I've always been an extreme introvert. However, when I walk into my closet, I come alive as I browse through the neatly arranged row of hats - a hat of a performer, designer, art advocate, leader, and researcher - and decide on which one I want to put on for the day. I'm not necessarily a different person when I wear these hats, but I do play different roles as different hats require different skills to be the best version of me. 

My journey with art and history of my hats go back to the first day of my theater class. My theater teacher said the class motto was, "Never be afraid to express yourself. Your feelings are most natural, important, and unique." I felt my heart pump faster when I heard this. And when I started expressing my deep emotions, I began to feel alive. Through theater, I have learned to use performance as my communication tool. 

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Acquiring the visual artist hat has positively impacted other parts of my life. As a social activist, I am constantly motivated to search for new ways to express my ideas and communicate with my community about the issues I am passionate about. For example, in order to celebrate international women's month, I integrated my skills in video editing, choreography, and acting to convey a message of breaking the bias about women to achieve women's rights. 

Going forward, I want to deepen my interest in research by combining social justice with visual arts as I continue to hone my creative tools.