Ever since I was little, I loved to draw. I’d find the nearest piece of blank paper (by itself or from a notebook) to doodle stick figures of myself, my family, and eventually various video game characters I liked. One of the turning points in my artistic life was the discovery of manga and anime in middle school. I thought the style was realistic and wanted to replicate it in my own stories in the form of comics, most of which amounted to fan fiction. I even got several sketchbooks for my birthdays and Christmas and drew in them whenever I had free time at home. Once high school was around the corner during the Pandemic, I took the opportunity to choose art as my main elective. From there, I learned much more about the subject and its mediums such as the elements of art, charcoal, mixed media, oil pastel, and painting a self-portrait. Around my sophomore year, I began to make digital art, initially for two English projects about Julius Caesar and The Martian Chronicles, with the app Procreate and some personal projects of my own. I also found out about the existence of independent animation projects in the form of shorts and series like Fuelled, Murder Drones, Meta Runner, and many others on YouTube that captivated me. During my junior year, I was told that pursuing an art career wouldn’t get me anywhere and that I should stick to my now-former interest in STEM. As a result, I changed my 4-year plan to accommodate the field of architecture, and with the addition of stress from homework making me stay up all night, I lost my mojo to create any art outside of school purposes. It wasn’t until the 1st or 2nd month of my senior year that I changed it back to my true passion without telling my parents beforehand. They accepted my apology and reasons for doing so. My schedule went through several changes that took me in and out of art due to my choices and those of someone I must not name, and I finally managed to get back into AP Studio Art by 2nd semester; however, I kind of regret it because, since I also had AP Calculus and Macroeconomics and their exams (which I eventually failed along with Environmental Science and English Language during my junior year), I couldn’t focus on what I’m interested in and managed to create only 2 or 3 projects during my time in that class. I am the type of student who focuses so much on academics and its many deadlines that I don’t have the time to participate in extracurriculars (e.g. clubs; excluding any group requiring a participation quota such as service hours) fully, and even though there are some benefits to getting a job while in high school, the only con I see is the constant multitasking and maintaining a balanced schedule of my work-school life resulting possibly lowering my grades. The same can be said when I continue my education at Bakersfield College full-time for the upcoming school year; I want to focus on my academics first, planning to pursue an AA in Liberal Arts for a year at BC before transferring to CSU Fresno for a BA in Animation. Because I’ve kept up this mindset, I sacrificed my mental health and time to fully engage in my hobbies, earning a certificate of membership from the National Honor Society, Life Member/Gold Seal Bearer Status from the California Scholarship Federation, 7 certificates of recognition/accomplishment, a Golden State Seal Merit Diploma, a CA State Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish, and 5 scholarships from local organizations in my hometown. In 5th and 8th grade, I was a recipient of the Dr. Juliet Thorner Award, for academically outstanding girls in the Bakersfield City School District. Even though I had some ups and downs getting to this point in my life, I feel happy for what I’ve accomplished. By applying for this scholarship I might be able to get my “artistic mojo” back and alleviate some or all of the financial burden that weighs on my dad’s shoulders since he’s the one making sacrifices by spending a few weeks at a time away from home to put food on the table and keep up with the expensive bills of our house while my mom is the one doing such on her part by staying at home to take care of us with cooking and cleaning, and I nor my sister have jobs to contribute to our low household income. I appreciate the time, effort, and money you’ve taken to help students from all over the world be able to acquire some or all the financial aid needed to afford a post-secondary education geared toward their interests and aspirations.

My dad is the only working parent, as a commercial truck driver, and neither I, my sister, nor our mom has a job contributing to our low income. Depending on the loads his employer gives him, he can be away from home for more than a week while my mom does the cooking and errands for the house, but he is the one paying the bills which is hard for him to keep up with because of said income (which is heavily dependent on his mileage across several assigned load deliveries and thus fluctuates) in comparison with their high costs. I do not wish for myself or my dad to be weighed down by hefty college-related fees, even if they may seem individually small, and I’m not sure, or even want to risk, how much room is left in his budget, after paying bills, to afford them. In high school, I pushed myself academically, completing a rigorous curriculum that included general, GATE, honors, AP, dual enrollment, and concurrent enrollment classes—30 courses in total. This effort not only equipped me with valuable skills but also earned me Life/Gold Sealbearer status as a member of the California Scholarship Federation and active participation in the National Honor Society. These experiences taught me the power of persistence and self-belief. They revealed that while the road to success may be challenging, especially for someone like me—an African American and Filipino woman—it is far from impossible. Statistics, such as the Academy of Animated Arts’ report that only 3% of animation industry employees are Black and fewer than 1% are women of color in leadership, underscore the barriers I may face. Yet, they also fuel my resolve. I’ve come to understand that my identity is not a limitation but an opportunity to set an example and pave the way for others like me. Equality matters deeply to me, and I am committed to showcasing that individuals from all backgrounds can thrive in creative industries. Looking ahead, I plan to continue my studies at Bakersfield College, earning an Associate of Arts in Studio Arts before transferring to CSU Fresno to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Animation. My ultimate goal is to become an animator, bringing my imagination to life through entertainment that resonates with audiences on a meaningful level. While I have not yet set my sights on a specific studio or company, I am determined to build a career that allows me to inspire others—particularly those from underrepresented communities. If I encounter obstacles along the way, I am prepared to persevere and remain open to exploring other artistic avenues, such as creating works that address pressing societal issues. Ultimately, I hope to use my love for art to make a positive impact. Whether it’s through animation or other creative ventures, I want to prove that passion and hard work can transcend prejudice and pave the way for change. By doing so, I aim to inspire others to follow their dreams without fear, demonstrating that representation matters and that diversity enriches every field it touches.

I was born in Bakersfield, California. I recently graduated from Bakersfield High School in May 2024 and am continuing my studies at Bakersfield College for an AA in Liberal Arts, hoping to transfer to a BA in Art - Animation Intermedia at CSU Fresno. While in high school, I completed 10 general, 7 GATE, 7 Honors, 7 AP, 6 dual enrollment, and 6 concurrent enrollment classes. I am a member of BHS's National Honor Society and California Scholarship Federation chapters, having been awarded Life/Gold Sealbearer status for membership in the latter. Ever since I was young, art has been an intrinsic part of my identity. From doodling stick figures of myself and my family to sketching fictional characters, drawing became my way of expressing imagination. A transformative moment in my artistic journey came during middle school when I discovered manga and anime. The realistic yet stylized aesthetics inspired me to create my own stories through comics, often in the form of fan fiction. Encouraged by gifts of sketchbooks for birthdays and holidays, I dedicated countless hours to honing my skills, using any free time to fill blank pages with my ideas. High school expanded my perspective on art significantly. Through my art classes, I delved into diverse mediums like charcoal, mixed media, oil pastels, and even self-portrait painting while deepening my understanding of the elements of art. Around this time, I also found inspiration in independent animation projects on platforms like YouTube. Works like Fuelled, Murder Drones, and Meta Runner captivated me. If creators like those mentioned earlier could succeed in their exceptional works of art, it might be the same for me as long as I work hard toward that goal. One of my most significant achievements to date has been pursuing this dream with unwavering focus and determination. In high school, I pushed myself academically, completing a rigorous curriculum that included general, GATE, honors, AP, dual enrollment, and concurrent enrollment classes—30 courses in total. This effort not only equipped me with valuable skills but also earned me Life/Gold Sealbearer status as a member of the California Scholarship Federation and active participation in the National Honor Society. These experiences taught me the power of persistence and self-belief. They revealed that while the road to success may be challenging, especially for someone like me—an African American and Filipino woman—it is far from impossible. Statistics, such as the Academy of Animated Arts’ report that only 3% of animation industry employees are Black and fewer than 1% are women of color in leadership, underscore the barriers I may face. Yet, they also fuel my resolve. I’ve come to understand that my identity is not a limitation but an opportunity to set an example and pave the way for others like me. Equality matters deeply to me, and I am committed to showcasing that individuals from all backgrounds can thrive in creative industries. Looking ahead, I plan to continue my studies at Bakersfield College, earning an Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts before transferring to CSU Fresno to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Animation. My ultimate goal is to become an animator, bringing my imagination to life through entertainment that resonates with audiences on a meaningful level. While I have not yet set my sights on a specific studio or company, I am determined to build a career that allows me to inspire others—particularly those from underrepresented communities. If I encounter obstacles along the way, I am prepared to persevere and remain open to exploring other artistic avenues, such as creating works that address pressing societal issues. Ultimately, I hope to use my love for art to make a positive impact. Whether it’s through animation or other creative ventures, I want to prove that passion and hard work can transcend prejudice and pave the way for change. By doing so, I aim to inspire others to follow their dreams without fear, demonstrating that representation matters and that diversity enriches every field it touches.

Ever since I was little, I loved to draw. I’d find the nearest piece of blank paper (by itself or from a notebook) to doodle stick figures of myself, my family, and eventually various video game characters I liked. One of the turning points in my artistic life was the discovery of manga and anime in middle school. I thought the style was realistic and wanted to replicate it in my own stories in the form of comics, most of which amounted to fan fiction. I even got several sketchbooks for my birthdays and Christmas, and drew in them whenever I had free time at home. As high school was approaching during the Pandemic, I took the opportunity to choose art as my main elective. From there, I learned much more about the subject and its mediums, such as the elements of art, charcoal, mixed media, oil pastel, and painting a self-portrait. Around my sophomore year, I began to make digital art, initially for two English projects based on books we read as a class, with the app Procreate and some personal projects of my own. I also discovered the existence of independent animation projects, such as shorts and series like Fuelled, Murder Drones, Meta Runner, and many others on YouTube, which captivated me. During my junior year, I was told that pursuing an art career wouldn’t get me anywhere and that I should stick to my now-former interest in STEM. As a result, I changed my 4-year plan to accommodate the field of architecture, and with the addition of stress from homework making me stay up all night, I lost my mojo to create any art outside of school purposes. It wasn’t until the 1st or 2nd month of my senior year that I changed it back to my true passion without telling my parents beforehand. They accepted my apology and reasons for doing so. My schedule went through several changes that took me in and out of art due to my choices and those of someone I must not name, and I finally managed to get back into AP Studio Art by 2nd semester; however, I regret it because, since I also had AP Calculus and Macroeconomics and their exams (which I eventually failed along with Environmental Science and English Language during my junior year), I couldn’t focus on what I’m interested in and managed to create only 2 or 3 projects during my time in that class. Despite all of that, I am planning to pursue an Associate in Studio Art, Art History, History, and Liberal Arts along with a Certificate of Completion in the CSU Gen Ed Breadth for a 2nd full-time year at Bakersfield College before transferring to CSU Fresno for a BA in Animation. With that, I hope to be able to turn my limitless imagination into something that'll entertain many people while also fulfilling my wish to be well-known for something I'm good at. The link attached leads to a PowerPoint of about 155 of my works. Of them, there were only 2 amateur/experimental animations that I created and finished via Procreate that were, unfortunately, not transferred over to my new iPad. 8 of them were comics that were discarded in order to make space within my home.

Ever since I was little, I loved to draw. I’d find the nearest piece of blank paper (by itself or from a notebook) to doodle stick figures of myself, my family, and eventually various video game characters I liked. One of the turning points in my artistic life was the discovery of manga and anime in middle school. I thought the style was realistic and wanted to replicate it in my own stories in the form of comics, most of which amounted to fan fiction. I even got several sketchbooks for my birthdays and Christmas and drew in them whenever I had free time at home. Once high school was around the corner during the Pandemic, I took the opportunity to choose art as my main elective. From there, I learned much more about the subject and its mediums such as the elements of art, charcoal, mixed media, oil pastel, and painting a self-portrait. Around my sophomore year, I began to make digital art, initially for two English projects based on books we read as a class, with the app Procreate and some personal projects of my own. I also found out about the existence of independent animation projects in the form of shorts and series like Fuelled, Murder Drones, Meta Runner, and many others on YouTube that captivated me. During my junior year, I was told that pursuing an art career wouldn’t get me anywhere and that I should stick to my now-former interest in STEM. As a result, I changed my 4-year plan to accommodate the field of architecture, and with the addition of stress from homework making me stay up all night, I lost my mojo to create any art outside of school purposes. It wasn’t until the 1st or 2nd month of my senior year that I changed it back to my true passion without telling my parents beforehand. They accepted my apology and reasons for doing so. My schedule went through several changes that took me in and out of art due to my choices and those of someone I must not name, and I finally managed to get back into AP Studio Art by 2nd semester; however, I regret it because, since I also had AP Calculus and Macroeconomics and their exams (which I eventually failed along with Environmental Science and English Language during my junior year), I couldn’t focus on what I’m interested in and managed to create only 2 or 3 projects during my time in that class. Despite all of that, I am planning to pursue an Associate in Studio Art, Art History, History, and Liberal Arts along with a Certificate of Completion in the CSU Gen Ed Breadth for a 2nd full-time year at Bakersfield College before transferring to CSU Fresno for a BA in Animation. With that, I hope to be able to turn my limitless imagination into something that'll entertain many people while also fulfilling my wish to be well-known for something I'm good at.

Ever since I was little, I loved to draw. I’d find the nearest piece of blank paper (by itself or from a notebook) to doodle stick figures of myself, my family, and eventually various video game characters I liked. One of the turning points in my artistic life was the discovery of manga and anime in middle school. I thought the style was realistic and wanted to replicate it in my own stories in the form of comics, most of which amounted to fan fiction. I even got several sketchbooks for my birthdays and Christmas, and drew in them whenever I had free time at home. Once high school was around the corner during the Pandemic, I took the opportunity to choose art as my main elective. From there, I learned much more about the subject and its mediums, such as the elements of art, charcoal, mixed media, oil pastel, and painting a self-portrait. Around my sophomore year, I began to make digital art, initially for two English projects based on books we read as a class, with the app Procreate and some personal projects of my own. I also found out about the existence of independent animation projects in the form of shorts and series like Fuelled, Murder Drones, Meta Runner, and many others on YouTube that captivated me. During my junior year, I was told that pursuing an art career wouldn’t get me anywhere and that I should stick to my now-former interest in STEM. As a result, I changed my 4-year plan to accommodate the field of architecture, and with the addition of stress from homework, making me stay up all night, I lost my mojo to create any art outside of school purposes. It wasn’t until the 1st or 2nd month of my senior year that I changed it back to my true passion without telling my parents beforehand. They accepted my apology and reasons for doing so. My schedule went through several changes that took me in and out of art due to my choices and those of someone I must not name, and I finally managed to get back into AP Studio Art by 2nd semester; however, I regret it because, since I also had AP Calculus and Macroeconomics and their exams (which I eventually failed along with Environmental Science and English Language during my junior year), I couldn’t focus on what I’m interested in and managed to create only 2 or 3 projects during my time in that class. Despite all of that, I am planning to pursue an AA in Liberal Arts for a year at Bakersfield College before transferring to CSU Fresno for a BA in Animation. With that, I hope to be able to turn my limitless imagination into something that'll entertain many people while also fulfilling my wish to be well-known for something I'm good at. As of writing, I have 2 projects that I want to finish sometime in the future: a remake of one of my middle school-era comics called Smooch Saga and a Sailor Moon-based fanfiction series called Two-Sided Destiny. Yes, I do write fanfiction, and I am not ashamed because I enjoy expressing my imagination in the form of an "original" story based on something I love. Regarding the animation career I want to pursue and/or the Studio Art AAT I am currently working on, I do not have one planned at this moment, but I hope I come across something that will inspire me.

