Yaretzi Vargas, a Student Sponsor Partners (SSP) scholar and senior at Saint Raymond Academy for Girls, has cultivated a lifelong love of drawing. As a child, she would draw on the walls of her home. “On anything and everything, really,” she shared. Inspired by cartoons, comics, and picture books, Yaretzi discovered early on that art is a core part of who she is. “I’m always eager to learn new artistic styles or techniques,” she noted.
It’s a curiosity that continues to shape her creative growth. Unsurprisingly, art was Yaretzi’s favorite subject throughout high school. As a member of the Art Club at Saint Raymond, she enjoyed exploring her creativity alongside her peers. Although after-school commitments eventually led her to step away from the club, her dedication to her craft has never wavered.
Now on the cusp of graduating from Saint Raymond, Yaretzi is one step closer to turning her passion into a profession. In August, she will begin her freshman year of college at the School of Visual Arts, where she will pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts in illustration.
Yaretzi dreams of becoming a character designer and illustrator for video games. “I love video games, especially the story behind them,” she explained. “I always look at how a character’s design reflects their personality. I appreciate and admire how much thought goes into creating them.”
As her high-school years “draw” to a close, Yaretzi expressed heartfelt gratitude to Student Sponsor Partners, whose program she first heard of when she was in the eighth grade. “My mother told me about it and had me apply,” said Yaretzi. “I am forever grateful I got in.”
"Lady Blue," by Yaretzi Vargas
