THE QUOTE BY RALPH WALDO EMERSON, "DO NOT GO WHERE THE PATH MAY LEAD; GO INSTEAD WHERE THERE IS NO PATH AND LEAVE A TRAIL," SAYS A LOT ABOUT ME AND MY INDIVIDUALITY, EXPRESSED THROUGH CREATIVITY. I INSPIRE MYSELF AND OTHERS DAILY TO SEE THE WORLD IN BEAUTIFUL, VIBRANT COLORS. LIFE IS AN OPEN BOOK FULL OF POSSIBILITIES, AND I LIVE MINE WITH CREATIVITY, RESILIENCE, AND AUTHENTICITY. THE FIRST-GENERATION FILIPINO-AMERICAN EXPERIENCE INSTILLED A GRATEFUL SPIRIT AND THE URGE TO BUILD TOWARD A BETTER FUTURE. THEREFORE, CHALLENGES WERE NEVER SEEN AS BARRIERS BUT AS OPPORTUNITIES, MORE LEARNING MILESTONES, AND GROWTH IN TRYING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. MY LIFE HAS BALANCED RESPECT FOR ROOTS WITH THE FREEDOM TO BE ME AND FORGE MY PATH INNOVATIVELY. I FIND FULFILLMENT IN THE EXPRESSION OF SELF THROUGH FASHION, STORYTELLING, AND DEEP CONNECTIONS WITH OTHERS. IN BREAKING TRADITIONAL MOLDS AND EXPLORING POSSIBILITIES, I AM INSPIRED TO BE AT MY BEST AND ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO DO SO. I PLAN ON EXUDING CONFIDENCE AND POSITIVITY, REMINDING OTHERS THAT THE WORLD IS THEIR CANVAS AND THEIR COLORS ARE WAITING TO BE SHARED. I AM DRIVEN, CREATIVE, AND INTENTIONAL. LIFE IS A CONTINUOUSLY CHANGING ADVENTURE IN WHICH EACH STEP FORWARD MEANS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND INSPIRE OTHERS TO FORGE THEIR PATHS. GUIDED BY A PASSION FOR ADVERTISING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS, THE STORIES I SEEK TO ELEVATE ARE WORTHY OF BEING TOLD, AND THE MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS ONE CAN MAKE ULTIMATELY PROVE THAT UNIQUENESS AND PURPOSE CAN BE SHOWN THROUGH EVERYTHING. I AM 21 YEARS OLD, AND UP TO THIS DATE, I HAVE GONE THROUGH A LOT, ALLOWING ME TO MOLD MYSELF INTO THE STRONG PERSON I AM PROUD OF. MY PARENTS ARE MY BIGGEST INSPIRATIONS. THEY LOVE LIFE THROUGH EVERY STRUGGLE, FACING CHALLENGES, AND FIGHTING THROUGH EVERY PROBLEM IN SEARCH OF NEW OPPORTUNITIES, FIRST FOR THEMSELVES AND THEN FOR OUR FAMILY. THEIR RESILIENCE AND DETERMINATION DRIVE ME TO BE AT MY BEST, TO WORK HARD, AND TO STAND FIRM IN PURSUING MY DREAMS AND PASSIONS. I GREW UP TO BE STRONG AND NEVER TO GIVE UP ON ANYTHING, A VIRTUE I CARRY ON WITH ALL I DO. AT GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY, I AM THE VICE PRESIDENT, SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR, AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF 494 MAGAZINE, GRAND VALLEY'S FIRST FASHION MAGAZINE ORGANIZATION. WE NOTICED AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY TO FILL THE GAP AT GRAND VALLEY AND SOMETHING SPECIAL BECAUSE MANY UNIVERSITIES ACROSS MICHIGAN HAVE ISSUED THEIR OWN FASHION MAGAZINES. WHAT WERE JUST 12 FRIENDS WHO SHARED THE SAME PASSION FOR FASHION AND DEVELOPED INTO A GREAT ORGANIZATION SHOWING CREATIVES' TALENT AND GIVING THEM SOMETHING TO BUILD UP IN THEIR PORTFOLIO. 