Growing up in Los Angeles, a city filled with creativity and cultural diversity, has given me a beautiful perspective on the role art plays in representing society's modern aspirations and beliefs but throughout high school, I’ve watched my art classes be disregarded as an extracurricular, busy work, and a break period. My art teacher, Sister Amina, combated this stigma by teaching her students that art is a reflection of society, and its appreciation is a sign of intelligence. The one lesson that she taught that hammered the point she was making was observing Eugene Majied’s political artwork and using his artwork as inspiration to make a political poster of our own based on what we are angry about and be prepared to write and share an essay about it in class. Whenever I create art, I try to think of it as a process. Observe, Invent, and Sensitize Doing that, I decided to focus on the hardships of women in Palestine for an assignment. I titled my art: ‘The Ongoing Catastrophe in Palestine.' In the foreground, there were two figures; a woman kneeled over holding her child while an IDF soldier aimed a gun at her head. I used the colors of bright red and white to invoke a sense of chaos and intensity around them, while they were black and white. Behind them, there is rubble and destroyed buildings, while the crescent from the Nation of Islam, which represents justice, shines down on them. As we discussed what we were upset about, I gained insight into how systemic issues connect and affect different communities. I loved how we as a class used our abilities to create strong works of art that deeply resonate with each other and that can be interpreted in many different ways. This experience taught me that art is a tool for advocacy and solidified my desire to use art to inspire dialogue and change. After the lesson, Sister Amina shared a quote that resonated deeply with me: “Art, in its many forms, is practiced by almost all human cultures and can be regarded as one of the defining characteristics of the human species.” This opened my eyes to the fact that our creations make us distinctly human. Art has become my way to heal and feel truly alive, sparking growth and awareness within me. To me, being an artist means having the power to observe, invent, and sensitize; the person who holds the pen, holds the power. I plan to teach people the importance of this power by owning an art school where young artists can come to learn, create, and talk about their work. Through my many years of growing as an artist, I’ve learned it truly does not matter what medium you’re using as long as you are producing something. When you make something, it can generate feelings for yourself and the observer. Artists create new ideas every second, and they bring those ideas to life through physical media like paintings and sculptures and through forms of expression like dance and music. I believe that taking time to make or do something, and being able to find meaning in the most obscure things is what makes art special.

Observe, Invent, and Sensitize. When you've been an artist for so many years, you learn how to see things in a very different way than everyone else. The ability to create strong works of art that deeply resonate with people and that can be interpreted in many different ways is a skill that is often overlooked in our society. It transcends language barriers and allows us to communicate and explore complex ideas together. As artists, we have to wear multiple hats in order to be truly effective in our craft. Through architecture, fashion, performance, and paintings, art tells us how people have and will continue to live. We’ve used fashion as a form of rebellion and a way to claim space in ‘places we don't belong.' Ultimately, I plan to own an art school where young artists can come to learn, create, and talk about their work. It will be in Los Angeles to employ and support artists from here. I want to teach traditional art since those skills can easily be transferred to digital art, the foundations of dealing with businesses. and the relationship between art and politics. I have enjoyed doing art since elementary school, and the advice my teacher gave made it easy for me to love it without pressure. “There are no mistakes in art” Whenever I felt like my work was ruined over something like spilled paint or messy coloring, she encouraged me to make the best of it. To make the best of our ‘mistakes’ we need to learn how to see them as something else. I choose to see mines as opportunities to expand. My current short-term goals to get to this point start with selling the stickers I make and working with small businesses through the Sola Tech and Entrepreneurship centers to begin to raise money for the property I'm going to buy for my school. I’ve had the chance to experiment with multiple different mediums, and I’ve learned it truly does not matter what medium you’re using as long as you are producing something. When you make something, it can generate feelings for yourself and the observer. Artists create new ideas every second, and they bring those ideas to life through physical media like paintings and sculptures and through forms of expression like dance and music. I believe that taking time to make or do something, and being able to find meaning in the most obscure things is what makes art special. My vision drives me to continue sharpening my skills and expanding my knowledge so that I can provide the best support to my future students.