Ever since I was little, I loved to draw. I’d find the nearest piece of blank paper (by itself or from a notebook) to doodle stick figures of myself, my family, and eventually various video game characters I liked. One of the turning points in my artistic life was the discovery of manga and anime in middle school. I thought the style was realistic and wanted to replicate it in my own stories in the form of comics, most of which amounted to fan fiction. I even got several sketchbooks for my birthdays and Christmas and drew in them whenever I had free time at home. Once high school was around the corner during the Pandemic, I took the opportunity to choose art as my main elective. From there, I learned much more about the subject and its mediums such as the elements of art, charcoal, mixed media, oil pastel, and painting a self-portrait. Around my sophomore year, I began to make digital art, initially for two English projects based on books we read as a class, with the app Procreate and some personal projects of my own. I also found out about the existence of independent animation projects in the form of shorts and series like Fuelled, Murder Drones, Meta Runner, and many others on YouTube that captivated me. During my junior year, I was told that pursuing an art career wouldn’t get me anywhere and that I should stick to my now-former interest in STEM. As a result, I changed my 4-year plan to accommodate the field of architecture, and with the addition of stress from homework making me stay up all night, I lost my mojo to create any art outside of school purposes. It wasn’t until the 1st or 2nd month of my senior year that I changed it back to my true passion without telling my parents beforehand. They accepted my apology and reasons for doing so. My schedule went through several changes that took me in and out of art due to my choices and those of someone I must not name, and I finally managed to get back into AP Studio Art by 2nd semester; however, I regret it because, since I also had AP Calculus and Macroeconomics and their exams (which I eventually failed along with Environmental Science and English Language during my junior year), I couldn’t focus on what I’m interested in and managed to create only 2 or 3 projects during my time in that class. Despite all of that, I am planning to pursue an AA in Liberal Arts for a year at Bakersfield College before transferring to CSU Fresno for a BA in Animation. With that, I hope to be able to turn my limitless imagination into something that'll entertain many people while also fulfilling my wish to be well-known for something I'm good at.

Ever since I was little, I loved to draw. I’d find the nearest piece of blank paper (by itself or from a notebook) to doodle stick figures of myself, my family, and eventually various video game characters I liked. One of the turning points in my artistic life was the discovery of manga and anime in middle school. I thought the style was realistic and wanted to replicate it in my own stories in the form of comics, most of which amounted to fan fiction. I even got several sketchbooks for my birthdays and Christmas and drew in them whenever I had free time at home. Once high school was around the corner during the Pandemic, I took the opportunity to choose art as my main elective. From there, I learned much more about the subject and its mediums such as the elements of art, charcoal, mixed media, oil pastel, and painting a self-portrait. Around my sophomore year, I began to make digital art, initially for two English projects about Julius Caesar and The Martian Chronicles, with the app Procreate and some personal projects of my own. I also found out about the existence of independent animation projects in the form of shorts and series like Fuelled, Murder Drones, Meta Runner, and many others on YouTube that captivated me. During my junior year, I was told that pursuing an art career wouldn’t get me anywhere and that I should stick to my now-former interest in STEM. As a result, I changed my 4-year plan to accommodate the field of architecture, and with the addition of stress from homework making me stay up all night, I lost my mojo to create any art outside of school purposes. It wasn’t until the 1st or 2nd month of my senior year that I changed it back to my true passion without telling my parents beforehand. They accepted my apology and reasons for doing so. My schedule went through several changes that took me in and out of art due to my choices and those of someone I must not name, and I finally managed to get back into AP Studio Art by 2nd semester; however, I kind of regret it because, since I also had AP Calculus and Macroeconomics and their exams (which I eventually failed along with Environmental Science and English Language during my junior year), I couldn’t focus on what I’m interested in and managed to create only 2 or 3 projects during my time in that class. When I got my final transcripts post-graduation, I felt relieved that, despite some obstacles, I managed to pass the classes with Bs and/or As. If I had to advise one's struggle to keep up with academics or its relation to self-fulfillment for whatever reason it is, I'd say that if you set your mind to it, even if it may seem like you're approaching your breaking point, you just need to work as hard as you can if you want to achieve a certain goal in school life, but you also need to make sure you have some free time to relax if you're feeling down or exhausted from the demands of high school, especially if you're taking advanced classes.

My dad is the only working parent, as a commercial truck driver, and neither I, my sister, nor our mom has a job contributing to our low income. Depending on the loads his employer gives him, he can be away from home for more than a week while my mom does the cooking and errands for the house, but he is the one paying the bills which is hard for him to keep up with because of said income (which is heavily dependent on his mileage across several assigned load deliveries and thus fluctuates) in comparison with their high costs. I do not wish for myself or my dad to be weighed down by hefty college-related fees, even if they may seem individually small, and I’m not sure, or even want to risk, how much room is left in his budget, after paying bills, to afford them. I chose to gear my college education towards becoming an animator because I thought that this might be a great way to express my imagination in the form of entertainment for myself and however big of an audience, my work would attract; however, if that doesn't go well, I am open to being an artist in general, and I am a 75% African American and 25% Filipino young woman who just graduated from high school in late May, the former of which the outside world will see me as more than the other. I don't want my potential to be wasted and barraged with dismissive or derogatory language just because of some petty reason that I see as unprofessional and unacceptable, so I'll fight my way to the top, in the sense that other members of a marginalized community(ies) and I will be treated equally and fairly as everyone else.

Though it does have its flaws, Bakersfield, California, has been more than just my hometown—it’s where my dreams began to take shape. Growing up amid the golden hues of the Central Valley, I spent countless hours sketching and imagining, creating characters and worlds that sprang to life on paper. In May 2024, I proudly graduated from Bakersfield High School, and now I’m continuing my journey at Bakersfield College, working toward an AAT in Studio Art. My ultimate goal is to transfer to CSU Fresno to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Animation – Intermedia, where I can fully immerse myself in storytelling through art. Art has been my constant companion ever since I can remember. As a child, I transformed scraps of paper into adventures by doodling characters and landscapes that were mine alone. It went beyond a mere pastime; it was how I made sense of the world and shared my inner life. Middle school marked a turning point when I discovered manga and anime. Their unique blend of realism and stylized design opened a doorway to a universe of creative possibilities and spurred me to craft my own unique narratives. With the heartfelt encouragement of family and friends, I filled countless sketchbooks and dedicated endless hours to refining my technique, laying the foundation of my identity as an artist. High school deepened my passion further as I explored various artistic mediums such as charcoal, oil pastels, mixed media, and self-portrait painting. Every new technique revealed more about myself and the way I wished to communicate stories—not just through images but through emotion and movement. It was during these formative years that I realized animation was where my heart truly belonged; the idea of breathing life into my characters and sharing dynamic stories with the world was irresistible. Yet, my journey has never been solely about art—it has been about growth, resilience, and the courage to overcome challenges. Tackling a rigorous academic load including GATE, honors, AP, and dual enrollment classes, wasn’t easy, but it taught me the importance of persistence and self-belief. My academic efforts were recognized when I earned honors as a California Scholarship Federation Life/Gold Sealbearer and became a member of the National Honor Society. These milestones are more than grades; they’re a testament to what I can achieve by refusing to give up. As an African American and Filipino woman, I am well aware of the obstacles in the animation industry. With only 3% of industry professionals being Black and less than 1% of leadership roles held by women of color, the statistics are daunting. However, I view these challenges as fuel for my determination (Katatikarn 2024). My identity is not a barrier—it’s an opportunity to challenge the status quo and pave the way for future storytellers from underrepresented backgrounds. I believe that diverse voices are essential in crafting stories that resonate and transform, bringing fresh perspectives and ideas to life. Looking forward, my dream is to create stories that make people feel seen, understood, and inspired. Whether I work in a major animation studio or carve my own path with independent projects, I am committed to using my passion to champion diversity and build a more inclusive, vibrant world. My journey is a testament to the power of resilience, passion, and the belief that every dream is worth pursuing.

I was born in Bakersfield, California. I recently graduated from Bakersfield High School in May 2024 and am continuing my studies at Bakersfield College for an AA in Liberal Arts, hoping to transfer to a BA in Art - Animation Intermedia at CSU Fresno. While in high school, I completed 10 general, 7 GATE, 7 Honors, 7 AP, 6 dual enrollment, and 6 concurrent enrollment classes. I am a member of BHS's National Honor Society and California Scholarship Federation chapters, having been awarded Life/Gold Sealbearer status for membership in the latter. Ever since I was young, art has been an intrinsic part of my identity. From doodling stick figures of myself and my family to sketching fictional characters, drawing became my way of expressing imagination. A transformative moment in my artistic journey came during middle school when I discovered manga and anime. The realistic yet stylized aesthetics inspired me to create my own stories through comics, often in the form of fan fiction. Encouraged by gifts of sketchbooks for birthdays and holidays, I dedicated countless hours to honing my skills, using any free time to fill blank pages with my ideas. High school expanded my perspective on art significantly. Through my art classes, I delved into diverse mediums like charcoal, mixed media, oil pastels, and even self-portrait painting while deepening my understanding of the elements of art. Around this time, I also found inspiration in independent animation projects on platforms like YouTube. Works like Fuelled, Murder Drones, and Meta Runner captivated me. The incredible creativity of these artists demonstrated the potential for storytelling and self-expression in animation, igniting my dream of following a similar path. One of my most significant achievements to date has been pursuing this dream with unwavering focus and determination. In high school, I pushed myself academically, completing a rigorous curriculum that included general, GATE, honors, AP, dual enrollment, and concurrent enrollment classes—30 courses in total. This effort not only equipped me with valuable skills but also earned me Life/Gold Sealbearer status as a member of the California Scholarship Federation and active participation in the National Honor Society. These experiences taught me the power of persistence and self-belief. They revealed that while the road to success may be challenging, especially for someone like me—an African American and Filipino woman—it is far from impossible. Statistics, such as the Academy of Animated Art’s report that only 3% of animation industry employees are Black and fewer than 1% are women of color in leadership, underscore the barriers I may face. Yet, they also fuel my resolve. I’ve come to understand that my identity is not a limitation but an opportunity to set an example and pave the way for others like me. Equality matters deeply to me, and I am committed to showcasing that individuals from all backgrounds can thrive in creative industries. Looking ahead, I plan to continue my studies at Bakersfield College, earning an Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts before transferring to CSU Fresno to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Animation. My ultimate goal is to become an animator, bringing my imagination to life through entertainment that resonates with audiences on a meaningful level. While I have not yet set my sights on a specific studio or company, I am determined to build a career that allows me to inspire others—particularly those from underrepresented communities. If I encounter obstacles along the way, I am prepared to persevere and remain open to exploring other artistic avenues, such as creating works that address pressing societal issues. Ultimately, I hope to use my love for art to make a positive impact. Whether it’s through animation or other creative ventures, I want to prove that passion and hard work can transcend prejudice and pave the way for change. By doing so, I aim to inspire others to follow their dreams without fear, demonstrating that representation matters and that diversity enriches every field it touches.

Ever since I was young, art has been an intrinsic part of my identity. From doodling stick figures of myself and my family to sketching fictional characters, drawing became my way of expressing imagination. A transformative moment in my artistic journey came during middle school when I discovered manga and anime. The realistic yet stylized aesthetics inspired me to create my own stories through comics, often in the form of fan fiction. Encouraged by gifts of sketchbooks for birthdays and holidays, I dedicated countless hours to honing my skills, using any free time to fill blank pages with my ideas. High school expanded my perspective on art significantly. Through my art classes, I delved into diverse mediums like charcoal, mixed media, oil pastels, and even self-portrait painting while deepening my understanding of the elements of art. Around this time, I also found inspiration in independent animation projects on platforms like YouTube. Works like Fuelled, Murder Drones, and Meta Runner captivated me. The incredible creativity of these artists demonstrated the potential for storytelling and self-expression in animation, igniting my dream of following a similar path. One of my most significant achievements to date has been pursuing this dream with unwavering focus and determination. In high school, I pushed myself academically, completing a rigorous curriculum that included general, GATE, honors, AP, dual enrollment, and concurrent enrollment classes—30 courses in total. This effort not only equipped me with valuable skills but also earned me Life/Gold Sealbearer status as a member of the California Scholarship Federation and active participation in the National Honor Society. These experiences taught me the power of persistence and self-belief. They revealed that while the road to success may be challenging, especially for someone like me—an African American and Filipino woman—it is far from impossible. Statistics, such as the Academy of Animated Art’s report that only 3% of animation industry employees are Black and fewer than 1% are women of color in leadership, underscore the barriers I may face. Yet, they also fuel my resolve. I’ve come to understand that my identity is not a limitation but an opportunity to set an example and pave the way for others like me. Equality matters deeply to me, and I am committed to showcasing that individuals from all backgrounds can thrive in creative industries. Looking ahead, I plan to continue my studies at Bakersfield College, earning an Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts before transferring to CSU Fresno to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Animation. My ultimate goal is to become an animator, bringing my imagination to life through entertainment that resonates with audiences on a meaningful level. While I have not yet set my sights on a specific studio or company, I am determined to build a career that allows me to inspire others—particularly those from underrepresented communities. If I encounter obstacles along the way, I am prepared to persevere and remain open to exploring other artistic avenues, such as creating works that address pressing societal issues. Ultimately, I hope to use my love for art to make a positive impact. Whether it’s through animation or other creative ventures, I want to prove that passion and hard work can transcend prejudice and pave the way for change. By doing so, I aim to inspire others to follow their dreams without fear, demonstrating that representation matters and that diversity enriches every field it touches.

For a long time, I've loved to draw. One of the turning points in my life was the discovery of manga and anime in middle school. I thought the style was realistic and wanted to replicate it in my own stories in the form of comics, most of which amounted to fan fiction. From high school art classes, I learned much more about the subject and its mediums such as the elements of art, charcoal, mixed media, oil pastel, and painting self-portraits. I also discovered the existence of independent animation projects on YouTube, such as shorts and series like Fuelled, Murder Drones, Meta Runner, and many others, that captivated me. If creators like those mentioned earlier could succeed in their exceptional works of art, it might be the same for me as long as I work hard toward that goal. To accomplish this, I plan on pursuing an AA in studio art for two years and then transferring to CSU Fresno for its BA in animation. I chose to work towards becoming an animator because I thought that this might be a great way to express my imagination in the form of entertainment for myself and however big of an audience my work would attract. I am a 75% African American and 25% Filipino young woman who just graduated from high school in late May, the former of which the outside world will see me as more than the other. According to a January 2024 article from the Academy of Animated Art, around 3% of employees in the animation industry are Black with women in general making up 22.6% in VFX credits and 2.9% in leadership positions, but 0.5% of them are those of color in the latter position (Katatikarn). Given the current society we live in, I don't want to be judged based on the color of my skin or my gender nor my potential to be wasted and barraged with dismissive or derogatory language, so I'll fight my way to the top, in the sense that other members of a marginalized community(ies) and I will be treated equally and fairly. Whatever I turn my love for art into, I want to set an example that people like me who some see as "different" can successfully follow their passion(s) and represent their people without issues, regardless of the exact topics my works focus on.

This was the third and last project I created during my one semester of AP Studio Art before I graduated from Bakersfield High School. I believe the prompt was to create a visual representation of something about me; although, I don't remember if my teacher instructed me specifically to follow this objective of sorts or if it could be any topic of my choosing that was part of what was supposed to be a series of artworks for my AP Portfolio (which I did not do because I was focused on AP Macroeconomics and Calculus AB). What I do remember was that I decided to find pictures on my phone that detailed the biggest moments in my life about school. I chose my first days in 1) kindergarten at Roosevelt Elementary School, 2) 6th grade at Emerson Middle School, 3) my freshman year at Bakersfield High School during the COVID-19 pandemic, and 4) my graduation from BHS. I could not retrieve #2, and #4 was impossible given that I was still attending school and working on this, so I settled for a photo my mom shared with me of a 2018 awards ceremony during which I had received an honor roll certificate and another that was one of a series of personal senior portraits one of my mom's friends was paid to take at a local park in celebration of the nearing day of my graduation. I decided to draw this with the digital art app Procreate because, even though I've had it for probably a year as of that time, I was relatively new to using it since I was busy with school, and the art projects I was assigned to making were requiring physical media. To be honest, this has to be the hardest and longest project I've ever created because of the time it took for me to retrieve the references, draft the placement and scale of their respective artistic counterparts, actually draw the drafts of each themselves, testing and applying the correct colors and brushes, and carefully blending everything so that the final product looks like a collage of the original photos; therefore, it took me about 2 months and 3 days and 30,387 brush strokes tracked for 84h 8m (not including inactivity) to finish this. I arranged them in that formation because I wanted my first day of kindergarten (bottom center) to symbolize the start of something new for me like the roots of a tree while freshman year (left) and 6th grade (right) were the "trunk" that represents other big moments that happened along the way, and my senior year/graduation (top) is me metaphorically walking away to start the new chapter in my life called full-time college (I had been attending Bakersfield College since Fall 2020 as dual enrollment up to that point). Honestly, I think that it's worth the hard work I put into it because I was going for a somewhat photorealistic approach instead of a cartoony anime-like style; however, this cost me my chance to create other works for this class because I only got into it in the second semester of my senior year due to scheduling conflicts, but despite that, I ended high school with successfully overcoming a creative challenge I placed on myself. I hope you enjoy viewing "Milestones."

