art is the language of the soul. Beautiful poetry, choreography, musical pieces, and visual art pieces evoke unexplainable emotion. They can make a person feel deeply about something they've never experienced or seen, which is incredible. Beyond evoking emotion in the viewer or listener, however, art is a form of expression for the artist as well. I paint and draw to appreciate the world and the things in it. I use art as a form of worship. As a Christian, I believe that God designed each thing in this world with great care for us to enjoy and admire. Every sunrise, every flower, and every person is a work of art. The entirety of nature is one massive, incomparable piece of divine artwork. I strive to use my God-given talent to express gratitude and awe of His creation. Having been classically educated, I also believe that there is ultimate good, truth, and beauty. By pursuing a career as an art teacher, I want to share my love for art. The world is not always a beautiful place, but I want to encourage children to look for things that inspire them and to be creative with their lives. I believe that creativity is essential in the healthy development of a child and that it should be readily encouraged. I was homeschooled until highschool, and my mother has always been one of my biggest supporters. She has poured her heart out into my education and constantly pushes me to pursue my dreams. I am beyond thankful to her, and I can't wait to pour into others as she has poured into me. As a teacher, I hope to be a mentor and a supporter as each child grows and discovers their passion, whether it be for visual art or not. I am so grateful for the ability to create art; a piece that one is proud of gives a feeling of accomplishment and joy like no other, a feeling that I hope to help others find in the future. I have been blessed with some of the most wonderful teachers in the world, and I've realized what a lasting effect that a good teacher can have on a child. I want to become what my teachers have been for me. With heartfelt encouragement and instruction from my teachers and mentors, I've been able to achieve so many of my goals throughout highschool. I'm so excited to continue my educational journey through college and eventually inspire others to find their passion as I have.

From a young age, many facets of the art world have been a significant part of my everyday life. It wasn't until 7th grade, however, that I discovered my love for visual art. I had been asked to draw or paint an animal to accompany the research paper that I had written and I chose the mahi-mahi, or common dolphinfish. I quickly decided that the vibrant colors of the mahi-mahi were too beautiful to leave to a pencil sketch, so I found some acrylic paints and a small canvas and began my project. By the time it was finished, I was shocked at how well it had turned out. Ever since then, it has been my goal to cultivate my talent and to push my artistic limits. Before I knew it, art supplies were all I asked for for my birthday or for Christmas. I had been struck with a love and passion for art like never before. I believe that art is the language of the soul. Beautiful poetry, choreography, musical pieces, and visual art pieces evoke unexplainable emotion. They can make a person feel deeply about something they've never experienced or seen, which is incredible. Beyond evoking emotion in the viewer or listener, however, art is a form of expression for the artist as well. I paint and draw to appreciate the world and the things in it. I use art as a form of worship. As a Christian, I believe that God designed each thing in this world with great care for us to enjoy and admire. Every sunrise, every flower, and every person is a work of art. The entirety of nature is one massive, incomparable piece of divine artwork. I strive to use my God-given talent to express gratitude and awe of His creation.

I have always loved the arts. I began classical ballet lessons when I was just two years old, I played piano for several years, and I participated in theater productions at my school. From a young age, many facets of the art world have been a significant part of my everyday life. It wasn't until 7th grade, however, that I discovered my love for visual art. I had always thought that my older brother was the “artist of the family;” he loved to draw, and he sketched endless little doodles on his schoolwork. However, a mental shift began in my 7th grade year when I was working on an assignment required by my homeschool curriculum. We were to draw or paint an animal to accompany the research paper that we had written. I chose the mahi-mahi, or common dolphinfish. I quickly decided that the vibrant colors of the mahi-mahi were too beautiful to leave to a pencil sketch, so I found some acrylic paints and a small canvas and began my project. By the time it was finished, I was shocked at how it had turned out. I got several compliments from my family and friends and I realized that I had a bit of talent. Ever since then it has been my goal to cultivate this talent and to push my artistic limits. I believe that art is the language of the soul. Beautiful poetry, dance choreography, musical pieces, and visual art pieces evoke unexplainable emotion. They can make a person feel deeply about something they've never experienced or seen, which is incredible. Beyond evoking emotion in the viewer or listener, however, art is a form of expression for the artist as well. I paint and draw to appreciate the world and the things in it. I use art as a form of worship. As a Christian, I believe that God designed each thing in this word with great care for us to enjoy and admire. Every sunrise, every flower, and every person is a work of art. I strive to use my God-given talent to express gratitude and awe of His creation. Having been classically educated, I also believe that there is an ultimate good, truth, and beauty. By pursuing a career as an art teacher, I want to share my love for art. The world is not always a beautiful place, but I want to encourage children to look for the things that inspire them and to be creative with their lives. I believe that creativity is essential in the healthy development of a child and that it should be readily encouraged. When I struggled to find happiness and joy in my Sophomore and Junior year of highschool, my counselor suggested that I create more. The difference that artistic expression made to my mental health was astounding. When I was painting or drawing I felt peace. I hope to be a mentor and a supporter as each child grows and discovers their passion, whether it be for visual art or not! I am so grateful for the ability to create art; a piece that one is proud of gives a feeling of pure joy like no other, a feeling that I hope to help others find in the future.

