Art
I have been drawing since as early as kindergarten. My interest probably started because of my grandmother, who used to draw Disney princesses for me from my picture books. Throughout the years, I've grown my skills in using different mediums, beginning with pencil and colored pencils, and ranging from charcoal, watercolor, acrylic, gouache -- my current favorite, photography, digital art, and bookmaking. I've always taken art summer programs, but it was only in high school when I began taking art more seriously, focusing more on art-related coursework. I eventually chose to pursue Design, exploring the disciplines of graphic design, product design, UI/UX, and publication design. As an artist, I like to draw people the most, but also animals and objects. My style tends to combine stylistic elements with realistic rendering, and tends to be more whimsical and surreal. I love incorporating fantastical elements like planets, stars, plants, and mythical creatures into my artwork!
Visiting Cafes
When I entered high school, I gradually became a matcha and coffee person as I liked the taste and caffeine of the drinks. This pushed me to visit cafes more often, and they became a good place to hang out with friends, study, draw/read, or just make a quick pit stop to grab a drink. As an artist, I also liked seeing the different interior designs of new cafes I visited. My favorite cafes are Dulce at USC, Starbucks, MNGO Cafe, and Yoboseyo.
Music
I first got involved in music when I was 7 when my parents enrolled me in piano class. A year later, I picked up cello, and have been playing both for 11/10 years now. Apart from playing and practicing by myself, I like to play chamber music pieces with my sister, who plays the piano, and friends! This led me to enroll in orchestra in high school at the San Diego Youth Symphony Orchestra, and to lead the Mini Concerts Online/Offline Club beginning in sophomore year, where I played pieces for seniors online and in-person. Apart from classical music, I also like to listen to pop music when studying or walking. My favorite artists are Benson Boone, Adele, and Lana Del Rey.
Thrifting
I first tried thrifting during summer break of senior year. I liked that thrifting allowed me to buy clothes for cheaper that are still pretty high quality, and that it helps me live a more sustainable lifestyle. Since coming to USC, I've gone to Silverlake Flea, and plan to explore the thrifting scene in Melrose and Pasadena. Another aspect of thrifting I like is that I can explore different styles, since bigger chain stores usually sell clothes revolving around a cohesive style.
Watching movies/TV shows
I love to watch movies and TV shows in my free time. My favorite genres are horror, thriller, drama, and fantasy. My favorite movies include Parasite, Train to Busan, Dr. Strange, Hereditary, IT, and Tangled. My favorite TV shows include Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse, Dr. Who, Umbrella Academy, and Arcane. Next on my watch list includes watching Arcane Season 2, finishing the 4th season of Umbrella Academy, the 2nd and 3rd movie in the Dark Knight trilogy, Mr. Plankton, and Love in the Big City.