Dwight "The Professor" Baldwin Scholarship

My name is Riley Terrell, and I am a Freshman at Georgia State University, majoring in Cinematography and Film/Video Production. As a woman with both mental and physical disabilities, I have faced numerous challenges throughout my academic journey. However, these experiences have also shaped my career goals and given me a unique perspective on the importance of accessibility and accommodation in the film industry. This scholarship will help me immensely. I do not have the financial resources to afford my textbooks and necessary school supplies. With the support of the Dwight "The Professor" Baldwin Scholarship, I can focus more on my studies and less on financial stress. Stress is something that often causes my disabilities to “flare”. This assistance will allow me to excel in my coursework and pursue my passion for filmmaking without the constant worry of how I will afford the tools I need. My disabilities have significantly shaped who I am and what I want to do. As a future filmmaker, it is my goal to make sets more accessible and accommodating to those with both mental and physical disabilities. I have experienced firsthand the struggles and importance of needing accommodations in schooling and on film and theatrical sets. Simple things like having a quiet space to work or ensuring that sets are physically navigable can make a huge difference for someone with disabilities. In my time at GSU, I have already begun to see the impact of accessibility in education and how it can empower students like me to achieve their goals. I am committed to bringing this awareness and dedication to accessibility into the film industry. I want to create an environment where everyone, regardless of their abilities, can contribute and thrive. My high school unweighted GPA was a 3.0, and I worked hard to maintain that despite the challenges I faced. My experiences have taught me resilience and determination, which I bring to my studies and my future career. I believe that my unique perspective and commitment to accessibility will allow me to make a meaningful impact in the film industry. The Dwight "The Professor" Baldwin Scholarship will provide me with the financial support I need to continue my education and pursue my dream of becoming a filmmaker. My disabilities have shaped my career goals, and I am dedicated to making the film industry more inclusive and accommodating for everyone. Thank you for considering my application.

I was born with unilateral hearing loss in my left ear. I had sometimes felt this disability put me at a disadvantage compared to my peers. I’ve had some lows in my life due to feeling different and excluded. Unfortunately, I don’t know when I haven’t heard something and my hearing loss isn’t something that can be seen by others. I persevered and worked hard, while excelling in pursuing my passion for music. For my sixth birthday, my parents and grandparents bought me a piano that I still play on today. Soon after receiving it, I started taking private lessons with my teacher, Mr. John Ackley. He sat on my right side instead of sitting on my left, like he did with his other students. That small accommodation from Mr. Ackley made me feel normal like the other kids. My favorite part of every lesson was ear training. Ironic, right? Although ear training was difficult at times, it is a skill I've used every day since I started taking piano lessons. His knowledge of the musical language has made a lasting impression that I will never forget. For the last few years, I have been taking one-on-one voice lessons with a professional voice coach. These lessons have strengthened my voice and confidence, making it my primary instrument. When I played the piano and sang for my Grandmother in her nursing home, I saw her smile and start tapping her foot, which was quite uncommon for her since her Alzheimer’s had rapidly progressed. I was connecting with her in a language we both understood and loved. Last year I started volunteering to teach piano to a young girl in my neighborhood with special needs. I was overjoyed to have the opportunity to spark that same love for music in her that Mr. Ackley sparked for me several years earlier. Over time and our weekly piano lessons, I saw the same desire in her to overcome a disability that I had in myself at her age. Like me, she didn’t let her disability prevent her from learning to play the piano. She wasn’t thinking about what she couldn’t accomplish, only what she could accomplish. Once the student and now the teacher, I felt a sense of pride to be passing on Mr. Ackley’s teachings to a student of my own as well as giving her a chance to feel confident. People like her and my Grandmother motivate me every day to keep striving to overcome any obstacles I may encounter in life, and to never give up in the pursuit of my goals. I’m inspired by the power of music and how much it can impact people of all ages. I intend to major in music therapy and learn how to help people through music. Music therapy can help make a meaningful impact for people of all ages. Having scholarship money would make a tremendous difference in my pursuit of a music therapy degree. Rather than worrying about paying student loans, I could focus on my studies in my music and psychology classes. Graduating debt free or close to it would be amazing. I would love to get one step closer to that goal. By choosing a career path that is so meaningful to me, I will be fulfilling my dream of playing music and helping people.