My name is Thanh Tong. At first, my drawings were basic. Over the years and after a lot of trial and error, I figured it out; it was just initiative and work. My Vietnamese ancestry still deeply informs my storytelling, color palette, and the use of symbols. Contemporary themes like family, resilience, and unity seep into my work organically. Every piece I create holds a fragment of who I am and an embodiment of the love and strength of the culture that nurtured me. And throughout high school, I have used my art to connect with others. I was designing pamphlets and posters for concerts and events, bringing people together. In experiencing those things, I learned that art is more than visual; it communicates and connects emotionally and communally. Winning awards, serving in leadership positions, and completing over 70 hours of service only confirmed my interdependence with talent: hard work is just as important, if not more so. I want to attend California State University, Fullerton, in order to further develop as an illustrator of stories, cultures, and emotions. I want to experiment with different styles and grow my own voice. I’d love to make illustrations for children’s books and for character design, advertisements, and entertainment media. My work is such that I can see it in things from books to product designs or animation as well as any other medium where art comes in contact with its audience. Pursuing a career in art is not easy. As a first-generation college student and an immigrant, I have to deal with problems that make it hard for me to focus on my education and my art. The cost of art supplies, tuition, and living expenses is a lot of pressure. It can limit my opportunities to grow as an artist. With these challenges I am committed to my path because art is not just something I love. It is how I understand the world and share my story. The scholarship would really help me. It would give me the support I need to keep going to school and to take the steps towards my goals. This scholarship would help me worry less about money so I can focus more on my studies and my art. It would also give me the chance to buy the materials and tools I need to get better at illustrating. Importantly, it would help me achieve my dream of having a career where I can make art that means something to people. Being an artist means taking my experiences, culture, and emotions and turning them into something that other people can see and feel. Art has always been my way of expressing myself, especially when it was hard for me to find the words. As I start this chapter of my life, I am committed to keeping learning, growing, and making art. My goal is not just to succeed as an illustrator. To make a positive impact. Whether it is by inspiring people, sharing stories, or just making them feel better through my art.

My name is Thanh Tong. My artwork tells the story of my life between two worlds. My upbringing in Vietnam and my life in the United States. I was born in Vietnam, where I was surrounded by a lot of tradition, color, and a strong sense of family. When I was thirteen years old, I moved to the United States. This was a change for me. I had to deal with language and cultural barriers that made it hard for me to adjust. It was especially tough in school. When I was trying to communicate with people, and art became the platform in which I felt understood. At first, my drawings were basic. Over the years and after a lot of trial and error, I figured it out; it was just initiative and work. My Vietnamese ancestry still deeply informs my storytelling, color palette, and the use of symbols. Contemporary themes like family, resilience, and unity seep into my work organically. Every piece I create holds a fragment of who I am and an embodiment of the love and strength of the culture that nurtured me. And throughout high school, I have used my art to connect with others. I was designing pamphlets and posters for concerts and events, bringing people together. In experiencing those things, I learned that art is more than visual; it communicates and connects emotionally and communally. Winning awards, serving in leadership positions, and completing over 70 hours of service only confirmed my interdependence with talent: hard work is just as important, if not more so. I want to attend California State University, Fullerton, in order to further develop as an illustrator of stories, cultures, and emotions. I want to experiment with different styles and grow my own voice. I’d love to make illustrations for children’s books and for character design, advertisements, and entertainment media. My work is such that I can see it in things from books to product designs or animation as well as any other medium where art comes in contact with its audience. A big part of what drives me is wanting to represent my Vietnamese heritage through my art. I want to use color, symbolism, and storytelling as a medium to share my culture in a meaningful way. Being an artist means carrying my experiences, culture, and emotions and transforming them into something others can see and feel. Art has always been my voice, especially when words were difficult to express. As I enter this next chapter of my life, I am committed to continuing to learn, grow, and create. My goal is not only to succeed as an illustrator but also to make a positive impact; whether by inspiring others, sharing stories, or simply bringing comfort through my work. Being an artist means taking my experiences, culture, and emotions and turning them into something that other people can see and feel. Art has always been my way of expressing myself, especially when it was hard for me to find the words. As I start this chapter of my life, I am committed to keeping learning, growing, and making art. My goal is not just to succeed as an illustrator. To make a positive impact. Whether it is by inspiring people, sharing stories, or just making them feel better through my art.

