I realized that someone like me can be a writer and an artist and whatever I want.

The Octavia Project is a place of comfort and inspiration. It is a place to explore and find new ideas and tools and to challenge yourself beyond what you thought you could ever do.

The Octavia Project is filled with some of the most bright, caring people I’ve ever met.

Octavia Project forced me to think ahead of the present and to the future.

I always like to test my writing and art on different wavelengths and see how far I can stretch my creativity. The OP is a good opportunity for me to do this since we cover such unique topics.

I like being a female nerd in the world. I like the fact that the Octavia Project is a group for all different and unique types of people.

The teachers and guest artists inspired me to work harder as an artist and writer.

I saw more people who looked like me in positions of power. I learned that you don’t need to be old, rich and white to be successful.

The Octavia Project is not just a building with people that teach you how to do things—it’s HOME where you feel like you belong.

When N.K. Jemisin came to speak to us, it was so relevant to me as a Black woman who likes fantasy and science fiction but doesn’t get represented often in either.