As the stepchild of a retired military veteran, I was child raised in a military family. Growing up under the roof of someone who dedicated their life to military service has profoundly shaped my worldview, giving me enduring respect for our nation's veterans, military families. Seeing the immense discipline, daily sacrifice, & unconditional dedication required to protect public safety has served to motivate me in my academic journey. Living in a military household provided me with an intimate look at the true meaning of duty. I learned early on that public safety and defense are not merely professions, but shared family commitments that require profound resilience. The structured environment, integrity, and adaptability that defined our home life left an indelible mark on my development. This deep connection to the broader military and public safety community instilled in me a fundamental understanding that our daily security is sustained by a dedicated network of individuals. These values directly drive my approach to higher education. As a music composition major, I approach my creative and academic endeavors with the rigorous work ethic, structural precision, and focus that I observed in my stepfather’s service. In music theory and composition, much like in complex public safety or military operations, success requires absolute ingrained technique, and strict adherence to structural frameworks. The resilience I developed within my military family empowers me to face academic challenges with focused determination. My personal connection to public safety groups has inspired me to utilize my creative education for community advocacy and public good. I view music as a powerful medium to honor the narratives of those who serve, and foster community resilience. This scholarship will help me continue my educational, so that I can give back to the communities that protect and inspire us every day.

"In order that a man may be able to sell commodities other than his labour power, he must of course possess means of production, as raw materials, implements of labour, and so on. He cannot make boots without leather. He requires also the means of subsistence... For the conversion of his money into capital, therefore, the owner of money must meet in the market with the free labourer, free in the double sense, that as a free man he can dispose of his labour power as his own commodity, and that on the other hand he has no other commodity for sale, is short of everything necessary for the realisation of his labour power.". - Karl Marx, Das Kapital Essay Analysis: Thesis Statement: In Das Kapital, Karl Marx uncovers a profound socioeconomic paradox regarding the modern laborer, where his underlying meaning reveals that the institutional separation of individuals from the material means of production reduces human identity to a commodified, automated unit of raw survival data, systematically stripping the creator of their inherent intellectual and artistic autonomy. To accurately interpret Marx’s underlying meaning, one must look closely at his deliberate, use of the term free laborer. Marx is not describing an individual possessing genuine social mobility or existential agency. Rather, he defines a double freedom that functions as a rigid, structural cage. The laborer is legally free to sell his energy on the open market, but simultaneously free from owning the tools, raw materials, or institutional frameworks required to realize his own potential. Because he cannot make boots without leather, his internal genius, technical skills, and living human time are entirely separated from the final product. Marx’s text implies a vital structural warning: when an individual is systemically denied ownership over the means of production, their unique human complexity is flattened into a mere binary transaction - a pass fail metric of mechanical output to enrich an external system. For an analytical, neurodivergent musician, this structural claustrophobia is deeply transparent across modern institutions. The contemporary landscape frequently operates as a digital extension of Marx’s industrial factory floor, attempting to streamline individual identity into rigid, copy paste boxes. This pattern is particularly striking within the classical music landscape. A neurodivergent artist spends thousands of hours of intense physical and cognitive labor mastering an instrument, treating the classical art form as a profound medium of expression and intellectual exploration. Yet, the dominant structures hold the literal means of production and cultural distribution. They effectively commodify the artist, reducing living human talent to a transactional data point while separating the creator from the true value of their labor from a unique neurodivergent perspective. Consequently, the discipline of close reading becomes an essential act of intellectual reclamation. Engaging line by line with dense foundational texts allows a scholar to look past the surface noise of a sterile culture and analyze the hidden machinery driving systemic alienation. It redefines higher education not as a passive credentialing mechanism, but as an active tool to seize the means of our own intellectual and cultural production. True literacy empowers us to dissect the world's machinery, move beyond the baseline metrics of existence, and construct alternative spaces for genuine autonomy. By systematically interrogating the historical text, the reader actively shifts from a passive consumer of information to an active architect of their own critical consciousness. Ultimately, Marx’s underlying meaning is that humanity cannot truly thrive when our labor is reduced to a disposable asset we must surrender just to survive. By synthesizing historical materialist critiques with a sharp focus on modern systems, we can actively envision decentralized networks that return the ownership of creative output directly to the hands that create them. Through this intellectual lens, higher education becomes a battleground for autonomy, ensuring that human labor, artistic integrity, and authentic expression remain wholly independent, self determined, and free from the suffocating pressure of rigid external expectations.

Growing up as an autistic classical musician in a culturally conservative community deep within the Bible Belt, I quickly learned that visibility requires profound courage. In our rural landscape, non-conformity is rarely celebrated, and rigid societal expectations often squeeze individuality out of the room. Being neurodivergent means my brain processes the world through deep, logical structures rather than arbitrary social cues. I never fit into traditional masculine tropes, athletic subcultures, or local expectations; instead, my identity was shaped by complex musical theory and intense intellectual curiosity. Finding my place became an even greater challenge when my father passed away. Losing him left a massive void, stripping away a primary source of grounding. In the wake of that profound grief, navigating a world that already felt structurally restrictive became overwhelming. However, this period of personal rebuilding ultimately transformed my perspective on advocacy through my interactions with the LGBTQIA+ community. Because autism can make navigating physical, neurotypical social grids exhausting, I found immense solace in digital collaborative spaces like Discord and the competitive classical music scene. There, my network expanded to include incredibly talented queer and gender-nonconforming artists. I immediately recognized a parallel struggle in their lives. Just as I had to constantly mask my autistic traits to blend into a rigid society, my LGBTQIA+ peers were fighting to exist authentically in an environment demanding total conformity. Living in a region where flying a rainbow flag is a calculated risk, my friends frequently expressed a fundamental fear of simply being themselves. Witnessing them carry that immense pressure while channeling their vulnerability into profound artistic creation deeply affected me. They didn't have massive institutional backing; they relied on their intellect, their art, and each other. Their resilience showed me that allyship is not passive. My neurodivergent perspective allowed me to see the structural gaps they faced, and I realized a vital truth: those who understand the weight of being forced into artificial boxes have a unique responsibility to help tear those boxes down. This realization completely re-centered my academic and professional ambitions. Moving forward, my plans for activism are rooted in creating concrete, inclusive spaces where both neurodivergent and LGBTQIA+ individuals can thrive without fear of social erasure or systemic judgment. Academically and professionally, I intend to bridge the gap between creative technology, the classical arts, and community advocacy. I want to build physical and digital creative labs that provide structural armor—mentorship, technological resources, and economic support....for marginalized youth and independent creators who are locked out of traditional institutions by poverty or geographic isolation. Losing my father taught me how fragile traditional support systems can be, but the resilience of my peers taught me how to build an unbreakable foundation from the ground up. True advocacy means ensuring no one is forced to hide their authentic self to survive the sterile structures of society. By combining my analytical mindset with a fierce dedication to community safety, I am committed to fighting for a future where authentic expression is protected, celebrated, and completely free from the suffocating pressure of rigid expectations.

Artistic discipline demands a high degree of emotional and mental resilience, but my understanding of psychological vulnerability was shaped long before I stepped onto a concert stage. Mental illness operates as a silent generational current within my family, explicitly redefining how I process environmental stability, risk-aversion, and creative execution. Growing up, my relationship with my late father, John Reese Eaken, was defined by distance and fragmentation rather than a shared household. Because of his severe trauma, intense coping mechanisms, and an inability to maintain stable presence or transparency, we never lived together. Instead, my childhood interaction with him was limited to periodic visits, intermittent encounters that grew increasingly far apart as his chronic illness deepened. Navigating the emotional evasion and eventual loss of a parent from a distance taught me early on that the human mind operates on fragile, intricate frequencies. This systemic instability was further compounded by a pronounced hereditary presence of severe obsessive-compulsive disorder that runs directly through our family line.Inevitably, these hereditary markers manifested as a dual diagnosis of severe OCD and generalized anxiety disorder. Living under the shadow of severe OCD means processing reality through a lens of hyper-vigilance and an exhausting demand for flawless, predictive logic. In daily life, this cognitive wiring can manifest as intense internal friction or acute environmental anxiety, sometimes resulting in perceived lapses in communication during high-stress moments. However, instead of allowing these diagnostic profiles to isolate or limit our trajectory, my family has intentionally focused on translating this distinct cognitive framework into a profound creative and academic advantage.In my work with music composition, this hyper-focused psychological wiring serves as a precise internal processing engine for broad stylistic exploration. The same hyper-vigilance that demands absolute predictability allows me to command hyper-complex sonic architectures, parse dense harmonic clusters, and analyze diverse musical frameworks with microscopic clarity. Rather than confining myself to a single creative box, I use these analytical tools to experiment across a vast musical spectrum. My current portfolio ranges from traditional jazz improvisation styles to advanced bio-music exploration, where I manipulate organic sonic textures and morphing chord clusters wrapped in rapid, micro-level piano flourishes. My formal development, including winning multiple CVSM competitions, securing the Kodi Lee grant, and studying under the rigorous classical tutelage of Dr. Igor Resnianski, grew directly out of this need to channel intense internal energy into open-ended, structured excellence. Even under high-stakes pressure, such as executing an orchestra solo of Camille Saint-Saens' Wedding Cake where an accidental major arpeggio replaced a minor chord, my cognitive focus allowed me to adapt instantly and maintain an entirely seamless, polished performance that preserved absolute musical integrity.The fragmentation of my relationship with my father and our daily navigation of chronic anxiety did not break my academic ambition. Instead, it instilled in me a profound commitment to using my music as an analytical tool to explore and heal the complexities of the human mind. This scholarship ensures critical financial continuity, guaranteeing that a trajectory forged through generational trauma and sharpened by deep structural analysis can continue to transform psychological adversity into groundbreaking, avant-garde innovation.

Most applicants offer either artistic passion or technical aptitude, but my distinct advantage lies at the precise intersection of both. My academic and creative journey is defined by a tactical transition from classical piano performance to advanced music composition and experimental bio-music. Having won multiple CVSM competitions, secured the prestigious Kodi Lee grant, and studied under the rigorous classical tutelage of Dr. Igor Resnianski, my foundational discipline is absolute. I have felt the high-stakes pressure of executing a flawless orchestra solo of Camille Saint-Saëns' Wedding Cake, an experience that forged a relentless work ethic and an elite standard of personal excellence. However, my trajectory was permanently altered by profound adversity: the devastating loss of my father, John Reese Eaken. Rather than allowing grief to stall my progress, I channeled that emotional depth into structural innovation, shifting my focus toward cutting-edge musical frameworks that merge organic biology with sonic architecture. This unique specialization gives me a massive competitive edge. I am not just a student seeking an affordable path to college; I am a highly specialized researcher and creator transforming how humanity interacts with sound. Higher education should never be a gatekeeper restricted by financial barriers or unstable banking platforms. This scholarship ensures my momentum remains entirely uninterrupted as I pioneer the next frontier of music composition.