Ever since I was little, I have loved to draw. I’d find any piece of blank paper to doodle stick figures of myself, my family, and eventually various fictional characters I liked. One of the turning points in my life was the discovery of manga and anime in middle school. I thought the style was realistic and wanted to replicate it in my own stories in the form of comics, most of which amounted to fan fiction. I even got several sketchbooks for my birthdays and Christmas and drew on them whenever I had free time at home. From high school art classes, I learned much more about the subject and its mediums such as the elements of art, charcoal, mixed media, oil pastel, and painting self-portraits. I also discovered the existence of independent animation projects on YouTube, such as shorts and series like Fuelled, Murder Drones, Meta Runner, and many others, that captivated me. If creators like those mentioned earlier could succeed in their exceptional works of art, it might be the same for me as long as I work hard toward that goal. To accomplish this, I plan on pursuing an AA in studio art for two years (how long it'll take to complete all core courses) and then transferring to CSU Fresno for its BA in animation. I chose to gear my college education towards becoming an animator because I thought that this might be a great way to express my imagination in the form of entertainment for myself and however big of an audience, my work would attract; however, if that doesn't go well, I am open to being an artist in general, and I am considering finding inspiration to create a work(s) that tackles serious issues. I am a 75% African American and 25% Filipino young woman who just graduated from high school in late May, the former of which the outside world will see me as more than the other. According to a January 2024 article from the Academy of Animated Art, around 3% of employees in the animation industry are Black with women in general making up 22.6% in VFX credits and 2.9% in leadership positions, but 0.5% of them are those of color in the latter position (Katatikarn). Given the current society we live in, I am afraid of being judged based on the color of my skin or my gender. Still, I don't want my potential to be wasted and barraged with dismissive or derogatory language just because of some petty reason that I see as unprofessional and unacceptable, so I'll fight my way to the top, in the sense that other members of a marginalized community(ies) and I will be treated equally and fairly as everyone else. Whatever I turn my love for art into, I want to set an example that people like me who some see as "different" can successfully follow their passion(s) and represent their people without issues, regardless of the exact topics my works focus on.

Ever since I was little, I have loved to draw. I’d find any piece of blank paper to doodle stick figures of myself, my family, and eventually various fictional characters I liked. One of the turning points in my life was the discovery of manga and anime in middle school. I thought the style was realistic and wanted to replicate it in my own stories in the form of comics, most of which amounted to fan fiction. I even got several sketchbooks for my birthdays and Christmas and drew on them whenever I had free time at home. From high school art classes, I learned much more about the subject and its mediums such as the elements of art, charcoal, mixed media, oil pastel, and painting self-portraits. I also discovered the existence of independent animation projects on YouTube, such as shorts and series like Fuelled, Murder Drones, Meta Runner, and many others, that captivated me. If creators like those mentioned earlier could succeed in their exceptional works of art, it might be the same for me as long as I work hard toward that goal. To accomplish this, I plan on pursuing an AA in studio art for two years (how long it'll take to complete all core requirements to earn it) and then transferring to CSU Fresno for its BA in animation. I chose to gear my college education towards becoming an animator because I thought that this might be a great way to express my imagination in the form of entertainment for myself and however big of an audience, my work would attract; however, if that doesn't go well, I am open to being an artist in general, and I am considering finding inspiration to create a work(s) that tackles serious issues. I am a 75% African American and 25% Filipino young woman who just graduated from high school in late May, the former of which the outside world will see me as more than the other. According to a January 2024 article from the Academy of Animated Art, around 3% of employees in the animation industry are Black with women in general making up 22.6% in VFX credits and 2.9% in leadership positions, but 0.5% of them are those of color in the latter position (Katatikarn). Given the current society we live in, I am afraid of being judged based on the color of my skin or my gender. Still, I don't want my potential to be wasted and barraged with dismissive or derogatory language just because of some petty reason that I see as unprofessional and unacceptable, so I'll fight my way to the top, in the sense that other members of a marginalized community(ies) and I will be treated equally and fairly as everyone else. Whatever I turn my love for art into, I want to set an example that people like me who some see as "different" can successfully follow their passion(s) and represent their people without issues, regardless of the exact topics my works focus on.

Ever since I was little, I have loved to draw. I’d find any piece of blank paper to doodle stick figures of myself, my family, and eventually various fictional characters I liked. One of the turning points in my life was the discovery of manga and anime in middle school. I thought the style was realistic and wanted to replicate it in my own stories in the form of comics, most of which amounted to fan fiction. I even got several sketchbooks for my birthdays and Christmas and drew on them whenever I had free time at home. From high school art classes, I learned much more about the subject and its mediums such as the elements of art, charcoal, mixed media, oil pastel, and painting self-portraits. I also discovered the existence of independent animation projects on YouTube, such as shorts and series like Fuelled, Murder Drones, Meta Runner, and many others, that captivated me. If creators like those mentioned earlier could succeed in their exceptional works of art, it might be the same for me as long as I work hard toward that goal. To accomplish this, I plan on pursuing an AA in studio art for two years (how long it'll take to complete all core requirements to earn it) and then transferring to CSU Fresno for its BA in animation. I chose to gear my college education towards becoming an animator because I thought that this might be a great way to express my imagination in the form of entertainment for myself and however big of an audience, my work would attract; however, if that doesn't go well, I am open to being an artist in general, and I am considering finding inspiration to create a work(s) that tackles serious issues. I am a 75% African American and 25% Filipino young woman who just graduated from high school in late May, the former of which the outside world will see me as more than the other. According to a January 2024 article from the Academy of Animated Art, around 3% of employees in the animation industry are Black with women in general making up 22.6% in VFX credits and 2.9% in leadership positions, but 0.5% of them are those of color in the latter position (Katatikarn). Given the current society we live in, I am afraid of being judged based on the color of my skin or my gender. Still, I don't want my potential to be wasted and barraged with dismissive or derogatory language just because of some petty reason that I see as unprofessional and unacceptable, so I'll fight my way to the top, in the sense that other members of a marginalized community(ies) and I will be treated equally and fairly as everyone else. Whatever I turn my love for art into, I want to set an example that people like me who some see as "different" can successfully follow their passion(s) and represent their people without issues, regardless of the exact topics my works focus on.

Ever since I was little, I have loved to draw. I’d find any piece of blank paper to doodle stick figures of myself, my family, and eventually various fictional characters I liked. One of the turning points in my life was the discovery of manga and anime in middle school. I thought the style was realistic and wanted to replicate it in my own stories in the form of comics, most of which amounted to fan fiction. I even got several sketchbooks for my birthdays and Christmas and drew on them whenever I had free time at home. From high school art classes, I learned much more about the subject and its mediums such as the elements of art, charcoal, mixed media, oil pastel, and painting self-portraits. I also discovered the existence of independent animation projects on YouTube, such as shorts and series like Fuelled, Murder Drones, Meta Runner, and many others, that captivated me. If creators like those mentioned earlier could succeed in their exceptional works of art, it might be the same for me as long as I work hard toward that goal. To accomplish this, I plan on pursuing an AA in studio art for two years (how long it'll take to complete all core requirements to earn it) and then transferring to CSU Fresno for its BA in animation. I chose to gear my college education towards becoming an animator because I thought that this might be a great way to express my imagination in the form of entertainment for myself and however big of an audience, my work would attract; however, if that doesn't go well, I am open to being an artist in general, and I am considering finding inspiration to create a work(s) that tackles serious issues. I am a 75% African American and 25% Filipino young woman who just graduated from high school in late May, the former of which the outside world will see me as more than the other. According to a January 2024 article from the Academy of Animated Art, around 3% of employees in the animation industry are Black with women in general making up 22.6% in VFX credits and 2.9% in leadership positions, but 0.5% of them are those of color in the latter position (Katatikarn). Given the current society we live in, I am afraid of being judged based on the color of my skin or my gender. Still, I don't want my potential to be wasted and barraged with dismissive or derogatory language just because of some petty reason that I see as unprofessional and unacceptable, so I'll fight my way to the top, in the sense that other members of a marginalized community(ies) and I will be treated equally and fairly as everyone else. Whatever I turn my love for art into, I want to set an example that people like me who some see as "different" can successfully follow their passion(s) and represent their people without issues, regardless of the exact topics my works focus on. I come from a low-income household, and my dad is the only one of the four of us (him, my mom, me, and my sister) with a job to support us financially. He does his best, but we still struggle to keep up with the necessary, expensive bills. I believe that this scholarship, among many others, will help me alleviate some or all of the financial burden from his shoulders in paying for my college tuition. I don't want him to stress out about it.

Ever since I was little, I have loved to draw. I’d find any piece of blank paper to doodle stick figures of myself, my family, and eventually various fictional characters I liked. One of the turning points in my life was the discovery of manga and anime in middle school. I thought the style was realistic and wanted to replicate it in my own stories in the form of comics, most of which amounted to fan fiction. I even got several sketchbooks for my birthdays and Christmas and drew on them whenever I had free time at home. From high school art classes, I learned much more about the subject and its mediums such as the elements of art, charcoal, mixed media, oil pastel, and painting self-portraits. I also discovered the existence of independent animation projects on YouTube, such as shorts and series like Fuelled, Murder Drones, Meta Runner, and many others, that captivated me. If creators like those mentioned earlier could succeed in their exceptional works of art, it might be the same for me as long as I work hard toward that goal. To accomplish this, I plan on pursuing an AA in studio art for two years (how long it'll take to complete all core requirements to earn it) and then transferring to CSU Fresno for its BA in animation. I chose to gear my college education towards becoming an animator because I thought that this might be a great way to express my imagination in the form of entertainment for myself and however big of an audience, my work would attract; however, if that doesn't go well, I am open to being an artist in general, and I am considering finding inspiration to create a work(s) that tackles serious issues. I am a 75% African American and 25% Filipino young woman who just graduated from high school in late May, the former of which the outside world will see me as more than the other. According to a January 2024 article from the Academy of Animated Art, around 3% of employees in the animation industry are Black with women in general making up 22.6% in VFX credits and 2.9% in leadership positions, but 0.5% of them are those of color in the latter position (Katatikarn). Given the current society we live in, I am afraid of being judged based on the color of my skin or my gender. Still, I don't want my potential to be wasted and barraged with dismissive or derogatory language just because of some petty reason that I see as unprofessional and unacceptable, so I'll fight my way to the top, in the sense that other members of a marginalized community(ies) and I will be treated equally and fairly as everyone else. Whatever I turn my love for art into, I want to set an example that people like me who some see as "different" can successfully follow their passion(s) and represent their people without issues, regardless of the exact topics my works focus on. I come from a low-income household, and my dad is the only one of the four of us (him, my mom, me, and my sister) with a job to support us financially. He does his best, but we still struggle to keep up with the necessary, expensive bills. I believe that this scholarship, among many others, will help me alleviate some or all of the financial burden from his shoulders in paying for my college tuition. I don't want him to stress out about it.

Ever since I was little, I have loved to draw. I’d find any piece of blank paper to doodle stick figures of myself, my family, and eventually various fictional characters I liked. One of the turning points in my life was the discovery of manga and anime in middle school. I thought the style was realistic and wanted to replicate it in my own stories in the form of comics, most of which amounted to fan fiction. I even got several sketchbooks for my birthdays and Christmas and drew on them whenever I had free time at home. From high school art classes, I learned much more about the subject and its mediums such as the elements of art, charcoal, mixed media, oil pastel, and painting self-portraits. I also discovered the existence of independent animation projects on YouTube, such as shorts and series like Fuelled, Murder Drones, Meta Runner, and many others, that captivated me. If creators like those mentioned earlier could succeed in their exceptional works of art, it might be the same for me as long as I work hard toward that goal. To accomplish this, I plan on pursuing an AA in studio art for two years (how long it'll take to complete all core requirements to earn it) and then transferring to CSU Fresno for its BA in animation. I chose to gear my college education towards becoming an animator because I thought that this might be a great way to express my imagination in the form of entertainment for myself and however big of an audience, my work would attract; however, if that doesn't go well, I am open to being an artist in general, and I am considering finding inspiration to create a work(s) that tackles serious issues. I am a 75% African American and 25% Filipino young woman who just graduated from high school in late May, the former of which the outside world will see me as more than the other. According to a January 2024 article from the Academy of Animated Art, around 3% of employees in the animation industry are Black with women in general making up 22.6% in VFX credits and 2.9% in leadership positions, but 0.5% of them are those of color in the latter position (Katatikarn). Given the current society we live in, I am afraid of being judged based on the color of my skin or my gender. Still, I don't want my potential to be wasted and barraged with dismissive or derogatory language just because of some petty reason that I see as unprofessional and unacceptable, so I'll fight my way to the top, in the sense that other members of a marginalized community(ies) and I will be treated equally and fairly as everyone else. Whatever I turn my love for art into, I want to set an example that people like me who some see as "different" can successfully follow their passion(s) and represent their people without issues, regardless of the exact topics my works focus on.

Ever since I was little, I have loved to draw. I’d find any piece of blank paper to doodle stick figures of myself, my family, and eventually various fictional characters I liked. One of the turning points in my life was the discovery of manga and anime in middle school. I thought the style was realistic and wanted to replicate it in my own stories in the form of comics, most of which amounted to fan fiction. I even got several sketchbooks for my birthdays and Christmas and drew on them whenever I had free time at home. From high school art classes, I learned much more about the subject and its mediums such as the elements of art, charcoal, mixed media, oil pastel, and painting self-portraits. I also discovered the existence of independent animation projects on YouTube, such as shorts and series like Fuelled, Murder Drones, Meta Runner, and many others, that captivated me. If creators like those mentioned earlier could succeed in their exceptional works of art, it might be the same for me as long as I work hard toward that goal. To accomplish this, I plan on pursuing an AA in studio art for two years (how long it'll take to complete all core requirements to earn it) and then transferring to CSU Fresno for its BA in animation. I chose to gear my college education towards becoming an animator because I thought that this might be a great way to express my imagination in the form of entertainment for myself and however big of an audience, my work would attract; however, if that doesn't go well, I am open to being an artist in general, and I am considering finding inspiration to create a work(s) that tackles serious issues. I am a 75% African American and 25% Filipino young woman who just graduated from high school in late May, the former of which the outside world will see me as more than the other. According to a January 2024 article from the Academy of Animated Art, around 3% of employees in the animation industry are Black with women in general making up 22.6% in VFX credits and 2.9% in leadership positions, but 0.5% of them are those of color in the latter position (Katatikarn). Given the current society we live in, I am afraid of being judged based on the color of my skin or my gender. Still, I don't want my potential to be wasted and barraged with dismissive or derogatory language just because of some petty reason that I see as unprofessional and unacceptable, so I'll fight my way to the top, in the sense that other members of a marginalized community(ies) and I will be treated equally and fairly as everyone else. Whatever I turn my love for art into, I want to set an example that people like me who some see as "different" can successfully follow their passion(s) and represent their people without issues, regardless of the exact topics my works focus on. I come from a low-income household, and my dad is the only one of the four of us (him, my mom, me, and my sister) with a job to support us financially. He does his best, but we still struggle to keep up with the necessary, expensive bills. I believe that this scholarship, among many others, will help me alleviate some or all of the financial burden from his shoulders in paying for my college tuition. I don't want him to stress out about it.

