Everything Happens For A Reason
I was born 3 months early in Leesburg, VA. I grew up the youngest of 3, with 2 older brothers.
Growing up, my brothers were my best friends. We played video games together, went to arcades, and watched a lot of YouTube and movies. My family was my whole world.
In August of 2015, my mom was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer. I didn’t want to be separated from her. I was so scared of losing her I wanted to be with her as much as possible.
My mom went through surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and even a clinical trial. Seeing her sick was the hardest thing for me to comprehend, because growing up my mom was always healthy and happy.
I had to find something to keep my mind at ease, because all I could think about was the possibility of losing my mom. My mom is an artist and we were always doing crafts so, I decided to start painting. I painted some of my favorite artists such as Willow Smith, A$AP Rocky, and Billie Eilish.
In August of 2017, my mom was officially cancer free. My parents then separated right after that.
My parents separation was hard for me. My whole life flipped upside down and my family fell apart. I started experiencing anxiety.
I went through a time of disassociation where I felt as though I was living in a dream. This was all a coping mechanism because my brain couldn’t believe that all of this was happening. I needed something to focus on.
I decided to pick up my camera and start taking photos of people, sunsets, concert, whatever sparked my creativity.
I fell in love with photography. Lighting, outfits, makeup, location. Planning photoshoots and focusing on that moment and capturing it, helped my mind slow down.
By this time I was a Junior in High School, so I started looking at colleges and I knew I wanted to go for Art. VCU was the only instate art school I knew of, so I applied.
Now I’m about to graduate and I look back on everything I have been through and how much I have grown. Without my mom’s cancer, and my parents separation, I wouldn’t have found my way to where I am.
Life's journey is a continuous process of evolution. The mistakes we make and the lessons we learn lead us to where we are now. Which is why I believe that Everything Happens For A Reason.
