Justin Armstrong '22

My time at California State University Long Beach was an incredible experience. I was drawn to the campus by its beautiful scenery and the helpful tour guides. I chose Long Beach because of its animation program. My mom had a degree in art, so I had an interest in art from a young age and wanted to make it my job. Animation is a medium that allows for creative storytelling, and I wanted to explore stories and characters that I could bring to life. I was lucky to have the support of my advisor, Soyeon Kim, who was vital in helping me with my senior film project. She encouraged us to make it our legacy at Long Beach State and use it as a learning experience for future projects. My degree is a landmark for what I have achieved throughout my artistic journey, and I am grateful for all the friends I made at the university. My greatest takeaway is to keep going, even when I don't think I'm good enough. Seeing the reaction to my film showed me that I am good enough.