To a standard tech audience, a "hacker" is someone who manipulates computer code to bypass system limitations. However, true hacking is really a kind of intellectual ethos. It is defined by radical curiosity, continuous experimentation, and a refusal to accept pre-existing structures as permanent boundaries. As a classical pianist and composer, I apply this exact hacker ethos to acoustic soundscapes. Rather than merely playing the notes on a page, I actively dismantle traditional harmonic systems, treating classical structures as foundational source code to be reverse-engineered, optimized, and reconstructed. My primary independent project focuses on a methodology I call biomorphic composition. Traditional Western composition relies on predictable, linear chord progressions that move along established tonal trajectories. I choose to reject those rigid constraints. Instead, I write original piano works where complex chord clusters act as living biological organisms. I engineer these cluster chords to expand organically, shifting and morphing across the keyboard like reproducing amoebas. To bridge these shifting sonic mass structures, I design high-velocity linear flourishes that function like cellular cilia, creating rapid, microscopic movement across the keys. By substituting biological growth models for standard music theory formulas, I am able to hack the acoustic properties of the piano, synthesizing entirely new sonic textures that challenge how listeners perceive tension, release, and musical geometry.This experimental drive requires deep archival research. My creative iterations are directly fueled by an extensive analysis of historical composition techniques. I study the mathematical symmetry of High Baroque masters like Jean-Baptiste Lully, the radical system-breaking of Second Viennese School serialists like Alban Berg and Arnold Schoenberg, the dense textures of Olivier Messiaen, and the extreme instrumental boundary-pushing of Helmut Lachenmann. Parallel to this classical architecture, I dive into the modal freedom of mid-century avant-garde jazz, examining how icons like John Coltrane utilized "sheets of sound" to disrupt conventional jazz frameworks. Listening to a Baroque opera one minute and modal jazz exploration the next allows me to synthesize cross-era structural methodologies into my personal creative engine. I do not simply sit at the keyboard to perform; I use the piano as an open-source testing environment to troubleshoot aesthetic limitations. Hacking is the process of taking a system that already exists and forcing it to say something entirely new, disruptive, and unprecedented. Through my biomorphic compositions, I am proving that the classical keyboard is not a static museum piece, but a dynamic sandbox built for continuous, radical sonic innovation.

Mental health is important to me because it is an issue that touches every single one of us. From what I have seen as a student, the vast majority of people will struggle with some form of mental health issue at some point in their lives. No one is completely immune to these quiet struggles. I learned this truth early on within my own family. My father, John Reese Eaken, was an incredibly talented classical violinist who lost his life to alcoholism...a struggle that I know was caused by underlying, untreated mental illness. Dealing with the loss of my father while also navigating my own diagnosis of autism taught me that taking care of your mental health is a basic requirement for surviving college and life. For a long time, traditional school and social environments felt completely overwhelming to me. To manage the anxiety and sensory overload that can come with a neurodivergent brain, I turned to music as my main outlet. I actually started my college journey as a Piano Performance major, spending hours practicing and dealing with the intense pressure of the stage. But as I focused more on my mental wellness, I realized I needed to make a change. I am currently transitioning into the Bachelor of Music in Composition / Studio Composition program at West Chester University's Wells School of Music. This shift was a deliberate choice to move from performing other people's music to creating my own. Writing music gives me a space where I have total control, allowing me to turn internal noise into structured harmony. My commitment to mental health advocacy is built right into my campus community. I believe true advocacy means being honest about our struggles so we can break down the heavy stigma surrounding mental health. Too often, students suffer in silence because they are terrified of being judged or left out by their peers. I try to fight this isolation by using my music to change the conversation. Through my recitals and creative projects, I openly share my journey with autism and honor my father's memory. This allows me to turn a painful family history into an open, honest dialogue about mental illness and recovery. By performing these personal pieces on campus, I hope to create a space where other students feel safe to acknowledge their own invisible battles. Outside of performance, my family also maintains an active federal case file with the Office for Civil Rights to protect and enforce academic accommodations for neurodivergent individuals, ensuring students facing these challenges get the resources they need to succeed. Ultimately, mental health empowerment is about finding your own way to express what you are going through. By pushing forward with my degree in composition, I want to prove to other students that a diagnosis does not limit your goals. Finding your outlet, building a support network, and claiming your place in college is a sign of real strength.

Music has the capacity to convey complex emotions that are difficult to express through language, making it a true universal language. As an individual on the autism spectrum, communication has not always come easily to me. Growing up, there were many times when finding the right words felt nearly impossible. I was enrolled in intensive speech therapy starting at two years old, an intervention that continued through my elementary school years and followed me all the way into high school. While verbalizing my thoughts could be a monumental challenge, the piano gave me an immediate voice. My journey into classical music started with structure, but it quickly became my personal sanctuary, my emotional outlet, and my most authentic way to connect with the world.Navigating a chaotic household with a rageaholic stepfather was often deeply overwhelming. This instability compounded when my father passed away from substance abuse when I was just thirteen years old. While my stepfather rarely offered encouraging or empowering words, I discovered early on that the piano was a space where I could excel entirely on my own merit. I was drawn to the instrument because classical scores have clear, architectural boundaries. When my daily environment felt completely chaotic, a sheet of music gave me absolute precision, predictability, and clarity. The mathematics of traditional harmony and the physical routine of daily practice gave me a dependable space to focus my energy.With the dedicated backing of my mom and my local piano teacher, Kevin Gorman, who mentored me through a community library piano group, I poured myself into mastering the keys. Under Kevin’s guidance, I won two consecutive first-place awards in the piano category at the Cumberland Valley School of Music merit competition. Because of those competitive wins, I was invited to perform at gala concerts alongside faculty and staff.These milestones gave me an authentic community. This momentum culminated when I performed Camille Saint-Saens Wedding Cake Caprice as a piano soloist with the local community orchestra, an ensemble composed of community players and working professionals, including my own mother. On top of performing the featured piano solo, I also contributed to the group by playing second violin. Earning the respect of these experienced musicians gave me my very first true peer group and a fierce sense of belonging.That foundation gave me the drive to pursue undergraduate music studies at West Chester University, where I just finished my freshman year with consecutive straight-A performance juries. This involvement continues to shape my life today as I transition into a formal Composition major. This summer, I am completely immersing myself in jazz improvisation and world music frameworks to expand my training. Learning to restructure complex harmonic mathematical systems in real-time has broken my reliance on rigid notation, allowing me to trust my own creative voice. Classical music gave me a voice when speech failed, and it continues to give me the internal shield to build my own independent future.

Music has the capacity to convey complex emotions that are difficult to express through language, making it a true universal language. As an individual on the autism spectrum, communication has not always come easily to me. Growing up, there were many times when finding the right words felt nearly impossible. I was enrolled in intensive speech therapy starting at two years old, an intervention that continued through my elementary school years and followed me all the way into high school. While verbalizing my thoughts could be a monumental challenge, the piano gave me an immediate voice. My journey into classical music started with structure, but it quickly became my personal sanctuary, my emotional outlet, and my most authentic way to connect with the world. Navigating a chaotic household with a rageaholic stepfather was often deeply overwhelming. This instability compounded when my father passed away from substance abuse when I was just thirteen years old. While my stepfather rarely offered encouraging or empowering words, I discovered early on that the piano was a space where I could excel entirely on my own merit. I was drawn to the instrument because classical scores have clear, architectural boundaries. When my daily environment felt completely chaotic, a sheet of music gave me absolute precision, predictability, and clarity. The mathematics of traditional harmony and the physical routine of daily practice gave me a dependable space to focus my energy. With the dedicated backing of my mom and my local piano teacher, Kevin Gorman, who mentored me through a community library piano group, I poured myself into mastering the keys. Under Kevin’s guidance, I won two consecutive first-place awards in the piano category at the Cumberland Valley School of Music merit competition. Because of those competitive wins, I was invited to perform at gala concerts alongside faculty and staff. These milestones gave me an authentic community. This momentum culminated when I performed Camille Saint-Saens Wedding Cake Caprice as a piano soloist with the local community orchestra, an ensemble composed of community players and working professionals, including my own mother. On top of performing the featured piano solo, I also contributed to the group by playing second violin. Earning the respect of these experienced musicians gave me my very first true peer group and a fierce sense of belonging. That foundation gave me the drive to pursue undergraduate music studies at West Chester University, where I just finished my freshman year with consecutive straight-A performance juries. This involvement continues to shape my life today as I transition into a formal Composition major. This summer, I am completely immersing myself in jazz improvisation and world music frameworks to expand my training. Learning to restructure complex harmonic mathematical systems in real-time has broken my reliance on rigid notation, allowing me to trust my own creative voice. Classical music gave me a voice when speech failed, and it continues to give me the internal shield to build my own independent future.

Every classical pianist dreams of playing Chopin's Ballade Number 1 in G minor, Opus 23, but my motivation to master it at age fifteen was driven by an intense need for intellectual and technical warfare. At that pivotal moment in my personal development, I was transitioning into an absolute, single-minded dedication to the keyboard. Living within a rigid, high-conflict household environment, the immense architectural and emotional complexity of the Ballade became my ultimate sanctuary. While many students are drawn to the piece for its romantic sentimentality, I was consumed by its structural demands and its profound sense of emotional isolation. Learning that Chopin composed this masterwork while navigating his own exile and physical decay gave me a deep sense of shared resilience. It was the first piece of repertoire that forced me to look completely past the written notes on the page and deeply interrogate the historical subtext of human suffering. Mastering the blistering presto con fuoco coda required a level of raw, persistent discipline that tested my physical boundaries. Harnessing my natural hyper-focus, I spent countless daytime hours breaking down its intricate polyrhythms, demanding mechanics, and rapid tonal shifts. This intense physical and mental labor culminated in winning first place at the Cumberland Valley School of Music Merit Competition, proving to me that I possessed the grit to execute elite classical literature at a professional level.However, the true motivation of the Ballade Number 1 was not found in the performance itself, but in how it permanently altered my musical path. By dissecting Chopin's harmonic architecture, I realized that I did not want to merely be an interpreter of other peoples historic compositions. I wanted to understand how notes could create entire emotional worlds from nothing. This realization directly motivated me to choose a career path focused on creation, leading to my recent acceptance into the highly competitive music composition program at West Chester University for my sophomore year. As I advance toward my undergraduate degree and a future masters degree, the lessons of the Ballade serve as my foundational blueprint. My goal is to work as a professional composer who creates a brand-new body of classical literature that explicitly gives a powerful voice to the neurodivergent community. By weaving analytical history and deep personal resilience into modern composition, I will advocate for alternative communication styles. Chopin's Ballade Number 1 did not just motivate me to practice harder; it unlocked my destiny as a creator and ensured that I would spend my life building spaces where unique artistic intellect is truly valued.

Music has been my life passion since age five, when my mother began teaching me piano and violin. When performing or listening, I closely study a composer's background and struggles. This deep dive helps me perform with greater understanding, empathy, and expression. My world shifted into serious focus around age thirteen. Following the heartbreaking loss of my biological father to addiction and navigating an undiagnosed neurodivergent mind until my formal autism diagnosis at eighteen, conventional social communication was often a struggle. Where words failed to bridge the gap with local peers, my musical discipline became my primary voice and my ultimate sanctuary. To feed my growing musical obsession under a rigid household environment, I became highly resourceful, utilizing daytime hours to master my craft, attending prestigious online programs like Interlochen during the pandemic, and practicing on a bedroom digital keyboard with headphones.At age 14, I began lessons with Kevin Gorman, who helped me prepare for college-level auditions. My dedication led to becoming a consecutive two-time first-place winner of the CVSM Merit Competition and a soloist performing Saint-Saens' Wedding Cake with the community orchestra. These local triumphs were achieved through raw persistence and a refusal to be silenced by adversity. Currently, I am a student at West Chester University, where I have officially changed my major from piano performance to music composition for my sophomore year. My recent acceptance into this highly competitive program represents my ultimate declaration of independence and outlines exactly how I plan to contribute to the musical world. Upon completion of my undergraduate degree and a future master's degree, my goal is to work as a professional composer and performer. I want to build a career creating a brand-new body of musical literature that explicitly gives a powerful voice to the neurodivergent community. By weaving analytical history and deep personal resilience into modern classical composition, I will advocate for alternative communication styles and create a space where neurodivergent artists are valued for their unique intellectual depth. My contribution will be to ensure that future artists from complex backgrounds do not find barriers, but rather find their place and their people in the musical world.