494 MAGAZINE IS MORE THAN A PUBLICATION; IT'S A COMMUNITY OF COLLABORATION BETWEEN STUDENTS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE. WRITERS, JOURNALISTS, MARKETING AND ADVERTISING MAJORS, PUBLIC RELATIONS STUDENTS, PHOTOGRAPHERS, FILMMAKERS, GRAPHIC DESIGNERS, MODELS, STYLISTS, AND OTHERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO JOIN US AND SHARE THEIR SKILLS AND PERSPECTIVES. AS A CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF 494 MAGAZINE, I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR GUIDING THE ARTISTIC VISION OF THE MAGAZINE. AS A TEAM, 494 ENSURES EACH ISSUE REFLECTS CREATIVITY, INCLUSIVITY, AND PROFESSIONALISM. THIS ORGANIZATION HAS BECOME A BEACON IN MY COLLEGE EXPERIENCE FOR LEADERSHIP, COLLABORATION OPPORTUNITIES, AND THE ABILITY TO MAKE AN IMPACT. IT IS SO REWARDING TO WITNESS HOW 494 MAGAZINE HAS INSPIRED ITS MEMBERS, GIVING STUDENTS AT GRAND VALLEY A CHANCE TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES PROFESSIONALLY IN REAL-WORLD SITUATIONS. BUT I AM MORE THAN 494 MAGAZINES, WITH ARTISTIC SOUL AT THE HEART OF EVERY WORK OF ART. FASHION, DRUMMING, GUITAR, AND POETRY-THEY ALL SERVE AS METHODS OF SELF-EXPRESSION AND STORYTELLING FOR ME. FASHION MEANS FINDING YOURSELF, YOUR IDENTITY, AND YOUR STYLE. IT KEEPS MY SOUL AFLAME, AKIN TO EVERYONE. POETRY SPEAKS OF MY THOUGHTS, EMOTIONS, AND EXPERIENCES. THIS SHAPES ME, HOW I THINK, AND HOW I RELATE TO THE WORLD. MY MOTIVATION IS TO INSPIRE OTHERS THROUGH LEADERSHIP, CREATIVITY, AND PASSION. BE IT WITH 494 MAGAZINE, ART, OR MERELY CONNECTING WITH OTHERS, I MAKE SURE I LEAVE MY IMPACT. LIFE HAS A WAY OF SHOWING THAT STRENGTH GROWS FROM THE RUINS, AND EVERY CHALLENGE BRINGS ME CLOSER TO LIVING A FUTURE I CREATE FOR MYSELF WHERE MY RESILIENCE AND CREATIVITY HAVE MADE WAY. ALONG WITH 494 MAGAZINE, I HAVE BARTENDED AND SERVED IN RESTAURANTS SINCE I WAS 15. WHILE THIS MAY NOT NECESSARILY FIT UNDER THE CATEGORY OF ADVERTISING AND PR, IT HAS TAUGHT ME A GREAT DEAL ABOUT LEADERSHIP, TEAMWORK, AND FLUIDITY THAT I WILL TAKE WITH ME INTO AN OFFICE ENVIRONMENT. IN THE RESTAURANT BUSINESS, SUCCESS DEPENDS ON COLLABORATING WITH ALL POSITIONS: COOKS COOK THE FOOD, HOSTS SEAT TABLES, SERVERS ENSURE EXCELLENT SERVICE, BARTENDERS MAKE DRINKS, AND PREP COOKS KEEP THE KITCHEN RUNNING. GROWING UP, I REALIZED HOW INTERDEPENDENT THESE POSITIONS ARE AND HOW ESSENTIAL TEAMWORK IS TO REACH ONE COMMON GOAL. MY EXPERIENCES HAVE TAUGHT ME TO COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY, MANAGE HIGH-PRESSURE SITUATIONS, AND ADAPT TO CONSTANTLY CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES. I HAVE ALSO DEVELOPED A STRONG WORK ETHIC AND THE ABILITY TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE. SUCCESS CAN NEVER BE AN INDIVIDUAL EFFORT; ONE NEEDS TRUST, COLLABORATION, AND UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT EVERY PERSON BRINGS WITH THEM TO THE TABLE TO