Karen Valencia Rojas 

Growing up, I was lucky to receive some education in the arts and I've always remind myself of that when I finish a work. From an early exposure to art, I was able to express my creativity from a young age. Even though I didn't have a lot of art materials to work with, I was able to adapt and just work with what I did have. Through that perseverance, I was able to not only satisfy, but also grow my imagination. From pencil drawings to sculptures made out of recycled materials, I never let anything hold me back from creating.  It's not just about expressing my creativity, however; it's about creating work that speaks for itself, and when words aren't enough, its about expressing those strong emotions that you feel but can't explain. For me, its an escape from every day life. I know that not everyone will have the same perspective or even agree with what's expressed in my works, but I don't just create for satisfying people.  I create for myself; especially when I was a shy kid and didn't have the courage to speak my inner thoughts, having the ability to do it in the form of art makes everything in life worth while.

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As much as I love creating art and expressing myself through it, I don't know if I want to continue in the art career path, considering that if I create want other people want, my will and passion for it will dissipate. However, I may be able to find a balance with this in the later future and actually pursue a career in the arts. For now, I will pursue a career as an airline pilot and maybe cosmetology, but u will still create artwork for myself and continue to express myself through it.