Ever since my first day of kindergarten, I’ve been buried neck-deep in the realm of art. At the time, I didn’t know the significance of my mom enrolling me in dance, music, and traditional drawing classes. All I knew was a pure feeling of eagerness. An itch in my hand to grab my dance shoes, my instrument–the YangQin, my paintbrush, and let loose a child’s imagination. As I made my way into adolescence, I gradually lost interest in taking the art classes that once used to motivate me to wake up on Saturday mornings. Classes were repetitive and I no longer felt the newfound excitement, as if a piece of me had faded; yet, that eagerness lingered. I started challenging my definition of creativity by exploring new creative outlets in high school. As I expanded into each activity, I realized each had a connection to my individuality and expression. I found the world of creation in Minecraft and spent hours building extravagant and detailed structures. I filled my closet with new clothes and found joy in matching garments with the weather, my mood, and each other. I discovered new genres of music like R&B, Korean, and Japanese pop, reigniting my passion for mastering my instrument. I became entranced with the art of film and found an immersive learning opportunity to fuel my interest. A year ago, I started watching more films, variety shows, and music videos and formed an interest in film and media. It was like I discovered another branch of artistry and creative expression. The same stunning emotions I felt on canvas left me in utter awe on screen. “Mom, this is what I want to do.” However, there were no film or media opportunities at my school. As a result, I applied and attended a film summer internship after my junior year. I was introduced to the world of production. From cameras to Adobe, I learned and created my own films. I tried multiple roles and pushed my creative expression to new limits. I produced promotional videos for local businesses and directed cinematography for narrative films. I worked as a lighting gaffer for some and an editor for others. I absorbed as much technical skills and experience as I could to turn them into my own. After the internship, I started photographing and creating reels of my daily life, finding an artistic career field I want to pursue. I want to leave an impact on others, just as artists have left an impression on me. To achieve this, I will bring my voice, as an Asian American girl, and my artistic skills to advocate for causes and issues that matter to my community of people. My goal is to create relatable media that reassures a new generation they are not alone through film. Through these experiences, I realized my creativity was not restricted to traditional techniques or something meant to be perfect. I learned that it allowed me to express messages that I wasn’t able to say in words. Expressing my authentic self through my creative side is something I yearned for as a kid, rediscovered, and strive to continue doing as I enter college.

Ever since my first day of kindergarten, I’ve been buried neck-deep in the realm of art. At the time, I didn’t know the significance of my mom enrolling me in dance, music, and traditional drawing classes. All I knew was a pure feeling of eagerness. An itch in my hand to grab my dance shoes, my instrument–the YangQin, my paintbrush, and let loose a child’s imagination. As I made my way into adolescence, I gradually lost interest in taking the art classes that once used to motivate me to wake up on Saturday mornings. Classes were repetitive and I no longer felt the newfound excitement, as if a piece of me had faded; yet, that eagerness lingered. I started challenging my definition of creativity by exploring new creative outlets in high school. As I expanded into each activity, I realized each had a connection to my individuality and expression. I found the world of creation in Minecraft and spent hours building extravagant and detailed structures. I filled my closet with new clothes and found joy in matching garments with the weather, my mood, and each other. I discovered new genres of music like R&B, Korean, and Japanese pop, reigniting my passion for mastering my instrument. I became entranced with the art of film and found an immersive learning opportunity to fuel my interest. A year ago, I started watching more films, variety shows, and music videos and formed an interest in film and media. It was like I discovered another branch of artistry and creative expression. The same stunning emotions I felt on canvas left me in utter awe on screen. “Mom, this is what I want to do.” However, there were no film or media opportunities at my school. As a result, I applied and attended a film summer internship after my junior year. I was introduced to the world of production. From cameras to Adobe, I learned and created my own films. I tried multiple roles and pushed my creative expression to new limits. I produced promotional videos for local businesses and directed cinematography for narrative films. I worked as a lighting gaffer for some and an editor for others. I absorbed as much technical skills and experience as I could to turn them into my own. After the internship, I started photographing and creating reels of my daily life, finding an artistic career field I want to pursue. I want to leave an impact on others, just as artists have left an impression on me. To achieve this, I will bring my voice, as an Asian American girl, and my artistic skills to advocate for causes and issues that matter to my community. My goal is to create relatable media that reassures a new generation they are not alone through film. Through these experiences, I realized my creativity was not restricted to traditional techniques or something meant to be perfect. I learned that it allowed me to express messages that I wasn’t able to say in words. Expressing my authentic self through my creative side is something I yearned for as a kid, rediscovered, and strive to continue doing as I enter college.