Joieful Connections Scholarship

When I was five years old I was diagnosed with a Non-Verbal Learning Disability (NVLD) and ADHD. This has impacted my ability to learn and function in the world in many ways. An NVLD is defined as a learning disability that causes difficulty with motor, visual-spatial, and social skills. Children with NVLD's are often well-spoken and can write well, but struggle with subtle social cues and comprehension of abstract concepts. This diagnosis has impacted me in many ways. I had years of Occupational Therapy where we focused on fine motor skills, motor planning, hand-eye coordination, directionality, hand dominance and visual-spatial coordination. In school it impacted my ability to interpret symbolic language, such as interpreting maps, spatial relationships, geometry, math symbols, tracking words across the page while reading, graphing, and lining up numbers. In 4th grade I entered a school for students with learning disabilities where I learned study skills, reading decoding, Executive Function skills, writing, math and advocacy skills. I am now a Senior, in a mainstream public high school. One of the key coping tools which have helped me has been music. Since I was a child, music has been a consistent force in my life and music has always been a safe haven that has given voice to my emotions and pulled me into the light of optimism and hope. Music has the power to resonate with anyone deeply, and where they are in their life. A talented artist can combine lyrics and melody in a way that creatively expresses emotions and connects with people on a deeply personal level. Music is not just my passion, it's my purpose. It is my goal to pursue my lifelong passion for music in a career as a music industry professional. I am thrilled to have been accepted to Berklee College of Music's Industry Leadership and Innovation program in Boston, MA! This is a program that uses the model of ‘design thinking’ a hands-on approach to creating innovative solutions to solving problems. My degree will prepare me to take a strategic leadership role within the music industry readying me to identify new opportunities, develop innovative solutions to solve problems, and better meet the needs of both musicians and music-goers. In my future role in the Music Industry, I hope to make an impact by providing a voice for new and emerging artists. Although it is easy for new artists to release their music, it has never been more difficult for fans to discover new music, and for newer and diverse artists to break through the noise. I hope to play a role in addressing these challenges, by developing approaches that expand accessibility for listeners of new and diverse music, level the competitive playing field, and create equitable revenue streams. If a young artist is looking to make their way, I hope that I will be able to give them a platform so that their voice can be heard too. My last hurdle is trying to pay for this special opportunity. Receiving the Joieful Connections scholarship could literally mean the difference between my being able to attend college, or not. My parents drained much of their savings when they paid for the Learning Differences school, which was further exacerbated when my father's business closed during COVID. Thank you for this special opportunity and for your consideration.