YAP Screening

Thursday, October 9th marked my first official screening. This was also my first ever experience showcasing my work as an artist.

It was absolutely incredible to share the stage and screen with nine other brilliant minds. My experience at the Youth Animation Project has opened my world up in ways I didn't realize were possible. I am an artist and activist, professionally, first and foremost.

"Who we are and what we do should be one and the same."
- Myself.

This statement has taken on new meaning for me as I've watched my fellow 'yappers' grow and evolve and as I have done the same. For the past five months my mind has been blown and my perception of who I am and how I define myself has expanded and shifted in a monumental way. I may have to work a retail job now and again to get by, but I won't let that define me because it simply can't. As one of my fellow co-workers put it: I am electric inspiration.

Another co-worker said "When 99.99% of the time you are positive, uplifting, happy-joy, I think it's O.K. for you to have a bad day now and again."

I'll have good days and bad, because you can't have one without the other and you can't appreciate the good without the bad to contrast it. But I'll always know who i am and who I am is electric inspiration. I'm an artist. I'm a writer. I'm an animator. I'm Kaitlyn S. C. Hatch, who wrote, directed, animated and made sound for the short claymation 'Affinity'.

Today my co-workers and I are famous. We are fellow artists ready to venture out into the world full of bright faith in our ability to create and grow. We are brilliant, all of us.

*Smiles the widest smile of them all.*