The challenge was getting a high resolution image of Peter Hunt, since the image we had to work with was only 2 inches tall and wouldn’t print at a full bleed like we wanted. I ended up running it through an AI-powered photo enhancer to upscale and sharpen some of the details that were lost. Although not a perfect restoration by any means, it gave us a place to start with.
Published In “America’s Emerging Writers” National Edition
Earlier in 2018, my short story, “Fruits of the Spirit Daycare” was accepted by Z Publishing and printed in their Florida’s Emerging Writers, which makes up their national series, America’s Emerging Writers. It was a great experience, and I really enjoyed seeing my name printed alongside so many other talented writers representing the state of Florida. Little did I know that there would also be a national copy set to print just in time for Christmas — and my story made the cut. While 2,000 entries were accepted for the state-level publishing, making up all 50 states, only 136 of those 2,000 were selected to make up the national edition: America’s Emerging Writers. You can buy a copy on Amazon, or click here to buy from Z Publishing’s website. Note that there are two volumes to this book. You can find mine in the first volume.
“Fire Writing” Wins ADDY Award and Commencement Contest
This year has been a crazy rollercoaster of responsibility and opportunity. I’m just now recovering from what’s been the busiest school year of my life. First on the To-Do List… My studio art roommate urged me to participate in the local ADDY Awards this year with her. She suggested I submit the video spot I did on Josiah Vogel and his pyrography, so I grit my teeth together and paid the entry fee, hoping I wasn’t going to have to eat Ramen the next six months for nothing (kidding, guys, kidding. I only eat Ramen…often…ish….) So this spring when the awards were announced, my roommate and I eagerly looked through the winners’ names, slightly disappointed we couldn’t find our names. We shrugged as we put my laptop aside, trying not to let each other know how disappointed we were. Then the next day my classmate congratulated me. “For what?” I asked, slightly bewildered as I gathered my things to leave after the bell. My mind ran through the things she could possible be referring to, but none of the options seemed big enough to warrant a congratulations. “Your ADDY Award,” she explained, the slightly flicker of doubt crossing her bright … Read More
Teens Receive Character Awards (McLean Connection)
Amid a late-spring drizzle that left park grounds sodden and sneakers muddy, the McLean Citizens Association honored three teenagers on May 19 during McLean Day for their public acts of service.
Dyslexic, Not Disabled: An Infographic About Dyslexia
Sometimes dyslexics feel at a disadvantage, but according to experts, dyslexics have a leg up in society.
Published in PCC’s Fountains!
Published for the first time ever with my short fiction in PCC’s Fountains.
Writing Contest: Fruits of the Spirit Daycare
Trustin, a homeless man in Washington DC, thinks that kindness is all but extinct until a little girl from Fruits of the Spirit Daycare comes to share her lunch.
Behind the Scenes of “Faint Not”
Several people have asked me how I put together my Scripture For Life chapel challenge video (If you haven’t seen it, you can watch it here!) So I thought I might take the night alone in my room to write a basic tutorial explaining how I made the animations using just Photoshop and Final Cut Pro X. I started out with the idea. My roommate suggested doing an animation versus a live-action video because I wouldn’t have to feel bad about collecting the prize scholarship when so many actors would have helped with the project. With a cartoon made completely from my computer, I would have done the entire video myself. The first thing to do was come up with a verse I’d like to center my video around. That was easy, since my college verses are Isaiah 41:10,13. I liked the visual image I got when I read the verses, since it specifically talks about the God of the universe holding our right hand and leading us along through our life’s trials.
Faint Not (College Contest)
Video source missing
How Healthie is the Selfie? (Op-Ed)
I wrote this Op-Ed piece on a whim when I learned about a potential cash prize for best entry–exclusively for teenagers. I worked on the paper on and off for about a week before submitting it just before the deadline. I didn’t really expect much to come of it, but that Saturday I woke up to check the announcements, and to my utter surprise, I found that I had tied for second place. I read and reread the gushing comments from the judge, all day feeling like the most accomplished person in the world. This was the first piece I ever won a cash prize ($50) for in a writing competition. Here’s the original article on my Write the World account: How Healthie is the Selfie? And here are the judge’s comments about my piece: Write the World Blog *Scroll…scroll…scroll* The Instagram feed is long again after a day of my social introversion. Not surprisingly, the feed is composed of the same generic content: selfies, food, throwbacks, selfies, Starbucks, transformation pictures, selfies, sunsets, hospital pictures, pets, weekday crushes—and did I mention selfies? This international, social networking phenomenon has deluged the internet as quickly as a flash flood. The question is: how healthy is the … Read More