Being raised in poverty and dysfunction means you are constantly running away from something: shame, anger, abuse. But, what happens when you're tired of running? You hide. Most people find themselves hiding their pain in drugs, alcohol, or other addictions, but for me, art was my safe haven. I always had a pencil, a notebook, and an art teacher who cared. Unfortunately, in recent years, the latter has become scarce due to spending cuts to public school art programs. All while masterpieces by Banksy, Van Gogh, and Basquiat are craved and valued by elites. Art is more than an ornament; it is a tool for speaking without words, and in the day and age of media censorship, we need art back in schools more than ever. Winning this scholarship would mean the world to me. I would be able to put myself in my mentors’ shoes and give back to the community. With my Bachelor's of Art Education, I could teach children that ideas aren’t only communicated orally, but visually as well.