My name is Estelle Kershaw, I am currently a high school student at Los Altos High School that’s enrolled in Freestyle Academy. I have a variety of interests varying from STEM subjects such as forensics science and data science, as well as more creative hobbies such as fashion design, sculpting, film and more.

Some of my core values include grit, competency, versatility, and teamwork. My work style is often sporadic creativity so being a part of a community that can inspire me to think differently is crucial for me. I appreciate people of different backgrounds and cultures when I receive feedback because it helps me understand how vast the world is. I find it important to explore different lines of work or views through different people within a team to strengthen and appreciate each other. I work best when working overtime on long term goals and never giving up on me or the people around me. I feel the most achieved when I help the right people and express the right stories.

In my free time I love to sing, I enjoy covering R&B, hip hop, classical, blue jazz, rap songs and more. Along with singing I also dance frequently, typically breakdancing and hip hop. I don’t have a classical background in dancing or singing so my skill set isn’t as meticulous as it could be, however singing and dancing makes me feel free. It gives me the adrenaline I can’t get from a movie, it’s my way of escaping stress. My body is my instrument and I take pride in it, even if it won’t be a career for me.

As a Freestyle student, I wanted to get involved in the technology at this program. Growing up I wasn’t exposed to computers or cameras much and I knew it was holding me back artistically and making me complacent at my current skill level in many of my passions. I hope by the time I graduate I will be able to use windows and mac comfortably, understand the structure of a computer, be able to use recording and filming equipment naturally, and evolve my editing skills to aid my photography and film work. I hope artistically I can see how boundless opportunities are and evolve my music skills and be a versatile storyteller and not hold myself back.

I recognize having the opportunity to be a Freestyle student is a blessing, access to equipment, reasonable work schedule, and options to network are at my fingertips everyday. At this program I’m not burnt out and actually have the freedom to express myself and create instead of being talked at all the time and feeling like my education is meaningless. It’s a unique opportunity where you can’t find it anywhere else for the most part. I feel grateful that I have freedom at Freestyle Academy and am treated as an equal. Down below is my first film project!