Help DeJohn Attend MICA's Pre-College Summer Art Program

Hello, my name is DeJohn and I am a sophomore who attends high school at Richard Wright Charter School in Washington, D.C. I aspire to be a successful graphic designer and entrepreneur one day, and I would like to go to art school to reach my goals. Currently, I have a clothing business where I put things I draw or some cool and meaningful designs on clothes. I have lived in DC all my life, and at a young age, I found myself liking to draw and continued until I got to high school and then I got into fashion and clothes. I got in to a school entrepreneurship program that helps students run their own businesses and I chose to make a clothing business. I made a big transition from just drawing to digital and started using software like Photoshop and Canva to make designs. My clothing brand was originally named “Out of Place” and it was meant to symbolize embracing being different and standing out, but due to some people already having that name as a clothing brand I changed to the name “Misplaced” which is similar and still means the same thing. Some of the designs are statements and some are meant to be different to stand out and follow the theme. Through my businessI have been able to screenprint my designs on shirts and hoodies that I have sold to kids at school and in my community.

I applied to the Maryland Institute of College Art's (MICA) pre-college summer program to learn more about art and design, and to sharpen my skills and build my portfolio. My public charter school does not prioritize art and so I want to go to MICA to help my dream to be an artist. I plan to be a graphic designer and a successful streetwear clothing brand owner. I gain inspiration from bigger popular street brands like Supreme and Gallery Department. In my free time, my friends and I go around the metropolitan area looking for art museums and areas where there is lots of graffiti. For example one of my favorite weekends, me and my friends got lost in the city and then we got distracted by these big graffiti murals and we went on for like 2 hours taking pictures and enjoying the art.

Last month, I found out I was accepted to MICA's pre-college summer program with a partial scholarship. I am raising money so that I will be able to attend this program where I will be able to take art classes with MICA professors and use the college's studio space to help build my portfolio. I am partially paying for the program with funds that I have made from selling clothes through my clothing business. I am looking for additional financial support to help make my dreams come true.

I am really excited for the opportunity to attend the MICA pre-college summer program.