From scribbling on my parent’s wall as a kid to creating designs on the computer.
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During my undergraduate studies at Concordia University Wisconsin, I was tasked with crafting an artist statement for my Senior Art Show. I spent countless hours searching for the perfect words. Eventually, I settled on:
"I aspire to grow personally, professionally, emotionally, and spiritually by embodying persistence, creativity, commitment to quality, and continuous learning, always striving to exceed expectations."
Little did I know, these words would come to define my journey after graduation, becoming the foundation of my life.
Throughout my career as a graphic designer, I've learned that humility is indispensable. Bringing visions to life requires designers to humbly implement ideas that may originate from team members or clients. My ultimate aspiration is to become a creative leader. I hope to inspire diverse teams with a blend of skills and personalities to achieve innovative results and solutions that resonate with stakeholders.
Service and humility are essential virtues in the creative field, and my love for art and creativity blossomed early in life. I fondly recall scribbling on the living room wall as a child, then attempting the same masterpiece on my parents' bedroom wall later that same day. I was only handed a sponge and a pail of water by my father to clean up my creations. I didn't discover graphic design until 8th grade, when a career interview assignment forced me to figure out what I actually wanted to be. My original goal was the NBA, but I didn't know any pro ballers, and I'm also sub-6-feet. I was inspired by the sports posters and banners on my wall and would even try to recreate them through drawing. Eventually, ads in magazines and album covers caught my eye. I ended up interviewing my uncle, who was also in the design field. Design was the backup plan that became the real plan. It grew steadily through my youth, solidifying during my time at Concordia University Wisconsin.
While pursuing my Graphic Design major at Concordia, I also completed a minor in Marketing to understand the symbiotic relationship between design and branding. My education there nurtured me academically and spiritually, and instilled the self-discipline and independence I still rely on. Despite strong ambitions to land a graphic design role right after graduation, I faced real challenges launching my career.
Following a period of underemployment, I recognized the need for further education to complement my bachelor's degree. That led me to an associate's degree in Visual Communications at MATC, where I immersed myself in magazine layout and gained hands-on experience as an editor for the MATC Times. That chapter reinforced my resilience in the face of setbacks, and my passion for design never wavered.
The graphic design industry's rapid evolution has underscored the demand for multi-skilled professionals fluent in digital media: UX design, HTML, video production, multimedia. I've embraced that shift, leaning into collaboration and strategic thinking, and continuously pushing myself to grow and adapt.
My journey has also shown me the synergy between marketing and design in crafting compelling brand narratives. That realization shifted my career aspirations toward integrating diverse media types to communicate ideas globally and locally. This helps brands tell their stories and meet stakeholder needs.
My pursuit of growth led me to the Design Management & Communications program at Georgetown University, where I dove into human-centered design and expanded my expertise in branding, creative strategy, Design Thinking, and UX. Armed with these skills, I'm committed to using my talents to enrich my community and profession. I hope to continue innovating, adapting, and inspiring.
In the words of St. Augustine: "Find out how much God has given you and from it take what you need; the remainder is needed by others." I'm dedicated to nurturing my gifts and sharing them with others, driven by a desire to keep learning and evolving as I move into the next phase of my journey.
