Carlos Flores (Rocking through Kindness) Grant

My name is Sherwood Marc Willis III, I'm a Highschool senior residing in Wichita falls Texas. I am involved in my High schools Marching band, Jazz band, and I volunteer in worship at my church for lead and rhythm guitar. I am currently accepted to the school of my dreams Berklee college of music in Massachusetts, which is the #1 contemporary music school In the world. I have been playing the guitar for 4 years, starting at the age of 13. My interest sparked out of no where possibly stemming from my attraction to music and my love for tinkering with everything around me. I bought my first guitar and began lessons, While these lessons with my teacher lasted only a few months I continued to fall in love with the instrument, experimenting and branching out to hone my abilities as a musician. It had become to the point where I became obsessed with guitar constantly thinking about it even when I was away from it. Guitar and music had always been an escape for me with many summers of not having friends, I dedicated my time honing in my skills and further deepening my ambition to be a great musician. When high school rolled around I didn't have people to fall back on for a few years only relying on music as a drive to get me through. My junior year I joined our high school Jazz band and fell in love with it, my first time auditioning for state I placed 5th in Texas, while not being able to read the sheet music. This year I pushed my self to learn and I have placed second over in the state for Jazz guitar. This dedication caught the eye of our band director who asked me to join our schools marching band. Band was an experience I'm thank full to have and enjoyed it helping to make my self better rounded in many different aspects. While band did help in ways on my own I couldn't on my own I also helped influence people in our school. My director had seen a change in people around me's demeanor and overall dedication since I've joined and sparking people to have passion in music and their goals with in it. My junior year I worked as a private guitar Instructor a my towns local music academy. I worked with kids ranging from 7 to an adults one who was 75. Despite not having the best hours I'm forever thankful for my time I spent with students. Being a teacher helped me not only teach and inspire people it also helped me reflect on what I need to improve. I have always said a students limitation is the teachers, so I spent my time learning to teach in ways beneficial to everyone to be the best teacher I could be. Junior year I applied for Berklee's rock workshop scholarship for their summer program, a program that will for ever change my choose as a musician. Under direction of Los Angeles recording musician and Berklee professor Marty Walsh, me and 6 other musicians from around the world were chosen to take part in his program. At Berklee I took college level classes and worked with people form all around the world, people I'm very thankful for and still stay in touch with. I auditioned to be an undergraduate at Berklee and was accepted back in October forever changing my life. Music has been nothing but opening doors and bettering my life something I wish to share with others throughout my life.