I remember when I first realized that I really loved music and wanted it to always be a part of my life. I was in ninth grade, at All-State Orchestra rehearsal. Everyone was warming up before the conductor got there, and I was feeling a little scared as I listened to the other string players warm up by playing through their difficult, virtuosic concertos. It was my first time playing in the highest level orchestra at All-State, so thoughts of whether I was as good as the other musicians clouded my head. But when the conductor came out and lifted his baton, it was as if my fears just started to melt. My body relaxed, and with the simultaneous upbeat of the baton and the orchestra's breath, the first notes of Dvorak's 8th symphony embraced me like a warm hug. All of a sudden, I wasn't worried about how I compared to everyone else. I didn't feel out of place. That was the moment I realized that I truly loved music, that music was my friend. Since then, I realized that I wanted a career in music because I couldn't imagine it not being a huge part of my life. What exactly my music career would look like has changed over time, going from symphony orchestra goals to film scoring dreams, but my passion for music as a whole has been the same. I love the way music can make you feel, how it can pull you in and let you experience emotion in a wave of sound. I love that music can be understood by all, no matter who you are or where you come from. There is just something I find so beautiful about this language that can be spoken with no words. It's comforting and unifying in a world full of differences. I want to be a part of that, making music that speaks to all kinds of people and moves them in a way that words just can't. When I realized in college that I had a passion for composition and wanted to pursue film scoring, I figured out that for me, writing music was a way that I could have a voice. It could be my way of speaking into the world and making my mark. I hope that when I get a chance to write music for a film, my music has something special that not only helps make "movie magic" happen but also contributes something positive to the world. I hope that being a part of this industry will lend to more underrepresented, talented voices getting an opportunity to be seen and heard. If pursuing my dream will aid in that happening, I would be happy knowing that I'm a part of it and hopefully inspiring someone else like me to go after their dreams, too.