In elementary school, our teachers would ask us what we wanted to be when we grew up. Growing up I wanted to be an artist. Beginning in the 3rd grade, I started to really love drawing. I would draw whenever and wherever I could. In the 5th grade, I remember talking to my friends about our futures, and when I told one of them I wanted to pursue art he turned and said “haha you’re going to be poor.” That made me think. It made me question myself.

 

 

Growing up in an Asian household, being an artist wasn’t a career option. I was either going to be a doctor, dentist, lawyer, engineer, or accountant. As much as my parents enjoyed my art, they just saw it as a hobby and not a passion. They expected straight A’s and nothing else. Academics became the priority and art and any other hobbies got put on the backburner. After a while, I just didn’t have the same passion and love for drawing as I used to.

 

 

When I was in 5th grade, my cousin who’s one year older than me introduced me to chess. He started playing because chess is one of the extracurriculars that his middle school offered. I would go to his middle school after school which was only a couple of blocks from my elementary school and watch. When I started middle school, I wanted to play chess too. I was introduced to the chess teacher Ms. Vicary. She taught me so much and was a huge part of my interest in chess. I played all throughout 6th grade but only went to 3 tournaments.

 

 

Why? Because of academics. My parents thought that I would benefit more from going to prep on Saturdays, the days the chess tournaments were held. So from 9-12 AM, I would be stuck in Chinese school. Then I would have 1 hour to eat and then from 1-6 I would have English and Math prep. The only chess tournaments that I got to play in were the ones that weren’t on Saturdays. Special tournaments on Columbus day or MLK day.

 

 

Because I was only able to go to 3 tournaments, my rating was really low and I couldn’t go to the Junior High National Championships in Columbus Ohio. However, I ended up being really lucky as the bus had 2 extra seats and Ms. Vicary chose me and one of my friends to go. She really believed in me and helped me so much preparing and going over games beforehand. I was placed in the under 750 rating category and I did not let my spot go to waste. I ended up winning all of my games winning first in the under 750 rating category at such a big tournament.

 

 

After that, I didn’t get to play chess all that much as I was unable to attend a single tournament the year after due to prep school on Saturday. Looking back I regret letting prep affect my ambitions. I could have continued to draw, continue to play chess.

 

 

Recently, one of my older cousins randomly texted me and asked me if I could draw. She needed me to draw some Pokemon a video project that she was working on. She also needed me to do it digitally, something I’ve never done before. I had to try at least so I went on Amazon and bought myself a drawing pad and started to play around with it. When I first started it was really difficult because it’s completely different from traditional forms of drawing on paper with a pencil. After watching a couple of Youtube videos and hours of practice I found myself getting used to it.

 

 

I had fun. I intend to do this more often.