I have always enjoyed art, but as a child, I never saw myself as artistically talented. I envied my classmates’ ability to draw cute doodles and effortlessly color inside the lines. It was not until years later when my perspective toward what made “good” art began to change. My fifth grade art teacher encouraged students to do their best, and projects were graded based on students' efforts and her knowledge of their abilities instead of how perfect or skilled they were. As a kid who was not good at much of anything, I was drawn to this new environment where I could excel due to my perseverance and enjoyment in creating art. Even still, my negative view of my own abilities did not change until the ninth grade. I skeptically took a 3D art course to find, in this new medium, I was praised not only for my hard work, but also for the aesthetic pleasantness of my work. I received the 3D art award from my school, and I finally began to see myself as somewhat talented. The next semester, I try 2D art once more and created the first piece I was ever proud of. Art became an increasingly prominent part of my life when in junior year, I was elected to be National Art Honor Society's vice president, and I had more artworks chosen to be in the school exhibit than any other non-AP art student (four sculptures and four paintings). Senior year, I was NAHS president, head of the yearbook design team, received three art awards from my school, created a commission piece for my father’s business partner, and found a new interest in embroidery. Although I was unable to take an art class ‪‪this semester, artistically, I feel as if I am on a roller coaster that only goes up. ‬‬