When I first started doing art, I never thought it would change my life as much as it did. Drawing and painting began as something fun, but soon they became the best way for me to show who I was. Every time I created something, I felt calm and happy. Art gave me confidence and helped me express feelings that I could not always say out loud. But one thing I did not expect was how my art would affect my friendship with someone very close to me. At the beginning, my friend was supportive. They liked to watch me draw and sometimes even encouraged me. But as more people noticed my artwork and gave me compliments, my friend started to change. Instead of being happy for me, they grew jealous. They began saying things like my drawings were not as good as others thought, or that I only cared about attention. Those words hurt, because I cared about my friend and wanted to share my success with them. Instead, I felt torn between my love for art and my friendship. For a while, I thought maybe I should stop sharing my art so my friend would not feel upset. I even avoided drawing in front of others because I did not want to cause problems. But inside, I knew I could not give up something that was so important to me. Art was more than a hobby—it was how I expressed myself and found peace. If I stopped, I would be losing a part of who I was. I realized the best thing I could do was talk honestly with my friend. I explained that art was something personal to me, not a competition. I told them that I never meant to make them feel less talented or less important. At first, it was not easy, but slowly, the conversation helped. My friend began to understand, and I learned something very valuable: I could not let jealousy or negative feelings take away what makes me happy. This experience showed me that art is more than making pretty pictures. It taught me how to be strong and stay true to myself. It also taught me patience and understanding, because I had to see things from my friend’s point of view too. Instead of turning away from the problem, I learned to face it with kindness. That lesson has stayed with me, not only in art but in other parts of life. Now, I see how much the arts have shaped me. They have given me confidence, helped me deal with challenges, and taught me to express myself in healthy ways. Even though jealousy once tested my friendship, it also showed me how important art is to me. Today, I continue to create, not for attention, but because it makes me feel alive and connected. Art has made me stronger, more understanding, and more true to who I am. That's why I want to continue doing art and plan to major in illustration.I plan to use my college education to bring happiness and inspire others through my artwork. For me, illustration is a major that allows me to be creative and makes me proud of my work in both children's and adults' hands. I can also use the money I earn to help others who are in difficult circumstances and assist them in achieving a better life. Every little bit counts, and I believe that even small contributions can make a significant difference.

When I first started doing art, I never thought it would change my life as much as it did. Drawing and painting began as something fun, but soon they became the best way for me to show who I was. Every time I created something, I felt calm and happy. Art gave me confidence and helped me express feelings that I could not always say out loud. But one thing I did not expect was how my art would affect my friendship with someone very close to me. For a while, I thought maybe I should stop sharing my art so my friend would not feel upset. I even avoided drawing in front of others because I did not want to cause problems. But inside, I knew I could not give up something that was so important to me. Art was more than a hobby—it was how I expressed myself and found peace. If I stopped, I would be losing a part of who I was. I realized the best thing I could do was talk honestly with my friend. I explained that art was something personal to me, not a competition. I told them that I never meant to make them feel less talented or less important. At first, it was not easy, but slowly, the conversation helped. My friend began to understand, and I learned something very valuable: I could not let jealousy or negative feelings take away what makes me happy. This experience showed me that art is more than making pretty pictures. It taught me how to be strong and stay true to myself. It also taught me patience and understanding, because I had to see things from my friend’s point of view too. Instead of turning away from the problem, I learned to face it with kindness. That lesson has stayed with me, not only in art but in other parts of life. Now, I see how much the arts have shaped me. They have given me confidence, helped me deal with challenges, and taught me to express myself in healthy ways. Even though jealousy once tested my friendship, it also showed me how important art is to me. Today, I continue to create, not for attention, but because it makes me feel alive and connected. Art has made me stronger, more understanding, and more true to who I am. That's why I want to continue doing art and plan to major in illustration. I plan to use my college education to bring happiness and inspire others through my artwork. For me, illustration is a major that allows me to be creative and makes me proud of my work in both children's and adults' hands. I can also use the money I earn to help others who are in difficult circumstances and assist them in achieving a better life. Every little bit counts, and I believe that even small contributions can make a significant difference.

When I first started doing art, I never thought it would change my life as much as it did. Drawing and painting began as something fun, but soon they became the best way for me to show who I was. Every time I created something, I felt calm and happy. Art gave me confidence and helped me express feelings that I could not always say out loud. I can see how much the arts have shaped me. They have given me confidence, helped me deal with challenges, and taught me to express myself in healthy ways. Even though jealousy once tested my friendship, it also showed me how important art is to me. Today, I continue to create, not for attention, but because it makes me feel alive and connected. Art has made me stronger, more understanding, and more true to who I am. I plan to use my college education to bring happiness and inspire others through my artwork. For me, illustration is a major that allows me to be creative and makes me proud of my work in both children's and adults' hands. I can also use the money I earn to help others who are in difficult circumstances and assist them in achieving a better life. Every little bit counts, and I believe that even small contributions can make a significant difference.

