San Diego State University's Art Building was my creative haven. The top floor offered a panoramic view of the canyon, with the distant 8 freeway winding through the bottom like a river. This mix of city and nature showed up in my art and continues to be a topic that I return to in my paintings. Inside the studios, you could hear the history of creative ideas in the walls. Painting was my way to express myself—taking thoughts and turning them into colors and lines. The student galleries allowed me to share my work, fostering camaraderie and cross-discipline conversations. Downstairs in the ceramics studio, you could feel the excitement of making things with your hands, turning messy clay into functional art. Where fire and creativity made learning the various techniques exciting. The Art Building was full of different experiences, all woven together. It's a big part of my creative journey.