Alan Sanchez is a top student who will be attending UT Austin to major in Mechanical Engineering. With a 4.4 GPA and ranking in the top five of his class, he has proven himself both hardworking and talented. But grades are only part of who he is. “I don’t just want to be known for academics,” Alan once said. “I want people to see the creative side of me too.”

Alan has loved art since childhood. He started out sketching Pokémon from books, then moved to manga, and later found his style in pen art. His pen drawings are bold and detailed, each line permanent, which is exactly what he enjoys. “There’s no erasing with pen,” Alan explained. “It forces you to commit and makes the art feel real.”

Music is another big part of Alan’s life. He began with Gorillaz and Fall Out Boy, but over time his taste grew heavier, and now bands like Pantera, Deftones, Killswitch Engage, and Foo Fighters shape his playlists. “Pantera is my favorite,” he shared. “Their music is raw, heavy, and emotional. Groove metal just hits different.” Alan often ties his love for music into art, sketching album covers or painting works inspired by songs.

Outside of art and music, Alan has a wide range of interests. He is learning guitar, beginning with acoustic but hoping to move to electric, with the goal of one day mastering Van Halen’s Eruption. “I like starting with the hardest stuff,” he joked, showing the same determination he has in school and art. In his free time, he enjoys working out, thrifting, watching movies like Surf’s Up and Blade Runner, and spending time with family. A lesser-known skill of his is baking, especially pies and cheesecakes. “Baking is like art,” Alan said with a smile. “It’s another way to be creative and make people happy.”