Meet Laziza

Since she was little, Laziza has been drawn to all things creative. Whether reciting poems in class, practicing Mozart at sunrise, singing and dancing along to her favorite musicals, or getting lost in the delicate shading of a portrait, she has always found joy in expressing herself through art. For her, creativity isn’t just an activity-it’s a language, a way to bring emotions and ideas to life across music, words, and images.

Laziza began playing the violin at a young age and quickly discovered a deep love for performing. Over the years, she has studied with several distinguished teachers and participated in various youth orchestras and music programs. During the pandemic, she found joy in sharing music with her community through outdoor performances and virtual concerts. She has also explored other instruments, including the flute and piano. In recent years, Laziza continued her musical training through the Manhattan School of Music pre-college conservatory program, supported by scholarship opportunities. She has received recognition in competitions and has performed in several renowned concert venues. In the summer of 2023, she attended the Hefeitz International Music Institute, which deepened her passion and skill. Learning the violin has expanded her appreciation for a variety of musical genres, as she also enjoys singing and songwriting.

Laziza’s love for writing and poetry began in elementary school, where she regularly memorized and recited poems, sparking her fascination with language. As she expanded her vocabulary, writing became a natural outlet for her thoughts and imagination. In 2020, she began crafting short stories and adding to her growing collection of poems. During middle school, her poem entitled “America” earned her recognition, further encouraging her passion for creative writing. She is currently in the process of publishing her first poetry collection.

Laziza discovered her love for drawing at a young age, using art as a quiet outlet to process emotions and navigate challenges. Over time, it became more than a hobby — it became a way to turn adversity into something meaningful and expressive.

Laziza has been drawn to the arts from a young age, finding in them a space to process emotion and turn challenges into quiet forms of expression. Whether through drawing, writing, or visual storytelling, she uses creativity to feel grounded, understood, and connected.

In recent years, Laziza has developed a deep interest in neuroscience particularly in how the brain holds memory, responds to emotion, and heals from pain. She’s inspired by the ways art and science overlap, and how creative expression can reflect the inner workings of the mind. Through her work, Laziza hopes to explore that connection: how art not only expresses adversity, but gently transforms it.

arts for adversity

arts for adversity