About me

For so much of my life, I have lived as a victim. The trauma in my youth created this inescapable and suffocating feeling that followed me like a shadow. I went about my life feeling out of control. I was a victim of what he did. But the day I finished my first ever film, I realized that I could regain control of my life. I could be a survivor of my past, not a victim to it. Not only that,  I could use my art to help others know that they are not alone. 

 

Halfway through my digital media art’s class my junior year, we were assigned a project called the “personal narrative film”. I had never made a film in my life, so naturally I was hesitant. At the time, I was diagnosed with PTSD, so I decided to write a poem to express my feelings about that. And, for the first time, I felt in control. What inspired me even more was the feedback I got after the film was released: a gold key in the scholastics art and writing competition, 5th place in the Golden Lion Film Festival, and even in the top 25 pieces in the Ohio Governor's Art Exhibition 2024, winning me the Governor's Award of Excellence. I got flooded with texts from people I didn’t even know telling me how the film had made them feel less alone, and it was then I realized that this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. While film has my heart, digital collage is a close second.  Several pieces of mine are based off the question of  “What do the problems of our society look like when contrasted with a child’s innocence?” As someone who experienced trauma at a young age, I am incredibly passionate about advocating for the protection of children in every way. I hope that my art points out the flaws in our society and inspires change that creates a better future for our youth. My piece titled No One is Ever Actually Okay is an example of these pieces, as it points out how quickly children realize the prevalence of mental health issues. This piece is amongst the Ohio Governor's Art Exhibition 2024, as well as been in the Cincinnati Contemporary Center’s Teen Art Expo. My most recent award has been for my film competing in Business Professionals of America 2024, as I placed 2nd in the state of Ohio for digital media production. I am the only Kings’ student eligible to compete at the national level in Chicago in 2024. 

 

I am beyond proud to be a committed Miami University ‘28 student, co-majoring in Emerging Tech in Business + and Design and film. It is my dream to become a writer/director who creates work that tells a meaningful story. I want others to know that they don’t need to stay a victim to the past, but that they are a survivor capable of anything.