Sarah Veliciu

My past has had many influences on my academic life and decisions. Growing up, I experienced an early death in the family. My father left seven children, two of whom are with special needs, and a wife. The oldest child at the time was sixteen and the youngest was six years old. Little did I know his death would forever shape my values, my work ethic, and my academic life. By the age of ten, I took responsibility for taking care of my siblings with special needs. Given this opportunity at a young age, I began to develop skills that I still use today: punctuality, alertness, creativity, leadership, as well as being respectful and responsible. Despite this time in my life, I was too young to realize that it's possible my future could revolve around people, including those with disabilities. Instead, after years of watching the late-night news with my mother, I was inspired to become a broadcast meteorologist. My family supported my decision, and I completed three years at my local community college before transferring out. It wasn't until that very last moment before leaving for Arizona State University that the Arts had a special place in my heart. You see, for me, the past has had such a huge impact on the person that I am today that in that moment of leaving my home where I built those skills, lived as if I was an adult at the age of ten, I couldn't abandon. I knew it was the right decision to stay where I was, unsure of what field of study I'd be going into. Thankfully, photography has helped direct me to the Arts. I am certain that I will use this field to help those around me, and industrial design could potentially be my calling. This is my story, and I'm proud of where it leads me to.