Adapting to Change by Zora

Adapting to Change by Zora - May 2022 Scholarship Essay

To this day, one of the oldest and factual quotes remains “The only constant in life is change”-Heraclitus. In March of 2020, we all experienced an unwelcomed and unexpected change with the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic did not discriminate, it was experienced by all, regardless of race, religion, gender, or income status. We all were significantly impacted and to this day will never be the same. The first time I truly had to adapt to change occurred during the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. As strange as it may sound, this tumultuous time was also when I experienced the proudest moments of my life.

This period notoriously known as the lock-down, was the most challenging time for me. During this time, I personally discovered the meaning of the word resilience. I completed the remainder of my sophomore year and my entire junior year remotely. Like many others, I struggled with losing daily interaction in school and with my social circle. It did not take long before my mental health began to suffer, and I realized I needed an outlet. My mom saw my need and provided me with resources to help me cope, I started therapy and discovered instructional art videos. Although I had taken art classes in school, self-teaching was a challenge; however, I approached it with lots of motivation and hard work. As a result, I improved my skills in different art mediums and began researching career paths available to me in art.
During this challenging time, I made the decision to attend a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). Experiencing the pandemic coupled with the social unrest across the country; I knew I needed to root myself in who I truly am. An HBCU will further build my resilience and cultural appreciation that I won't get anywhere else. At an HBCU, I will be surrounded by like-minded students and professors who genuinely care for students and are influential in developing the next generation of leaders. As an artist, I desire to learn about art from the African diaspora and follow the evolution of African American Art. This is an opportunity I have longed for, as it is not available to me in my current high school environment. I have already set a personal goal to have a piece of my art on display in a fine arts gallery on my HBCU campus one day.

My goals for college are to develop as an artist, make lifelong friends, gain creative experiences, and build upon my high school volunteer and leadership roles to improve my community. I will become an active member of organizations on campus who share my passion for service and seek to improve the campus and local community. After college, I plan to become a graphic designer and art therapist to be a voice for personal mental health. Growing up, my village instilled in me the importance of giving back and serving others. I will work to increase awareness about the lack of youth art programs in minority and underserved areas and advocate for change. I will serve as a mentor so students can see an artist they can relate to.
Looking back, I am grateful for the challenge that the lock-down of the pandemic presented which allowed me to grow in many ways. Art became my therapy to feel better, increase my self- confidence and create my best artwork. As a result, I was accepted into art programs after submitting my art portfolio. I also decided to attend an HBCU and look forward to pursuing a career in a field that I love. My resilience was developed because, despite adversity and obstacles beyond my control, I became stronger. Without a doubt I can say this is one of my proudest moments because not only did adapt to change; I began to thrive!