My name is Xandra Y., and I came to Youth in Focus in an artistic slump. I didn’t really know what to create, so I wanted guidance. I got a lot of guidance here! Other than photography, I love filmmaking, drawing, and poetry. I think my art is one of my best representations of myself. I like to create art because it gives me a way to express myself in a way that doesn’t have to be so direct.  And I have three photos to show you today!

Self-Portrait
My self-portrait reminds me a lot about strength. In August, it will be a year since I started pole dancing and this photo reminds me of how far I’ve come. I couldn’t do this on the first day that I started and I worked really hard to get here and I’m grateful for my instructors Ascendance Pole & Aerial Arts. It’s been a really long journey of bruises and making mistakes, but at the end of the day- I’m reminded that despite my mistakes, I have accomplished a lot with all the practice I am doing. On top of that, I love the studio where I take pole lessons at. I even started working there recently. I think that being a part of a community that accepts me as I am is really important to me.

Lola
This image is of my Lola which is Tagalog for Grandma! My Lola started living with my family a couple months ago, she used to live in California- and I’m really grateful for her. She does a lot for the family, whenever I leave home my Lola always tells me to take care. My family is really important to me. This image was at Seattle Center- on mother’s day, I got to take my entire family including my mom, dad, sister, and Lola to the Chihuly Glass museum because I actually got tickets from CCC! This internship has given me so many opportunities to make new experiences with my loved ones. It was a beautiful experience and I really love this photo of my Lola because she looks really happy and overall this picture is very lively.

Dancing
I really loved this image, because of the emotion. Of the joy. I want to end this internship full of a lot of joy for the experience and all of the people I got to meet. Because of this internship, I got to be a photographer for ACT Theater’s annual Gala- and I am so so grateful for this opportunity. It is a significant memory. I have never been to a gala event before, and my favorite performance was definitely these dancers- they danced and the whole room lit up.
It was so elegant and beautiful. And as a dancer myself- I want to show love to the dance community! I hope to be a photographer for more events in the future because I love to photograph experiences that become beautiful memories.

I’m really going to miss this program and everyone here- because everyone has been so supportive. I learned a lot here from the teaching artists, Ronnie, Meg, & Dene. And I can’t believe that it is already ending. In the future, I’m going to create more art, and I hope to have a lot more meaningful experiences like this internship. Thank you so much for the opportunity to be here and to everyone for taking the time to come here!