I have always loved the arts. I began classical ballet lessons when I was just two years old, I played piano for several years, and I participated in theater productions at my school. From a young age, many facets of the art world have been a significant part of my everyday life. It wasn't until 7th grade, however, that I discovered my love for visual art. I had always thought that my older brother was the “artist of the family;” he loved to draw, and he sketched endless little doodles on his schoolwork. However, a mental shift began in my 7th grade year when I was working on an assignment required by my homeschool curriculum. We were to draw or paint an animal to accompany the research paper that we had written. I chose the mahi-mahi, or common dolphinfish. I quickly decided that the vibrant colors of the mahi-mahi were too beautiful to leave to a pencil sketch, so I found some acrylic paints and a small canvas and began my project. By the time it was finished, I was shocked at how it had turned out. I got several compliments from my family and friends and I realized that I had a bit of talent. Ever since then it has been my goal to cultivate this talent and to push my artistic limits. I believe that art is the language of the soul. Beautiful poetry, dance choreography, musical pieces, and visual art pieces evoke unexplainable emotion. They can make a person feel deeply about something they've never experienced or seen, which is incredible. Beyond evoking emotion in the viewer or listener, however, art is a form of expression for the artist as well. I paint and draw to appreciate the world and the things in it. I use art as a form of worship. As a Christian, I believe that God designed each thing in this word with great care for us to enjoy and admire. Every sunrise, every flower, and every person is a work of art. I strive to use my God-given talent to express gratitude and awe of His creation. Having been classically educated, I also believe that there is an ultimate good, truth, and beauty. By pursuing a career as an art teacher, I want to share my love for art. The world is not always a beautiful place, but I want to encourage children to look for the things that inspire them and to be creative with their lives. I believe that creativity is essential in the healthy development of a child and that it should be readily encouraged. I hope to be a mentor and a supporter as each child grows and discovers their passion, whether it be for visual art or not! I am so grateful for the ability to create art; a piece that one is proud of gives a feeling of accomplishment and joy like no other, a feeling that I hope to help others find in the future.

