By Leslie Omana
The following is the third installment in a series of stories written by the 10 talented participants in the 2024 Hofstra University Summer High School Journalism Institute, from July 22-27. In this piece, Leslie Omana, a Hempstead High senior, profiles Princess Davis, a Hempstead junior. All participants were asked to write short biographies on one another as an opening exercise.
Hempstead High School junior Princess Davis has long found opportunities for innovation. “In middle school,” she explained, “everyone had [acrylic] nails … I couldn’t pay for nails, so I started doing [them] on my own. Then it turned into a passion.”
Where others might have seen a dead end, Davis, now 16, began exploring her inventive side, which put her on the path to becoming the person she is today — artistic and stylish. From having an interest in world history to using jewelry as a means to speak her truth, Davis has found numerous insightful ways to dive into her creative element and understand the world around her. Not only does she have a passion for innovation, but also she enjoys analyzing various points of the media and creative outlets to appreciate the world around her.
Davis acknowledges that where there is art, there is more to be understood. “I think that fashion is a way of expression… to tell people about yourself,” Davis said, noting she is passionate about art forms that tell stories.
She is interested in animes like “Nana,” “Bleach” and “FullMetal Alchemist,” in which their stories and characters have dimension. She often plays games like “Life Is Strange,” which features insightful messages to discover. Additionally, Davis continues to create nail designs as her personal canvas of expression.
Davis is particularly enthusiastic about words. When listening to profound and complex songs, she enjoys analyzing the depths of each piece, down to single words. When she discovers insightful words and inspiring meanings, she becomes motivated to write stories of her own.
“If money be not thy servant, it will be thy master,” remarked 16th century English philosopher Francis Bacon. The quote is one of Davis’s favorites and has influenced her thinking. Growing up having to figure out her creative outlets in unconventional ways, she pushed herself by tapping into her artistic side, despite not having all the resources to fund her endeavors. Motivated to further her creative outlets, Davis wants to become successful in the field of law and perhaps create artistic nails for others.
Often in life, it’s a struggle to maintain the hobbies and objects we desire when the typical path isn’t reachable. Davis, however, shows us there is a vast variety of opportunities to express oneself that are equally, if not more rewarding. As Davis enters her junior year at Hempstead High, she will no doubt continue to distinguish herself as an artistic inspiration and a successful analytic.