When I first started doing art, I never thought it would change my life as much as it did. Drawing and painting began as something fun, but soon they became the best way for me to show who I was. Every time I created something, I felt calm and happy. Art gave me confidence and helped me express feelings that I could not always say out loud. But one thing I did not expect was how my art would affect my friendship with someone very close to me. At the beginning, my friend was supportive. They liked to watch me draw and sometimes even encouraged me. But as more people noticed my artwork and gave me compliments, my friend started to change. Instead of being happy for me, they grew jealous. They began saying things like my drawings were not as good as others thought, or that I only cared about attention. Those words hurt, because I cared about my friend and wanted to share my success with them. Instead, I felt torn between my love for art and my friendship. For a while, I thought maybe I should stop sharing my art so my friend would not feel upset. I even avoided drawing in front of others because I did not want to cause problems. But inside, I knew I could not give up something that was so important to me. Art was more than a hobby—it was how I expressed myself and found peace. If I stopped, I would be losing a part of who I was. I realized the best thing I could do was talk honestly with my friend. I explained that art was something personal to me, not a competition. I told them that I never meant to make them feel less talented or less important. At first, it was not easy, but slowly, the conversation helped. My friend began to understand, and I learned something very valuable: I could not let jealousy or negative feelings take away what makes me happy. This experience showed me that art is more than making pretty pictures. It taught me how to be strong and stay true to myself. It also taught me patience and understanding, because I had to see things from my friend’s point of view too. Instead of turning away from the problem, I learned to face it with kindness. That lesson has stayed with me, not only in art but in other parts of life. Now, I see how much the arts have shaped me. They have given me confidence, helped me deal with challenges, and taught me to express myself in healthy ways. Even though jealousy once tested my friendship, it also showed me how important art is to me. Today, I continue to create, not for attention, but because it makes me feel alive and connected. Art has made me stronger, more understanding, and more true to who I am. That's why I want to continue doing art and plan to major in illustration.

I immigrated to the United States at age 13, knowing no English, which felt like the biggest barrier. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I spent two years learning the language through Zoom, but it limited my ability to practice communication skills. In 8th grade, I transferred to a new school where I finally felt comfortable speaking up, making friends, and connecting with teachers. From that day, I set clear goals: achieve straight A's, earn awards, build friendships, and seek teacher support when needed. By the end of middle school, I had a 4.0 GPA and multiple math awards. Entering high school, I was nervous about the challenges. To my surprise, the school had a large Vietnamese American community, allowing me to speak my native language after over two years. However, their advanced English challenged me to catch up. Unfamiliar with options like AP classes, clubs, and schedule choices, I was placed in orchestra (my first time with violin), Algebra 1 (easier than expected after advanced 8th-grade math), and art. The violin stressed me out—I had no idea how to place fingers on the strings for notes. Algebra 1 felt like a step back, so I asked my teacher for a test and advanced to Accelerated Geometry to challenge myself. Art class reignited a forgotten passion; I hadn't touched supplies since prioritizing math, but it reminded me of my dream and the stress of abandoning it. After the first day, I set new high school goals: improve English, learn violin, maintain straight A's, take AP classes, join clubs, and focus on art. As a senior this year, I've achieved much of this and take pride in my efforts. I passed the ELPAC test, logged over 80 community service hours, earned a 4 on AP Calculus AB, maintained a GPA above 4.0, joined more clubs, secured first chair violin, and won numerous art and design competitions. I scored a 5 on AP 2D Art & Design and showcased my work across Orange County. People's reactions to my artwork motivate me most—I've even earned over $1,000 helping students with ideas, posters, and art projects. I also joined Lac Hong Performing Arts to express my love for music and served as a teaching assistant in a Vietnamese language program, boosting my communication skills. These accomplishments show my determination to overcome obstacles, even when they're not my strengths. Winning this grant would support my college journey and illustration major, allowing me to create art that uplifts and inspires others.

When I first started doing artwork, I never thought that it would change my life as much as it did. Painting and drawing began as a fun thing, but before you knew it they were the best way that I had to express who I was. Whenever I created something, I was content and happy. Art made me feel self-assured and enabled me to convey feelings that I could not always speak. But what I did not expect was how my artwork would affect me in relation to someone who is extremely close to me. At first, my friend was encouraging. They liked watching me sketch and even pushed me on occasion. But as more and more people were seeing my artwork and telling me what a great job I was doing, my friend started to alter. Instead of being jealous, they were envious. They began to tell me things like my artwork wasn't as nice as others thought, or that I'm attention-seeking. It pained to hear that since I actually cared for my friend and wanted to share good news with them. I was then torn between love of art and being a friend. I thought that I should not show my artwork anymore so that my friend won't become angry. I even quit drawing in public because I did not want to get into trouble. Deep inside, however, I knew that I could never let go of something so important to me. Drawing was not a hobby, it was the language I used and the way I expressed myself. It was the way I could unwind. If I gave up, I would be giving part of myself away. I thought that the most I could do was talk honestly with my friend. I explained to them that art was something I felt personal, not a competition. I informed them that I never had any goal to make them feel less talented or less important. At first, it was difficult, but slowly, things worked out. My friend came to understand, and I had learned something very important: I could not allow jealousy or negative thoughts rob me of what brings me joy. This taught me that art-making is about making more than pretty artworks. It taught me to stand strong and not to let people change the essence of who I am. It taught me tolerance and patience, as I had to see things from my friend's point of view too. Instead of turning against the problem, I learned to turn toward it in compassion. This lesson transferred, not only to the realm of art, but to other aspects of life.