My Leadership Journey
Leadership has found me in many forms—through my work in the service industry, as a barista, store manager, and sales associate, and later, as a creative leader at ArtCenter. Whether I was managing a team or guiding peers on campus, I learned to lead with empathy, adaptability, and grit. From coordinating events to producing films, I’ve used every opportunity to uplift others and grow into someone I would’ve once looked up to.
Nomination for the Art Center College of Design
Student Leadership Award
Being nominated was one of the most meaningful honors of my time here. It recognized not just my work with Animation Jam, but the many ways I’ve invested in our community. From leading events and managing productions to mentoring peers, I’ve embraced leadership as both a responsibility and a reflection of the support I once wished I had.
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My leadership journey began when I stepped up to help organize Animation Jam, eventually transforming it into the school’s largest student-run club. I restructured the event from the ground up—recruiting and managing a 10-person moderator team, formalizing workflows, and expanding our reach to 70+ participants per term. I also led our social media efforts, building a presence with over 200k YouTube impressions, 13k+ TikTok views, and 5k accounts reached on Instagram. But more than numbers, we built a space where all majors could collaborate, express themselves, and belong.
Beyond Animation Jam, I served as a production manager on two short films—supporting teams through tight deadlines and creative challenges—and as CG lead on a game capstone, where I was responsible for rigging and animating an entire cast. These roles taught me how to balance structure with flexibility while constantly adapting to the needs of a team. I also became a peer coach, helping students navigate resources and offering guidance in the same areas I once struggled with. These conversations—sometimes big, sometimes small—meant the world to me.
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Together, these experiences defined my time at ArtCenter. They weren’t always glamorous or easy, but they were full of growth. I didn’t pursue leadership for recognition—I pursued it to create space for others and to prove to myself that I could build something meaningful, even when it felt like the odds were against me.
