Luz Ortiz

My name is Luz Ortiz, please call me Lucy. I am a full-time honor student at Glendale Community College completing an associate degree in fine arts with emphasis in Studio Art. I plan on transferring to Arizona State University. My educational aspirations consist of acquiring a bachelor's degree in fine arts that would assist me in pursuing a career in teaching art or art therapy. However, I am certain that if I do not complete my college degree, I could never have the opportunity to achieve my career goals. Let me tell you a little bit about myself and my path as the first person in my family to attend and graduate college.
I decided that I wanted to attain a career as an artist or teacher since my passion had always been creating art and helping others. At the age of 8 years old, my mother attempted suicide. She was a young single mother with four children and an undiagnosed mental health disorder that we later found to be severe Bipolar Depression with mania. After this suicide attempt, my mother was admitted to an inpatient facility for 2 years. During this time my siblings and I were put into foster care. While in foster care, of course being such a young child, I had no idea how to deal with and process such a big traumatic event I had just experienced. The only way my mind was able to function was to pick up a crayon and make marks. I say make marks because I had no experience in coloring, as a single mother with four children, we had little to no money for things like toys and coloring books, let alone money for food. So, of course, crayons and paper were rare luxuries. This being the first time I picked up a crayon, I was in a trance. I was able to connect to coloring and creating art at such a young age and experienced happiness for the first time ever. Needless to say, I was hooked.
After leaving foster care a few years later, we were able to move back in with our mother. By this time, I was a freshman in high school. I continued to focus as best I could on graduating. I had the help from very few teachers to guide me in my education to become successful. My mother came from Puerto Rico and grew up in the 1960’s. Education to say the least was not a priority in her generation. She was the first of her family to live in the United States. She learned English watching sesame street and obtained her GED. My mother did not attend college until 2009. Today she is a Network Engineer. I did not have any resources or family to help me while I was growing up. The few teachers that did help me, showed me just how important my education is. I was told that if I set goals for myself, I could achieve anything I wanted. I believe that despite my background and where I grew up, I could graduate college.
In 2009, I attended Gateway Community College and graduated with my certificate in nurse assisting. I worked full-time from 2009 to 2020 as a CNA in various medical facilities. At the beginning, to 2020, I worked for a hospice company, with this company I learned just how important it is for someone to live every day to the fullest. During the very beginning of covid, I lost 8 patients within a two-week period. I had experienced absolute heart-breaking trauma again. My mental health was now my very priority. I had three beautiful daughters during this time, and I knew I needed to make a change. I decided one day to evaluate my life and my career goals. I contacted a great friend of mine who told me to find something I love and enjoy doing and find a way to incorporate that into a career. So, in 2022, while my family was overcoming homelessness, I decided to pick up a paint brush.
At first, I created art to calm and anxiety and as an activity for my daughters and I to do. Then I researched and learned about everything art. Careers in art, creating art, selling art, art history, and everything YouTube and the internet had to offer. Then in Fall of 2023, with every ounce of courage and strength I had left, I enrolled in Glendale Community College, Fine Arts program. I completed my first semester with straight A’s. I was invited and accepted to the Honor Society, and I received a letter from the president of Glendale Community College, congratulating me on my achievement. I am currently enrolled through the Spring semester of 2025, with plans to graduate in the Spring of 2025.
I plan on transferring to Arizona State University as soon as I complete my current program at Glendale Community College. I am interested in studying at ASU for my bachelor’s degree in fine arts as well as art therapy to help children in the foster care system. I want to be that resource for children to guide them and show them that they can accomplish whatever they aspire to. Despite hardships and trauma, I believe that any child can overcome any challenges with help and guidance like my siblings and I had.
With your scholarship program, I know that I can achieve and complete any requirements necessary to graduate and transfer to Arizona State University. I want to show not only my family but also any child in poverty, in the foster care system, any religion, any creed, any color, any social status, any child with the dream to become more than just who they are or where they came from or experienced, that they too can achieve anything they dream of.