Ever since I was little, I loved to draw. I’d find the nearest piece of blank paper (by itself or from a notebook) to doodle stick figures of myself, my family, and eventually various video game characters I liked. One of the turning points in my artistic life was the discovery of manga and anime in middle school. I thought the style was realistic and wanted to replicate it in my own stories in the form of comics, most of which amounted to fan fiction. I even got several sketchbooks for my birthdays and Christmas and drew in them whenever I had free time at home. Once high school was around the corner during the Pandemic, I took the opportunity to choose art as my main elective. From there, I learned much more about the subject and its mediums such as the elements of art, charcoal, mixed media, oil pastel, and painting a self-portrait. Around my sophomore year, I began to make digital art, initially for two English projects about Julius Caesar and The Martian Chronicles, with the app Procreate and some personal projects of my own. I also found out about the existence of independent animation projects in the form of shorts and series like Fuelled, Murder Drones, Meta Runner, and many others on YouTube that captivated me. During my junior year, I was told that pursuing an art career wouldn’t get me anywhere and that I should stick to my now-former interest in STEM. As a result, I changed my 4-year plan to accommodate the field of architecture, and with the addition of stress from homework making me stay up all night, I lost my mojo to create any art outside of school purposes. It wasn’t until the 1st or 2nd month of my senior year that I changed it back to my true passion without telling my parents beforehand. They accepted my apology and reasons for doing so. My schedule went through several changes that took me in and out of art due to my choices and those of someone I must not name, and I finally managed to get back into AP Studio Art by 2nd semester; however, I kind of regret it because, since I also had AP Calculus and Macroeconomics and their exams (which I eventually failed along with Environmental Science and English Language during my junior year), I couldn’t focus on what I’m interested in and managed to create only 2 or 3 projects during my time in that class. When I got my final transcripts post-graduation, I felt relieved that, despite some obstacles, I managed to pass the classes with Bs and/or As. If I had to advise one's struggle to keep up with academics or its relation to self-fulfillment for whatever reason it is, I'd say that if you set your mind to it, even if it may seem like you're approaching your breaking point, you just need to work as hard as you can if you want to achieve a certain goal in school life, but you also need to make sure you have some free time to relax if you're feeling down or exhausted from the demands of high school, especially if you're taking advanced classes.

Video games have had a positive impact on many people's lives, including my own. They provide entertainment, relaxation, and opportunities for creativity and social interaction. Three games that have particularly influenced me are Minecraft, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and Just Dance. Minecraft is a sandbox game that allows players to build and explore virtual worlds. It has been a source of immense creativity and inspiration for me. The game's open-ended nature encourages players to think outside the box and unleash their imagination. I have spent countless hours farming truckloads of wheat (because it's simple to grow to craft food), adventuring for filling maps and resources to craft materials that'll improve my home and in-game survival, and experimenting with different materials and techniques. Minecraft has taught me valuable problem-solving skills, as I often had to figure out how to get in and out of a ravine or strategically avoid the most dangerous monsters to not wear down my armor or fall in an attempt to run away. It has also fostered a sense of accomplishment and pride in my creations, boosting my self-confidence and encouraging me to pursue other creative endeavors in real life. Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a life simulation game that offers a peaceful and charming virtual world. The game revolves around building and managing a virtual island community, interacting with anthropomorphic animal villagers when real-world communication was very limited during the Pandemic, and engaging in various activities such as fishing, bug catching, and fossil hunting. It has provided me with a much-needed escape from the stresses of everyday life. Its relaxing gameplay, soothing music, and adorable characters create a calming and therapeutic experience. The game's emphasis on community and friendship has also had a positive impact on my social well-being. I have connected with friends and family through the game, visiting each other's islands, exchanging gifts, and sharing experiences. Animal Crossing has taught me the importance of fostering relationships and creating a sense of belonging, even in a virtual setting. Just Dance is a rhythm-based dancing game that encourages physical activity and fun. It has been a fantastic way for me to stay active and incorporate exercise into my daily routine. The game features a wide variety of energetic and catchy songs like Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson & Bruno Mars and Girl Like Me by Black-Eyed Peas & Shakira, and the dance routines are designed to get players moving and grooving, making it an ideal and healthy pastime especially during the COVID lockdown. It has not only improved my physical fitness but also boosted my mood and overall well-being. Dancing to the vibrant music and following the choreography has been a source of joy and self-expression. It has allowed me to let loose, have fun, and embrace my love for music and dance. Additionally, it offers multiplayer modes, enabling me to dance and compete with friends, family, and random players from all over the world, creating memorable and laughter-filled moments together.

Ever since I was little, I have loved to draw. I’d find any piece of blank paper to doodle stick figures of myself, my family, and eventually various fictional characters I liked. One of the turning points in my life was the discovery of manga and anime in middle school. I thought the style was realistic and wanted to replicate it in my own stories in the form of comics, most of which amounted to fan fiction. I even got several sketchbooks for my birthdays and Christmas and drew on them whenever I had free time at home. From high school art classes, I learned much more about the subject and its mediums such as the elements of art, charcoal, mixed media, oil pastel, and painting self-portraits. I also discovered the existence of independent animation projects on YouTube, such as shorts and series like Fuelled, Murder Drones, Meta Runner, and many others, that captivated me. If creators like those mentioned earlier could succeed in their exceptional works of art, it might be the same for me as long as I work hard toward that goal. To accomplish this, I plan on pursuing an AA in studio art for two years (how long it'll take to complete all core requirements to earn it) and then transferring to CSU Fresno for its BA in animation. I chose to gear my college education towards becoming an animator because I thought that this might be a great way to express my imagination in the form of entertainment for myself and however big of an audience, my work would attract; however, if that doesn't go well, I am open to being an artist in general, and I am considering finding inspiration to create a work(s) that tackles serious issues. I am a 75% African American and 25% Filipino young woman who just graduated from high school in late May, the former of which the outside world will see me as more than the other. According to a January 2024 article from the Academy of Animated Art, around 3% of employees in the animation industry are Black with women in general making up 22.6% in VFX credits and 2.9% in leadership positions, but 0.5% of them are those of color in the latter position (Katatikarn). Given the current society we live in, I am afraid of being judged based on the color of my skin or my gender. Still, I don't want my potential to be wasted and barraged with dismissive or derogatory language just because of some petty reason that I see as unprofessional and unacceptable, so I'll fight my way to the top, in the sense that other members of a marginalized community(ies) and I will be treated equally and fairly as everyone else. Whatever I turn my love for art into, I want to set an example that people like me who some see as "different" can successfully follow their passion(s) and represent their people without issues, regardless of the exact topics my works focus on.

As an artist, I find inspiration in the everyday world that surrounds me. The beauty of nature, the complexity of human experiences, and the challenges we face in society all ignite my creative spirit. The ever-changing seasons, vibrant colors, and intricate details of the natural world captivate my senses and drive me to capture its essence in my art. Similarly, observing the interactions, emotions, and stories of people fuels my desire to create work that reflects the depth and diversity of the human condition. Moreover, I use my art as a tool for commentary and reflection, addressing societal issues and provoking thought. Through my artistic endeavors, I aspire to evoke emotions, initiate conversations, and contribute to a deeper understanding of the world we inhabit.

Ever since I was little, I have loved to draw. I’d find any piece of blank paper to doodle stick figures of myself, my family, and eventually various fictional characters I liked. One of the turning points in my life was the discovery of manga and anime in middle school. I thought the style was realistic and wanted to replicate it in my own stories in the form of comics, most of which amounted to fan fiction. I even got several sketchbooks for my birthdays and Christmas and drew on them whenever I had free time at home. From high school art classes, I learned much more about the subject and its mediums such as the elements of art, charcoal, mixed media, oil pastel, and painting self-portraits. I also discovered the existence of independent animation projects on YouTube, such as shorts and series like Fuelled, Murder Drones, Meta Runner, and many others, that captivated me. If creators like those mentioned earlier could succeed in their exceptional works of art, it might be the same for me as long as I work hard toward that goal. To accomplish this, I plan on pursuing an AA in studio art for two years (how long it'll take to complete all core requirements to earn it) and then transferring to CSU Fresno for its BA in animation. I chose to gear my college education towards becoming an animator because I thought that this might be a great way to express my imagination in the form of entertainment for myself and however big of an audience, my work would attract; however, if that doesn't go well, I am open to being an artist in general, and I am considering finding inspiration to create a work(s) that tackles serious issues. I am a 75% African American and 25% Filipino young woman who just graduated from high school in late May, the former of which the outside world will see me as more than the other. According to a January 2024 article from the Academy of Animated Art, around 3% of employees in the animation industry are Black with women in general making up 22.6% in VFX credits and 2.9% in leadership positions, but 0.5% of them are those of color in the latter position (Katatikarn). Given the current society we live in, I am afraid of being judged based on the color of my skin or my gender. Still, I don't want my potential to be wasted and barraged with dismissive or derogatory language just because of some petty reason that I see as unprofessional and unacceptable, so I'll fight my way to the top, in the sense that other members of a marginalized community(ies) and I will be treated equally and fairly as everyone else. Whatever I turn my love for art into, I want to set an example that people like me who some see as "different" can successfully follow their passion(s) and represent their people without issues, regardless of the exact topics my works focus on.

Ever since I was little, I loved to draw. I’d find any piece of blank paper to doodle stick figures of myself, my family, and eventually various fictional characters I liked. One of the turning points in my life was the discovery of manga and anime in middle school. I thought the style was realistic and wanted to replicate it in my own stories in the form of comics, most of which amounted to fan fiction. I even got several sketchbooks for my birthdays and Christmas and drew in them whenever I had free time at home. From high school art classes, I learned much more about the subject and its mediums such as the elements of art, charcoal, mixed media, oil pastel, and painting a self-portrait. I also discovered the existence of independent animation projects on YouTube, such as shorts and series like Fuelled, Murder Drones, Meta Runner, and many others, that captivated me. I thought that if creators like those mentioned earlier could succeed in their exceptional works of art, it might be the same for me as long as I work hard toward that goal. To accomplish this, I plan on pursuing an AA in studio art for two years (how long it'll take to complete all core requirements to earn it) and then transferring to CSU Fresno for its BA in animation. I chose to become an animator because I thought that this might be a great way to express my imagination in the form of entertainment for myself and however big of an audience, my work would attract; however, if that doesn't go well, I am open to being an artist in general, and I am considering finding inspiration to create a work(s) that tackles serious issues. I am a 75% African-American and 25% Filipino young woman who just graduated from high school in late May, the former of which the outside world will see me as more than the other. According to a January 2024 article from the Academy of Animated Art, around 3% of employees in the animation industry are Black with women in general making up 22.6% in VFX credits and 2.9% in leadership positions, but 0.5% of them are those of color in the latter position (Katatikarn). Given the current society we live in, I am afraid of being judged based on the color of my skin or my gender. Still, I don't want my potential to be wasted and barraged with dismissive or derogatory language just because of some petty reason that I see as unprofessional and unacceptable, so I'll fight my way to the top, in the sense that other members of a marginalized community(ies) and I will be treated equally and fairly as everyone else. Whatever I turn my love for art into, I want to set an example that people like me who some see as "different" can successfully follow their passion(s) and represent their people without issues, regardless of the exact topics my works focus on.

Ever since I was little, I loved to draw. I’d find the nearest piece of blank paper (by itself or from a notebook) to doodle stick figures of myself, my family, and eventually various video game characters I liked. One of the turning points in my artistic life was the discovery of manga and anime in middle school. I thought the style was realistic and wanted to replicate it in my own stories in the form of comics, most of which amounted to fan fiction. I even got several sketchbooks for my birthdays and Christmas and drew in them whenever I had free time at home. Once high school was around the corner during the Pandemic, I took the opportunity to choose art as my main elective. From there, I learned much more about the subject and its mediums such as the elements of art, charcoal, mixed media, oil pastel, and painting a self-portrait. I also discovered the existence of independent animation projects in the form of shorts and series like Fuelled, Murder Drones, Meta Runner, and many others on YouTube that captivated me. I thought that if creators like those of the ones mentioned earlier could find success in their exceptional works of art, it might be the same for me as long as I work hard toward that goal. To accomplish this, I plan on pursuing an AA in liberal arts at a community college (where I'm) for one year and then transferring to CSU Fresno for its BA in animation. My #1 career choice is becoming an animator because I think that this might be a great way to express my imagination in the form of entertainment for myself and however big of an audience, my work will attract; however, if that doesn't go well, I am open to being an artist in general, and I am considering finding inspiration to create a work(s) that tackles serious issues. I am a 75% African-American and 25% Filipino young woman who just graduated from high school in late May, the former of which the outside world will see me as more than the other. According to a January 2024 article from the Academy of Animated Art, around 3% of employees in the animation industry are Black with women in general making up 22.6% in VFX credits and 2.9% in leadership positions, but 0.5% of them are those of color in the latter position (Katatikarn). Given the current society we live in, I am afraid of being judged based on the color of my skin or my gender. Still, I don't want my potential to be wasted and barraged with dismissive or derogatory language just because of some petty reason that I see as unprofessional and unacceptable, so I'll fight my way to the top, in the sense that I and other members of a marginalized community(ies) will be treated equally and fairly as everyone else. Whatever I turn my love for art into, I want to set an example that people like me who some see as "different" can successfully follow their passion(s) and represent their people without issues, regardless of the exact topics my works focus on.

Ever since I was little, I loved to draw. I’d find the nearest piece of blank paper (by itself or from a notebook) to doodle stick figures of myself, my family, and eventually various video game characters I liked. One of the turning points in my artistic life was the discovery of manga and anime in middle school. I thought the style was realistic and wanted to replicate it in my own stories in the form of comics, most of which amounted to fan fiction. I even got several sketchbooks for my birthdays and Christmas and drew in them whenever I had free time at home. Once high school was around the corner during the Pandemic, I took the opportunity to choose art as my main elective. From there, I learned much more about the subject and its mediums such as the elements of art, charcoal, mixed media, oil pastel, and painting a self-portrait. I also discovered the existence of independent animation projects in the form of shorts and series like Fuelled, Murder Drones, Meta Runner, and many others on YouTube that captivated me. I thought that if creators like those of the ones mentioned earlier could find success in their exceptional works of art, it might be the same for me as long as I work hard toward that goal. To accomplish this, I plan on pursuing an AA in liberal arts at a community college (where I'm) for one year and then transferring to CSU Fresno for its BA in animation. My #1 career choice is becoming an animator because I think that this might be a great way to express my imagination in the form of entertainment for myself and however big of an audience, my work will attract; however, if that doesn't go well, I am open to being an artist in general, and I am considering finding inspiration to create a work(s) that tackles serious issues. I am a 75% African-American and 25% Filipino young woman who just graduated from high school in late May, the former of which the outside world will see me as more than the other. According to a January 2024 article from the Academy of Animated Art, around 3% of employees in the animation industry are Black with women in general making up 22.6% in VFX credits and 2.9% in leadership positions, but 0.5% of them are those of color in the latter position (Katatikarn). Given the current society we live in, I am afraid of being judged based on the color of my skin or my gender. Still, I don't want my potential to be wasted and barraged with dismissive or derogatory language just because of some petty reason that I see as unprofessional and unacceptable, so I'll fight my way to the top, in the sense that I and other members of a marginalized community(ies) will be treated equally and fairly as everyone else. Whatever I turn my love for art into, I want to set an example that people like me who some see as "different" can successfully follow their passion(s) and represent their people without issues, regardless of the exact topics my works focus on.

