Discovering Design

Mia's love for art started early. "I think the earliest memory I have was when I was about two, drawing a picture of a solar eclipse I watched with my mom, and she was quite proud of me." That creative spark stayed with Mia, and in high school, she found her path through PREP-KC's Pathways to Graphic Design program.

Initially, she was nervous about leaving Center High School to study with students from other PREP-KC partner high schools. But she quickly found a community. "No matter where we come from, we're all still just like kids going to school," she said. "Once I realized that, I found people who shared my interests. So we built connections, because of design, but also for other reasons."

Creating for Community

Over the course of two years on the pathway, Mia developed technical skills and gained the confidence to handle real-world projects. She helped design materials for the Center School District, including the graduation program, and worked on the district's "Profile of a Graduate."

"It was really nerve-racking at first because I got very focused on trying to make everything perfect," Mia said. "But I'm really glad I was able to work on that and get that experience. When I become a professional designer, I'll at least have some knowledge."

She also worked with community leaders on cultural projects. One piece highlighted the importance of food in Black culture through a patterned design inspired by jambalaya. Another focused on progress, using gears and levers to symbolize collective action. "When people work together, you create this functioning machine of progress that can make change. You can do this not only for yourself, but for your entire community."

Looking Ahead to College

Mia will pursue a double major in graphic design and illustration at the University of Central Missouri. She feels ready to take advanced courses and succeed in a creative career.

"I feel so much more confident in myself, not just with art, but overall," she said. "I was able to make products that students bought at my school. I made flyers. I worked on the graduation program. I helped with the yearbook. I managed to do all this. So why can't I do more?"

Mia is especially interested in advertising and product design, where she can blend creativity and strategy. She believes that design can unite people and inspire change.