Bringing new artistic aspects to the Downey Legend, first-year illustrator, Giselle Reyes, 12, plans on expressing her art into forms of news. Spending her final year of high school on staff, she hopes to feel more connected and involved with the school community. With many quirks, like being a J-pop jazz lover, her contagious and bubbly aura is truly treasured. As an enthusiastic empath, Reyes expands on the effects of being an artist and shifting perspectives into observing the world with more patience and desire. With her optimistic personality and passionate craft, Reyes advises people to embrace mistakes and the ‘bad’ things in life. Living life day by day, she advises getting in touch with emotions and allowing oneself to be human. 

“Embrace not being good enough. Embrace being bad at things and just commit to being bad,” says Reyes. “The truth is you’re never going to get any better at whatever you’re trying to do, unless you be bad! You have to be bad at something in order to start being good at it. You have to learn to accept and make friends with when you do bad.”