Ever since I was little, I loved to draw. I’d find the nearest piece of blank paper (by itself or from a notebook) to doodle stick figures of myself, my family, and eventually various video game characters I liked. One of the turning points in my artistic life was the discovery of manga and anime in middle school. I thought the style was realistic and wanted to replicate it in my own stories in the form of comics, most of which amounted to fan fiction. I even got several sketchbooks for my birthdays and Christmas and drew in them whenever I had free time at home. Once high school was around the corner during the Pandemic, I took the opportunity to choose art as my main elective. From there, I learned much more about the subject and its mediums such as the elements of art, charcoal, mixed media, oil pastel, and painting a self-portrait. I also discovered the existence of independent animation projects in the form of shorts and series like Fuelled, Murder Drones, Meta Runner, and many others on YouTube that captivated me. I thought that if creators like those mentioned earlier could succeed in their exceptional works of art, it might be the same for me as long as I work hard toward that goal. To accomplish this, I plan on pursuing an AA in liberal arts, history, and studio art at a community college (where I'm currently attending) for one year and then transferring to CSU Fresno for its BA in animation. My #1 career choice is becoming an animator because I think that this might be a great way to express my imagination in the form of entertainment for myself and however big of an audience, my work will attract; however, if that doesn't go well, I am open to being an artist in general, and I am considering finding inspiration to create a work(s) that tackles serious issues. I am a 75% African-American and 25% Filipino young woman who just graduated from high school in late May, the former of which the outside world will see me as more than the other. According to a January 2024 article from the Academy of Animated Art, around 3% of employees in the animation industry are Black with women in general making up 22.6% in VFX credits and 2.9% in leadership positions, but 0.5% of them are those of color in the latter position (Katatikarn). Given the current society we live in, I am afraid of being judged based on the color of my skin or my gender. Still, I don't want my potential to be wasted and barraged with dismissive or derogatory language just because of some petty reason that I see as unprofessional and unacceptable, so I'll fight my way to the top, in the sense that other members of a marginalized community(ies) and I will be treated equally and fairly as everyone else. Whatever I turn my love for art into, I want to set an example that people like me who some see as "different" can successfully follow their passion(s) and represent their people without issues, regardless of the exact topics my works focus on.

Ever since I was little, I loved to draw. I’d find the nearest piece of blank paper (by itself or from a notebook) to doodle stick figures of myself, my family, and eventually various video game characters I liked. One of the turning points in my artistic life was the discovery of manga and anime in middle school. I thought the style was realistic and wanted to replicate it in my own stories in the form of comics, most of which amounted to fan fiction. I even got several sketchbooks for my birthdays and Christmas and drew in them whenever I had free time at home. Once high school was around the corner during the Pandemic, I took the opportunity to choose art as my main elective. From there, I learned much more about the subject and its mediums such as the elements of art, charcoal, mixed media, oil pastel, and painting a self-portrait. Around my sophomore year, I began to make digital art, initially for two English projects based on books we read as a class, with the app Procreate and some personal projects of my own. I also found out about the existence of independent animation projects in the form of shorts and series like Fuelled, Murder Drones, Meta Runner, and many others on YouTube that captivated me. During my junior year, I was told that pursuing an art career wouldn’t get me anywhere and that I should stick to my now-former interest in STEM. As a result, I changed my 4-year plan to accommodate the field of architecture, and with the addition of stress from homework making me stay up all night, I lost my mojo to create any art outside of school purposes. It wasn’t until the 1st or 2nd month of my senior year that I changed it back to my true passion without telling my parents beforehand. They accepted my apology and reasons for doing so. My schedule went through several changes that took me in and out of art due to my choices and those of someone I must not name, and I finally managed to get back into AP Studio Art by 2nd semester; however, I regret it because, since I also had AP Calculus and Macroeconomics and their exams (which I eventually failed along with Environmental Science and English Language during my junior year), I couldn’t focus on what I’m interested in and managed to create only 2 or 3 projects during my time in that class. Despite all of that, I am planning to pursue an AA in Liberal Arts for a year at Bakersfield College before transferring to CSU Fresno for a BA in Animation. With that, I hope to be able to turn my limitless imagination into something that'll entertain many people while also fulfilling my wish to be well-known for something I'm good at.

Ever since I was little, I loved to draw. I’d find the nearest piece of blank paper (by itself or from a notebook) to doodle stick figures of myself, my family, and eventually various video game characters I liked. One of the turning points in my artistic life was the discovery of manga and anime in middle school. I thought the style was realistic and wanted to replicate it in my own stories in the form of comics, most of which amounted to fan fiction. I even got several sketchbooks for my birthdays and Christmas and drew in them whenever I had free time at home. Once high school was around the corner during the Pandemic, I took the opportunity to choose art as my main elective. From there, I learned much more about the subject and its mediums such as the elements of art, charcoal, mixed media, oil pastel, and painting a selfportrait. Around my sophomore year, I began to make digital art, initially for two English projects about Julius Caesar and The Martian Chronicles, with the app Procreate and some personal projects of my own. I also found out about the existence of independent animation projects in the form of shorts and series like Fuelled, Murder Drones, Meta Runner, and many others on YouTube that captivated me. During my junior year, I was told that pursuing an art career wouldn’t get me anywhere and that I should stick to my now-former interest in STEM. As a result, I changed my 4-year plan to accommodate the field of architecture, and with the addition of stress from homework making me stay up all night, I lost my mojo to create any art outside of school purposes. It wasn’t until the 1st or 2nd month of my senior year that I changed it back to my true passion Dunn 2 without telling my parents beforehand. They accepted my apology and reasons for doing so. My schedule went through several changes that took me in and out of art due to my choices and those of someone I must not name, and I finally managed to get back into AP Studio Art by 2nd semester; however, I kind of regret it because, since I also had AP Calculus and Macroeconomics and their exams (which I eventually failed along with Environmental Science and English Language during my junior year), I couldn’t focus on what I’m interested in and managed to create only 2 or 3 projects during my time in that class. I am the type of student who focuses so much on academics and its many deadlines that I don’t have the time to participate in extracurriculars (e.g. clubs; excluding any group requiring a participation quota such as service hours) fully, and even though there are some benefits to getting a job while in high school, the only con I see is the constant multitasking and maintaining a balanced schedule of my work-school life resulting possibly lowering my grades. The same can be said when I continue my education at Bakersfield College full-time for the upcoming school year; I want to focus on my academics first, planning to pursue an AA in Liberal Arts for a year at BC before transferring to CSU Fresno for a BA in Animation. With that, I want to find success with my love for art, whether it be in a still form or in frame-by-frame motion, by entertaining myself and my audience.

During my junior year, I was told that pursuing an art career wouldn’t get me anywhere and that I should stick to my now-former interest in STEM. As a result, I changed my 4-year plan to accommodate the field of architecture, and with the addition of stress from homework making me stay up all night, I lost my mojo to create any art outside of school purposes. It wasn’t until the 1st or 2nd month of my senior year that I changed it back to my true passion without telling my parents beforehand. They accepted my apology and reasons for doing so. My schedule went through several changes that took me in and out of art due to my choices and those of someone I must not name, and I finally managed to get back into AP Studio Art by 2nd semester; however, I kind of regret it because, since I also had AP Calculus and Macroeconomics and their exams (which I eventually failed along with Environmental Science and English Language during my junior year), I couldn’t focus on what I’m interested in and managed to create only 2 or 3 projects during my time in that class. I am the type of student who focuses so much on academics and its many deadlines that I don’t have the time to participate in extracurriculars (e.g. clubs; excluding any group requiring a participation quota such as service hours) fully, and even though there are some benefits to getting a job while in high school, the only con I see is the constant multitasking and maintaining a balanced schedule of my work-school life resulting possibly lowering my grades. The same can be said when I continue my education at Bakersfield College full-time for the upcoming school year; I want to focus on my academics first, planning to pursue an AA in Liberal Arts for a year at BC before transferring to CSU Fresno for a BA in Animation. Because I’ve kept up this mindset, I sacrificed my mental health and time to fully engage in my hobbies, earning a certificate of membership from the National Honor Society, Life Member/Gold Seal Bearer Status from the California Scholarship Federation, 7 certificates of recognition/accomplishment, a Golden State Seal Merit Diploma, a CA State Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish, and 5 scholarships from local organizations in my hometown. In 5th and 8th grade, I was a recipient of the Dr. Juliet Thorner Award, for academically outstanding girls in the Bakersfield City School District. My dad is the only working family member in our household of 4, as a commercial truck driver, and neither I, my sister, nor our mom has a job contributing to the annual income of about $55,000 (“low”). Depending on the loads his employer gives him, he can be away from home for more than a week while my mom does the cooking and errands for the house, but he is the one paying the bills. I do not wish for myself or my dad to be weighed down by hefty college-related fees, even if they may seem individually small, and I’m not sure, or even want to risk, how much room is left in his budget, after paying bills, to afford them. Even though I had some ups and downs getting to this point in my life, I feel happy for what I’ve accomplished. With an education in animation and possibly other creative arts, I want to entertain myself and countless others with my limitless imagination.

During my junior year, I was told that pursuing an art career wouldn’t get me anywhere and that I should stick to my now-former interest in STEM. As a result, I changed my 4-year plan to accommodate the field of architecture, and with the addition of stress from homework making me stay up all night, I lost my mojo to create any art outside of school purposes. It wasn’t until the 1st or 2nd month of my senior year that I changed it back to my true passion without telling my parents beforehand. They accepted my apology and reasons for doing so. My schedule went through several changes that took me in and out of art due to my choices and those of someone I must not name, and I finally managed to get back into AP Studio Art by 2nd semester; however, I kind of regret it because, since I also had AP Calculus and Macroeconomics and their exams (which I eventually failed along with Environmental Science and English Language during my junior year), I couldn’t focus on what I’m interested in and managed to create only 2 or 3 projects during my time in that class. I am the type of student who focuses so much on academics and its many deadlines that I don’t have the time to participate in extracurriculars (e.g. clubs; excluding any group requiring a participation quota such as service hours) fully, and even though there are some benefits to getting a job while in high school, the only con I see is the constant multitasking and maintaining a balanced schedule of my work-school life resulting possibly lowering my grades. The same can be said when I continue my education at Bakersfield College full-time for the upcoming school year; I want to focus on my academics first, planning to pursue an AA in Liberal Arts for a year at BC before transferring to CSU Fresno for a BA in Animation. Because I’ve kept up this mindset, I sacrificed my mental health and time to fully engage in my hobbies, earning a certificate of membership from the National Honor Society, Life Member/Gold Seal Bearer Status from the California Scholarship Federation, 7 certificates of recognition/accomplishment, a Golden State Seal Merit Diploma, a CA State Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish, and 5 scholarships from local organizations in my hometown. In 5th and 8th grade, I was a recipient of the Dr. Juliet Thorner Award, for academically outstanding girls in the Bakersfield City School District. Even though I had some ups and downs getting to this point in my life, I feel happy for what I’ve accomplished.

Ever since I was little, I loved to draw. I’d find the nearest piece of blank paper to doodle stick figures of myself, my family, and eventually various video game characters I liked. One of the turning points in my artistic life was the discovery of manga and anime in middle school. I thought the style was realistic and wanted to replicate it in my own stories in the form of comics, most of which amounted to fan fiction. I even got several sketchbooks for my birthdays and Christmas and drew in them whenever I had free time at home. Once high school was around the corner during the Pandemic, I took the opportunity to choose art as my main elective. From there, I learned much more about the subject and its mediums such as the elements of art, charcoal, mixed media, oil pastel, and painting a self-portrait. I also found out about the existence of independent animation projects in the form of shorts and series like Fuelled, Murder Drones, Meta Runner, and many others on YouTube that captivated me. During my junior year, I was told that pursuing an art career wouldn’t get me anywhere and that I should stick to my now-former interest in STEM. As a result, I changed my 4-year plan to accommodate architecture, and with the addition of stress from homework making me stay up all night, I lost my mojo to create any art outside of school purposes. It wasn’t until the 1st or 2nd month of my senior year that I changed it back to my true passion without telling my parents beforehand, but they understood. My schedule went through several changes that took me in and out of art due to my choices and those of someone I must not name, and I finally managed to get back into AP Studio Art by 2nd semester; however, I kind of regret it because, since I also had AP Calculus and Macroeconomics and their exams (which I failed along with Environmental Science and English Language the previous year), I couldn’t focus on what I’m interested in and managed to create only 2 or 3 projects during my time in that class. I am the type of student who focuses so much on academics and its many deadlines that I don’t have the time to participate in extracurriculars fully, even though there are some benefits to getting a job while in high school, the only con I see is the constant multitasking and maintaining a balanced schedule of my work-school life resulting possibly lowering my grades. The same can be said when I continue my education at Bakersfield College full-time for the upcoming school year; I want to focus on my academics first, planning to pursue an AA in Liberal Arts for a year at BC before transferring to CSU Fresno for a BA in Animation. Because I’ve kept up this mindset, I sacrificed my mental health and time for hobbies, earning a certificate of membership from the National Honor Society, Life Member/Gold Seal Bearer Status from the California Scholarship Federation, 7 certificates of recognition/accomplishment, a Golden State Seal Merit Diploma, a CA State Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish, and 5 scholarships. What I see as having a "gritty mindset" is that even though there were times when I felt like I was reaching my breaking point with the demands of being a high schooler taking advanced classes, I still told myself to keep going or I wouldn't achieve as much success as I had as the moment I graduated from Bakersfield High School.

Ever since I was little, I loved to draw. I’d find the nearest piece of blank paper (by itself or from a notebook) to doodle stick figures of myself, my family, and eventually various video game characters I liked. One of the turning points in my artistic life was the discovery of manga and anime in middle school. I thought the style was realistic and wanted to replicate it in my own stories in the form of comics, most of which amounted to fan fiction. I even got several sketchbooks for my birthdays and Christmas and drew in them whenever I had free time at home. Once high school was around the corner during the Pandemic, I took the opportunity to choose art as my main elective. From there, I learned much more about the subject and its mediums such as the elements of art, charcoal, mixed media, oil pastel, and painting a self-portrait. Around my sophomore year, I began to make digital art, initially for two English projects about Julius Caesar and The Martian Chronicles, with the app Procreate and some personal projects of my own. I also found out about the existence of independent animation projects in the form of shorts and series like Fuelled, Murder Drones, Meta Runner, and many others on YouTube that captivated me. During my junior year, I was told that pursuing an art career wouldn’t get me anywhere and that I should stick to my now-former interest in STEM. As a result, I changed my 4-year plan to accommodate the field of architecture, and with the addition of stress from homework making me stay up all night, I lost my mojo to create any art outside of school purposes. It wasn’t until the 1st or 2nd month of my senior year that I changed it back to my true passion without telling my parents beforehand. They accepted my apology and reasons for doing so. My schedule went through several changes that took me in and out of art due to my choices and those of someone I must not name, and I finally managed to get back into AP Studio Art by 2nd semester; however, I kind of regret it because, since I also had AP Calculus and Macroeconomics and their exams (which I eventually failed along with Environmental Science and English Language during my junior year), I couldn’t focus on what I’m interested in and managed to create only 2 or 3 projects during my time in that class. When I got my final transcripts post-graduation, I felt relieved that, despite some obstacles, I managed to pass the classes with Bs and/or As. If I had to advise one's struggle to keep up with academics or its relation to self-fulfillment for whatever reason it is, I'd say that if you set your mind to it, even if it may seem like you're approaching your breaking point, you just need to work as hard as you can if you want to achieve a certain goal in school life, but you also need to make sure you have some free time to relax if you're feeling down or exhausted from the demands of high school, especially if you're taking advanced classes.

