In the Design Media Arts summer program at UCLA, I learned many techniques I will carry on throughout my life. The two week program was set up into four classes, video game design, web design, video/audio design, and typography. In video game design we learned how to make a video game from creating our own characters on photoshop to creating the world the character lives in. I enjoyed this class because they challenged us to expand our creativity and make a world beyond what we normally see. Web design was the class I enjoyed the most because I learned how to use a totally new program called 'hotglue' that allowed us to make our own website almost exactly like the websites we normally see when we go online, as well as, express our thoughts through a website that could show an issue or point we wanted to get across. The video/ audio class was very challenging, but in the end, very rewarding. We made a slide out of materials outside such as grass,dirt,salt,leaves, then we took a picture of our slide. With the photo of the slide we pulled it apart online and were able to make objects move around creating a video. In the end we got to place audio of something that we thought represented our video. Typography was a interesting class that we got to create an alphabet out of pictures of objects we took that looked most similar to that letter. For example, I did shadows and created an alphabet from shadows shaped like each letter of the alphabet. A significant event that happened during this program was an afternoon after class, our leaders/ graduate students got us together to talk about any questions we had about applying to the school and advised us on some stuff they wished they would have known when applying. The program has influenced my plans in the future because I now want to look into expanding my creativity through technology. I would recommend this program to a friend because you learn many new interesting topics and make many new friends that come from different places around the world. Some advice I would give to other students attending this program is to be open to new things and new people. Overall, it was a great experience that I really enjoyed it. It was definitely the highlight of my summer. 

As I come to the realization that I will be independent and pursing my passion at UCLA Design/Media Arts Summer Institute, I cannot help but to smile and get butterflies of excitement in my stomach. My goal is to become more independent while getting a glimpse of college life.  I plan to take with me all the knowledge I learn, and incorporate it in my future plans. I’m nervous about the experience as a whole, but I’m most nervous about being on my own and stepping out of my comfort zone. While being at UCLA I will be challenged with rigorous courses and learning completely new material.  I will succeed by having the same mindset that I take with me through my current academic courses, and not letting my fears of the new experience determine how I perform in my classes. In addition, I will be able overcome this challenge with the resources available at UCLA such as extended lab hours.  I plan to make the most out of this experience.  

Thank you for allowing me to experience the UCLA Design/Media Art Summer Program. I appreciate the opportunity and support you have offered me to expand my creativity. With your support I will able to experience college as a whole and pursue my passion. I will have the opportunity to experience a field that I am interested in as a career. I feel very fortunate to be able to explore my interests through your donations. I appreciate your belief in me.