Connect What is your favorite type of art to create?

I love creating assemblage pieces the most because they let me transform ordinary, often overlooked objects into something meaningful and expressive. There’s something really satisfying about taking items that might have been thrown away and giving them a second life through art. I enjoy the process of finding connections between different materials—how their textures, shapes, and histories can come together to tell a new story. Each piece feels like a kind of reinvention, where discarded object

Where do you find inspiration?

I tend to find inspiration in nostalgia, drawing from memories, experiences, and emotions that have stayed with me as I’ve grown up. I look back on the things I once loved—whether it’s specific objects, colors, places, or even simple moments—and use them as a starting point for my work. Those memories carry a certain honesty that I try to preserve in my art. I enjoy tapping into my inner child because it allows me to create more freely and intuitively, without overthinking or holding back.

What would you do with $25,000?

I would apply it toward my tuition as I work toward earning my Bachelor’s degree in Education with a specialization in Fine Arts. My goal is to become a middle school art teacher. During my own middle school years, I was fortunate to have an art teacher who recognized my potential and helped nurture it into what it is today. I would love the opportunity to provide that same kind of support and inspiration for the next generation of students.