Ever since I was little, I loved to draw. I’d find the nearest piece of blank paper to doodle stick figures of myself, my family, and eventually various video game characters I liked. One of the turning points in my artistic life was the discovery of manga and anime in middle school. I thought the style was realistic and wanted to replicate it in my own stories in the form of comics, most of which amounted to fan fiction. Once high school was around the corner during the Pandemic, I took the opportunity to choose art as my main elective. From there, I learned much more about the subject and its mediums such as the elements of art, charcoal, mixed media, oil pastel, and painting a self-portrait. I also found out about the existence of independent animation projects in the form of shorts and series like Fuelled, Murder Drones, Meta Runner, and many others on YouTube that captivated me. During my junior year, I was told that pursuing an art career wouldn’t get me anywhere and that I should stick to my now-former interest in STEM. As a result, I changed my 4-year plan to accommodate the field of architecture, and with the addition of stress from homework making me stay up all night, I lost my mojo to create any art outside of school purposes. It wasn’t until the 1st or 2nd month of my senior year that I changed it back to my true passion without telling my parents beforehand. They accepted my apology and reasons for doing so. My schedule went through several changes that took me in and out of art due to my choices and those of someone I must not name, and I finally managed to get back into AP Studio Art by 2nd semester; however, I kind of regret it because, since I also had AP Calculus and Macroeconomics and their exams (which I eventually failed along with Environmental Science and English Language during my junior year), I couldn’t focus on what I’m interested in and managed to create only 2 or 3 projects during my time in that class. I am the type of student who focuses so much on academics and its many deadlines that I don’t have the time to participate in extracurriculars (e.g. clubs; excluding any group requiring a participation quota such as service hours) fully, and even though there are some benefits to getting a job while in high school, the only con I see is the constant multitasking and maintaining a balanced schedule of my work-school life resulting possibly lowering my grades. The same can be said when I continue my education at Bakersfield College full-time for the upcoming school year; I want to focus on my academics first, planning to pursue an AA in Liberal Arts for a year at BC before transferring to CSU Fresno for a BA in Animation. Because I’ve kept up this mindset, I sacrificed my mental health and time to fully engage in my hobbies, earning a certificate of membership from the National Honor Society, Life Member/Gold Seal Bearer Status from the California Scholarship Federation, 7 certificates of recognition/accomplishment, a Golden State Seal Merit Diploma, a CA State Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish, and 5 scholarships from local organizations in my hometown. In 5th and 8th grade, I was a recipient of the Dr. Juliet Thorner Award, for academically outstanding girls in the Bakersfield City School District. Even though I had some ups and downs getting to this point in my life, I feel happy for what I’ve accomplished.

My #1 career choice is becoming an animator because I think that this might be a great way to express my imagination in the form of entertainment for myself and however big of an audience, my work will attract; however, if that doesn't go well, I am open to being an artist in general, and I am considering finding inspiration to create a work(s) that tackles serious issues. I am a 75% African-American and 25% Filipino young woman who just graduated from high school in late May, the former of which the outside world will see me as more than the other. According to a January 2024 article from the Academy of Animated Art, around 3% of employees in the animation industry are Black with women in general making up 22.6% in VFX credits and 2.9% in leadership positions, but 0.5% of them are those of color in the latter position (Katatikarn). Given the current society we live in, I am afraid of being judged based on the color of my skin or my gender. Still, I don't want my potential to be wasted and barraged with dismissive or derogatory language just because of some petty reason that I see as unprofessional and unacceptable, so I'll fight my way to the top, in the sense that I and other members of a marginalized community(ies) will be treated equally and fairly as everyone else. Whatever I turn my love for art into, I want to set an example that people like me who some see as "different" can successfully follow their passion(s) and represent their people without issues, regardless of the exact topics my works focus on.

I recently graduated from Bakersfield High School in May 2024 and am continuing my studies at Bakersfield College for an AA in Liberal Arts, hoping to transfer to a BA in Art - Animation Intermedia at CSU Fresno. While in high school, I completed 10 standard, 7 GATE, 7 Honors, 7 AP, 6 dual enrollment, and 6 concurrent enrollment classes. I was a member of the National Honor Society and California Scholarship Federation, having been awarded Life/Gold Sealbearer status for membership in the latter. Ever since I was little, I loved to draw. I’d find the nearest piece of blank paper to doodle stick figures of myself, my family, and various video game characters I liked. One of the turning points in my life was the discovery of manga and anime in middle school. I thought the style was realistic and wanted to replicate it in my own stories in the form of comics, most of which amounted to fan fiction. I even got several sketchbooks for my birthdays and Christmas and drew in them whenever I had free time at home. Once high school was around the corner, I took the opportunity to choose art as my main elective. From there, I learned much more about the subject and its mediums such as the elements of art, charcoal, mixed media, oil pastel, and painting a self-portrait. I also discovered the existence of independent animation projects in the form of shorts and series like Fuelled, Murder Drones, Meta Runner, and many others on YouTube that captivated me. I thought that if creators like those of the ones mentioned earlier could find success in their exceptional works of art, it might be the same for me as long as I work hard toward that goal. To accomplish this, I plan on pursuing an AA in liberal arts at a community college for one year and then transferring to CSU Fresno for its BA in animation. My #1 career choice is becoming an animator because I think that this might be a great way to express my imagination in the form of entertainment for myself and however big of an audience, my work will attract; however, if that doesn't go well, I am open to being an artist in general, and I am considering finding inspiration to create a work(s) that tackles serious issues. I am a 75% African-American and 25% Filipino young woman who just graduated from high school in late May, the former of which the outside world will see me as more than the other. According to a January 2024 article from the Academy of Animated Art, around 3% of employees in the animation industry are Black with women in general making up 22.6% in VFX credits and 2.9% in leadership positions, but 0.5% of them are those of color in the latter position (Katatikarn). Given the current society we live in, I am afraid of being judged based on the color of my skin or my gender. Still, I don't want my potential to be wasted and barraged with dismissive or derogatory language just because of some petty reason that I see as unprofessional and unacceptable, so I'll fight my way to the top, in the sense that I and other members of a marginalized community(ies) will be treated equally and fairly as everyone else. Whatever I turn my love for art into, I want to set an example that people like me who some see as "different" can successfully follow their passion(s) and represent their people without issues, regardless of the exact topics my works focus on.

Ever since I was little, I loved to draw. I’d find the nearest piece of blank paper (by itself or from a notebook) to doodle stick figures of myself, my family, and eventually various video game characters I liked. One of the turning points in my artistic life was the discovery of manga and anime in middle school. I thought the style was realistic and wanted to replicate it in my own stories in the form of comics, most of which amounted to fan fiction. I even got several sketchbooks for my birthdays and Christmas and drew in them whenever I had free time at home. Once high school was around the corner during the Pandemic, I took the opportunity to choose art as my main elective. From there, I learned much more about the subject and its mediums such as the elements of art, charcoal, mixed media, oil pastel, and painting a self-portrait. I also discovered the existence of independent animation projects in the form of shorts and series like Fuelled, Murder Drones, Meta Runner, and many others on YouTube that captivated me. I thought that if creators like those of the ones mentioned earlier could find success in their exceptional works of art, it might be the same for me as long as I work hard toward that goal. To accomplish this, I plan on pursuing an AA in liberal arts at a community college (where I'm) for one year and then transferring to CSU Fresno for its BA in animation. My #1 career choice is becoming an animator because I think that this might be a great way to express my imagination in the form of entertainment for myself and however big of an audience, my work will attract; however, if that doesn't go well, I am open to being an artist in general, and I am considering finding inspiration to create a work(s) that tackles serious issues. I am a 75% African-American and 25% Filipino young woman who just graduated from high school in late May, the former of which the outside world will see me as more than the other. According to a January 2024 article from the Academy of Animated Art, around 3% of employees in the animation industry are Black with women in general making up 22.6% in VFX credits and 2.9% in leadership positions, but 0.5% of them are those of color in the latter position (Katatikarn). Given the current society we live in, I am afraid of being judged based on the color of my skin or my gender. Still, I don't want my potential to be wasted and barraged with dismissive or derogatory language just because of some petty reason that I see as unprofessional and unacceptable, so I'll fight my way to the top, in the sense that I and other members of a marginalized community(ies) will be treated equally and fairly as everyone else. Whatever I turn my love for art into, I want to set an example that people like me who some see as "different" can successfully follow their passion(s) and represent their people without issues, regardless of the exact topics my works focus on.

Video games have had a positive impact on many people's lives, including my own. They provide entertainment, relaxation, and opportunities for creativity and social interaction. Three games that have particularly influenced me are Minecraft, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and Just Dance. Minecraft is a sandbox game that allows players to build and explore virtual worlds. It has been a source of immense creativity and inspiration for me. The game's open-ended nature encourages players to think outside the box and unleash their imagination. I have spent countless hours farming truckloads of wheat (because it's simple to grow to craft food), adventuring for filling maps and resources to craft materials that'll improve my home and in-game survival, and experimenting with different materials and techniques. Minecraft has taught me valuable problem-solving skills, as I often had to figure out how to get in and out of a ravine or strategically avoid the most dangerous monsters to not wear down my armor or fall in an attempt to run away. It has also fostered a sense of accomplishment and pride in my creations, boosting my self-confidence and encouraging me to pursue other creative endeavors in real life. Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a life simulation game that offers a peaceful and charming virtual world. The game revolves around building and managing a virtual island community, interacting with anthropomorphic animal villagers when real-world communication was very limited during the Pandemic, and engaging in various activities such as fishing, bug catching, and fossil hunting. It has provided me with a much-needed escape from the stresses of everyday life. Its relaxing gameplay, soothing music, and adorable characters create a calming and therapeutic experience. The game's emphasis on community and friendship has also had a positive impact on my social well-being. I have connected with friends and family through the game, visiting each other's islands, exchanging gifts, and sharing experiences. Animal Crossing has taught me the importance of fostering relationships and creating a sense of belonging, even in a virtual setting. Just Dance is a rhythm-based dancing game that encourages physical activity and fun. It has been a fantastic way for me to stay active and incorporate exercise into my daily routine. The game features a wide variety of energetic and catchy songs like Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson & Bruno Mars and Girl Like Me by Black-Eyed Peas & Shakira, and the dance routines are designed to get players moving and grooving, making it an ideal and healthy pastime especially during the COVID lockdown. It has not only improved my physical fitness but also boosted my mood and overall well-being. Dancing to the vibrant music and following the choreography has been a source of joy and self-expression. It has allowed me to let loose, have fun, and embrace my love for music and dance. Additionally, it offers multiplayer modes, enabling me to dance and compete with friends, family, and random players from all over the world, creating memorable and laughter-filled moments together.

To make my rough draft for this project, I used a photo editor website called Photopea. With it, I edited a picture of myself in a “3-layer” color format and then converted it to black-grey-white while posterized to resemble pop art. I chose the color scheme because if I had used decorative colors (outside of the black-grey-white spectrum), it would take slightly longer to perfect the shades and colors I desired. The scheme I used seemed more straightforward; it’s the most black I’ve ever used in a single art project regardless of medium. To paint this artwork, I used my own set of 3-texture paint brushes. The set includes about 4 or so brushes of each size and texture (thin, regular, wide, soft, medium, and rough) along with some of my teacher’s. I used regular-size, medium-textured brushes for general areas, soft and wide for the white background, thin for stray hair and mouth, and rough for the “dotting.” I didn’t realize until long after I started painting it that I was supposed to include something precious to me but was focused on trying to take and edit a perfect photo of myself that wouldn’t require a very complex but still realistic composition to paint. The reason why this is my favorite piece is because it is the most difficult and complex project I have finished so far, and I enjoyed the process of creating something in a way I've never tried before. That’s why it’s called "Me." It’s just me.

Reflecting on my academic journey, I can see how my passion for art has been challenged inside and outside the classroom. Ever since I was young, drawing brought me such joy - so choosing it as my main high school elective was important for nurturing that love. I not only learned new techniques in class but took my learning into my own hands by making digital art projects outside of school hours. However, being discouraged from pursuing it as a career took a toll on my creativity for a time. But mustering the courage to change my 4-year plan back without approval, following what felt right for me, showed perseverance - even if it wasn't easy. Regaining my spot in AP Studio Art for my senior year allowed me to work on getting my "mojo" back. While obstacles tried to deter me, my resolve to stay true to my artistic gifts through hands-on learning, in and outside of school, helped me grow. Facing setbacks but continuing to challenge and expand my skills through different mediums demonstrates resilience. Now with a passion revived and limitless imagination, I feel ready to bring never-before-seen visions to life through 2D, 3D, or animation outlets. Looking back, I'm proud of how far I've come on my creative journey despite the challenges I've faced.

Ever since I was little, I loved to draw. I’d find the nearest piece of blank paper (by itself or from a notebook) to doodle stick figures of myself, my family, and eventually various video game characters I liked. One of the turning points in my artistic life was the discovery of manga and anime in middle school. I thought the style was realistic and wanted to replicate it in my own stories in the form of comics, most of which amounted to fan fiction. I even got several sketchbooks for my birthdays and Christmas and drew in them whenever I had free time at home. Once high school was around the corner during the Pandemic, I took the opportunity to choose art as my main elective. From there, I learned much more about the subject and its mediums such as the elements of art, charcoal, mixed media, oil pastel, and painting a self-portrait. Around my sophomore year, I began to make digital art, initially for two English projects about Julius Caesar and The Martian Chronicles, with the app Procreate and some personal projects. I also discovered the existence of independent animation projects in the form of shorts and series like Fuelled, Murder Drones, Meta Runner, and many others on YouTube that captivated me. However, during my junior year, I was told that pursuing an art career wouldn’t get me anywhere and that I should stick to my now-former interest in STEM. As a result, I changed my 4-year plan to accommodate the field of architecture, and with the addition of stress from homework making me stay up all night, I lost my mojo to create any art outside of school purposes. It wasn’t until the 1st or 2nd month of my senior year that I had the courage to change it back to my true passion without telling my parents beforehand. They accepted my apology and reasons for doing so. My schedule went through several changes that took me in and out of art class, and I finally managed to get back into AP Studio Art by 2nd semester. I want to follow my passion for art to revive my mojo and use it to turn my limitless imagination into something that will entertain viewers, whether it be 2D, 3D, animation, etc. I'm not exactly sure if I'll work independently (myself or for an indie animation company) or for a big-name company like Disney, Pixar, etc.

Ever since I was little, I loved to draw. I’d find the nearest piece of blank paper (by itself or from a notebook) to doodle stick figures of myself, my family, and eventually various video game characters I liked. One of the turning points in my artistic life was the discovery of manga and anime in middle school. I thought the style was realistic and wanted to replicate it in my own stories in the form of comics, most of which amounted to fan fiction. I even got several sketchbooks for my birthdays and Christmas and drew in them whenever I had free time at home. Once high school was around the corner during the Pandemic, I took the opportunity to choose art as my main elective. From there, I learned much more about the subject and its mediums such as the elements of art, charcoal, mixed media, oil pastel, and painting a self-portrait. Around my sophomore year, I began to make digital art, initially for two English projects about Julius Caesar and The Martian Chronicles, with the app Procreate and some personal projects of my own. I also found out about the existence of independent animation projects in the form of shorts and series like Fuelled, Murder Drones, Meta Runner, and many others on YouTube that captivated me. However, during my junior year, I was told that pursuing an art career wouldn’t get me anywhere and that I should stick to my now-former interest in STEM. As a result, I changed my 4-year plan to accommodate the field of architecture, and with the addition of stress from homework making me stay up all night, I lost my mojo to create any art outside of school purposes; essentially, I was suffering from senioritis. It wasn’t until the 1st or 2nd month of my senior year that I had the courage to change it back to my true passion without telling my parents beforehand. They accepted my apology and reasons for doing so. My schedule went through several changes that took me in and out of art class due to my choices and those of someone I must not name, and I finally managed to get back into AP Studio Art by 2nd semester. In short, I want to follow my passion for art in hopes of reviving my mojo and using it to turn my limitless imagination into something that will entertain viewers, whether it be 2D, 3D, animation, etc.