Out of the Subtext, by Alex Classical music is full of hidden details. In a musical score, a composer leaves dynamic markings—sudden drops into silence, sharp accents, and unwritten tensions that the audience feels but never explicitly sees. For the first twelve years of my life, my relationship with my father was exactly like that. To the musical community in Central Pennsylvania, he was a brilliant virtuoso violinist who commanded major stages. But behind that public prestige was a chaotic reality that my mother quietly shielded me from: a severe, losing battle with alcoholism and psychological instability. Operating out of fierce protection, my mother never allowed me to be with him unattended. Because of his unpredictable addiction, our visits were rare and tightly controlled. The definitive turning point of my childhood happened when I was seven. My father invited us to a concert at the Forum Auditorium in Harrisburg. Standing in the crowded restroom before the show, bursting with pride, I loudly announced, "I am going to get to see my Dad play!" My mother, instinctively trying to protect me from the messy reality of his double life, immediately whispered for me to quiet down. With the heartbreaking compliance that children of addicts develop just to keep the peace, I asked a question that still echoes in my mind: "Am I a secret? I can be a secret. It's OK." In that quiet moment, the reality of parental addiction crystallized. I learned that my father’s life was walled off by shame. As the years went on, alcohol completely destroyed his health. By the time our final visit happened in the spring of 2019, I had built up heavy emotional walls to protect myself from his constant cancellations. I made our interactions completely transactional. I demanded specific treats and video games—a survival strategy to say, “If you cannot give me emotional consistency, you will buy me what I want.” Hidden on his floorboard that day was a jar of clear liquid. It wasn't water; it was vodka. On July 3, 2019, he died from the disease at age 69. Because his extended family operated in deep denial and locked me out, I was never allowed to say a final goodbye. Today, as a sophomore Music Composition major at West Chester University, I look back with massive gratitude for my mother’s boundaries. Her refusal to let me stay with him unattended rescued me from his destruction. She made sure that while I inherited his raw musical gifts, I was raised in safety. I am no longer willing to be a secret. I have taken the musical lineage passed down through my hands and brought it into the light. Maintaining a strong GPA in an elite music program is my way of reclaiming my narrative. This scholarship represents the vital financial runway I need to prove that the child of an addict does not have to repeat the tragedy of the parent.

I have always enjoyed music from an early age, both in terms of listening and playing. I have grown up listening to a wide variety of music, from different musical periods, genres and cultures, including traditional African harp music, classical, (baroque through modern classical contemporary), cuban jazz, music from jazz composers such as Mingus and Coltrane, contemporary composers like Lachenman, Autechre and more. When I perform, I love to do a deep dive into the composers biography, their life experiences, how it affected their music and what they were trying to say. That said, I cannot imagine my life without music or rather music makes life worth living. In addition, I have been recently diagnosed with autism and although I struggle sometimes to express myself through words, I feel blessed to be able to perform well enough and be able to express myself through music. I am currently a freshman at West Chester University where I was accepted as a piano performance major; although I have now changed my major to music composition for my sophomore year. I grew up homeschooled, with my mom teaching me both piano and violin, although I later exceled more on the piano. I began taking piano lessons around the age of 5. Later I started the violin. I participated in the local music school in programs like Fiddlesticks, (the CVSM youth strings program), and went on the play 2nd violin with the community orchestra. I also participated in keyboard studies programs at Interlochen and PIMF in Philadelphia. I began studying piano with Kevin Gorman in my home town and he helped me win piano competitions and later helped me me to prepare for my college level auditions. As a 2 time, 1st place winner of the Cumberland Valley School of Music,(CVSM), Merit Competition and the recipient of the Martha B. Buckey scholarship, I was asked to perform at the schools annual gala performances alongside faculty and staff, culminating in being asked, as a college sendoff, to perform as a soloist with the CVSM community string orchestra where I played Camille Saint Saens, "Wedding Cake." My philosophy as a performer and musician is that...I am not a piano purest, in the sense that I enjoy being able to play at an advanced level, but feel that just playing and performing is only part of the full picture in terms of considering myself a musician. I want to write my own music. This has led me to consider changing my major to music composition. I have recently submitted my compositions to the WCU Composition faculty, and have been welcomed into the music composition program there. Music has the ability to convey complex emotions that are often difficult to express though written or spoken words. Besides being a source of tremendous joy, music has given me the ability to express myself at times when I found other forms of communication more difficult. In addition, now that I am at West Chester, I have had the opportunity to be a part of a peer group of other pianists and musicians, often collaborating with them in ensembles and music collaborations. I am hoping to continue engaging with my peers next year and building deeper social connections moving forward. As a performance major, I have had the thought recently, that, although you want to be true to yourself in how you perform a piece, you are also dealing with a sort of collective consciousness, where historical and modern expectations are also part of it. So, in a way, you are never truly alone when you play a piece of music.

I have always enjoyed music both as an avid listener and as a performer from a young age. In addition, I have studied and delved into music from different historical periods as well as music from various regions of the world. When I play or listen to a piece of music, I like to study the composers background, their struggles, their life story and like to think about how it impacted the music and what they may have been trying to express. This has been and remains fascinating to me and I believe it helps me perform the music with more understanding and expression. Really, music is all I do.....or want to do, and I believe it is my life passion. I began playing piano around age 5 with my mother teaching me. She also taught me violin, as well, but I ended up excelling more with the piano. I had experiences in a small youth orchestra at the local music school playing violin and I later joined the Cumberland Valley School of Music's Community Orchestra as a 2nd violinist. Around the age of 14, I began to become a much more serious student of the piano/keyboard and I began lessons with Kevin Gorman who helped me win piano competitions and prepare for my college level auditions. As a 2 time, consecutive 1st place winner of the CVSM Merit Competition and recipient of The Martha B. Buckey scholarship, I have enjoyed performing alongside faculty and staff at the Gala performances at The Cumberland Valley School of Music as well as the highlight in my senior year of being asked to play piano, as a soloist, performing "Wedding Cake," by Camille Saint Saens with the community orchestra for which I also continued to play as a 2nd violinist. Other community contributions during my highschool years include performing piano in an ensemble at my church on special occasions and holidays, accompanying the CVSM Community orchestra on several occasions when asked by the conductor and playing piano at the local senior center in my hometown. Currently I am a freshman at West Chester University studying piano performance with Dr. Igor Resnianski; although, I have changed my major to music composition for my sophomore year. Upon completion of my degree, I would like to continue playing and performing piano as well as composing my own music. I have already started composing and have been accepted into the music composition program at West Chester University for next year. Although I enjoy playing and performing piano, I see it as a small part of my musical activities and want to lean more on composing in the future. I am hoping to pursue a master's degree in composition following completion of my BM in music and hopefully find work as a composer.

Music has always been an important part of my life. From listening to music, performing, studying music history or actually composing music, I enjoy all aspects and genres and most recently am considering changing my major from piano performance at West Chester University where I am currently studying with Dr. Igor Resnianski to music composition. I have studied and enjoyed a variety of musical genres including classical, jazz, rock, techno and experimental music. I enjoy looking into the history and biography of the composers themselves, their lives and what motivated them to create their various works. I began playing piano and violin around the age of 5, but ended up excelling more on the piano. I have played violin with the local community orchestra in my hometown and also was honored to perform a piano solo with the orchestra in the spring of my senior year in highschool. I have also played piano for my church when requested, particularly on holidays or special occasions. In addition, I have participated in several piano competitions in my state and won 2, 1st place piano competitions consecutively in my hometown and am the recipient of the Martha B. Buckey scholarship for piano students at The Cumberland Valley School of Music in my hometown which helped cover my lessons at the school prior to entering college. Music has the ability to express a variety of feelings and emotions that are often difficult to express through language and has the capacity to transcend language and cultural barriers. As someone recently diagnosed with autism, it has been especially important to me, as it has helped me to express myself at times in my life when I struggled to communicate using words. In addition, I believe the focus necessary to study music, memorize musical passages and entire works, (which I've had to do for competitions and college auditions), has helped me in my other academic areas of study, as well. My future goals are to continue my musical education at a 4 year college and to eventually graduate with my BM in music performance, music composition or both. I have also considered attempting a double major in some area of study such as computer science or computer programming. I would love to someday compose music for theater or film, although I understand it is a competitive field. Whatever I end up doing, I feel strongly that music will always be and important part of my life.

While my mother and father both have OCD, I think I struggle a little with it. I have learned, that while I don't go around shouting out that I have OCD, or treat it like it is cute or funny, that I no longer feel stigmatized by these problems my parents or I have. I have also recently, after looking up symptoms online and talking with friends online, decided to get tested to see if I have autism, as I believe some of my behavioral traits align with symptoms of autism. Once again, while I don't want to go around advertising this, I no longer feel stigmatized by it, if I turn out to have autism, as so many people struggle with this in particular and other forms of mental health issues, as well. I suppose my experience with my family and when it comes to myself, knowing that mental health symptoms can lie on a spectrum, it is important for me to keep in touch with myself and monitor how I am feeling from time to time or have an inner awareness. I have also been motivated to take a community college course, (through dual enrollment at my highschool), to take a class in psychology which I received a B in. In addition, although I have been accepted at West Chester University as a piano performance major in the fall of 2025, I have been considering a double major, and my interest in mental health has prompted me to consider studying psychology. During the course of my own inquiries, I have learned that it is quite common for most people to struggle with some form of mental illness during the course of their lifetime. In my interactions with people, I have come to believe that the unhealthiest people, mentally, are those that try to hide their struggles, avoid acknowledging them and refuse to seek help. This not only hurts them but also the others around them. I believe because of this there is still a lot of work to do in destigmatizing mental illness and educating the public about mental health in general.

Music has the ability to convey complex human emotions that can be difficult to express even through language. It is also a universal language in that it can transcend cultural barriers and reach diverse populations around the world. Besides that, I just love music, both performing and my recent attempts to compose music. Regardless of what artistic endeavor or passions a person enjoys as a creator or an observer, participating in art and culture and society as a whole has the power to uplift both the individual and the community. I believe that, in such places, for example, inner cities, or rural areas and small towns, where there are few opportunities to listen, watch , engage or participate in cultural events can lead to a feeling of stagnation, boredom or, in some cases, with few or no opportunities to see what is out there, in terms of possibilities and the beauty of what people can create when they come together, a loss of interest in the world around them. Especially in the inner cities and small, rural areas, there has been a rise in problems with drug addiction, depression and mental health issues. I think, for young people, proper guidance is needed, along with opportunities in music, art, sports to enjoy as an observer or, even better, a participant. People thrive when they have purpose in their lives; although I digress from the original topic, I still find this important and definitely something I would want to contribute to when I attend college and afterwards. With all that said, I have been accepted to West Chester University as a piano performance major where I intend to study as an incoming freshman in the fall. While in college, I am hoping to be engaged in many recitals and ensembles both as a soloist and a member of group ensembles. I hope to enhance and impact both my campus community and the local area with my performances and in collaborative events with campus ensembles. While I do not know where I want to live after college, and it could be dependent on where I am able to find work after college, I am hoping to use the skills, experiences and knowledge I receive with my degree to hopefully make the world a better, more vibrant place. I have enjoyed playing in my local community orchestra as a violinist and as a piano soloist, most recently, both in terms of the music and the social interaction and, despite the work involved, the collaborative effort. Music has the power to bring people together and give people purpose, and to elevate the human experience. I intend to use my musical skills in the hopes of sharing them, by performing or teaching or collaborating with other artists to share my musical skills with my community whenever possible.

