#e4youth

[theaustincollective]

"Ever since I was a little girl, I would get a camera and take pictures of the world around me, which sparked my love for photography." In pursuit of further experience, Michelle joined E4 Youth, an enrichment program that allows students to develop their skills in the creative industry.

[theaustincollective]

Kyleeil shines as a singer, songwriter and performer. He believes that incorporating his experiences into his music is crucial, so he’s always in search of new adventures. He says that riding the Capital Metro bus inspires his creativity. “Something as simple as riding the bus can become one of the best experiences ever. When I ride the bus with my brother, we just play around and have fun. Those kinds of memories last forever.”

[theaustincollective]

“I use the bus as a mode of transportation. It’s really convenient when combined with a bike for exercising.” Chris is an avid bicyclist who has pursued his passion for comedy and acting from an early age. “When I first came to Austin, I won four comedy shows, which brought me into the world of acting.”

[theaustincollective]

An international student from Malaysia, Phoebe came to the U.S. in pursuit of a better education. She recently graduated from The University of Texas at Austin and now hopes to pursue a career as a geophysicist.

[theaustincollective]

“I joined a film program in school as well as a film class in church. From there, my passion for the arts and creating visual stories stemmed. After learning the art of filming, I also got involved in music production and photography.” Christian lives close to a Capital Metro bus stop and uses public transit on a daily basis — sometimes he uses it to get to and from filmmaking events.

[theaustincollective]

"I used to write professionally in Mexico, but I gradually gravitated towards filmmaking. I really like it because it doesn't have a language — it’s more about the visuals telling a story.” By day, Angela is a research scholar at The University of Texas at Austin, and she looks forward to applying that research to her films.

[theaustincollective]

Chad is a junior at The University of Texas at Austin. This past summer, he began interning at an advocacy marketing firm in the city, a place he says has helped him realize his career goals in advertising and his desire to help others through his work. “I worked on a tobacco prevention campaign to help substance users stop smoking. I think that’s really cool, being able to use your talents for something worthwhile.”

[theaustincollective]

Lucy is a 15-year-old Liberal Arts and Science Academy (LASA) student following her passion for theater. “I think this past year, what really surprised people is that, as only a freshman, I was getting a lot of lead roles, especially in A Very Potter Musical.” Lucy is thankful for how theater has helped her grow as a young woman. “It’s given me a sense of confidence in myself and in social situations that I didn’t have before.”