I have always loved the arts. I began classical ballet lessons when I was just two years old, I played piano for several years, and I participated in theater productions at my school. From a young age, many facets of the art world have been a significant part of my everyday life. It wasn't until 7th grade, however, that I discovered my love for visual art. I had been asked to draw or paint an animal to accompany a research paper that I had written. I chose the mahi-mahi, or common dolphinfish. After looking at images of the fish, I quickly decided that the vibrant colors of the mahi-mahi were too beautiful to leave to a pencil sketch, so I found some acrylic paints and a small canvas in a box and began my project. By the time it was finished, I was shocked at how it had turned out. I got several compliments from my family and friends and I realized that I had a bit of talent. Ever since then, it has been my goal to cultivate this talent and to push my artistic limits. I joined an art class as soon as I entered high school and learned some fundamental techniques that I had never heard before. Before I knew it, art supplies were all I asked for on my birthday or for Christmas. I had been struck with a love and passion for art like never before and I knew that I wanted to pursue art in some way, shape, or form. My high school career is coming quickly to a close, and I'm excited to further pursue the arts in college. There's something so much deeper to art than the beautiful piece you end up with. The artistic process is something spiritual and good for a person. I've come to believe that art is the language of the soul. Beautiful poetry, choreography, musical pieces, and visual art pieces evoke unexplainable emotion. They can make a person feel deeply about something they've never experienced or seen, which is incredible. Beyond evoking emotion in the viewer or listener, however, art is a form of expression for the artist as well. I paint and draw to appreciate the world and the things in it. I use art as a form of worship. As a Christian, I believe that God designed each thing in this world with great care for us to enjoy and admire. Every sunrise, every flower, and every person is a work of art. The entirety of nature is one massive, incomparable piece of divine artwork. I strive to use my God-given talent to express gratitude and awe of His creation. Having been classically educated, I also believe that there is ultimate good, truth, and beauty. By pursuing a career as an art teacher, I want to share my love for art. The world is not always a beautiful place, but I want to encourage children to look for things that inspire them and to be creative with their lives. I believe that creativity is essential in the healthy development of a child and that it should be readily encouraged. I was homeschooled until high school, and my mother has always been one of my biggest supporters. She has poured her heart out into my education and constantly pushes me to pursue my dreams. I am beyond thankful to her, and I can't wait to pour into others as she has poured into me. As a teacher, I hope to be a mentor and a supporter as each child grows and discovers their passion, whether it be for visual art or not. I am so grateful for the ability to create art; a piece that one is proud of gives a feeling of accomplishment and joy like no other, a feeling that I hope to help others find in the future. I have been blessed with some of the most wonderful teachers in the world, and I've realized what a lasting effect that a good teacher can have on a child. I want to become what my teachers have been for me. With heartfelt encouragement and instruction from my teachers and mentors, I've been able to achieve so many of my goals throughout high school. I'm so excited to continue my educational journey through college and eventually inspire others to find their passion as I have. I believe that art can be more than a hobby. To appreciate art is a lifestyle. The creation of art is therapeutic, and it helps me feel more connected to the goodness and truth in the world. I've never written an artist's statement before, but if I did, I believe it would be something like this: I love art. In my heart there is an inexplicable desire to create that I could never have put there myself. This love for creativity is a gift from God, and I cherish it. I cherish the ability to capture even a sliver of the glory of God's creation and I worship His matchless name for all the wonderful things that He has made. My love for art is something that I can't entirely explain. There are only so many words in the English language, and I don't have the talent to put them together to entirely convey what I feel. That's why I want to become an art teacher. If I can't explain the joy of art, I want to inspire other people to create so that they can feel this way about the beauty that is found in creation. I'm so grateful for this talent I've been blessed with, and I can't wait to cultivate it further through my college education.

I have always loved the arts. I began classical ballet lessons when I was just two years old, I played piano for several years, and I participated in theater productions at my school. From a young age, many facets of the art world have been a significant part of my everyday life. It wasn't until 7th grade, however, that I discovered my love for visual art. We had been told to to draw or paint an animal to accompany the research paper that we had written and I chose the mahi-mahi, or common dolphinfish. I quickly decided that the vibrant colors of the mahi-mahi were too beautiful to leave to a pencil sketch, so I found some acrylic paints and a small canvas and began my project. By the time it was finished, I was shocked at how it had turned out. I got several compliments from my family and friends and I realized that I had a bit of talent. Ever since then, it has been my goal to cultivate this talent and to push my artistic limits. I believe that art is the language of the soul. Beautiful poetry, dance choreography, musical pieces, and visual art pieces evoke unexplainable emotion. They can make a person feel deeply about something they've never experienced or seen, which is incredible. Beyond evoking emotion in the viewer or listener, however, art is a form of expression for the artist as well. I paint and draw to appreciate the world and the things in it. I use art as a form of worship. As a Christian, I believe that God designed each thing in this world with great care for us to enjoy and admire. Every sunrise, every flower, and every person is a work of art. I strive to use my God-given talent to express gratitude and awe of His creation. Having been classically educated, I also believe that there is ultimate good, truth, and beauty. By pursuing a career as an art teacher, I want to share my love for art. The world is not always a beautiful place, but I want to encourage children to look for things that inspire them and to be creative with their lives. I believe that creativity is essential in the healthy development of a child and that it should be readily encouraged. I hope to be a mentor and a supporter as each child grows and discovers their passion, whether it be for visual art or not! I am so grateful for the ability to create art; a piece that one is proud of gives a feeling of accomplishment and joy like no other, a feeling that I hope to help others find in the future. I have been blessed with some of the most wonderful teachers in the world, and I've realized what a lasting effect that a good teacher can have on a child. I want to become what my teachers have been for me. I'm so excited to continue my educational journey through college and eventually inspire others to find their passion as I have.