Ever since I was little, I have been captivated by the world of art. Drawing has always been a part of me, with my earliest creations consisting of stick figures of myself, my family, and even characters from the video games I adored. But it was in middle school that my artistic journey took a significant turn. The discovery of manga and anime opened my eyes to a whole new realm of artistic possibilities. I was drawn to the realistic style portrayed in these art forms and felt a strong desire to replicate it in my own stories through comics, many of which were inspired by my favorite fandoms. When high school approached during the pandemic, I saw it as an opportunity to choose art as my main elective. This decision allowed me to delve deeper into the subject, exploring various mediums such as charcoal, mixed media, oil pastels, and even painting self-portraits. It was during this time that I also ventured into the realm of digital art, using the Procreate app for English projects and personal endeavors. However, during my junior year, I faced discouragement from others who believed that pursuing an art career would not lead to success. Influenced by this negativity, I made the difficult decision to alter my four-year plan and redirect my focus towards architecture. The stress of homework and the pressure to conform took a toll on me, causing me to lose touch with my artistic passion. I found myself creating art solely for school purposes, losing the joy and inspiration that once fueled my creativity. But the flame of my artistic passion could not be extinguished. It wasn't until the beginning of my senior year that I found the courage to realign my path with my true passion for art. Despite the fears and uncertainties, I made the decision to change my course of study back to art without informing my parents beforehand. When I finally shared my decision with them, they accepted my apology and understood my reasons for returning to my artistic roots. Though my schedule went through several changes, I persevered and managed to enroll in AP Studio Art during the second semester. So, what do I hope to achieve through my art? Firstly, I want to revive my artistic mojo and reignite the passion that was temporarily overshadowed. I long to regain the joy of creating art, to feel the rush of inspiration and the satisfaction of bringing my limitless imagination to life. My art is a reflection of my innermost thoughts, emotions, and experiences, and through it, I hope to express myself authentically and honestly. Furthermore, I envision my future relationship with my artwork as a lifelong journey of growth and exploration. I want to continually push the boundaries of my creativity, experimenting with different mediums, techniques, and styles. I strive to develop a unique artistic voice that resonates with others and evokes emotions and connections. I want viewers to be captivated by my work, to be transported into the worlds I create, and to experience a sense of wonder and inspiration. Beyond personal fulfillment and entertainment, I also aspire to use my art to make a positive impact in the world. I believe that art has the power to provoke thought, challenge societal norms, and raise awareness about important issues. I want to create art that sparks dialogue, encourages empathy, and promotes understanding among individuals from diverse backgrounds. By shedding light on social, environmental, and cultural issues, I hope to contribute to a more compassionate and inclusive society.

From an early age, my love for art has been an integral part of my life, fueling my imagination and allowing me to express myself. The simple act of drawing stick figures on any available piece of paper sparked my creativity, leading me to explore various subjects, including my family and beloved video game characters. However, it was the discovery of manga and anime during my middle school years that truly transformed my artistic journey. The realistic yet captivating style of manga and anime inspired me to create my own stories through the medium of comics. Although many of my early works were fan fiction, they served as stepping stones in my artistic development. Sketchbooks became cherished gifts, and I would spend countless hours honing my skills whenever I had the luxury of free time. As high school approached, I seized the opportunity to choose art as my primary elective, opening the doors to a deeper understanding of the subject and its various mediums. During my sophomore year, I ventured into the realm of digital art, initially for English projects centered around Julius Caesar and The Martian Chronicles. Armed with the Procreate app, I delved into the world of digital creativity, bringing my ideas to life through this versatile medium. Additionally, I discovered independent animation projects on platforms like YouTube, such as Fuelled, Murder Drones, and Meta Runner, which captivated my imagination and expanded my artistic horizons. Unfortunately, during my junior year, I encountered discouragement from those who believed that pursuing an art career would lead me nowhere. Swayed by their opinions, I veered towards STEM subjects and even contemplated a career in architecture. The weight of homework and external pressure eroded my artistic passion, leaving me devoid of creative inspiration. It was not until the first or second month of my senior year that I summoned the courage to reclaim my true passion for art, secretly shifting my focus back without informing my parents. Graciously, they accepted my decision and understood my reasons. Navigating through various scheduling conflicts and personal challenges, I persevered, eventually securing a place in AP Studio Art during the second semester. As I reflect on my journey, I realize that my deep-rooted passion for art is the key to unlocking my true potential and achieving success. I aspire to harness my limitless imagination to create works of art that entertain viewers, whether through 2D, 3D, animation, or other mediums. However, my passion for art extends beyond personal fulfillment. I believe that art has the power to inspire, provoke wonder, increase awareness, facilitate dialogue, and evoke a range of emotions. I envision my art as a catalyst for positive change, addressing social issues, promoting empathy, and fostering inclusivity. By sharing my unique perspective and stories, I aim to contribute to the creation of a better world. My passion for art burns brightly within me, guiding my path and shaping my aspirations. I am determined to revive my artistic mojo, channeling it into captivating creations that leave a lasting impact. Through my career in art, I aim to inspire others, ignite their own creative potential, and encourage them to fearlessly pursue their passions. I am excited to embark on this journey and contribute to a world enriched by the wonder and beauty of art.

As an artist, I find inspiration in the everyday world that surrounds me. The beauty of nature, the complexity of human experiences, and the challenges we face in society all ignite my creative spirit. The ever-changing seasons, vibrant colors, and intricate details of the natural world captivate my senses and drive me to capture its essence in my art. Similarly, observing the interactions, emotions, and stories of people fuels my desire to create work that reflects the depth and diversity of the human condition. Moreover, I use my art as a tool for commentary and reflection, addressing societal issues and provoking thought. Through my artistic endeavors, I aspire to evoke emotions, initiate conversations, and contribute to a deeper understanding of the world we inhabit.

Ever since I was little, I loved to draw. I’d find the nearest piece of blank paper (by itself or from a notebook) to doodle stick figures of myself, my family, and eventually various video game characters I liked. One of the turning points in my artistic life was the discovery of manga and anime in middle school. I thought the style was realistic and wanted to replicate it in my own stories in the form of comics, most of which amounted to fan fiction. I even got several sketchbooks for my birthdays and Christmas and drew in them whenever I had free time at home. Once high school was around the corner during the Pandemic, I took the opportunity to choose art as my main elective. From there, I learned much more about the subject and its mediums such as the elements of art, charcoal, mixed media, oil pastel, and painting a self-portrait. Around my sophomore year, I began to make digital art, initially for two English projects about Julius Caesar and The Martian Chronicles, with the app Procreate and some personal projects of my own. I also found out about the existence of independent animation projects in the form of shorts and series like Fuelled, Murder Drones, Meta Runner, and many others on YouTube that captivated me as well as animator YouTubers like TheOdd1sOut and illymation. However, during my junior year, I was told that pursuing an art career wouldn’t get me anywhere and that I should stick to my now-former interest in STEM. As a result, I changed my 4-year plan to accommodate the field of architecture, and with the addition of stress from homework making me stay up all night, I lost my mojo to create any art outside of school purposes. It wasn’t until the 1st or 2nd month of my senior year that I had the courage to change it back to my true passion without telling my parents beforehand. They accepted my apology and reasons for doing so. My schedule went through several changes that took me in and out of art class due to my choices and those of someone I must not name, and I finally managed to get back into AP Studio Art by 2nd semester. I want to follow my passion for art in hopes of reviving my mojo and using it to turn my limitless imagination into something that will entertain viewers, whether it be 2D, 3D, animation, etc. I feel that this might be the key to my future success.

If I could choose one book that every single person on this planet reads, I believe the most impactful choice would be Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson. As an attorney who founded the Equal Justice Initiative, Stevenson has devoted his career to helping those who have been denied fair treatment in the legal system. In Just Mercy, he brings to light the deeply troubling issues of mass incarceration, notoriously racist criminal justice practices, and the dehumanization of both the accused and the convicted in America. Stevenson tells the stories of real individuals fighting wrongful convictions in the face of severe adversity. He takes the reader into the courtrooms and jail cells where the harsh realities of the death penalty, disproportionate sentencing, and unequal treatment under the law become painfully evident. Through these gripping accounts, Stevenson unveils the flaws, failures, and injustices that persist in our society to this day. His mission of mercy and his unfailing belief in human worth, even for those deemed the "worst of the worst" by the system, shine through on every page. If every single person was exposed to these truths - to see with clarity how our laws can strip humanity from our brothers and sisters, based solely on the color of their skin or the circumstances of their birth - it could catalyze real change. Just Mercy invites us to step into the shoes of those who stand to lose the most in this broken machine of "justice." It begs the question of how we can sit by while these tragedies are allowed to continue, and compels us to take action. Stevenson gives me hope that through voices like his, spreading messages of compassion and equality, we can build a world where no one is left to face their lowest moments alone. That is why I believe Just Mercy deserves to be read by all.

Ever since I was little, I loved to draw. I’d find the nearest piece of blank paper (by itself or from a notebook) to doodle stick figures of myself, my family, and eventually various video game characters I liked. One of the turning points in my artistic life was the discovery of manga and anime in middle school. I thought the style was realistic and wanted to replicate it in my own stories in the form of comics, most of which amounted to fan fiction. I even got several sketchbooks for my birthdays and Christmas and drew in them whenever I had free time at home. Once high school was around the corner during the Pandemic, I took the opportunity to choose art as my main elective. From there, I learned much more about the subject and its mediums such as the elements of art, charcoal, mixed media, oil pastel, and painting a self-portrait. Around my sophomore year, I began to make digital art, initially for two English projects about Julius Caesar and The Martian Chronicles, with the app Procreate and some personal projects of my own. I also found out about the existence of independent animation projects in the form of shorts and series like Fuelled, Murder Drones, Meta Runner, and many others on YouTube that captivated me. However, during my junior year, I was told that pursuing an art career wouldn’t get me anywhere and that I should stick to my now-former interest in STEM. As a result, I changed my 4-year plan to accommodate the field of architecture, and with the addition of stress from homework making me stay up all night, I lost my mojo to create any art outside of school purposes. It wasn’t until the 1st or 2nd month of my senior year that I had the courage to change it back to my true passion without telling my parents beforehand. They accepted my apology and reasons for doing so. My schedule went through several changes that took me in and out of art class due to my choices and those of someone I must not name, and I finally managed to get back into AP Studio Art by 2nd semester. I want to follow my passion for art in hopes of reviving my mojo and using it to turn my limitless imagination into something that will entertain viewers, whether it be 2D, 3D, animation, etc. I feel that this might be the key to my future success.

If I could watch only one movie for the rest of my life, I would have to choose Spirited Away by Studio Ghibli. In its two-hour runtime, this masterpiece manages to pack in so many rich details, compelling characters, and profound insights that I believe I could find new appreciations with every viewing. It centers around Chihiro, a 10-year-old girl who becomes trapped in a strange world of gods and spirits. She must work to free her parents who have been transformed into pigs. What begins as a disorienting fantasy soon reveals deeper layers of psychological meaning as she undergoes a transformative journey into maturity. There is much for any age viewer to contemplate with each rewatch. From the moment she first enters the towering red gates of the spirit world bathhouse, I am awestruck by director Hayao Miyazaki's lavish imagination and stunning hand-drawn animation. Every frame is a feast filled with odd yet compelling spirits for the eyes, from the demanding Yubaba to the shy little sootballs that the protagonist befriends. I discover new enchanting details with every rewatch that continue to surprise and delight me. Miyazaki also populates his world with complex, empathetic characters that I grow even more fond of over repeat viewings. Chihiro shows enormous resilience as she navigates this strange new environment, yet also doubts and fears that reflect the uncertain nature of growing up. Her bond with the mysterious river spirit Haku hints at deeper mysteries that unfold layer by layer. Even minor presences like bickering twins remain memorable long after the final frames. The film also taps into profound themes of childhood, transformation, and finding one's courage that remains compelling regardless of my age. Its messages of perseverance in the face of adversity feel especially poignant now. Mixed in with the whimsy and comedy is also an environmental message that feels only more urgent with each passing year. Finally, Joe Hisaishi's dynamic score is the perfect accompaniment to Miyazaki's moving pictures. Its melodies have become dear friends I welcome back time and time again. Combined with the visual splendors, it's an audio-visual bliss that uplifts my spirit on even the worst of days. For all these reasons, this Oscar-winning Studio Ghibli film offers a richness and rewatchability that I believe would stand the test of time, no matter how many hundreds or thousands of repeat viewings I do. It is truly a cinematic masterpiece.

Ever since I was little, I loved to draw. I’d find the nearest piece of blank paper (by itself or from a notebook) to doodle stick figures of myself, my family, and eventually various video game characters I liked. One of the turning points in my artistic life was the discovery of manga and anime in middle school. I thought the style was realistic and wanted to replicate it in my own stories in the form of comics, most of which amounted to fan fiction. I even got several sketchbooks for my birthdays and Christmas and drew in them whenever I had free time at home. Once high school was around the corner during the Pandemic, I took the opportunity to choose art as my main elective. From there, I learned much more about the subject and its mediums such as the elements of art, charcoal, mixed media, oil pastel, and painting a self-portrait. Around my sophomore year, I began to make digital art, initially for two English projects about Julius Caesar and The Martian Chronicles, with the app Procreate and some personal projects. I also discovered the existence of independent animation projects in the form of shorts and series like Fuelled, Murder Drones, Meta Runner, and many others on YouTube that captivated me. However, during my junior year, I was told that pursuing an art career wouldn’t get me anywhere and that I should stick to my now-former interest in STEM. As a result, I changed my 4-year plan to accommodate the field of architecture, and with the addition of stress from homework making me stay up all night, I lost my mojo to create any art outside of school purposes. It wasn’t until the 1st or 2nd month of my senior year that I had the courage to change it back to my true passion without telling my parents beforehand. They accepted my apology and reasons for doing so. My schedule went through several changes that took me in and out of art class due to my choices and those of someone I must not name, and I finally managed to get back into AP Studio Art by 2nd semester. Deep inside, I feel that I still need to overcome this challenge despite getting my schedule back the way I wanted. With the money I may receive from this scholarship and many others, I'll afford a postsecondary education consisting of a degree(s) in animation, studio art, and/or creative writing. I hope that I may find personal, financial, and vocational success in this journey I plan on taking.

If I could form a squad with any three characters from the show Stranger Things to face a new supernatural threat, I would choose Eleven, Hopper, and Dustin. These characters possess unique abilities, skills, and qualities that would make them a formidable team in the face of danger. 1. Eleven is a central character in Stranger Things and possesses telekinetic and telepathic abilities. She has proven time and again that she is a powerful force to be reckoned with. Her abilities would be crucial in combating any supernatural threat, as she can use her telekinesis to manipulate objects and even people, and her telepathy allows her to communicate and gather information from a distance. Additionally, she has shown immense bravery and determination, making her an invaluable asset to the squad. 2. Jim Hopper, the chief of police in Hawkins, is a strong and resourceful character. He has faced numerous challenges throughout the series and has always managed to come out on top. Hopper's experience in dealing with supernatural phenomena, such as the Upside Down, would be invaluable in understanding and strategizing against a new threat. His physical strength and combat skills would also make him a formidable member of the squad. Moreover, Hopper's protective nature and willingness to sacrifice himself for the greater good would ensure the safety and well-being of the team 3. Dustin Henderson may not possess supernatural abilities like Eleven, but he brings a unique set of skills to the squad. Dustin is highly intelligent and resourceful, often using his scientific knowledge to solve problems and uncover secrets. His expertise in inventing useful gadgets and his ability to think outside the box would be crucial in analyzing and understanding the nature of the new supernatural threat. Additionally, Dustin's loyalty and sense of humor would help keep the team motivated and united during challenging times. Together, Eleven, Hopper, and Dustin would form a well-rounded and powerful squad to face a new supernatural threat. Eleven's telekinetic and telepathic abilities, Hopper's experience and strength, and Dustin's intelligence and resourcefulness complement each other, allowing them to tackle any challenge that comes their way.