I have lived in a rural area for the past 10 years and cyber schooled via Reach Cyber Charter School for the last 7 years. Although, I have tried various outlets to try and meet people my age, such as church youth groups, a bowling league, and playing the fantasy card game Magic Commander, (maybe because I'm kind of shy), I just don't feel I've found my niche or a peer group that I can relate to. The high point of my year was probably performing as a piano soloist for the community orchestra, where the orchestra accompanied me to a beautiful, virtuosic piece entitled, "Wedding Cake." And I also play violin in this orchestra, as well...although I'm not as good of a violinist as I am a pianist. There are people of all ages in this orchestra and even a few right around my age. I felt they really appreciated my playing and it was, not only a chance for me to learn how to perform a solo work in collaboration with the conductor and members of the orchestra, but it was really a social opportunity, as well. I truly enjoyed the camaraderie of the other musicians, working through the tough spots and often laughing at our mistakes in this highly collaborative setting. The people that I have met in the orchestra share my values and I feel like I can really talk to them about all things musical. I have essentially grown up without a peer group consisting of people my age. I did not have anyone to ask to my senior prom. I have never been to a party with friends my own age or even just to hang out casually with. Although, the isolation has given me the chance to focus on my academics and obtain a very high GPA, (close to 4.0), I am longing to be off in college where I am planning to live in the dorms, study music and hopefully have many more opportunities and experiences like the community orchestra had provided me with. I am hoping that being around people my age on a daily basis who share my interests and passion for music will really be a game changer for me, help me with my shyness and social anxiety as well as to have the chance to find a peer group and make long term friends for the first time in my life.

I, personally, do not have cancer, but my Grandmother did. She had to go through painful radiation treatments and so far, is cancer free....although, she is afraid it might come back. My Grandma is 84 years old and she understands her time is coming. She has told me how proud she is of me and encourages me to follow my dreams. She used to come to my concerts, (I study piano and am looking to go to West Chester University to study music performance), but she had gotten to old to drive and we miss her. I suppose, what this has taught me, despite that I am only 17, is that life can be unpredictable, sometimes short, and to try to live life to the fullest, but in a balanced, healthy way. My step father also had cancer, more than once, and is now fully cancer free. He was so very worried it would come back....but so far, so good. It just kinda shows me the unpredictability of life. He didn't give up. My Grandma did not give up...and they both survived. So, I think, no matter what life throws at you, it is important to stay positive, maybe even have some faith and definitely keep going! For now, I am planning to attend West Chester as an incoming freshman in the fall of 2025. Again, I am planning to study music and double major in another field I have yet to decide upon, but am considering fields in the tech area like computer science or computer programming. My Grandmother missed this performance of me soloing with the local community orchestra....but I will share it in the attachment below and also plan to show my Grandmother when I see her. Oh, yes, I am the piano soloist in the video below after the conductor does all her talking. 😂

Music has the ability to express complex emotions that are often difficult to communicate through spoken language. It is a universal language in its' own right and has the ability to transcend language barriers in an increasingly divided world. As for myself, I had a speech delay as a young child and have recently been released from an IEP for speech and language issues. In social settings, I still find it difficult and intimidating to begin a conversation. Music has been both a passion for me and a way for me to express myself from an early age. I began playing piano from the age of 5 and violin since around 10. Although I began early, I really didn't get serious, (about piano, especially), until around the age of 15. Since then I have focused and worked very hard...and through my effort, I have been able to win local piano competitions and perform in the local community orchestra. I also enjoy performing at my church, especially around the holidays. However, I think what really motivated me and what I think I want to do in college, is to learn how to compose my own music. Although I enjoy listening and playing other people's music from classical, jazz fusion, jazz, program music for video games, etc., I think my study of music has led me, in what I feel is a natural progression....to want to compose my own music. I have begun experimenting with composing some small compositions of my own but would really like the opportunity to learn so much more and fine tune my musical skills and knowledge in a college setting. I am also aware of the technological advancements in recording, software that allows you to compose, (which I have also experimented with), and would like to learn more about that as well. My desire or dream would be to eventually produce a large scale musical work, such as a sonata, symphony, concerto, or score for a video game or film.

My father died when I was 13 and was not a large part of my life even before that. So, essentially, I grew up raised by a single mom. All of our extended family do not live anywhere near us. In addition, we live in a rural area and despite having teenagers my age living down the street on either side of me, I don't see them and have never talked to them. I am cyber schooled, as well. So, other than seeing some of the kids online during online lessons, I really haven't had any kind of peer group growing up. In a way, I suppose, the upside of this is that I haven't had a lot of distractions and have been able to do very well academically with a 3.9 GPA. It has also lent to my focus on music as a means of expression and an outlet for me socially, as well...since I have met some people my age performing violin and piano in the local community orchestra. Still, I am REALLY looking forward to living in the dorms, (as I am planning to attend West Chester University in the fall as an incoming freshman), and being surrounded by peers my own age who share my interests in a much more urban area than I have been raised! I plan to study music and have been accepted to W.C.U. as a piano performance major. Although I really enjoy playing and performing, I am also considering learning how to compose music, as well. I have a bit of social anxiety and music has been there for me and helped me to express myself at times when I found it difficult to find my voice. It has and I believe will continue to be a way I share my feelings and deepest emotions with others. I also am planning on double majoring in another field, (probably in something tech related), but have not decided on exactly what, yet, but am considering computer science, data science and computer programming. I also am very interested in languages, the history and development of the worlds various languages, etc. & am toying with the idea of studying linguistics. I am currently in Spanish 4, but would like to study another language in college and work towards the same proficiency I have in Spanish. I really value community and interacting with others. I think it is so important to the world right now, especially with so much division in our society. I don't know for sure what I will want to do as a career after college, but I do know music will always be an important part of my life and I am hoping to be able to use it to reach out and impact other people's lives through it.

I had a speech and language disability for which I had an IEP for many years, but have been released from that just about a month ago due to the progress I have made. My speech therapist helped my quite a bit in order to form certain vowel sounds clearly. Although, I feel I have made a lot of progress, I still feel awkward in social settings and it is difficult for me and often intimidating to try and start a conversation with peers my own age. I have been accepted to the Wells School of Music at West Chester University as a piano performance major where I want to study music and double major in another field which I have not yet decided upon but am considering computer science, computer programming or some tech related field. In addition, I plan on living in the dorms and am hoping that, being surrounded by and living around peers my own age who share common interests will facilitate continued progress in overcoming my speech issues and help me with my social anxiety. Prior to going to college, music has been a tremendous outlet for me, as it has the ability to express complex emotions that are often difficult to express through language. My ability to focus and play the piano well has helped me win and participate in local and state piano competitions. Recently I was delighted to have been asked to perform a solo with our local community orchestra. Not only did this give me an opportunity to perform, but helped me socially, as well...having to discuss the music with the conductor and coordinate aspects of the music with the orchestra has helped me to feel more comfortable in large groups of people. I suppose my disability has led me to look for other ways to be able to express myself....and may be a big reason I chose to be a music major in college. I am not giving up on improving my ability to communicate with my peers via spoken language, but music has definitely helped me to express myself through it all and I think will always be an important part of my life in the future whether or not I decide to make music my career. Music really is a form of language on its' own, after all, and important, in the sense that it is universal and has the ability to transcend language barriers. In addition to music performance, I am also interested in learning how to compose my own music. I have already begun experimenting with composing shorter pieces and would like to continue learning more when I attend The Wells School of Music.

My father died when I was 13, and I really didn't get to see him that much. My parents were not married, so I was raised by a single mom...until she married my step father. Money has always been tight and, although, I understand money may not be the key to overall happiness and that many people who are wealthy are not always happy, money can solve some life problems and make life easier. I have been homeschooled through Reach Cyber Charter School and my mother was able to homeschool me without having to go out and work herself, largely due to marrying my step father; however, the relationship was problematic and I sometimes wonder if it would have been better if she had stayed single. I was able, through Reach Cyber Charter School and living in a rural area without a lot of social distractions, able to achieve a very high GPA and NOT talking the easy classes. I have wanted to challenge myself by taking such classes as Calculus and Physics. I have also been able to, through Reach, (which offers high achieving students to the community college courses for free), been able to take a few GUR courses at Harrisburg Community College while I have still been in highschool. So I can see a clear correlation with achieving academically and financial offers or other opportunities if I continue doing well. My dream field is music and I have been accepted to the Wells School of Music, as a piano performance major, at West Chester University on a partial scholarship. In addition, I have won and participated in several local and regional piano competitions which has, most recently given me the opportunity to perform a solo work on piano with the local community orchestra accompanying me! While music means a lot to me and I believe will always be a part of my life, I realize it is a competitive field and, despite my piano teacher wanting me to apply to colleges such as Julliard, I have chosen West Chester. For one, I want to double major in another field such as computer science or something tech related as a backup. I have thought I may even want to take a higher paying job in a tech related field and continue my musical pursuits more as a hobbyist than a professional musician. And yes, this would be for the financial stability one could offer over the other and is tied to some of the experiences I had growing up in a low income household.

My relationship with my piano teacher has inspired me. He has not only helped me with improving my piano technique but has also been instrumental in guiding me in my college searches and helping me put together the right type of repetoire for my college auditions. I have also won 2 first place piano competitions under his tutilage. He has been more than a teacher to me and I feel like he is my friend, at this point. If he cannot attend one of my concerts, he has tried to make the dress rehearsal. When he senses I am a bit burned out, he has sometimes, during my lessons, just sat and talked about music or listened to music with me, discussed my future plans or interesting details about composers and their music, etc. He often loses track of time and we just sit and talk about all things musical. As a homeschool, via cyber school kid, who lives in the country, I have had a fairly isolated life. But when I play in the orchestra, I feel accepted, as part of a family of musicians, who understand each other and have similar values when it comes to music and the experience of playing together in an ensemble. Although, many of them are not my age, I have made friends with some of the players in the orchestra, have shared in some of their stories and even attended a funeral of someone that meant a lot to done of the orchestra members. It has given me a sense of community I otherwise wouldn't have had, and one that I greatly value. I began playing violin with the orchestra which later led to the conductor asking me to accompany the orchestra on piano, which I have done the last couple of years when asked. Most recently, I was delighted to have been asked to perform a piano solo with the orchestra accompanying me! This has led to a few people my age asking me to accompany them on various projects they are working on, one person is my age and a senior in highschool, as well. I am looking forward to collaborating with him and maybe even the possibility of forming a new friendship. I plan to attend college in the fall of 2025, where I am planning to study music. I am hoping I have many more such musical collaborations with both students and staff allowing me not only to pursue my musical interests but to make friends with peers my own age who share my interests.

My father died when I was 13 and did not play a very active role in my life due to a multitude of issues, ill health and alcoholism. I basically only saw him around once or twice a month and, although, he was kind to me when he visited, I cannot say he was really any kind of father figure. I am proud of him, as he was a very accomplished, semi-famous violinist in the area we live and I hope he rests in peace. I also have a step father, but he has a nasty temper and I really have not ever felt that close to him. In lieu of this, I guess I can say, I essentially grew up without any major male figure or role model in my life up until around 3 years ago when I began my piano lessons with Mr. Kevin Gorman. The relationship began as a professional, teacher/student relationship with Kevin, and he has helped me to refine aspects of my playing including understanding and helping me learn the various historical musical styles in classical music, refine my piano technique, given me encouragement in regards to my musical endeavors and helped me win 1st place in a couple local piano competitions. He has given me help, advice and insights into my college searches and has been critical in helping me with my college auditions. I have now been accepted to several colleges, universities and music schools and I am happy to say I have chosen West Chester University at this time. However, more than that, Kevin has been a friend to me, coming to my concerts or dress rehearsals, (if he cannot make the concert). He also comes to a local piano group on many Friday afternoons, where local pianists meet, get a chance to listen, encourage and critique each other and discuss music. Sometimes, during my lessons, when he has sensed I'm burned out, we instead just listen and discuss the great composers, pieces I am interested in playing, music theory or music composition. Perhaps one of the most important lessons or attributes Kevin has, in regards to his temperament, is to display how a calm, emotionally well balanced man can handle problems in life without resorting to vice, rage or fits of temper. In addition, when I have experienced a problem or an issue, (not that he's aloof or uncaring), but he has given me a balanced, measured, appropriate response without making a "mountain out of a mole hill." In that way, and I did not see this so much in my early life, I have learned to perhaps pick my battles wisely and to hopefully handle them in a calm, logical, step by step approach, learning how to listen to the other people, be patient and to take things step by step.

