One of my favorite experiences in the arts right now has been light designing Emily Brontë Teenage Ghost Hunter in the spring of 2024. Being able to light a brand-new play, I was able to have a lot of creative freedom. I was able to use the lights to express the mood change when the characters switch realities by switching from a “normal” base light cue to a very eerie dark and green light cue. Normally I try to use fewer greens in my work to keep people from looking like zombies, but for Emily Brontë, I was able to incorporate those greens. With this play, I was able to focus on lighting in front of the main, which meant hanging lights from balconies to add color instead of face light. The lights on the balcony were able to enhance the scenes to keep the eerie and ghostly feeling from when the main was up. Emily Brontë allowed me the creative freedom I enjoy as a designer, and with that, I was able to put my best work forward for this new play. These reasons are why Emily Brontë Teenage Ghost Hunter has been my favorite experience in the arts so far. Someone artistic who has influenced my life has been Bryan Rivera. Bryan has not only helped me grow my career in light design but also my passion for it. He worked at my high school to build sets and ended up teaching me almost everything I know about lights today. Over the past two years, he has taught me how to use many different types of intelligent lighting, how to make a magic sheet and different types of light boards. With all this Bryan has shown me how to express myself within lighting. The skills Bryan taught me have allowed me to be confident in my work and what I can design. He has allowed me to work as his assistant lighting designer at Starlight Theatre for the 2024 season. The opportunity has allowed me to expand my lighting skills, specifically on equipment I had never used before. Bryan has not only given me experience in designing but also hanging, focusing, wiring, and gelling fixtures to expand my knowledge even more. Bryan has pushed me to critique my work and make it the best it could be. We worked together to create two great shows that we are both very proud of that showcased the best of both of our works. Without Bryan's help, I would not be where I am today.