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Odalys Vasquez-Lopez

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Bio

Hello! I'm a first-generation high school senior who's interested in pursuing computer science and minoring in video game design! I'll be the first in my family to pursue college, so it's up to me to set an example for my younger siblings. Being the first to go to college is extremely intimidating, especially since I'll essentially be treading the waters alone. I think one of the biggest challenges that I'll be facing is being able to afford the cost of college since my parents still need to worry about taking care of my siblings and their future education. However, the cost of college won't stop me from pursuing my dream career and putting my family in a better financial situation! My dream is to be able to create my video game one day! As digital media becomes more prominent in our lives, I see how much a good video game series can make an impact on someone's life. People are able to form life-long connections out of it and are able to share their creativity at the same time. To even play a small part in that would be worth it. While not many opportunities come my way, I try my best to be a part of programs that focus on building up my skills such as the Academy of Art Uni's Pre-College Experience. I'm also taking a computer science class. As of right now, I'm spending a lot of time volunteering whenever I can, such as volunteering at a local thrift store and with Interact Club. I'm currently taking different college courses in order to lessen the cost of college once I graduate. I almost have a semester's worth of credits!

Education

Madera South High

High School
2018 - 2022

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Bachelor's degree program

  • Majors of interest:

    • Visual and Performing Arts, General
    • Design and Applied Arts
    • Film/Video and Photographic Arts
    • Fine and Studio Arts
    • Computer Software and Media Applications
    • Computer Science
  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Computer Games

    • Dream career goals:

      Working in Game Design

    • Yearbook Intern; Collaborated on yearbook layouts and photographed events

      Upward Bound
      2021 – 2021

    Sports

    Tennis

    Junior Varsity
    2018 – 20191 year

    Tennis

    Varsity
    2019 – 20212 years

    Awards

    • Dynamic Duo
    • Scholastic Athlete

    Public services

    • Volunteering

      Hinds Hospice Thrift Store — Cleaning and putting away merchandise, cashier, cleaning carts, helping and greeting customers; 80 hours volunteered
      2020 – 2022
    • Volunteering

      Interact — Helped with two local Halloween attractions, helped with a dinner drive, helped with Trees for Charity
      2019 – Present

    Future Interests

    Volunteering

    Entrepreneurship

    Terry Crews "Creative Courage" Scholarship
    Art has always been my biggest motivator in life. Being surrounded by it, it has gotten me through my darkest moments. My passion for art motivates me to pursue higher education in order to accomplish my career goal of working in animation. When I make my own art, I use it as a way to cope with the daily mishaps of life. Being first-generation and being the oldest, there's a lot of pressure on doing well enough in school to pursue college. Due to that pressure, I struggle with the idea of whether or not everything I’ve done up to this point has been worth it. If it weren’t for my passion for my career goal, I wouldn’t really have much to look forward to in my own life. Seeing how much art has a hold over me, overtime, I have also become more interested in the way art affects other people. I spend a lot of time on social media, so I see the way that communities are cultivated from different media such as video games or T.V. shows. I learned how people are able to make lifelong friendships from them and how much comfort these communities can bring to them. Witnessing all these fan creations that have sprouted from these communities fueled my desire to explore new career paths in art like animation/game design. Art can be expressed in so many different ways, and so with art having such an impact, I strive for the day where I too can create something that will leave a lasting mark as it has done for me and countless others.