Jaki Nelson LGBTQ+ Music Education Scholarship

Music has be a very vital part of my life. I remember back in 2009(age 10), I got a 3DS for Christmas and one of the features was videos that Nintendo provided each week. Linkin Park "Burn It Down" was a constant video that was on and me and my little brother bonded over that song. Even performed it for my mom. That started my passion to write music. My first ever lyrics was when I was in 6th grade. It was to Jeff Hardy's "Similar Creatures" song because I couldn't understand the lyrics. Shortly I wrote my first song Natural. Eight years later, I've written over 200 songs and explored so many music genres. Music itself has gotten me through depression, anxiety, breakups and crushes. Even to this day, music is my choice to uplift my mood. Writing and creating music has been my therapy for years. I started producing my own music through loops and learned to record in hopes I'll become a singer. It created a bond that I hold with my mom when I was having thoughts of ending it all. One of the most important reason music means so much to me is because it helped me realize I'm gay and it helped me come out. If it wasn't for the help of Troye Sivan's music, I wouldn't know who I am today. His music videos "Youth", "Heaven", and "The Blue Neighbourhood trilogy" really helped me see that being gay is ok. I even had his song "Heaven" playing when I came out to my mom in 2018. Now I look to black queer musicians/artist to show me that I can be like them. I can be an open black gay man and be successful in music. I've been able to express myself and bond with other fan members, friends, and artist alike. I've made life long friends with many, all over our bond for music. I'm in my school's writing club where I share and write music and the majority of the members have been able to relate deeply. Even if I don't become a famous singer or songwriter, I want to publish all my songs to reach to people like many have reached to me. I want to connect my words to someone's life and let them know, "you're not alone. I've been there and so has many others". There's not a day music isn't involved in my life and I can't see that ever changing.