HELP ACHIEVE SUCCESS. I WILL ALWAYS BE THANKFUL FOR THOSE YEARS IN RESTAURANTS SINCE THIS TIME SET A BASE ON WHICH I COULD CONTINUE GROWING. THESE LESSONS WILL CARRY OVER TO MY FUTURE IN ADVERTISING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS, WHERE THE COLLABORATION OF INDIVIDUALS AND TEAMWORK IS JUST AS CRITICAL FOR SUCCESS. THIS PREPARES ME BY TEACHING ME HOW TO WORK IN A TEAM TO GO THROUGH CHALLENGES AND CREATE ENVIRONMENTS WHERE EVERYONE'S INPUT IS IMPORTANT AND VALUED. I LOOK FORWARD TO BRINGING THIS SKILL INTO PRACTICE AS I PURSUE MY PASSION FOR CREATIVITY AND LEADERSHIP IN ADVERTISING. IN THE FUTURE, I WOULD LIKE TO WORK AS AN ADVERTISING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS SPECIALIST FOR A FASHION OR MAKEUP ORGANIZATION IN NEW YORK CITY. MY PASSION FOR CREATIVITY, BRANDING, AND THE DYNAMIC WORLD OF FASHION AND BEAUTY DRIVES THIS DREAM. I WANT TO BE PART OF A TEAM THAT ADVOCATES FOR A BRAND I DEEPLY RESONATE WITH, AND THAT REPRESENTS THE VALUES AND ARTISTRY I ADMIRE. MY ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO USE MY SKILLS TO ELEVATE A BRAND'S PRESENCE AND CONNECT WITH AUDIENCES MEANINGFULLY. I AM GOAL-ORIENTED AND HAVE SHOWN THE ABILITY TO LEAD. AS VICE PRESIDENT AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR AT 494 MAGAZINE AT GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY, I GOT TO EXPERIENCE FIRSTHAND CREATIVE COLLABORATION AND LEADERSHIP. IN THIS ROLE, I LEARNED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF VISION, COMMUNICATION, AND ADAPTABILITY, WHICH WILL SERVE ME WELL IN THE FAST-MOVING WORLD OF ADVERTISING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS. THE PHILOSOPHY OF RALPH WALDO EMERSON LEADS ME: "DO NOT GO WHERE THE PATH MAY LEAD; GO INSTEAD WHERE THERE IS NO PATH AND LEAVE A TRAIL." THE UNDERLYING THOUGHT MAKES ME HANDLE PROBLEMS AND OPPORTUNITIES DIFFERENTLY, WITH A NOTION TO CREATE MY PATH AND LEAVE MARKS. I HAVE BEEN PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES, THINKING INNOVATIVELY, AND SETTING NEW BENCHMARKS FOR EXCELLENCE IN WHATEVER I DO. I CHOSE THIS MAJOR BECAUSE I AM A NATURAL COMMUNICATOR, AND I LIKE INSPIRING OTHERS. BE IT CREATING ENGAGING CONTENT, PRESENTING FRESH IDEAS, OR TURNING OVER EVERY ROCK FOR A CREATIVE SOLUTION TO ANY PROBLEM, I'M ALWAYS OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE. THAT SAID, I'M ALL ABOUT CREATING INSPIRING NARRATIVES THAT CONNECT A BRAND WITH ITS AUDIENCE. I WANT TO LEAVE A MARK ON THE WORLD THROUGH PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS AND BRING AUTHENTICITY AND CREATIVITY INTO WHATEVER PROJECTS I DECIDE TO TAKE UP. MY DREAMS ARE MORE THAN A CAREER, ADVERTISING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS IS THE WAY I WILL TOUCH PEOPLE'S LIVES, AMPLIFY VOICES, AND CELEBRATE INNOVATION. THIS IS A BURNING DESIRE TO PURSUE MY DREAMS AND CHART MY COURSE OF DIFFERENCE IN THIS WORLD.