AEAO

one

Shi Reems adjusted the strap of her leather bag as she weaved through the bustling courtyard of UCLA. It was the beginning of her sophomore year, and while she had spent her first year getting her footing, this year felt different. She was determined to dive headfirst into everything—her studies, her art, and even her social life.

The iconic Royce Hall loomed in the distance, its grand arches a reminder of the legacy she was now a part of. She paused for a moment, taking in the scene before her: students lounging on the grass, some rushing to class, others sipping coffee as they laughed with friends. This was her world now, and she loved every moment of it.

"Shi! Wait up!"

She turned to see her best friend, Alana, jogging toward her. Alana was her roommate, a pre-law major with a sharp wit and a knack for making even the most mundane situations exciting.

"Morning," Shi greeted, grinning. "Late night?"

Alana groaned. "Don't even ask. I stayed up way too late cramming for that econ test. I think I might've dreamed in supply-and-demand graphs."

Shi laughed. "Sounds rough. At least you're done with it now."

"True," Alana said, falling into step beside her. "So, what's on your agenda today? Art classes? Volunteering? Another meeting for that student organization you're running?"

Shi rolled her eyes, though she was smiling. "Just an average day in the life of an overcommitted college student. I have a studio session this morning, then I'm heading to the community center to lead an art therapy workshop."

"You're amazing, you know that?" Alana said.

Shi shrugged, her cheeks flushing. "I just... I want to help people, you know? Art has always been there for me. I want to share that with others."

The day flew by in a blur of classes, sketches, and meetings. By the time Shi arrived at the community center, she was buzzing with energy. The workshop was one of her favorite parts of the week.

The participants were a mix of kids and teens, each of them facing their own struggles. Shi loved seeing their creativity flourish, watching as they used art to express themselves in ways they couldn't with words.

"Miss Shi," a little girl named Mia said, holding up her painting. "Does this look like a butterfly to you?"

Shi knelt beside her, studying the vibrant splashes of purple and yellow on the canvas. "It's beautiful, Mia. And you know what? It doesn't have to look like anything. What matters is how it makes you feel."

Mia beamed, her confidence growing with each encouraging word.

That evening, Shi returned to her dorm, exhausted but fulfilled. Alana was sprawled out on her bed, scrolling through her phone.

"How was the workshop?" Alana asked without looking up.

"Really good," Shi replied, kicking off her shoes and collapsing onto her own bed. "Mia's coming out of her shell more and more every week. It's amazing to see."

Alana glanced over. "You're like a real-life superhero, you know that? Balancing school, art, and volunteering? I can barely manage one of those things."

Shi laughed, throwing a pillow at her. "Hardly. I'm just doing what I love."

But as Shi lay in bed that night, staring at the glow-in-the-dark stars she and Alana had stuck to the ceiling during their first week as roommates, her mind wandered.

She thought about her parents—how her mom, Camari, had built her own museum from the ground up, and how her dad, Keanu, had made it into the Hall of Fame after years of hard work and dedication.

They were her inspiration, her foundation. But she couldn't help wondering if she'd ever live up to the incredible legacy they'd created.

Shi sighed, turning onto her side. "One step at a time," she whispered to herself.

Little did she know, the year ahead would challenge her in ways she never imagined, pushing her to grow, to question, and to find her true voice.

This was her time to shine, not as the daughter of Camari and Keanu Reems, but as Shi—an artist, a dreamer, and a woman ready to make her mark on the world.