Most recently, that is March 18, 2025, I was asked to perform a solo piano work with the local community strings orchestra. I have been playing for the orchestra for several years now, both by playing 2nd in the section and also, when asked by the conductor on a few occasions, to accompany the orchestra on piano. This was the 1st time I was asked to solo and have the orchestra accompany me. It was, of-course, an honor to be asked but I also enjoyed the opportunity to perform a more advanced solo work with an orchestra, the new experience in terms of the challenge and focus it takes to follow the conductor while playing and listening to the orchestra, the tempo, how it all fits together, etc. I also enjoyed the comradely support of the other musicians in the orchestra. I am currently a high school senior and have been home schooled via a cyber charter school for the last 7 years of my life. While this has given me the focus to be able to do very well academically, I have not done as well socially, especially since I live in a rural area on top of this. I do not currently have any kind of peer group my age, any friend to ask to my prom, (although I plan to attend anyway), or just simply a friend to hang out with. I suppose, because of all this, I find it a bit awkward and struggle to find my voice in social situations. I am hoping this will change and I will grow socially when I go to college in the fall, live in the dorms and am surrounded on a regular basis by peers closer to my age who share similar interests to mine. In the meantime, music has given me a way to express myself emotionally and has given me a voice when I have struggled to find my own through language. Music has the ability to convey complex emotions that can often be difficult to express through language and is universal in that sense. It is always nice when people attend a live musical event. I certainly enjoy live music, both as a listener and as a performer. Certainly playing in the orchestra, even though there were not a lot of people my age, gave me a sense of community. Since my solo performance, I am happy to say a young man around my age, and a senior in highschool like myself, reached out to me to ask me to accompany him on the piano for a piece he is working on with the violin. I am happy to be able to do this with him and hoping that I may be asked again by either him or other people who I have gotten to know through the orchestra.

I am currently a senior in highschool and for the last 7 years I have been homeschooled via a cyber charter school. In addition, I have had an IEP for speech and language because I had trouble making or forming certain sounds. I live in the country where there are not many people my age and suffer from feelings of isolation. The combination of these above factors have led me to feel rather uncomfortable when in social settings and to have trouble finding my voice or communicating with peers my age. I have never really had a peer ask me over to their house, go to the mall with or just to simply hang out. I do not have anybody to ask to my prom, although I do intend on going. The isolation has been the down side of my education; however, it has allowed me the focus to do extremely well academically and to become an accomplished pianist for my age. I currently holds a 3.9 cumulative GPA and have won 1st place in 2 local piano competitions. Due to my achievements, I have been accepted to several colleges, universities and conservatories of music where I am hoping to attend, live in the dorms and immerse myself in campus life. I very much hope being in this setting will allow me to grow socially and find peers my own age who share my interests. In the meantime, music has been an important way for me to express myself as it has the ability to convey complex emotions that are often difficult to express through language. Music has given me a voice at times when I didn't feel I had one. My immediate future goals are to attend a university, (and I have actually chosen West Chester University at this point), and work towards a 4 year degree in music as well as double major in another field I have not yet decided upon but am considering such fields as computer science, computer programming, linguistics or psychology. While I believe music will always be an important part of my life, I understand that it is a competitive field and I would like to have a backup plan. I have even considered the possibility of becoming more of a music hobbyist, where I take a higher paying job in one of the tech fields and have extra time to pursue my own musical goals in my free time.

My mom & I went down to visit Grandma several years ago. While usually visiting her always turns out to be an experience of some sort, this was particularly frustrating and hysterically funny in a family drama type of way. Attempting to take Grandma to dinner in Towson, MD, we found a parking area. I helped Grandma out of the car &, held her arm as we walked to the parking kiosk. (It was summer and in the 90's), She put her credit card in as my mom tried to read and tell her how it worked. Hunched over, Grandma took the receipt out of the unmanned kiosk when she told us she lost her bank card. My mom asked if she had it in her wallet, to which she responded emphatically, that of-course she didn't! What would have been under 10 minutes to get to the restaurant turned into over an hour long ordeal sitting standing around in the hot sun. Grandma first tried various options on the machine, after which Grandma started asking every person that walked by how to get her card back. Mom was trying to tell her that if her card had gotten "eaten" by the machine, that she would have to call her bank Monday. But it was a Saturday and Grandma didn't want to wait. She kept asking if somebody would somehow try and steal her card and if there was some way to get into or open the machine. She then tried to call the police with my Mom telling her repeatedly, that they would just tell her to call her bank on Monday....which is exactly what they told her. After she finally seemed like she could let it go and we began walking towards the restaurant, she saw this wild looking biker dude with long hair, tattoos, crazy silver jewelry and colorful t shirt and she, once again, told him what had happened and asked if she could somehow get her card out of the machine. The wild looking biker guy turned out to be very nice and tried to be helpful, but it meant walking all the way back to the kiosk. The biker guy looked around and around , pressing various buttons, trying to read what was on the kiosk. This time locating a phone number. My Mom was rolling her eyes and clearly agitated at this point, again telling Grandma she would most likely have to wait until Monday, that "if the card had been eaten,". it was probably cause she had left the card in there too long, and that "it was for her own protection.". Grandma told my Mom to "Shut Up and let her think." She attempted to call the number on the kiosk to no avail, listening to several menu prompts & not being able to get a hold of anyone after standing around another 10 or 15 minutes. My Mom finally convinced her to let it go for the moment and we started walking towards the restaurant where she saw another kind stranger and this time tried to ask if there was some way he could help her break into the machine. He took a look as we stood there, but once again said she would have to wait until Monday. She was crying when she got to the restaurant, but calmed down and we managed to have a nice dinner. At the end of the meal, Grandma looked into her wallet, with a little smile on her face and said, "Oh, look! The card was in my wallet the whole time!

I have been homeschooled via an online cyber school for the last 7 years and am now currently a senior in highschool. Rarely are things black or white in this world and the decision to be homeschooled has had both positive and negative consequences. One of the negatives is that, to a large degree, I have grown up without a lot of social opportunities to be around my peers. (I also live in a rural area...so that doesn't help matters). At this point, I don't have anyone to ask to my prom or even just a few friends to hang out with at the mall. This has led me to feel a bit intimidated in social situations and I am hoping this will change when, hopefully, as an incoming freshman at college next year, I will live in a dorm, immerse myself in campus life and have the opportunity to be around people my age who share my interests a large part of the time. While cyber schooling has left me feeling rather isolated, the upside is that I have had few distractions and have been able to do very well academically, achieving a 3.9 cumulative GPA, take and do well in some dual enrollment/community college courses/GUR's and become an accomplished pianist. (I have won 1st place in the local piano competition 2 years in a row). Having done this well has allowed me to be accepted into several colleges and conservatories as a piano performance major....so there is another upside! I have a deep desire to connect with other people and especially people my own age. The challenge I face with being cyber schooled is that I now find myself in a place where, without a lot of practice in social situations, I find it very difficult to interact with people and find my voice. Again, although I am hoping this will change when I attend college, in the meantime, music has given me that voice, that way to express myself and also connect with people who have come and expressed joy in watching me perform when coming to my concerts. Although I am not giving up and will continue to verbally connect with people, I expect music will always be an important part with regard to my desire to express myself. I truly enjoy knowing that I bring joy into other people's lives through my music. I have always had a love of music and have played piano and violin since I was 5 years old. I am not sure what happened, whether it was a particular piece of music or something that I just really, really (heard) and wanted to play, (like the Chopin Ballade No. 1), but something clicked around 3 years ago and ever since I have devoted myself to studying the piano, piano technique and just about all other aspects of music one can think of. In fact, I am considering the possibility of switching from a performance major to a composition major in college, (although I have been accepted primarily due to my playing ability). Music has the ability to convey complex and varied emotions that are often difficult to express through language. I suppose that is another thing that drives me to continue to pursue it. It has also lent me a voice when I was struggling to find one. It has led me to become an accomplished pianist. But humans are social creatures, and what of our accomplishments if we cannot share them with others? My love for other people and my desire to connect with them using a variety of means, including music, is definitely another aspect that has and I believe will continue to drive me forward.

I believe there are so many components of success, making this a very broad question, and one that can be different for every individual. Many things come to mind, such as what will make me happy during and after college. I think, to summarize initially and list some of the main ideas that pop up for me is to have a sense of purpose, which also requires having attainable goals, as well as balance in one's life, a sense of community, having a social life and being able to share with friends, having a good life philosophy and having the financial ability to meet everyday needs through work while still having time to pursue one's own dreams and goals. I have been homeschooled for the last 7 years via an online public cyber school. I live in a rural area and have not had much of a peer group growing up. I understand there are up and downsides to the decisions we make in life. (A good thing to keep in mind....sometimes things aren't all bad or good). So, although, this isolation has given me the opportunity to be completely focused and attain a very high GPA, currently 3.9, I have lacked much in the way of having a social life or just being able to hang out with peers my own age. In fact, although I am planning to go to the prom, I have nobody to ask. Going back to the upside, through my grades and my playing ability, (on the piano), I have been accepted to many different colleges and conservatories. I am looking forward to, hopefully, living in the dorms and being immersed in campus life at one of the colleges that have accepted me. I am also really hoping to, after many years, being able to finally connect with peers my own age who share my interests! As humans, we don't live in a vacuum, and I think it would be difficult for one to consider themselves truly happy or successful if we couldn't share these aspects of our lives with other people. As an incoming freshman in college, it is my desire to study music, (I've been accepted to several colleges as a piano performance major,), along with doing a double major in some other field for which I have not yet decided upon, but am considering subjects such as linguistics, computer science, computer programming or psychology. I understand music can be a very competitive field and want to have some sort of backup. I have also considered the idea of being more of a music hobbyist, while perhaps taking a higher paying job in some type of tech area, thereby having the time and financial stability to pursue my own musical passions in my own way. Once of which, is that I would like to compose music and understand it is a competitive field and one where I am a bit stubborn and have my own ideas about where I might want to take my musical compositions. I believe my practical side may contribute to my future success by helping to create a balance in my life, the one between work, play and pursuing one's passions. If I would be given this financial opportunity, it could free me up upon graduation, from some of the student debt I may be left with. This may help me be able widen my options when seeking employment, post graduation, to seek a job that I truly enjoy rather than based on simply how much money I will make. And although, I do not believe money is the key to happiness, it can free people up to pursue what truly makes people happy, such as purpose and meaning in their lives, and the ability to pursue their dreams.

