It was 2022, and I had lost seemingly everything. Many of my friends from back home had distanced themselves, my bestfriend and I had a falling out, my romantic partner and I fizzled away, and my grandfather passed away. I felt overwhelmed, alone, confused and simply lost. The passion of my pre-determined path of engineering that my parents put me on had withered away along with many of my other desires of progress and ambition. I felt empty, and when I was at my lowest, art saved me. I started simply trying to express my feelings of loss and inadequacy to myself. I would journal and draw little figures in my notebook or would surf the internet and watch cool documentaries from some of my favorite artists like Tyler, The Creator or Saba. Then I started modeling! The clothes I wore would match my inner expression and emotions which lead to exterior opportunities to walk in major fashion shows across the country. Being on the stage at LA Fashion Week felt like I was on top of the world, and then I realized I wasn't. I wanted to do more. I wanted to involve my friends and inspire others. I wanted to use my leadership skills and analytical mind to make things of my own! So, I became a director. I orchestrated and directed the very first international fashion experience in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and I could see the eyes of families both young and old sparkle with new energy. Once I felt confident in my ability and impact, I went back to where it all started. I began crafting my first musical and visual album depicting those years where I lost everything. In 2023, I released my first 4 songs and self-directed videos to an astounding reaction of over 3M views and 730k musical streams. The world loved the honest expression of pain and how I began to find myself. I started meeting some of my idols and artists that I studied many years ago to feel better! It was such a surreal transformation. Having these artistic giants mention that they had seen my work or enjoyed my expression made me tear up multiple times simply because of where I came from. I was accepted into Harvard University and Parsons University for two different artistic programs respectively, and have received several awards for my art simply because I was brave enough to face my vulnerability and lucky enough to find art! It hasn't been easy. My parents, and many members of my community were shocked at my decision to pursue my passion while still in school (Louisiana State University). Some people would talk about me behind my back, or ask my parents if something was wrong with me based on my drastic change. But, for me, the place that my dedication to art revived me from left such an impact that the importance of my work in art would always be foremost in my brain. Over time, my parents saw the work and time I was dedicating to my passions in directing and music, and the success it has started to yield and now they support me as well! For me, the freedom to find myself and help so many others find themselves through my expression has made art the engine of change in my life. www.zaverbs.com

We often go through pangs of individual loss whether it be our grandmother, our close friend, or our dog. In these moments we learn what we truly value and what genuinely matters to us. So, what happens when it feels like you're losing everything at once? When I left home for my first two years of college, I was a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed kid excited to finally be out of my parents clutches. And then, the unthinkable happened. Through various circumstances and time periods over the next two years, I lost almost all of my friends, my bestfriend, my romantic partner, and my grandfather, seemingly all at once. Sometimes I think back to that moment in time and remember how it felt like my brain was literally imploding on itself. I don't know if I was meant to handle that much loss at once, whether to simply loss of contact, painful breakups, or in my grandfather's case, death. What I do know is that I found what I would fight for, for the rest of my life. Through all of this pain, I found my purpose and my freedom. As a newfound artist, I fight for the freedom to explore my personal expression every day. I fight to share my love to all I care for. I fight to achieve success and pay off all of the countless hours that have been poured into me. Before this life altering time period in my life, I was set on a path by my parents to be the best engineer I could be. It was all I knew in life and really all I thought I wanted. Until I went through such an emotional loss and simultaneous revelation that I wanted to create and depict this fight for what we love. I have been blessed to achieve much in the wake of this revelation such as debuting a musical and visual album reaching over 3M views and 730k streams, and meeting so many wonderful artists all over the world. But most importantly, the fight to share just how much I care for the loved ones in my life, is one that I find myself winning more and more. Whether I am working to finish my college degree, traveling across the country making beautiful works of art, or simply visiting my family at home over break, I have found what matters most and consciously pursue it each and every day.

"A free bird leaps / on the back of the wind / and floats downstream / till the current ends / and dips his wing / in the orange sun rays / and dares to claim the sky." ― Maya Angelou Success is freedom! The freedom to love, to create, to travel and experience life, and to pursue one's dreams to the fullest. My whole life I was put on a specific path. My parents wanted me to be an engineer. I was in math and science programs by the age of four, taught Chinese and Spanish, and given master chess lessons, all in an effort to push me towards this goal of being a STEM problem solving genius. Then I got to college and found out what it was like to truly feel loss. In those first two years away from home, I lost many of my best friends, my romantic partner, my grandfather, and as a result, my previously unshakable drive to become this superstar engineer. I was overwhelmed by emotion one day, and totally devoid of feeling the next, all in an effort to simply process my pain. That's when I found art. I was always averse to the idea of seriously considering pursuing an artistic field because it seemed like a fantasy. Until, when I felt sad, I started drawing. When I felt grateful, I dressed in bright pastel colors. I started to make a connection between understanding myself, and my artistic output! I began to create photo concepts and modeling. which evolved to becoming a director and inspiring others to connect with their inner artist. In 2022, I directed the very first international fashion experience in Baton Rouge, Louisiana which was filled to capacity with all kinds of people! Through art I found my inner freedom and expressed my deepest thoughts and emotions to myself and the world. I've been blessed to connect with artists and beautiful humans all over because of our vulnerability and connection to ourselves. That is freedom! In 2023, I debuted my first 4 musical songs and self-directed films expressing my journey since leaving home, which amounted to over 650,000 streams and over 3M views. But more importantly, I've been blessed to meet so many of my idols and even more kind souls that have resonated with the journey of freedom to find self. Currently, after a long tumultuous scholastic journey, full of major changes, scholarship applications, loans, and tough family conversations, I am about to start my last year at Louisiana State University hoping to graduate with a degree in Communication and Film! I am also simultaneously crafting and curating my debut music album and accompanying visual experience! My success looks like finding my joy in this life, and having the freedom to do so while inspiring others to do the same. This opportunity would help me achieve that success by providing funds to finish school while also creating and connecting with the people that I love. Many artists are so talented yet don't have the means to continue to discover themselves and pour into their creations. So much of my resources go towards paying back loans and funding daily necessities for school which leaves very little towards my continued artistic inspiration. I aim to continue having the freedom to connect with artists across the world and pour my soul into my work. That is what success looks like to me.