I have always loved the arts. I began classical ballet lessons when I was just two years old, I played piano for several years, and I participated in theater productions at my school. From a young age, many facets of the art world have been a significant part of my everyday life. It wasn't until 7th grade, however, that I discovered my love for visual art. I had always thought that my older brother was the “artist of the family;” he loved to draw, and he sketched endless little doodles on his schoolwork. However, a mental shift began in my 7th grade year when I was working on an assignment required by my home-school curriculum. We were to draw or paint an animal to accompany the research paper that we had written. I chose the mahi-mahi, or common dolphinfish. I quickly decided that the vibrant colors of the mahi-mahi were too beautiful to leave to a pencil sketch, so I found some acrylic paints and a small canvas and began my project. By the time it was finished, I was shocked at how it had turned out. I got several compliments from my family and friends and I realized that I had a bit of talent. Ever since then, it has been my goal to cultivate this talent and to push my artistic limits. I believe that art is the language of the soul. Beautiful poetry, dance choreography, musical pieces, and visual art pieces evoke unexplainable emotion. They can make a person feel deeply about something they've never experienced or seen, which is incredible. Beyond evoking emotion in the viewer or listener, however, art is a form of expression for the artist as well. I paint and draw to appreciate the world and the things in it. I use art as a form of worship. As a Christian, I believe that God designed each thing in this world with great care for us to enjoy and admire. Every sunrise, every flower, and every person is a work of art. I strive to use my God-given talent to express gratitude and awe of His creation. Having been classically educated, I also believe that there is ultimate good, truth, and beauty. By pursuing a career as an art teacher, I want to share my love for art. The world is not always a beautiful place, but I want to encourage children to look for things that inspire them and to be creative with their lives. I believe that creativity is essential in the healthy development of a child and that it should be readily encouraged. I hope to be a mentor and a supporter as each child grows and discovers their passion, whether it be for visual art or not! I am so grateful for the ability to create art; a piece that one is proud of gives a feeling of accomplishment and joy like no other, a feeling that I hope to help others find in the future. I'm so excited to continue my educational journey through college and eventually inspire others to find their passion as I have.

I have always loved the arts. I began classical ballet lessons when I was just two years old, I played piano for several years, and I participated in theater productions at my school. From a young age, many facets of the art world have been a significant part of my everyday life. It wasn't until 7th grade, however, that I discovered my love for visual art. We had been told to to draw or paint an animal to accompany the research paper that we had written and I chose the mahi-mahi, or common dolphinfish. I quickly decided that the vibrant colors of the mahi-mahi were too beautiful to leave to a pencil sketch, so I found some acrylic paints and a small canvas and began my project. By the time it was finished, I was shocked at how it had turned out. I got several compliments from my family and friends and I realized that I had a bit of talent. Ever since then, it has been my goal to cultivate this talent and to push my artistic limits. I believe that art is the language of the soul. Beautiful poetry, dance choreography, musical pieces, and visual art pieces evoke unexplainable emotion. They can make a person feel deeply about something they've never experienced or seen, which is incredible. Beyond evoking emotion in the viewer or listener, however, art is a form of expression for the artist as well. I paint and draw to appreciate the world and the things in it. I use art as a form of worship. As a Christian, I believe that God designed each thing in this world with great care for us to enjoy and admire. Every sunrise, every flower, and every person is a work of art. I strive to use my God-given talent to express gratitude and awe of His creation. Having been classically educated, I also believe that there is ultimate good, truth, and beauty. By pursuing a career as an art teacher, I want to share my love for art. The world is not always a beautiful place, but I want to encourage children to look for things that inspire them and to be creative with their lives. I believe that creativity is essential in the healthy development of a child and that it should be readily encouraged. I hope to be a mentor and a supporter as each child grows and discovers their passion, whether it be for visual art or not! I am so grateful for the ability to create art; a piece that one is proud of gives a feeling of accomplishment and joy like no other, a feeling that I hope to help others find in the future. I have been blessed with some of the most wonderful teachers in the world, and I've realized what a lasting effect that a good teacher can have on a child. I want to become what my teachers have been for me. With heartfelt encouragment and instruction from my teachers and mentors, I've been able to achieve excellent grades throughout highschool. It has required immense sacrifice, but I'm currently top of my class and I hope to graduate as Valedictorian. I'm so excited to continue my educational journey through college and eventually inspire others to find their passion as I have.