I have always enjoyed listening to a wide variety of music from a very early age including, but not limited to, pop music, jazz, world music, jazz fusion, the great choral works of Bach and Mozart, and, of-course classical music. I began studying violin and piano at around age 5, but really took off with piano in the last several years. Around 3 years ago, (I'm currently 17), I started getting really serious about pursuing my piano studies. As a result of my focus and dedication, I have won 1st place in 2 local piano competitions and have participated in others pre-collegiate music competitions, as well. I have also taken lessons at the local music school by participating in musical ensembles offered their, including a strings program and, of-course, my private lessons. I have also attended Interlochen online and PIMF, (Philadelphia International Music Festival), where I had the chance to study music with members of the Philadelphia orchestra. In addition, I have been playing both violin and piano with the community orchestra for the last several years and have accompanied the orchestra on several occasions when asked by the conductor. In fact, just this month, I was delighted to have been asked to perform a piano solo entitled Wedding Cake, by Camille Saint Saens, and was accompanied by the community string orchestra! I am looking forward to going to college in the fall of 2025 where it is my desire to pursue a double major in music, (for sure), along with another field which I have not yet decided upon but am considering fields such as linguistics, computer science, computer programming or psychology. I have been accepted recently to several different colleges, music schools and conservatories as a piano performance major. While I would like to continue playing piano and performing in ensembles at college, I am considering the prospect of switching to music composition. I do not consider myself a piano purest, in the sense that, to really consider oneself a musician in the full sense of the word, a person should not only just be able to play, but also to create new music. This to me, seems like not just a natural course for me to take, but also an essential component, once again, to considering myself a musician in the complete sense of the word. After graduation I have considered the possibility of becoming more of a hobbyist, taking a higher paying job in something like a tech minded career that gives me extra time to play and compose. I am not sure at this point. What I do know, beyond doubt, is that music has given me an outlet and a voice, and that it will always be a very important part of my life..

Music has the ability to communicate complex and varied emotions that are often difficult, even, to express in words or language. I have always enjoyed listening to a variety of genres of music including, pop music, jazz, world music and classical. I began piano lessons at age 5, but only within, since around the age of 14, (last 3 years), have I begun to be really serious. This devotion and passion has led me to win 1st place in 2 local piano competitions and just recently I had the opportunity to solo with the local community orchestra. What I have really begun to believe, is that I not only want to play the works of great composers, but that I want to compose myself. I have grown up in a rural area and have been home schooled via a charter cyber school. While this has given me the chance to focus, without distraction, on my grades and achieve a high GPA, I have lacked any real peer group growing up. I have never just had the opportunity to hang out with peers my own age. I am going to the prom, but don't have anyone to ask. This isolation has led me to feel a bit awkward in social situations and I find it difficult to find my voice, at times, in settings or places where there are people my age. (I also have worked with a speech therapist at my highschool, as I was having trouble pronouncing certain sounds, but have been released from this I.E.P. with my teacher saying I have worked hard to overcome this obstacle). I am hoping when I go off to college, as I am planning, in the fall 2025, living in the dorms and being immersed in campus life, surrounded by peers my own age who share my interests, that I will grow & do better with regard to the social aspect of my life. In the meantime, music, both listening to great works and performing on the piano has given me an outlet for my feelings, my passions and lent me a voice which I feel has greatly helped with my feelings of isolation, at times as well as enhanced my life in ways I could not have imagined. I have been told by many people that they really enjoy listening to my playing. I am hoping this will continue during my college years and on. I also hope to share my voice and contribute through learning how to compose and create music when I go to college.

I live in a rural area, in the country and am home schooled. Even though there are other teens in the area, everyone seems to be, well.....like on their own private island. In fact, although I have done very well academically as a cyber-schooled student, I really don't have much of a social life. I am hoping this will change for me when I am living in the dorms on campus. In the meantime, what I have tried to do, at least for myself, and hopefully my participation adds to the sense of community here, as well, is to participate in many of the musical events in my area. I not only enjoy going to see local musicians play in my area, but also participate in these community events, as well. I have been playing both violin and piano in the local community orchestra for many years now. This year, I am excited have been asked to perform a solo piano work that will be accompanied by the orchestra. In addition, I attend church on a regular basis in order to, (besides express my faith), network and participate in community events offered at the church. Another way I feel like I can contribute, in a world that is heavily divided, perhaps fearful and often, in communities like mine, lacking any sense of community is through music. Music has the ability to convey complex human emotions often difficult to express through language. I believe by playing and hopefully, composing music someday, that this will help me express myself and feel more connected to the other people. I am, of-course, hoping this will be reciprocal and help others, as well.

I believe that I have the drive, motivation and discipline to thrive in a college environment. I often enjoy taking on a challenge head on and will push myself to my limits to achieve what I want to achieve. I have been playing the piano since I was 5, but only began to take it seriously around 2 years ago. Since then, I have tackled some notoriously difficult pieces and have won 2 local piano competitions for my effort. Additionally, I have interests in several different fields such as computer sciences, linguistics, and psychology and I feel like I might want to pursue a career in one of these on top of my musical interests. Overall, I feel like I have done exceedingly well academically due to my online schooling; however, I regret that I was not able to have the social life that most people my age have had. I still struggle socially in many different contexts and find it difficult to find my voice. This has fueled my musical desire to not only perform piano works that interest me, but also has led me to the desire to compose music, as well. In a way, it is my desire to be with other people and express what I may feel is difficult to express at the moment. Music has the ability to convey complex emotions often difficult to express through language. My wanting to connect with others, and sometimes struggling with that, (at least, in words), is a big part of what motivates me. To realize that another human is feeling the same way you may be or having the exact same thoughts can be such a bonding experience. Music can bridge barriers that words often cannot. It has the power to transcend social, racial, ethnic and language barriers. It is a universal language in that sense. I am longing to use my musical ability to express myself, share my emotion, deepest thoughts, insights and passions in a way that can hopefully connect me with others who, hopefully, appreciate my work. After all, human happiness often stems from the realization of shared experiences, whether through common ideas, feelings or interests, which fosters connection and understanding. I am hoping my ability to play and create or compose new music will truly add joy to my life and others, as well.

My IEP special education was for my speech issues. I had trouble forming certain letters in the alphabet and combinations thereof. I had a great speech therapist, Ms.. Sadie, who has been working with me for several years now and I have been released from the IEP following a recent meeting where they felt that I have made significant progress and longer need the speech therapy. The speech therapy has encouraged me to pursue my dreams or goals of attending college because I can see that if I expand the effort, I can make things happen for myself. Although, that in and of itself did not inspire me to want to attend college, I do believe that the help I was given and the work that I did to accomplish it will help me when I attend a college or university. As I have been cyber schooled a good part of my life, in a rural area, I haven't had the ability to socialize and have grown up, essentially, without any kind of peer group. I do not have anyone to ask to the prom. I have never attended a party or just simply been asked to hang out at a friend's home. I am hoping this will change when I attend college, live in a dorm and am immersed in campus life alongside people my own age, who share my interests. Since being able to communicate properly is a crucial part of this, I believe the work I did with my speech therapist will help me with this. Another valuable insight I took from my speech therapy is that the progress did not happen over night. It took little steps over several years & required practice. It took patience and perseverance, as well, which is true for many goals or things that are truly worth attaining. It has helped me to see how my effort, over time, has value and isn't wasted.....that it is the long run that counts. This effort put forth, incrementally, patiently and with focus over time has helped me in other areas, as well. I started playing piano from the age of 5. I started, of-course, by taking small steps, learning small songs, practicing perhaps an hour a day over years and years. I am 17 now and have won 2 piano competitions and participated in others. I consider myself an accomplished musician at this point. In fact, I have been asked to perform a solo work with our local community orchestra in Chambersburg, PA. This level of ability, once again, did not happen over night, but took years of study and once again validates that my efforts have paid off in the long run. I truly believe, that most people, if they want something badly enough and are willing to work hard enough for it, have patience and perseverance, can achieve just about anything they want. As with both speech and piano, as well as the long-term effort and small steps over time, I have learned not to give up when I fail or after I have had a set back. As far as my current lack of having a peer group, the upside is that I have been able to do very well academically. The downside is I haven't had much of a social life or friends my age growing up. My difficulty with speech, the fact that I live in a rural area and that I have been cyber schooled all probably contribute to, not only my lack of having any sort of peer group, but also, what I have been experiencing as a difficulty or anxiety when attempting to start a conversation or communicate with others. My speech problem has been largely corrected over the years of working with my speech teacher at Reach Cyber Charter School. My only problem now is the anxiety and lack of opportunity; but once I am in college, I believe I can take similar steps, like I have done in speech, to achieve this goal. Again, the philosophy of taking small steps, over time and not giving up is a lesson learned from my speech therapy and I believe will serve me well in regards to my future success at a college or university.

I am currently a senior in highschool. I live in a rural area and am homeschooled or cyber schooled in my case. I have, therefore, grown up without much of a social group. I have never been asked to hang out at or go to a party at a friend's home. I have tried things such as sports, church youth groups and even a homeschool co-op, but at this time, I find it difficult to express myself or converse with peers my age. I realize this may be due to having been cyber schooled and without the advantage of being in a brick and mortar school learning alongside peers throughout the day. The upside is that I have been able to do very well academically and currently have obtained a 3.9 GPA. I am very much looking forward to going to college or university in the fall of 2025, living in the dorms and being immersed in a learning environment with people my own age who share similar interests. I am hoping to be able to find my tribe, so to speak, make some friends and belong to some type of on campus community. I have been accepted to one college and admitted to their school of music as a piano performance major. It is my intent to study music as well as to double major in some other field for which I have not yet decided upon but am considering something in the tech area such as computer science or computer programming. College is expensive and music is a competitive area to obtain a scholarship in. Also, I am told if I want to double major, it may take me a bit longer, meaning even more money. My biological father died and my mom homeschooled me and is not currently working. My step father is 68 and is looking to retire in the next few years. I am afraid, without some form of financial help, I may either not be able to pursue a college degree or that my options might be very limited. As far as community involvement, I have played in my local community orchestra as both a violinist and also as a pianist accompanying the orchestra upon request. This year, as a 1st place merit competition winner in the piano category, I have been asked to perform a solo work with the orchestra. So I am very much looking forward to that! In addition, I play in a little ensemble at my church once in a while, typically on the holidays. I think it is important to be aware that there are many forms of bullying and that they can be subtle. Being aware of the many forms bullying and helping others to see when a situation is developing is one way I believe I can help. Awareness of bullying behavior and all its' forms and speaking out about it when it is noticed, is in my opinion, the biggest way I have and can continue to help. Again, I have been homeschooled, so I have not been subjected to a lot of in person bullying for my part. I have been online frequently, as a homeschool teen, using social media such as Discord. And, this, of-course is another venue cyber bullying can take place. One way I can help, (and we all should and can), is report cyber bullying when we see it. The consequences of cyber bullying can be far reaching and extreme.

At this point, I am not entirely sure what my career goals are. What I do know is that I want to go to a college or university where I can study music, obtain a 4 year degree in either music performance or music composition as well as to double major in some other field I have yet to decide upon but am considering computer science, computer programming or something in the tech arena. I understand that obtaining work as a musician can be competitive and I want to have some type of backup plan. After college, I have considered the possibility that I might want to be more of a hobbyist musician where I can compose, work on the music I enjoy while working at another job, where I might make more money. I have always had a love for music including listening to music, including a wide variety of genres, playing or performing as well as experimenting with creating musical works of my own. In fact, although I have been excepted as a piano performance major at one college and still waiting to hear from a few others, I am now leaning more towards music composition. In this way, I do not see myself as a piano purest and just wanting to play other people's music, (even though I have a love of many of the great classical composers such as Chopin, Scriabin, and Liszt), but wanting to create my own music. I consider wanting and being able to create or compose my own original music as being necessary to becoming a musician in the full sense of the word. I also, however, now that it is competitive and challenging to find work as a composition major. I am therefore hoping, that, if I can double major in something practical, perhaps I could make enough money to work part time and use the extra time to work on my musical endeavors. Music has and I believe always will play an important part of my life. It has the ability to express deep, complex emotions that can be difficult, even, to express in any language and is the way I choose to express myself. Of-course college is expensive and, especially if I want to double major, I have been told, it may take me a bit longer to graduate with 2 BS or 4 year degrees, making it an even more costly proposition for me. I can, therefore, use all the help I can get. In addition, my step father is planning to retire, (as he is 68) and my mother has homeschooled me and does not work. So, I am afraid, without some help, I may either not be able to pursue my dream at all or be very limited in my options.

