I’ve always been an imaginative soul. When I was about four years old, I would beg my mom to draw my favorite Pokémon—essentially all of them. Eventually, she grew tired of this and told me I’d have to draw them myself. Watching her, I learned how to use a pencil, and I haven’t put it down since. By the time I was seven, I had moved beyond copying Pokémon, sketching my own creatures, birds, people, and entire worlds.
At thirteen, I knew I wanted to bring my creations to life. I attended a class on creating 2D side-scrolling games using Game Maker 7, and I was hooked. I spent years experimenting with the program, refining my skills. After high school, I earned a degree in graphic design but quickly realized it wasn’t the right fit for me. I explored other fields—construction, electrical work, and even a factory job. But in that time, I came to an undeniable realization: nothing brought me more joy than seeing my imagination take shape.
By twenty-four, I had earned my associate degree in Enrich Media and Animation from Des Moines Area Community College. Every project felt like a new adventure, and I thrived on the challenge of bringing entire worlds to life with 3D modeling software. The idea of crafting something from scratch and watching it grow excited me more than anything.
However, in 2020, with COVID-19 making job stability uncertain, breaking into animation became even more difficult. Life took an unexpected turn when I moved to Massachusetts and started a career in the food industry. Though it wasn’t where I imagined myself, it became an unexpected source of inspiration. Working closely with clients and unique machinery, I found creativity in the mechanical processes around me.
Now, at twenty-six, I’m more determined than ever to bring my creations to life. I’m running a fully realized DnD campaign—handling everything from the story to the artwork—and taking the first steps toward writing my own light novel. This novel will be the script for my ultimate dream: an animated series. Each step brings me closer to that goal, and I can’t wait to see my characters take their first breath.
"Everyone holds their fortune in their own hands"
Laws of Power by Robert Greene