I began to express myself by putting all of my emotions on paper at the young age of six; even at this age I was best to communicate my feelings with crayons in my hand. I also gained an early appreciation for volunteering my time to better the lives of children; at the age of fifteen, I started donating my services to a summer youth project benefiting needy children that was founded by John Lennon. These were two forces that would continue to motivate me throughout my life.