I am a highschool senior at Reach Cyber Charter School. I am looking forward to go to a college or university where I can pursue a degree in music as well as double major in another field for which I have yet not decided upon yet, but am considering majors such as linguistics, computer science and/or some type of tech related field. I have enjoyed music, both listening to music, as well as performing from an early age. This includes a wide range of genres such as rock, music for video games, jazz, jazz fusion, world music and classical. I have taken lessons on violin and piano, but have excelled more on the piano. In fact I have won 2 local competitions where I won 1st place for 2 consecutive years in their piano competition. I have also participated in other competitions in my state, and although, did not win, enjoyed the experience. Most recently, I have been asked to perform a solo with the local community orchestra this spring! Although, I have auditioned, (and already been accepted as a music performance major at one university), I have become more interested in the prospect of creating new music and am considering switching to a music composition major. I enjoy playing music and feel that others enjoy hearing me play. I am also hoping to contribute to the musical world by composing my own music. This is for myself, of-course, as music has the capacity to express a range of emotions difficult to express in any language and is cathartic for me; however, I also hope that others would appreciate and enjoy my musical creations, as well. I have grown up as a cyber/homeschooled student and never really haven't had the chance to develop any sort of peer group. Due to this, I find it difficult to interact with people my own age despite trying out various social opportunities like church youth groups. Most recently, I have enjoyed playing Magic the Gathering at the local mall. I am hoping, being in college next year, living in the dorms and around people my own age with similar interests will help me with my lack of socialization. My father died prior to COVID and I have struggled with that loss. Most of my extended family lives in Ohio. So it has primarily been just my mother and I. So, I have struggled with feelings of isolation for some time now. We also live in a rural area and there isn't a huge variety of activities here. I recently obtained employment at a local Dunkin Donuts and I hope this will help with my feelings of isolation and social anxiety. I cannot yet say I have yet overcome these feelings of isolation and social anxiety, but am exited about finding my first job and also for going to college next year, living on campus and being around other people my age in a learning environment.

I have taken the SAT test prep class through my school, (Reach Cyber Charter School), and have taken the SAT once. Although, I did relatively well, (1280), I understand that many colleges and universities use this test and consider it a valuable tool in the selection process and consideration of college applicants. I would like to re-take the test to increase my prospects in this very competitive selection process. Along with using the college board to do practice tests, I have purchased the SAT Prep Black Book by Barrett and Barrett, 2nd edition. I am hoping to work through some of the sample math questions in this book in an attempt to increase my math scores. This might even help me in Calculus, which I am currently taking as a highschool senior. I am currently getting a B in the course, but am struggling, especially with the derivatives part. So, it could be a win/win for both raising my grade in calculus and getting a higher SAT score. I have worked very hard in highschool, (3.9 weighted GPA), and have applied to multiple colleges and universities. I believe a high SAT score will help me stand out in a very competitive environment. I have narrowed my college search down to 3 categories in terms of acceptance rates: safeties, middle ground and ivy League or more well known competitive schools with lower acceptance rates. Although I believe I will most likely be accepted to one or more of these schools, there is still the problem of financing my education and I would like to be competitive in the area of merit based scholarships that I do not have to pay back, as well. I am hoping that raising my SAT score will help with that and will also give me a competitive edge in regard to me being able to Choose the best fit, (in terms of an institution of higher learning), for me. That being said, my goal is to study music, (which is a very competitive area), and I would like the ability to find the best possible place for me to study. I am also interested in double majoring in some other area which, as yet, I have not decided upon, but am considering such fields as linguistics, computer science, computer programming or data science. I am aware, in the tech fields especially, a high SAT score is often, if not a prerequisite to get into the very best schools, at least a significant factor in identifying those students that are most likely to achieve academic success.

I live in the country and have been homeschooled for the past 7 years. Essentially I have grown up without any kind of a peer group and now I have developed what I think is some kind of social anxiety. I am really hoping going to college, living in a dorm and being immersed in the college experience with people my own age who share common interests will change that. In addition, my father died when I was 13 and I do not get along with my step-father, (a situation I am looking to extract myself from). In the meantime, I have been focusing on my studies and currently have a 3.9 cumulative weighted GPA. So, there have been some benefits to being homeschooled, or cyber schooled, in my case, at home. I have learned that life is seldom black or white, and have accepted that there are many grey areas with most everything, including the decisions we make. For instance, I have been lonely being cyberschooled, but it gave me the opportunity to excel academically. I also have tried various social opportunities like church youth groups, a small homeschool co-op and even bowling; but I find it very difficult to start a conversation or to interact. The one thing that has helped a bit is playing Magic, (commander), card game at a local game store. I am getting to the point where they know me and have asked about me when I am not there on a Friday night. So, I feel this is a start. In addition, I have been applying to jobs in the hope of obtaining my 1st job. I think this will help me socially as well to gain experience in the work force. I am hoping working around other people in a cooperative work environment will help me with my social anxiety and that I will feel less isolated. I have been looking for jobs where I am dealing with the public or working as a team member, specifically...like a cashier at a grocery store or work in a restaurant or cafe. Music has been a great comfort to me, as well, in that it has the ability to express complex human emotions that are difficult to express in words. I have learned to play piano quite well and I am hoping to study music composition in college along with a double major I have yet to decide upon but am considering such fields as computer science, linguistics or computer programming. I have attached a video of a piano performance I gave for a local competition. Yes, I actually won 1st place. I hope you enjoy it!

I have always enjoyed listening to a wide variety of musical genres including pop rock, rock and roll, jazz fusion, afro cuban and cuban jazz, and classical. I began playing piano at the age of 5, but did not really become passionate about playing until I was around 15. At this point, I took the deep dive into classical music from early music and baroque through 20th Century. There is so much there and I am still learning, as I enjoy everything from listening to the great masters of old, playing their works and reading about the history and their autobiographies. I particular enjoy Alexander Scriabin and Maurice Ravel for their creative use of harmony and what I consider their uniqueness in their own time. Along with piano, I also play the violin in the local community orchestra. In addition, this year will be the 2nd year I have been the 1st place winner of the CVSM, (Cumberland Valley School of Music), Merit Competition winner in the piano category and the recipient of the Martha B. Buckey Scholarship, which helps my parents afford my continued lessons there. (I have taken piano lessons there for 3 years now and have also played violin in a youth string group where developed the skills involved in ensemble playing). I have also recently been asked by the conductor of the Community orchestra to play a solo with the orchestra in the Spring. Other educational opportunities I have been fortunate to participate in are the Interlochen online summer programs in piano studies and PIMF, (Philadelphia International Music Festival) with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra where I took conducting classes and intensive piano studies. Although I enjoy being able to play the piano as well as I do, I do not consider myself a piano purest, in the sense that I look at my ability to play as a medium to play, create, accompany and consider myself a musician in the full sense of the word. My interests have begun shifting more to music composition recently and this seems to be a natural outcome for someone who has been as immersed in music as I have been. My goals following graduation are to study music in college as well as to double major in some other field which I have yet to decide upon, but am considering such fields as computer science, data science, computer programming or linguistics.

Well, at 4, I told my mom I wanted to be a storm chaser policeman. She had told me she had never heard of that category, but believed in me enough to say if I wanted to do that, she thought I could make it happen. Since then, yes, I have changed quite a bit and chosen a different path; however, I realize that whatever path I take, I will still have to work hard. I have always loved video games, and at one point,...(I think I was around 10 or 11), I thought I wanted to study coding or computer programming. That later changed to thinking I wanted to learn about the hardware part and build my own computer. My mom was also, from when I was 5 making me practice piano everyday and when I was around 14, and my skill level increased, I decided I wanted to focus on music. At this point in time, my desire is to go to college and study music, either in performance or composition, as well as a double major in which I have not yet decided upon but still have an interest in computers and computer programming. I am also toying with other possibilities such as data science, linguistics and mathematics. I have finished all my requirements for graduating from highschool, but have chosen to stay there, (Reach Cyber Charter School), because they pay in full for me to take community college courses, (GUR's), that I can hopefully transfer over to whatever college I decide to attend. So far I have taken English 101, (last semester), and am taking Psychology 101 currently. I am also doing an independent study with my Reach music teacher in an attempt to prepare and get credit for my college audition repertoire. That plus I wanted to take calculus because I think it might help me if I decide to go into anything that has to do with computers. I think it important to be focused when you are considering going to college for something or looking for some specific type of work or career; however, I think there is something to be said to having some flexibility. Sometimes it takes courage to change a career path, but an individual should know what is right for them in that situation. I feel it us good to get advice from other people, as well. But in the end, I feel I am going to be the one who knows what is right for me.

I have always loved listening to music from pop, rock and roll, jazz fusion, (Daft Punk), ethnic or world music, Afro-Cuban, latin jazz and classical. Music has always engaged and delighted me. In terms of performing, I began learning piano at the age of 5, but did not get truly serious until close to 15, when my skills became more advanced. Around this point, although I still love all genres of music, I began my classical deep dive, delving into all periods from early music/baroque through 20th Century, including the historical time periods and the biographies of the various composers. This continues to fascinate me so I won't be coming out of this dive soon. So far in my highschool years, I have been playing both violin in the community orchestra as well as accompany the orchestra when asked. I am excited to have been asked to perform a piano solo with the community orchestra this coming Spring. In addition, since I was 15 and for two consecutive years in a row, I have won 1st place in the CVSM, (Cumberland Valley School of Music), Merit Competition in the piano category and am the recipient of the Martha B. Buckey Scholarship which has helped my parents continue to finance my piano studies there. I have been homeschooled, (cyber schooled), for the past 7 years now, or since the beginning of middle school and, although, the upside of this was that I was able to achieve a very high GPA, (3.9), I live in the country and haven't had many social opportunities with peers my own age. I don't know if this has anything to do with it, but I now find it difficult to connect socially or to start conversations with my peers. Playing in the orchestra and my musical ability have helped me to express myself in ways I find it difficult to on the social level. I have essentially grown up without any kind of peer group despite trying various sports and church youth groups. Recently, I am enjoying some level of social interaction with a gaming group of all ages that play Magic, the card game on the weekends. In addition, I am hoping that I will make friends when I am in college, among people my own age, who share similar interests. Music, however, is still something to fallback on for me, as it has the ability to express the deepest and most complex of human emotions which are often difficult to express through language. Recently, I have begun to have an interest and desire to create or compose new music. I do not consider myself a piano purest, in the sense that, just playing the piano seems incomplete to me now. Wanting to compose seems to be a natural progression, in my opinion, for someone who considers themselves a musician in the full sense of the word. To say you are musician, without having composed something, seems somehow lacking to me now. My plans following graduation are to study music at the college level, either (performance or composition), along with a double major in some other area which I have not yet decided but am considering computer science, linguistics, computer programming or math, or data science.

