What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time From age six, when most children were learning to color within the lines and diligently trace their names with perfection, I was interested in the fluid and free–swirling colors and liquid artistry known as Ebru (marbling). This art style felt natural to me and allowed me to articulate patterns that lived rent-free inside my head; I just needed to place them on paper and give them a home. As my little fingers fumbled with brushes, I eagerly dipped them in pigments, and they were guided by my heart, mind, and hand and sometimes seemed out of control. In 2022, I took my child’s play to another level and combined marbling with a modern twist. As a member of the Lions Club, I devoted my time to sharing this beautiful art form with children during a special workshop. This helped the children and myself as I taught the history and techniques to preserve this art-form. Moreover, rather than solely adhering to the conventional methods of Ebru, I decided to reinterpret it by introducing 3D objects into the process, making it come to life for the young participants. This approach made the experience more interactive and demonstrated the power of tradition and technology, giving Ebru a new breath of life to resonate with a new generation. But I didn’t stop at just teaching classes. I wanted to take my knowledge and skills to a larger platform, so I joined A Turkish Mosaic–Spotify, recorded an episode on the marbled masterpieces of Ebru, and shared it with the world on why this highly regarded art form is registered on UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage list. My goal was for listeners to internalize the historical origins of this art form and how it has evolved throughout East Asia and the Middle East and even reached the shores of Europe. To this day, whenever I pick up my marbling brush, I am reminded that we humans aren’t in total control of our lives; rather, we are part of a greater collective that is constantly working together to create our grand masterpiece through artistic leadership! Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced. As an avid lover and art creator, my modes of expression needed quantifiable skills so that my personal growth would constantly evolve. Hence, in 2022, I cultivated my curiosity that would enhance my workshop skills, knowledge of art history, and how art and literature intersect as significant opportunities not offered in the Turkish education system. While I can’t mention all thirty courses I have completed since 2022, I will list my favorite and most enlightening courses that enriched my art acumen and broadened my comprehensive understanding. Participating in the “Understanding of Leonardo da Vinci Workshop” at Dogus Automotive allowed me to dive into da Vinci’s world. I analyzed his masterpieces and explored his life, the historical era, and the experiences that birthed his brilliance. I walked away from this course and understood anatomical studies. “The Contemporary Art and Literature Workshop” with BuArt under the tutelage of Dr. Osman Erden from Mimar Sinan Fine Art University focused on contemporary art and literature. I explored the influence of Apollinaire-cubism, Marinetti-futurism, and Breton-surrealism as my main points of interest. The literary influences of Anselm Kiefer and David Hockent allowed me to contextualize how literature shapes visual storytelling and the emotional responses in art. Now, I integrate literary themes into my work as an interdisciplinary approach to my self-expression. Via the BuArt, Sculpture Art History Workshop, I gained a deeper understanding of form and space in art. I sought to understand how three-dimensional materials enhance creativity, problem-solving, and spatial awareness. Moreover, gaining knowledge of tactile exploration and experimentation using different mediums has broadened my artistic perspective in more dynamic and multi-dimensional ways. I focused on Renaissance, Baroque, and Modern art sculptures. The L’Atelier, an Art History Workshop, marked the culmination of my art history studies, which focused on the evolution of Romanesque, Gothic, and Medieval art styles and techniques. This improved my understanding of historical art and my interpretation of art. As you can see, these intellectual opportunities strengthened my analytical thinking, encouraged my interdisciplinary connections, and gave me an appreciation of art that continues to shape my creative identity. What have you done to make your school or your community a better place? As a recipient of the Turkish education system, I am no stranger to the fact that it focuses heavily on the sciences and poses a gap in the students' exposure to the humanities and the arts. Having a mind that gravitates toward the arts, I have sought ways to inspire younger students and enrich their understanding and appreciation of art and culture. Therefore, I collaborated with the Private Kurtkoy Anatolian High School and led various workshops, presentations, and campaigns to create a more inclusive environment for creativity. My most key project was introducing elementary and middle school students to the history and psychology of colorways. Thus, I prepared interactive and catchy presentations, each one dedicated to a set of colors—green, yellow, orange, pink, black, white, gray, red, blue, and purple. Through these interactive sessions the students learned the origins of each color, their psychological effects, and how they are used in the arts. Moreover, I educated them on famous artists and how they skillfully used colors in their world. This allowed students to connect to the stories, lore, and ideas behind each hue. As I saw their curiosity grow and their excitement in connecting to colors, I knew we had achieved the purpose of colors in our daily lives, which was quite rewarding. Allowing the students to gain a historical perspective, I introduced the students to Leonardo da Vinci’s ingenious work and innovations that still profoundly impact the world of art and science today. Outside of these presentations, I founded and organized a campaign to support our school’s library. To generate awareness and participation, I created posters and made announcements to encourage donations from all grade levels, then categorized and organized the new books. It was exciting to see the students' spark in their eyes. It told me that they enjoyed it as much as I did, creating a community that loves the arts just as much as myself! With this newly acquired knowledge, these students know that unique information lives outside traditional school books and is found in the world of art and beyond! Finally, many students discovered their innate predisposition to the arts as well. Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you a strong candidate for admissions to the university As a young aspiring artist, I’ve shaped my creativity and agility over the years by participating in holistic hobbies such as horseback riding, music, ballet, and hiking. These pursuits add to my artistic perspective and make me a well-rounded student and artist in tune with the world around me. Horseback riding increases my balance and grace, playing music brings lyrical harmony to my creations, and ballet instills discipline and fluidity. Nature opens my eyes to appreciate untamed beauty. Indeed, these activities are a boundless source of inspiration! Independently, I have curated mixed-media exhibitions, and my organizational, creative, and analytical skills make me a strong candidate for this UC system. I have a keen eye for detail, balancing aesthetics with thematic symmetry to create interactive experiences for viewers. Additionally, I gained management experience when organizing media types to ensure each piece maintains a unique voice. My major events were the ArtAnkara 11th Contemporary Art Fair, Istanbul Antiques and Art Fair, Cappadocia Güray Museum Exhibitions, the “Rainbow" Group Exhibition, and Zehra Sultan’s solo exhibition. Adjacent to creating and presenting art, I’ve taken courses to increase my growth and artistic skill set. As such, the Coursera Academic English: Writing Specialization Course/University of California, Irvine prepared me for higher academic writing in three different styles. This course will augment my research as a future UC student. To conclude, I’m an art blogger via ARTTV, Art Blog, and Online Publication, and I share the art world with others. This has allowed me to share the beauty of the Vatican City, the Vatican Museum Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea, and the Leonardo Da Vinci Museum in Rome. Likewise, I discussed the sculpture by Timothy Schmalz and explored the circumstances migrants face using a humanistic approach to elicit solutions. Simultaneously, with the Gazette Sanat, I had the fortunate event to interview more than five art historians and gain perspective on niche periods of art history, the function of art criticism, the impact of exhibition styles, shocking works of art, cultural heritage, and activism, and collectors' awareness. These powerful dialogues between the past and present are relevant.