By Kailyn Huynh
When senior Anh Thu Truong picks up a paintbrush, she does more than create art; she opens up a world of opportunity for herself and those around her.
If you knew Truong as a kid, she might have seemed timid. Although her fear of public speaking hasn’t left completely, Truong can express herself in a way that words can not.
“I feel that throughout my artworks, you could see my expression and the things that I feel. Art is kind of an extension of myself as a canvas,” Truong said.
Inspired by her father, Truong follows in his artistic footsteps. She’s always had a certain passion for painting but began taking it seriously in eighth grade.
Like the walls of her house, Truong’s summers are full of art.
On Saturdays, she volunteers at the Shipley Nature Center in Huntington Beach. Here, you’ll find her working a booth where children who walk past can stop by and make arts and crafts.
Alongside her friend, Truong also founded the initiative Colorful Minds. Throughout the summer, Colorful Minds hosts workshops in collaboration with various organizations to help people with disabilities express their voices through art.
“I love the loose expression of paint,” Truong said. “I feel like with pencil, you have to be so precise … painting allows you to be so loose and it’s so forgiving.”
She hopes that by leading this initiative she can increase accessibility to art for adults and students with disabilities and allow them to use art as a creative outlet or therapy.
Aside from art, Truong is involved in many other things. She is a member of FV Kiva and was a part of the varsity girls’ tennis team.
During her three years on the team, Truong was proud of all that they were able to accomplish. They managed two CIF appearances and one CIF finals appearance.
“Tennis really taught me self-growth and motivated me to continue that momentum to other things,” Truong said.
This momentum carried on and eventually led her to Baron Banner, providing Truong with a creative outlet to express her thoughts.
In the newspaper, Truong aspires to contribute to the community by doing something greater which everyone is a part of. At the same time, she also has a goal of her own.
“I hope that in not only Baron Banner but outside of the community, I can do something that inspires change for other people who look at my work or see what I do,” Truong said.