Creativity is my joy and solace, an extension of who I am, my connection to God. Early on I knew He had given me a gift to use for the greater good. I started drawing at an early age. I would try to recreate the basketball and football cards that I collected. Michael Jordan and Emmitt Smith were muses that I always gravitated towards, people that I aspired to be like. I honed my art skills over time. I was quiet and reclusive by nature, maybe it was all the moves growing up. I had moved seventeen (17) times before the age of eighteen (18). A military kid, I had the opportunity to see the United States from coast to coast not to mention a stint overseas. This provided plenty of time to create but also gave me a unique insight into the multitude of cultures that I experienced. I realized early on that we are more alike than different. However, reality is that many people in our country have had different experiences, and I was able to see this first-hand. Out of all the places that I lived, Mississippi had the most profound effect on who I was to become. It was 1993 and they were busing the military kids to East Biloxi to ensure school district quotas were met. Essentially, desegregation was still occurring even in the 90’s. I remember sitting in social studies class and watching out the window as police did raids in the projects across the street. The school I attended was predominately Black and Vietnamese, most of my teachers were Black. One teacher in particular, Ms. Qualls always encouraged my creativity. I do not think she ever realized the confidence that she provided in me to create. Although I felt I was creative, she pushed me to test my creative bounds and helped set the trajectory on my creative journey. These experiences are core to who I am today and can be seen in my art. My subjects are often linked to my experiences and who I grew up around. As my journey evolves, I will continue to create and advocate for the voiceless. As an ally, I will continue to use my gift to paint pictures of truth and beauty that have systemically been left out of American art. I will always create for the people.