Hello

My Story

I was the kid that was always coloring or drawing. The kid that would ask to create something, like a picture or cartoon, instead of writing an essay in school. I took art and gaming classes in and out of school, which helped me achieve my goals. I loved them and was good at them. I have learned that life is never easy, and my path to success will probably look different than most others, but if I make a plan, create structure, and don’t give up, I can accomplish my goals. 

For the last 12 years, I’ve been doing martial arts at Mayer’s Karate & Fitness. I originally got into karate to help with my focus and went to the class for kids with special needs every Saturday. As I improved at karate, I started going to the “regular” karate classes twice a week and sometimes three days if I had my private lessons. I just did this, but after a few years and several belt promotions, I realized I could get a black belt. I didn't think of getting one when I started training because I thought it would be too difficult. But over the years, I gained confidence, skills, and the ability to ask for extra training or help from my instructors. I made a daily workout routine; I worked on my endurance by running on the treadmill. My strength was lifting hand weights and practicing my forms and drill attacks on the heavy bag. This became my routine every day, which helped me not only get better but increase my confidence. 

       I felt like I had accomplished something great when I got my belt. I have realized that setting goals and creating structure has been the key to everything I have accomplished. Not only in karate but also regarding my education. There were always people who talked about my limitations, but I was lucky to have my family, who encouraged, believed in, and supported me to succeed in everything I set my mind to. I graduated from high school in 2020. I knew that I was interested in college. I also knew what I wanted to study, but where to get my education was an incredibly overwhelming thought. I didn’t know where I wanted to go to school, and I wasn’t sure I was ready to live away from home.  

With the pandemic happening and my anxiety high, I decided to stay home and go to Bergen Community College to study art and animation. I was nervous about whether I could handle college, but I structured my time, especially during quarantine, to manage my classwork, work a part-time job, and still have time for my personal art, karate and my mental health.  All of this paid off, as I was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society based on my current 3.7 GPA. I am excited to graduate this spring from Bergen Community College with an associate in applied science degree in Computer Animation. I have seen myself grow as a person and an artist during the last few years.  I am excited about my next chapter – getting a bachelor’s degree and a job in the art field.  I am especially interested in animation, graphic design or illustration.  This would be the greatest gift - doing what I love and getting paid for it.