Hello, my name is Emma Mell. I was a senior animation student at LAHS attending Freestyle Academy from 2021-2023. A core value I have is remaining passionate about my work. There have been many times when I’ve lost motivation and artistic drive, but as long as I remind myself of my long-term goals and aspirations I’m (hopefully) always be able to pick myself up in the end.
Outside of school, I usually like to spend my time with my friends. When not doing that, I’m hunched over my desk on my drawing tablet, developing my creative concepts and stories. I enjoy editing, sewing plushies, and baking various things [cakes] for my family [friends’ birthdays].
The community here at Freestyle is exceptionally supportive and I am immensely grateful that I got to be a part of it.
More than anything, my time at Freestyle has helped me become more confident in my artistic pursuits. The fast-paced atmosphere can be overwhelming and stressful at times, but ultimately it has helped me become a more efficient worker. The amount of resources Freestyle provides to its students cannot be understated. I am extremely grateful for how many opportunities I’ve been given by the staff and the encouragement I’ve received from my peers. I had never really felt at home in my local artist communities until Freestyle, and I will cherish the many friendships I made in my two years here.
Going into Freestyle, I wasn’t sure how I was going to adjust. Coming back from quarantine, I was already struggling to get used to things, and dealing with a drastically different schedule didn’t make things easier. However, Freestyle has, by far, been the best part of my high school experience. I have met some of my favorite people through this program. Everyone at Freestyle wants to see each other grow and succeed, and do not try to undermine others to get ahead. I think in a place like this, where there is so much pressure to enter into fields of tech, having this community of artists is so crucial.
Thank You Freestyle! ❤️❤️