For many young children, doodling and painting is just a way to pass the time. Sketches and creations don’t go much farther than the desk or the table, and usually end up in the recycling bin. However, for senior Alicia Zhang, doodles and paintings have become something she takes pride in. “I’ve done it for so long that it kinda just became a habit… it’s just part of what I do,” she said. Zhang’s favorite piece is her surrealistic sketch of a girl holding a shell. Zhang likes it because “it was [my] first time creating something so abstract,” she said.

Although she plans to simply keep it as a hobby, Zhang strongly values her artistic skill. This year at the Minnesota State Fair, Zhang won several third place awards for her drawings and paintings in the Education Exhibit.