Art has been a part of my life since the moment I was born. Ever since I could pick up a crayon, I’ve filled pages upon pages, starting with scribbles and soon turning into large scale paintings. I explored this creativity in school, winning “Artist of the Year” in fifth grade and attending the Gifted Visual Arts Program at Virginia Beach Middle School. Additionally, in middle school I discovered theater. I started backstage, designing sound from scratch for my school’s one act play, and eventually joining an extracurricular program with Music Makers of Virginia Beach, where I’ve participated in more than 5 seasons and grown exponentially under the care of my director and voice teacher. I still do visual arts in my free time, expressing myself and storytelling through the medium. Needless to say, art is extremely important to me; however, the real question is, how has art truly impacted my life?
First, and most obviously, I have met a plethora of people who have influenced my character through creative spaces. I would attribute my senses of empathy and understanding to this. Because I have come to meet so many different people with a common interest to me, differences can be seen through and common ground can be found to create unexpected and meaningful connections. I can easily say I have made many friends who I would have never interacted with if not for art and theater, and they have brought me countless happy memories and beneficial connections.
I have also been able to explore and experiment freely through artistic mediums. In middle school, everybody is finding who they are, and I did that through my art. I shifted from landscapes to portraits, and furthermore stylization to realism, finding my style and what messages I wanted to convey in my art. During this time, my outward expression changed. I dyed my hair, wore different styles of clothing, and played with makeup, which all led me to how I express myself today; those are all things I am certain I would have been scared to try had I not been so engaged with visual art.
However, most importantly, I have learned about myself. Art led me to technical theater, and technical theater led me to performance. I’ve been performing for over 5 years now, and the things I have discovered about myself are endless. On the surface, I realized I love the stage; as a child I was shy and introverted, but I took the opportunity to try something new, and it turned out to be my favorite thing in the world. Living with chronic depression, art, and more specifically theater, has pulled me out of some abyssal spirits. Looking forward to rehearsals and show nights helped me put my mood into perspective and look forward to the future. Moreover, deep down, the roles I have played have allowed me to process my traumas, release stifled emotions, and find my own identity. Lucy Westenra helped me heal my past; Donna Sheridan empowered me to face the future; Grover Underwood gave me an opportunity to express my own identity on stage as a genderqueer person. Furthermore, there are so many more roles that have shaped me as a person, which is why theater holds such a special place in my heart.
So, why am I pursuing theater in college? First of all, it fills me with such sheer joy that I could not imagine doing anything else with my life. But, I also want to help people the way art has helped me. I plan on studying Musical Theater and going on to performing on Broadway or at regional theaters, a reach for the stars, but hopefully an achievable one with my future studies and further growth in abilities like dance and vocal music. This scholarship will allow me to focus on my studies without having to worry about parts of payment like dorms, books, and meals. I feel that I should be awarded this specific scholarship because of the importance arts has on my life, character, and mood; I would not be the same person had I taken a different path as a child. In short, the impact art has had on me is so vast, so intertwined through every aspect of my life, that I feel I could not pursue any other field of study.
Ever since I can remember, music has had a pivotal role in my life. When words fail, music speaks. Indoor Percussion has been far more than an ensemble to me; it is the place where I learned how to push past self doubt, where I learned the value of showing up even when I was exhausted or overwhelmed, and where I discovered how deeply the arts can shape who a person becomes. The lessons I have learned and the various people I have met through this ensemble reach far beyond music and have fundamentally influenced my character, my work ethic, and the way I envision my future.
I started playing percussion when I was around 10 and piano when I was 7, but when I first became involved with Grassfield Indoor Percussion, I didn’t come in feeling confident or certain of myself. I was only upperclassmen, and worried I wouldn't be able to pull my weight. I learned quickly that the ensemble would require more than just musical skill; It required discipline, mental toughness, and an unwavering sense of responsibility. Luckily, I had my peers, instructor support, and guidance to help lead me down the right path. They turned moments of doubt into turning points where I learned to stay determined, to listen, and to work harder. Looking back, if I told freshman me that I’d have a solo at the end of a show, awesome friends, I’d be a captain, and the commitment that I have today to WGI and the Arts, I doubt they’d believe me. The whole experience has been a privilege and an honor, and it will stay with me as I continue to pursue music in the future. As of last year, we hold second in the world for Scholastic Concert Percussion. It has filled me with a drive and sense of competition, admittedly more than one should have. One of the most meaningful aspects of my experience in Grassfield Indoor percussion are the people I shared it with. My peers were not just classmates or fellow performers; they became a support system that shaped my growth just as much as the music itself. We learned together in moments of exhaustion, frustration, and triumph, building a sense of trust that could only come from facing challenges side by side. Working so closely with my peers also taught me accountability in a deeper way. I learned that my preparation affected more than just my own performance; it impacted the confidence and success of everyone around me. That realization pushed me to hold myself to a higher standard, not out of fear, but for the people who were relying on me. In return, I learned to trust others, to believe they would show up with the same commitment and dedication. The people in this ensemble have helped me through some of the darkest times in my life, and I honestly don’t know how I would've gotten through without them. The bonds I've formed within the ensemble are something I will always value, because it showed me the power of community within the arts and reminded me that no one succeeds alone. My ability to participate in the Grassfield Indoor Percussion has not come without sacrifice. I come from a single parent-household where financial stability has been shaky, and opportunities like taking part in the ensemble are not easily accessible without careful planning and outside support. She has always worked hard to provide for me while managing her own challenges, including injuries, surgeries, and long-term health issues related to both her service and age. We've had some struggles to put in our combined efforts to help afford WGI over the last few years, and even with her support, the financial side of college and indoor is something we cannot handle alone. There are times where continuing felt uncertain, not because of lack of commitment or passion, but because of the financial strain. I have seen firsthand how much my mother sacrifices to support my involvement in the arts, often placing my opportunities before their own needs. Knowing this has shaped how I approach everything I do within the ensemble. I do not take a single rehearsal, performance, or opportunity for granted because I understand the cost, both financially and personally, of being there. Receiving this scholarship would significantly ease the financial burden placed on my family and allow me to continue participating in the arts in the future without constant uncertainty. More than financial support, it would provide reassurance that my circumstances do not define my limits. This scholarship would ensure that dedication, effort, and passion determine my ability to continue pursuing the arts that have shaped who I am.