I have always loved the arts. I began classical ballet lessons when I was just two years old, I played piano for several years, and I participated in theater productions at my school. From a young age, many facets of the art world have been a significant part of my everyday life. It wasn't until 7th grade, however, that I discovered my love for visual art. I had always thought that my older brother was the “artist of the family;” he loved to draw, and he sketched endless little doodles on his schoolwork. However, a mental shift began in my 7th grade year when I was working on an assignment required by my home-school curriculum. We were to draw or paint an animal to accompany the research paper that we had written. I chose the mahi-mahi, or common dolphinfish. I quickly decided that the vibrant colors of the mahi-mahi were too beautiful to leave to a pencil sketch, so I found some acrylic paints and a small canvas and began my project. By the time it was finished, I was shocked at how it had turned out. I got several compliments from my family and friends and I realized that I had a bit of talent. Ever since then, it has been my goal to cultivate this talent and to push my artistic limits. I believe that art is the language of the soul. Beautiful poetry, dance choreography, musical pieces, and visual art pieces evoke unexplainable emotion. They can make a person feel deeply about something they've never experienced or seen, which is incredible. Beyond evoking emotion in the viewer or listener, however, art is a form of expression for the artist as well. I paint and draw to appreciate the world and the things in it. I use art as a form of worship. As a Christian, I believe that God designed each thing in this world with great care for us to enjoy and admire. Every sunrise, every flower, and every person is a work of art. I strive to use my God-given talent to express gratitude and awe of His creation. Having been classically educated, I also believe that there is ultimate good, truth, and beauty. By pursuing a career as an art teacher, I want to share my love for art. The world is not always a beautiful place, but I want to encourage children to look for things that inspire them and to be creative with their lives. I believe that creativity is essential in the healthy development of a child and that it should be readily encouraged. I hope to be a mentor and a supporter as each child grows and discovers their passion, whether it be for visual art or not! I am so grateful for the ability to create art; a piece that one is proud of gives a feeling of accomplishment and joy like no other, a feeling that I hope to help others find in the future.

From childhood, many facets of the art world have been a significant part of my everyday life, but it wasn't until 7th grade that I discovered my love for visual art. As a part of my homeschool curriculum, I was instructed to draw a mahi-mahi. I quickly decided that the vibrant colors of the dolphinfish were too beautiful to leave to a pencil sketch, so I found acrylic paints and a small canvas and began my project. By the time it was finished, I was shocked at how it had turned out, and I realized that I had beeg given talent. Since then, it has been my goal to cultivate this talent and push my artistic limits. I believe that art is the language of the soul. Beyond evoking emotion in the viewer or listener, art is a form of expression for the artist. I paint and draw to appreciate the world and the things in it. As a Christian, I believe that God designed everything with great care for us to enjoy and admire. Every sunrise, every flower, and every person is a work of art. I use my God-given talent to express gratitude and awe of His creation. By pursuing a career as an art teacher, I want to share my love for art. The world is beautiful and I want to encourage children to look for things that inspire them to create. I hope to be a mentor and a supporter as each child grows and discovers their passion, whether it be for visual art or not! I am so grateful for the ability to create art; a piece that one is proud of gives a feeling of accomplishment and joy like no other, a feeling that I hope to help others find in the future.

