I was born on May 4th, 2004, and raised in Meridian, Mississippi.
Meridian gets a lot of flak for being one of the most unsafe cities in Mississippi; however, one thing that you cannot take away from the city is its rich culture. Whether it be the different social norms that are only known to residents, or the bountiful artistry throughout the city. Growing up, there was never really a dull moment in the city. Outside of that, I had a lot of special interests as a kid that are very common as a person from Meridian, with one specifically outshining the others – Trains. From the time I started grade school, I had such a huge obsession with trains and the idea of being an “Engineer”; Having so many trainyards, a train station, and so many industrial plants that were connected mainly by tracks really fueled the younger version of me’s imagination. It is also funny because, as I got older and kept talking about wanting to be an “Engineer”, people would think I was talking about being in STEM and not locomotives. This also translates into how I was originally a Civil Engineering Major before becoming a Graphic Designer, but that’s a story for another day.
I have an Associate’s degree in Applied Sciences (Graphic Design) from Meridian Community College (MCC), and I currently attend the University of Southern Mississippi as a BFA Graphic Design major. While I had a solid foundation in Graphics coming from MCC, being at USM has taught me so much, not only as a designer but also as a person. I have grown creatively, socially, and all in all, being at USM has reignited my passion for the visual arts.
My Values
Getting a little vulnerable here, ever since I was little, I have always struggled with finding a community. Even though I didn’t really know what community truly meant to me at the time, I knew I wanted to discover and experience it. I had decent friends and peers that I adored growing up; however, it still felt like I was always the odd one out, even amongst those who were already considered the odd ones out. Combine that with my childhood struggles with self-worth/ self-esteem… it was never a good feeling. It wasn’t until I got to junior college that I finally got to experience just a taste of what it was like to have a group of amazing people that allowed me to be comfortable with who I was while also continuing to grow as a person. Even with that small taste, I had to remember that I live in Mississippi. While I may be proud of the state’s artistic and unique social culture, I couldn’t just run away from the hateful and bigoted feelings that brew within even the most liberal-seeming people. I went through a lot of small communities, not only having to search for people who were more similar to me but also for those who wouldn’t let their own feelings and insecurities cloud their personal relationships. Even though it’s been a while, and lord knows I have grown a lot since, I can finally say that being in university has allowed me the privilege to be a part of a community; This community of people, while small, has truly allowed me to exist in a way where I don’t have to hide parts of myself and grow in way that is affirmed/respected.
With all that being said, I deeply value having a community of like-minded individuals that allows one to be comfortable with who they are and allows them to grow in productive ways while also being given the space to be vulnerable about their struggles.