This is a pretty challenging question. For me, it's between Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Mario Kart 8 /Deluxe, but I'll choose the latter. The reason why I like Mario Kart 8/Deluxe is because of the score (my favorites being the theme for the Blue Blue course and the ending credits), graphics, character roster, vehicle customization, course design, and other mechanics. I have the original on the WiiU and the Deluxe version on the Switch, and I used to play it with my sister a lot and sometimes with our dad. One memorable moment from this game was when my sister and I played the Mushroom Cup at 200cc speed. In the first course Mario Kart Stadium, the first 2 laps went normally, but during the 3rd, it got very competitive between us. Closing in on the finish line, I was in 1st place while she was right behind me in 2nd. She boasted how she was going to pass me at the last second with a Golden Mushroom she saved until reaching this point in the race. I didn't mind her saying that. I didn't have any item on hand to use for myself or against her, and I sensed that she must've been internally, maniacally laughing upon spamming the ZL button to boost her speed. This just so happens to be right at that last curve of the track before the finish line, so she manages to cross in front of me...but immediately zooms off-screen (from my side of the split-screen) and collides with a border which slows her down. Not sure if she jinxed herself, but I still remember that to this day as the funniest way I clutched to first place in a Mario Kart race without any items to assist me.

Math is the language of the universe. It is the tool that we use to understand the world around us. It's everywhere, from the smallest atom to the largest galaxy. It is the foundation of science, engineering, and technology. It's also a beautiful and elegant subject. It is a puzzle that we can solve, and it is a game that we can play. I appreciate it being a challenge. It is a subject that requires us to think critically and to use our problem-solving skills. When I solve a math problem, I feel a sense of accomplishment. I feel like I have conquered something difficult. It is a creative subject. There are many different ways to solve a math problem, and there is always something new to learn. It is a subject that is constantly evolving, and there is always something new to discover. It is a universal language. It is the same all over the world. It is a language that we can use to communicate with people from different cultures and backgrounds. It is a tool that we can use to understand the world around us, and it is a tool that we can use to make the world a better place.

At the time of writing this scholarship essay, I’m a Californian high school senior who has dabbled in art since I was in elementary school. My art history began with random stick figures and childishly drawn versions of my favorite fictional characters from TV and video games. Any chance that I get to come into contact with an empty notebook, piece of paper, or those tiny ones my school gave out as one of several little prizes for a Caught Being Good drawing, I just draw whatever comes to mind. For some reason, I would sometimes use them to input “diary entries” which were just short accounts of some fun thing(s) I did with my family like going to the school fair or going to see Guardians of the Galaxy in theaters. When I discovered the existence of manga and anime in 6th grade, I was fascinated by how “realistic” the art style looked as well as the right-to-left reading format it was designed in. This was a catalyst for a series of spinoff-y/spoofy works that were not entirely based on my original ideas. Some inspirations were the Splatoon franchise, Naruto, Dragon Ball, and Hikaru no Go. My artistic mind led me to have a penchant for collecting paper and pencils that I can draw on/with. Around the time of my 8th-grade year (and eventually, the Pandemic that interrupted its second half) or maybe before, I asked to have a sketchbook and Mastering Manga by Mark Crilley for Christmas. It was then that I began to make fan art of random objects present in video games like Ninjala and eventually make some original character artwork inspired by different styles of manga (shonen, shojo, etc.). Sometime later, my first fully original comic was called Smooch Saga which involved some adorable-looking alien beings whose planet happens to house a human with supernatural powers and were constantly antagonized by an evil race; however, it didn’t come out well in terms of writing and pacing quality in a 100-sheet/200-page notebook’s worth of the story. I have planned on remaking the series but haven’t gotten back into it due to the academic challenges imposed by the Pandemic (I couldn’t have a graduation ceremony for 8th grade) as well as distance-learning my way through my freshman year of high school, then I’ve since forgotten about it for most of the time. Whenever I have time, I just create some doodles in the same sketchbook from that Christmas. I’ve recently gotten into writing stories of my own. So far, it's only my first fanfiction based on Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon but with a psychological horror twist. I’ve been deciding for a while on what I’m going to do. After some time in various Dual Enrollment college classes with Bakersfield College and some college and career research. I now find myself most likely going to pursue an education in the arts (possibly studio art, animation, and/or creative writing) because that seems to resonate with me and my creative passion more than a career in public health or STEM. With a possible degree in Japanese, I will use my art degree(s) to share with my community, nation, and/or the world how I see it through an artist’s eyes, whether that is presented in a physical work or digitally. Sometime in the future, I plan on taking the time to create more digital art whether it’s character designs, animation, or something professional-related.

I would locate my Barbie Dream House in the coastal region of California–most likely in Los Angeles. On the outside, the house will be a 2-story Art Deco in decorative patterns of black and various shades of purple and geometric windows. In the backyard will be a twist/spiral slide attached at the end to a pool surrounded by well-watered grass. The walkway to the door and the driveway from the purple garage are going to be made of peach bricks and bordered by flower bushes. My car, a convertible, will be all-black and sprinkled with purple glitter. The indoors will be decorated with various artworks of mine. On the 1st floor, there would be an entrance hall, a large living room with a chimney, a dining room, and a theater room. The furniture would be mixed with plum and raisin colors. The theater will be hooked up to high-quality surround sound speakers, and I can watch any show or movie I like. Also, the arcade room I will add to it will be for me, my sister, and friends to hang out in. It’ll have the arcade cabinets of classics like Street Fighter, Nintendo Switches, WiiUs, and more with our favorite games installed and/or in cases on a shelf specifically made for them. There’ll be an extra room for me to turn into an art room.

If you're a fan of addictive, genre-bending shows that keep you hooked from beginning to end, then Vincenzo is the one Netflix series you absolutely cannot miss. This South Korean drama combines elements of dark comedy, crime, romance, and revenge, creating a captivating cocktail of emotions that will leave you on the edge of your seat. With its impeccable writing, stellar performances, and unique premise, it is a binge-worthy masterpiece that demands your attention. Vincenzo revolves around the story of Park Joo-hyung (played brilliantly by Song Joong-ki), an Italian-Korean mafia lawyer who goes by the name Vincenzo Cassano. After fleeing to South Korea, he becomes entangled in a web of corruption and greed. As he navigates the cutthroat world of law firms and conglomerates, Vincenzo discovers an unexpected ally in Hong Cha-young (played by Jeon Yeo-been), a feisty and resourceful lawyer. Together, they embark on a mission to bring justice to the victims and expose the true villains. One of the most captivating aspects of this show is its ability to seamlessly blend various genres. It effortlessly transitions from intense and thrilling moments to laugh-out-loud comedy, all while maintaining a consistent narrative. The series is a masterclass in tonal balance, keeping you engaged and emotionally invested in every scene. The writing is sharp and clever, filled with witty dialogue and unexpected twists that will constantly keep you guessing. Its characters are exceptionally well-developed and layered, making them easy to root for or despise. Song Joong-ki's portrayal of Vincenzo is a tour de force, as he effortlessly embodies the charismatic and enigmatic anti-hero. Jeon Yeo-bin shines as the strong-willed and intelligent lawyer Cha-young, providing the perfect foil to Vincenzo's character. The chemistry between the two leads is electric, creating a captivating dynamic that will have you invested in their journey. Beyond the captivating characters, it excels in its exploration of corruption and the pursuit of justice. The series delves deep into the dark underbelly of power and greed, showcasing the lengths people will go to protect their interests. However, it also highlights the resilience and determination of those who fight for what is right, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos. The show strikes a perfect balance between the serious and the lighthearted, making it a truly immersive and satisfying experience. Visually, the show is a treat for the eyes. The production design is top-notch, with each scene meticulously crafted to create a distinct atmosphere. The cinematography captures both the beauty and grit of Seoul, adding another layer of depth to the storytelling. The stylish action sequences are executed flawlessly, leaving you in awe of the choreography and attention to detail. In conclusion, Vincenzo is a Netflix series that deserves your undivided attention. With its unique blend of genres, compelling characters, and thought-provoking themes, it offers an unforgettable viewing experience. Whether you're a fan of crime dramas, dark comedies, or simply enjoy a well-crafted story, this K-drama has something for everyone. Clear your weekend, grab some popcorn, and prepare to be hooked from the very first episode. This is a rollercoaster ride you won't want to miss.

Minecraft is a game that offers players limitless possibilities. From building awe-inspiring structures to exploring vast and varied worlds, there is something for everyone in Minecraft. However, for many players, there is one particular activity or goal that holds a special place in their hearts. For me, that activity is exploring. Exploring in Minecraft is a thrilling and rewarding experience. It allows players to discover new biomes, meet new mobs, and find hidden treasures. There is always something new to see and do in the game, and the sense of discovery is one of the things that keeps players coming back for more. One of the things I love most about exploring in Minecraft is the sense of freedom it gives me. I can go wherever I want, whenever I want, and I can do whatever I want. There are no rules or boundaries, and I am free to explore the world in my way. This sense of freedom is incredibly liberating, and it is one of the things that makes it so special. Another thing I love about exploring in Minecraft is the opportunity it gives me to learn new things. There is so much to learn about the world of Minecraft, and exploring is a great way to do it. I can learn about different biomes, different mobs, and different ways to play the game. Exploring is a great way to expand my knowledge and become a better player. Finally, I love exploring in Minecraft because it is a great way to relax and de-stress. When I am exploring, I can forget about all my troubles and just focus on the game. I can let my mind wander and be creative. Exploring is a great way to escape from the real world and have some fun. In addition to the sense of freedom, discovery, and learning, the ambient music in the game also plays a big role in making exploring enjoyable. It’s calming and atmospheric, and it helps to create a sense of wonder and excitement. The music also helps to set the mood for the game, and it makes exploring even more immersive.

For me, there are so many great anime that I’ve watched over the years. Though, one of my top 10 would have to go to A Silent Voice. It is one of those rare anime films that stay with you long after the credits have rolled. It’s a powerful and emotional story about bullying, redemption, and the power of human connection. The film follows the story of Shoya Ishida, a boy who bullies a deaf girl named Shoko Nishimiya in elementary school. His actions have devastating consequences for Shoko, who is forced to transfer schools. Years later, he is haunted by his past actions and sets out to make amends with Shoko. A Silent Voice is a beautifully animated film with a rich and complex story. The characters are all well-developed and relatable, and the film does an excellent job of exploring the themes of bullying, guilt, and redemption. One of the things that makes it so special is its portrayal of Shoya's journey of redemption. He is a deeply flawed character, but he is also a sympathetic one. We see him struggle with his guilt and his desire to make things right with Shoko. His journey is not an easy one, but it is ultimately a hopeful one. This is a film that will stay with you long after you watch it. It's a powerful and emotional story about the human condition. It's a film that will make you laugh, cry, and think. You'll want to watch it again and again.

BLACKPINK, the sensational K-pop group, has captured the hearts of millions around the world, and I am no exception. With their infectious music, powerful performances, and charismatic personalities, they have become my favorite K-pop group and have left an indelible impact on my life and global culture. First and foremost, their music is a force to be reckoned with. Their songs are a perfect blend of catchy melodies, addictive hooks, and impactful lyrics that resonate with listeners of all ages. Whether it's the empowering anthem "Kill This Love" or the upbeat and energetic "DDU-DU DDU-DU," their music can uplift my mood and provide me with an escape from the monotony of daily life. Each member brings a unique vocal style and personality to the group, creating a harmonious balance that is both captivating and refreshing. Beyond their musical talent, their performances are a visual spectacle. Their stage presence is unmatched, and their choreography is meticulously crafted to showcase their skills and synchronize their movements. Watching their live performances is a breathtaking experience, filled with energy, passion, and a sense of unity between the members and their fans. Their ability to captivate audiences through their performances has taught me the importance of dedication, hard work, and the pursuit of excellence in whatever I do. Moreover, their impact on global culture cannot be overstated. They have shattered numerous records and achieved milestones that were once thought to be impossible for a K-pop group. Their music videos have amassed billions of views on YouTube, making them one of the most-watched music acts on the platform. their success has paved the way for other K-pop acts to gain international recognition, breaking down barriers and proving that music transcends language and cultural boundaries. Furthermore, they've collaborated with internationally renowned artists, such as Lady Gaga and Selena Gomez, further expanding their reach and introducing their music to a wider audience. Their global popularity has sparked a genuine interest in Korean culture, leading to a surge in the popularity of K-pop and Korean fashion, beauty, and cuisine around the world. Their influence on global culture has not only brought Korean music to the forefront but has also fostered a sense of unity and connection among fans from different backgrounds. They've had a profound impact on my life. Their music has been a source of inspiration and motivation during challenging times, reminding me to stay strong and never give up. They have taught me the importance of self-confidence and embracing my individuality, encouraging me to pursue my dreams with determination and passion. Their messages of empowerment and self-love have resonated with me on a deep level, reminding me of the strength that lies within me. In conclusion, BLACKPINK's talent, music, and global impact have made them my favorite K-pop group. Their music has brought joy and inspiration to my life, while their cultural influence has shaped global perceptions of K-pop and Korean culture. Their success story serves as a testament to the power of hard work, dedication, and the ability to break barriers. They have undoubtedly left an indelible mark on my life and the global music landscape, and I eagerly anticipate their future endeavors and the positive impact they will continue to make.

Since elementary school, I have always had a passion for math. I love the logical, systematic way of thinking that is required to solve mathematical problems. There is an intrinsic beauty in the conciseness and simplicity of mathematical concepts and formulas, despite often describing very complex ideas and relationships. The satisfaction I get when I correctly solve a difficult math problem is unmatched, as the solution often feels poetic and elegant. I enjoy the problem-solving process the most. Carefully understanding the conditions of a math problem, breaking it down into smaller parts, devising a strategy to solve each part, and combining the individual solutions feel like putting together pieces of a puzzle. However, unlike puzzles, there are often multiple problem-solving strategies and ways to arrive at a solution, requiring creativity and flexibility of thought. For me, math problem-solving activates both the logical and creative sides of my brain. The subject serves as a foundation for many scientific disciplines. Understanding advanced concepts in physics, engineering, computer science, and other STEM subjects becomes much easier with a strong grasp of mathematics. As I explore my interests, provides me with tools that I can apply in different areas and also trains my brain to think both abstractly and concretely at the same time. I can consider abstract mathematical ideas while keeping an eye on how they relate to real-world scenarios. This dual way of thinking has benefitted me outside of mathematics as well. Perhaps most importantly, mathematics has given me joy and satisfaction throughout my life that few other things have. The rigor and beauty of mathematics, the logical way it connects different ideas, and the endless possibilities for creativity within its bounds have motivated me to work hard, persist through obstacles, and continually develop my skills. My love for mathematics fills my mind with wonder and helps nurture my intellectual curiosity and growth.

I planned on pursuing a mathematics degree with the hope that my studies may enable me to gain insights that illuminate the hidden order beneath our everyday experiences. From early childhood experiences solving puzzles and exploring patterns, I have found joy and wonder in the logical consistency of mathematics and the applications of its principles to the physical world. As I progress in my studies, I am particularly drawn to geometry. The ancient Greeks held geometry to be the very foundation of knowledge, and I can see why. Geometric concepts like straight lines, circles, spheres, pyramids, and polyhedra resonate deeply with our perceptions of shape, form, and three-dimensional space. Modern geometry has expanded these notions, illuminating relationships previously unseen. But the core questions remain as relevant as ever: What basic structures underlie our perceptions of space? How can we precisely define and logically deduce their properties? The more I study geometry, the more I see its principles reflected in nature and human creations. From the hexagonal cells of honeycombs to the patterns of snowflakes, geometry provides a common mathematical language to describe infinite diversity. The theorems I prove on paper help me perceive the geometric wonder all around us, hidden in plain sight. Above all, the study of geometry has imparted intellectual skills that enrich far more than mathematics alone. Patience, tenacity, and the ability to build logical arguments from simple assumptions are worthy goals in their own right. If my studies also aid human technology and innovation through applications in fields like engineering, architecture, and data science, so much better. But whether or not my contributions to these domains amount to much, I know the journey itself has been invaluable. In sum, my choice to study mathematics and pursue a deeper understanding of geometry springs from a love of logical thought, an awe of nature's geometrical beauty, and a hope that my efforts, however humble, may somehow enrich human experience and civilization, if only in small measure. For these reasons, I will continue wholeheartedly on this journey, grateful for every insight and theorem that come my way.