Messages found in the little things can convey a particular mindset or expression through an array of things that deeply impact people worldwide. Readers can deeply conceptualize what the writer’s message truly means. Writing consistently and unambiguously demonstrates our ability to develop our minds. Writing enhances our capacity to articulate and refine our ideas for ourselves as well as for others. They remember the message and have the reading experience altered, leaving the reader inspired. Arizona State University’s 2024 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Student Contest is about bringing an important message to a wide range of audiences. The intriguing theme, “Building History,” encouraged kids throughout the state to express themselves creatively. With the upcoming Martin Luther King Jr. Day on January 15th, 2024, preserving Dr. King’s legacy in both written and visual form is the goal of ASU’s 2024 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Student Contest. A student at ACP, Ira Bagga, was judged to have one of the best pieces. Ira received notification that she was one of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Student Contest winners. She entered the drawing contest and was considered one of the best. She will be recognized at a celebration breakfast on January 18 at ASU. In addition to writing, drawing also conveys messages, but in a more visual way.  Communication in art can occur through many different elements of a work, like the main elements of art used to help an artist communicate with different kinds of people. The future generation and society will perpetuate Dr. King’s legacy by utilizing the colors of art and the meaning of words. Martin Luther King Jr. was a person who gave us confidence that we can and will achieve our dreams no matter who we are or where we come from. Today, and perhaps for the rest of time, he inspires us to be the best version of ourselves. We remember his remarkable memory and everlasting legacy through things that will remain preserved. It is truly magnificent how one’s way of conveying a message can change the mindset of another. The ACP family is incredibly excited to see what is in store for Ira. Our ideas and memories remain intact each time we do two uneraseable actions, drawing and writing, until the end of time.

I had the opportunity to interview ACP’s 2024 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Student Art Contest winner, Ira Bagga. She is a freshman in the Class of 2027 and was born in India. She has moved around a lot and only recently moved to Arizona from Boston. When Ira learned she was one of the winners, I asked her how she felt, and she said, “I felt very surprised because I did not expect to win.” Ira likes art because of  “how it is subjective and the coloring aspect of it is unique in its own way. Ira, along with a wide range of different individuals, describes “art in general as a great way of inspiring people, acting as an outlet to express ourselves through the stokes of paint or the gliding of a pencil.” Ira’s role model whom she looks up to is “my grandma, who is the most inspirational person I know.” I asked her how her art piece portrayed the message, to which she responded, “The prompt for the art contest was to draw something that represented leadership through service, so I drew a doctor who is also a mother holding her child because it demonstrates both aspects of the prompt.”

Martin Luther King Jr. continues to represent the essence of hope through the lasting impact of his words, actions, and legacy. Through his ionic speeches and his utmost commitment to equality, his powerful and eloquent legacy continues to connect with people all over the globe, inspiring a desire for a more just and equitable society. Because of him and his determination, Dr. King instilled the dream he had, uplifting everyone around him to follow his example. Globally, King’s impact extends beyond the United States, influencing movements for human rights and social justice. His legacy continues to be a beacon of hope for those who have fought against oppression and discrimination worldwide. His pivotal role in the everlasting history of the American Civil Rights Movement changed the world not in an instant but one step at a time. Students like Ira Bagga represent the values of King through art and writing, for which we are forever thankful. His unwavering kindness, empathy, and compassion for every human being across the globe are truly admirable and will live on forever. In Martin Luther’s very own words, “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”