As a first-generation college student, I pursued art at the University of Central Missouri, driven by a passion to express the unexplainable. I aspire to be an artist and art professor, using painting to channel emotions like grief into works like You’re Like a 7/10, where greens and pinks blend complexity. Plein air painting keeps me present, influencing my studio practice with composition and light. As a McNair Scholar, I researched how plein air resists hustle culture, producing six paintings and presenting at conferences. In 2024, the Mount Gretna School of Art sharpened my craft through intensive plein air and figurative drawing. My latest work, Saluti, explores memory with blues and reds, symbolizing absence and strength. I’m aiming for the University of Kansas M.F.A. to elevate my practice, merging painting and sculpture while teaching. In an AI-heavy world, I champion traditional mediums, proving the human hand’s worth. KU’s faculty critiques, research focus, and interdisciplinary vibe align with my goals, pushing me to evolve as an artist and educator. My path celebrates art’s raw power to connect, inspiring future creators to embrace its unfiltered truth and keep making marks that matter.