Through painting, I want to reveal that people everywhere feel the same fiery desires, pangs of heartache, and bursts of passion; that our similarities far outweigh our differences; and most of all, that we need to reflect on the way we treat one another. Whether on the street, overseas, in peace or in war, we need to hold fast to a deeper realization of our shared humanity. I am at the beginning of a career path in public diplomacy and the paintbrush is my favorite and toughest tool for building bridges across cultures and giving a voice to the soft spoken.