Grade: 9

Bio: She plays piano, and she plays clarinet in the band at our school. She plays softball and this will be her first season playing for American Heritage, and she is involved in many clubs such as robotics, GEMS, science research, Best Buddies, FSF to name a few.

What motivated you to write this piece?

Thinking about all of the madness and mayhem in the world today, I wanted to compose something that showcased the mindset/perspective of a true dreamer that is being held back. What a true dreamer means to me: someone who never gives up, is grateful for what they have, and will take action persistently on things they stand for, even in the most challenging moments when it feels like the world is spinning out of control. Whether it be social, political, cultural, etc issues, no matter what happens today, or even tomorrow, we are still united. Being united is something that we can take for granted most times, so I wanted the viewer to resonate with the fact that: no matter who you are, what your social or economic status is, or what you’re passionate about, we the people are supposed encourage one another to keep on dreaming and join forces to do this thing called “life”.

What is your ideal writing environment?

A place that is nice and quiet, that I can get “into the zone”. An environment surrounded by nature, listening to the noises or silence going on around me, and a place to observe small details that I never have before. Also, listening to music during the illustrating process is one of my favorite things to do.

What message do you hope to convey to the reader through your piece?

Regardless of the barriers that life may throw you, in the United States we are all blessed to have the rights and freedom to optimistically dream, take advantage of all opportunities, and be able to accomplish those same dreams together.