Photography changed my life. It assisted me in my path of self-discovery by opening my eye—not by opening my eyes, but by opening my camera’s eye and allowing me to find myself through the camera’s lens. My camera gave me confidence, showed me the beauty of the world, and brought me to new places. My camera showed me what I needed to see as I continued to look through my lens- I am meant to be a photographer.

I intend to continue seeing the beauty in everything and everyone as my pursuit of the arts, specifically photography, persists. I believe the photography department can assist me in seeing the world differently in various ways, such as seeing lighting and perspective in unique variations, pulling deeper meaning from my photographs, and seeing the world with an entirely new perspective. Although I know the classes will be rigorous and test my knowledge and patience, being able to improve my skills would allow me to improve as both a photographer and as a person because my outlook on the world would be so different. I know that the photography classes will push me further than where I am, allowing me to be where I never could imagine, thus allowing me to see the world differently. 

My hopes for the future consist of being a photojournalist, capturing moments that people manage to overlook, or perhaps photographing the small beauty within the larger frame. I want to bring what I imagine to life within my photographs. As a double major in journalism and the arts, I have always found a love for telling stories, whether that be through my photographs or through a short article. In my future career, I am pushing myself to constantly find meaning in the photos I photograph, and I want to produce and write beautiful stories alongside my photographs. I believe that the photography department will push my limits and the knowledge I currently have in the photography field, which will allow me to explore and expand my passion for both photography and photojournalism. 

As I enter into my future career, I know that I will face many challenges and uncertainties, such as competitiveness within the field, doubt within myself, and critiques from others. However, with ambition and determination, I believe that I can come out on top of all of my obstacles and hardships I will face while in the photography department.