I have loved the arts my entire life. I began classical ballet lessons when I was just two years old, I played piano for several years, and I participated in theater productions at my school. It wasn't until 7th grade, however, that I discovered my love for visual art. I had always thought that my older brother was the “artist of the family;” he loved to draw and sketched endless little doodles on his schoolwork. A mental shift began in my 7th grade year when I was working on an assignment required by my homeschool curriculum. We were to draw or paint an animal to accompany the research paper that we had written. I chose the mahi-mahi, or common dolphinfish. I had always hated colored pencils and I decided that the vibrant colors on the mahi-mahi were too beautiful to leave to a pencil sketch, so I found some acrylic paints and a small canvas in a box and began my project. By the time it was finished, I was shocked at how it had turned out. I got several compliments from my family and friends and I realized that I had a bit of talent. Ever since it has been my goal to cultivate this talent and to push my artistic limits. I believe that art is the language of the soul. Beautiful poetry, dance choreography, musical pieces, and visual art pieces evoke unexplainable emotion. They can make a person feel deeply about something they've never experienced or seen, which is incredible. Beyond evoking emotion in the viewer or listener, however, art is a form of expression for the artist as well. I paint and draw to appreciate the world and the things in it. I use art as a form of worship to the Creator of the universe. As a Christian, I believe that God designed each thing in this word with great care for us to enjoy and admire. Every sunrise, every flower, and every person is a work of art. I use my God-given talent to express gratitude and awe of His creation. Having been classically educated, I also believe that there is an ultimate good, truth, and beauty. By pursuing a career as an art teacher, I want to share my love for art. The world is not always a beautiful place, but I want to encourage children to look for the things that inspire them and to be creative with their lives. I believe that creativity is essential in the healthy development of a child and that it should be readily encouraged. I hope to be a mentor and a supporter as each child grows and discovers their passion, whether it be for visual art or not! I am so grateful for the ability to create art; a piece that one is proud of gives a feeling of accomplishment and joy like no other, a feeling that I hope to help others find in the future.

I have loved the arts my entire life. I began classical ballet lessons when I was just two years old, and I played piano for several years, and I participated in theater productions at my school. It wasn't until 7th grade, however, that I discovered my love for visual art. I had always thought that my older brother was the “artist of the family;” he loved to draw and sketched endless little doodles on his schoolwork. A mental shift began in my 7th grade year when I was working on an assignment required by my homeschool curriculum. We were to draw or paint an animal to accompany the research paper that we had written. I chose the mahi-mahi, or common dolphinfish. I had always hated colored pencils and I decided that the vibrant colors on the mahi-mahi were too beautiful to leave to a pencil sketch, so I found some acrylic paints and a small canvas in a box and began my project. By the time it was finished, I was shocked at how it had turned out. I got several compliments from my family and friends and I realized that I had a bit of talent. Ever since it has been my goal to cultivate this talent and to push my artistic limits. I believe that art is the language of the soul. Beautiful poetry, dance choreography, musical pieces, and visual art pieces evoke unexplainable emotion. They can make a person feel deeply about something they've never experienced or seen, which is incredible. Beyond evoking emotion in the viewer or listener, however, art is a form of expression for the artist as well. I paint and draw to appreciate the world and the things in it. I use art as a form of worship to the Creator of the universe. As a Christian, I believe that God designed each thing in this word with great care for us to enjoy and admire. Every sunrise, every flower, and every person is a work of art. I use my God-given talent to express gratitude and awe of His creation. Having been classically educated, I also believe that there is an ultimate good, truth, and beauty. By pursuing a career as an art teacher, I want to share my love for art. The world is not always a beautiful place, but I want to encourage children to look for the things that inspire them and to be creative with their lives. I believe that creativity is essential in the healthy development of a child and that it should be readily encouraged. I hope to be a mentor and a supporter as each child grows and discovers their passion, whether it be for visual art or not! I am so grateful for the ability to create art; a piece that one is proud of gives a feeling of accomplishment and joy like no other, a feeling that I hope to help others find in the future.