I began playing piano at the age of 5 and have always loved listening to all sorts of music from many different genres such as jazz fusion, multi-cultural or world music, music for video games, (yes, I'm a gamer), latin jazz and classical. Around the age of 14, as my skill level on the piano had increased, I had and continue going down the classical music deep dive from early music and baroque periods through 20th Century, including the history of those periods and the biographies of the composers themselves. There is so much there that I don't think I'll be coming up very soon. I am active in my town, (Chambersburg, PA), and have taken both violin and piano lessons at the local school of music. I also am the two time consecutive 1st place winner of the CVSM, (Cumberland Valley School of Music), Merit Competition and the recipient of the Martha B. Buckey Scholarship in the piano category. This has helped my parents finance my continued piano lessons at the school. In addition, I play violin in the community orchestra and have accompanied the orchestra on piano when asked. I am excited to have been asked to do a piano solo with the orchestra in the Spring of this year. Besides this, I enjoy playing piano at my church on occasion, especially around the holidays. My plans for after highschool are to major in music, (piano performance or music composition), at the college or university level as well as to double major in some other field of study with which I have not yet decided upon but am considering such majors as computer science, programming, linguistics or data science. I have been homeschooled, (cyber schooled), since 6th grade and live in the country where I have had trouble finding people my age to talk to or make friends with. Although being homeschooled has allowed me to focus academically and achieve a high GPA, I have grown up without a peer group my age and struggle now to make social connections despite playing sports and attending church youth groups in my area. Despite this, recently, I have had success in interacting with gamers of a variety of ages at a gaming place where I enjoy playing the Magic commander card game. I am very much hoping to find friends or a peer group when I go to college and have the chance to meet people my own age who share similar interests. All that being said, I want to add that I do not consider myself a piano purest, (in the sense that I just want to play piano and other people's works all the time), but instead, consider my advanced skill on the piano to be a way of expressing myself musically. My interests now have begun shifting more towards wanting to compose or create new music, which I think is a natural progression for somebody who wants to think of themselves as a musician in the complete sense or definition. Music has historically played and always will, I believe, play an important role in society due to it's ability to express and evoke the most complex of human emotions, emotions often difficult to express through language. As a person who has had difficulty expressing myself, music has definitely served as a release for me and I hope, through learning music composition and creating new music, will continue to be.

I have always loved listening to a wide variety of music including, jazz fusion, rock, music from video games, (yup, I'm a gamer), multi-cultural or world music, and classical music; although, currently, I have gone down the classical music deep dive and am still there. There is just so much there, from the different periods of classical music, the history of and biographies of the composers themselves to the depth and diversity, ability to express complex emotions, and just the shear beauty of much of it. I won't be coming up to breathe anytime soon! I began taking piano lessons at around age 5 and started taking violin lessons at my elementary school at age 10. At around 14, my developing skills as a pianist encouraged me to practice more and become more serious about music in general. At 15 & 16, for 2 years in a row, I became the 1st place winner of the CVSM, (Cumberland Valley School of Music), Merit Competition in the piano category and the recipient of the Martha B. Buckey Scholarship which has helped my family to continue to finance my piano lessons. In addition, I am active in local music events in my community such as the local community orchestra where I play violin and accompany the orchestra on the piano when asked. I am excited for this year especially since I have been asked to perform a piano solo with the orchestra in the Spring of 2025. I also enjoy performing piano for my church on occasion, especially around the holidays. I have been fortunate to be able to attend Interlochen and PIMF, Philadelphia International Music Festival) summer camps, where I had the opportunity to take conducting classes and piano studies with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra. I do not consider myself a piano purest, in the sense that I see the piano and my ability to play it well, as a medium to be able to express myself through music in general. So, in addition to my desire to play, I have also developed an interest in music composition. The desire to create new music seems to me a natural outcome for one who considers themselves to be a musician in the full sense of the word. As I am a senior in highschool and currently working on my piano audition repertoire, it is my desire to attend a college or university where I can study music, either performance or composition and double major in some area which I have not yet decided upon but have been joggling with majors such as linguistics, computer science, computer programming or data science. I have been homeschooled for the past 7 years, since 6th grade. Although this has given me the chance to excel academically, I struggle on the social level in terms of having meaningful communications with others my age. Currently, I am not sure whether I want to pursue music as a profession or as a hobbyist; although, I do see music as continuing to be an important part of my life in the future. Music is an important way for me to be able to express myself. It has the capacity to evoke complex emotions that are difficult to express in words or any language.

I started playing piano when I was around 5 years of age. I had always loved a wide variety of music including jazz fusion, rock, music composed for video games, (yes, I'm a gamer), ethnic or world music and classical. I also had the advantage of going to rehearsals with my mom, who plays the violin, and watching and listening to the orchestra conductor, how the various instruments, harmonies and rhythms come together to form the whole of a symphonic, or, in some cases, a religious choral work or opera performance. To me, this was like experiencing the music in 3D, as opposed to how the audience hears the finished production & gave me an interest in learning about harmonies, how the instruments can interact, as well as composition. All of these experiences, plus my developing skills as a pianist evolved into my becoming more dedicated to practicing. When I was around 15, I jumped into the classical music deep dive, and, as of now, (I am 17), am still there. In addition, I am the 1st place winner of the CVSM, (Cumberland Valley School of Music), Merit Competition in the piano category and the recipient of the Martha B. Buckey Scholarship, which has helped to finance my piano lessons at CVSM. I am active in my community and participate, both by playing violin & performing piano accompaniment when asked by the conductor of our local community orchestra. I have even been asked to perform a solo with the orchestra in the Spring of 2025, which I am very excited about, as well. Besides these experiences, I have been fortunate enough to have attended both Interlochen and PIMF, (Philadelphia International Music Festival), summer camps, where, with the later, took both conducting and piano studies with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra. My goals for the future include furthering my education at the college level and to pursue a degree in music along with another major, which I have not yet decided upon. I have also developed an interest in music composition and am considering taking college classes or majoring in that, as well. I do not consider myself a piano purest, in the sense that, for me, the piano is the medium with which I am able to express myself as a musician. The desire to compose or create new music seems to be, (in my opinion), the natural outcome of a person who wants to consider themselves a musician in the complete sense. I am passionate about music because of the near infinite possible emotions and the extreme subtlety of the human mind that it can express.

I began playing piano at age 5. Although, this was mandated, (to play for a certain period everyday by my mother), I was exposed, by her, to many culturally different genres, styles and periods of music such as Afro-Cuban, Indian music, African harp, classical music of all periods, jazz fusion, rock and many others. I also went to her rehearsals and concerts where she played violin and was fascinated to watch the whole process of presenting a concert to the public such as watching the conductor's attempt to coordinate the various instruments rhythmically, the interplay and harmonies created, as well as dynamics, phrasing, etc. It was different watching a rehearsal close up and not from the audiences perspective. It was more like a 3D musical experience, different than what the audience experiences from the seats where the orchestra represents a single, more polished (by the time of the performance), unit. This early exposure gave me a love of music from early on and as I became better and better on the piano I started to take the study of performance more seriously. Although listening-wise, I like a variety of music, (collecting many records and CD's), such as jazz-fusion, gaming music, rock and roll, and classical. I choose to take the classical deep dive with regard to performing on the piano. I have studied the biographies, music and history of the different classical time periods through early-music/baroque periods to 20th Century music. In fact, this early curiosity is now helping me to prepare for my college level auditions in which I am playing a Bach prelude and fugue, a Haydn Sonata, a Chopin work and a 20th Century work by Aram Khachaturian. If I am allowed extra time, I would also love to play an Etude, 1 out of 2, by Alexander Scriabin. Currently, I have won a few local competitions and am the 2 time 1st place winner of the CVSM, (Cumberland Valley School of Music), Merit Competition winner in the piano category and recipient of the Martha B. Buckey Scholarship. Although, I did not win, I have also participated in piano competitions around my state, specifically the West Chester University pre-collegiate piano competition. As of recently, I have turned my interests in music to a desire to compose music, as well. I do not think of myself as a piano "purest," but instead look at the piano and my ability to play it well, as a way to express myself in terms of music and musical ideas. After graduation, I hope to pursue a degree in music performance and/or composition as well as another major which, as of yet, I have not decided upon; although I am interested and considering fields such as linguistics, computer science and computer programming.

I have been homeschooled (i.e. cyberschool via Reach Cyber Charter School),throughout middle-school and high-school. I am currently a senior in highschool and taking community college courses through the dual enrollment program at HACC. As a young child, my mother exposed me to a wide variety of musical genres and took me to hear various concerts and symphony orchestras play. I also went with her to rehearsals where she played violin as a ringer in local college orchestras and our community orchestra. This gave me an early love and appreciation for classical music, especially. It was interesting to watch and hear up close the rehearsals and the effort to put on an orchestral performance. I have a passion for music, music composition, gaming and history. I started learning to play piano at the age of 5 and although I enjoyed it, my passion for performing didn't really kick in until I was around 14. At this point, I began devoting my attention to, not only practicing, but also becoming an avid listener as well as researching the various classical composers, stylistic periods and the history of music from early music through 20th Century classical. Despite coming from a background where I enjoy a wide variety of music genres such as jazz fusion, rock music, cuban jazz, etc., I have been doing a deep dive into classical music for the last several years. For the last 2 years in a row, I have won 1st place in the CVSM, (Cumberland Valley School of Music), Merit Competition in the piano category and am the recipient of the Martha B. Buckey Scholarship for these years. All though I did not win, I participated in the West Chester University's pre-collegiate piano competition last Spring. In addition, this past summer I had the opportunity to attend PIMF, (Philadelphia International Music Festival), and take classes with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra as well as to study piano with Internationally recognized pianists. I do not consider myself a piano purest, but think of being able to use my ability on the piano as a means of musical expression. To want to compose or create new music, in my opinion, seems a natural outcome or desire for a person who considers themselves to be a true musician. Currently and in the past several years, I have participated in playing violin in our local community orchestra, (CVSM Community Orchestra), and have accompanied the orchestra, when asked, for several concerts, as well. I am excited to have been asked to play a solo performance with the orchestra this coming Spring. I am also involved in preparing material for the college audition process which include the standard stylistic periods and have chosen pieces by Bach, Haydn, Chopin and Khachaturian to perform which those periods. My goals following graduating from highschool are to attend a college where I can double major in music and some other discipline which I am undecided upon; however, I have been contemplating such fields as computer programming, data science and linguistics as possibilities for my double major. I am interested in the possibility of obtaining a part time job while I am in school; however, a double major will be fairly intense timewise. I therefore believe that any help I could receive towards these goals would greatly help out in order for me to stay focused and on track to graduate from college within a specific time period.

I started playing piano and violin from the age of 5. My true passion for playing came a bit later, however, when I was around 15. From that age and until now, I had the chance to play violin in our local community orchestra and have also enjoyed my mother's participation in local college symphonies as a violinist/ringer. These experiences gave me a love of all forms of classical music. I went down the classical music rabbit hole as an avid listener of all forms, styles, periods and composers. As I explored more and more musical genres, I was also becoming, (much more with piano than violin), a much more advanced player to the point of winning my 1st piano competition, (Cumberland Valley School of Music 1st place winner and recipient of the Martha B. Buckey Scholarship in the piano category,) at the age of 15. Since then I have participated in music summer camps, such as Interlochen online and PIMF with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra this past summer. Although I feel I have achieved an advanced level of playing, with regard to piano keyboard skills, I am not a piano purest, and have become more and more interested in the possibility of composing music, as well. I see piano as an outlet and a medium of playing music, not just in and of itself, but as a part of my love for music and of considering myself a musician in the 1st place. To want to create music or compose and express myself through music and share it with others seems to be a natural desire or outcome for someone who loves and appreciates, not just performing, but music itself. My goal for the near future is to apply and attend a college where I can study music as well as double major in some area which I have not yet decided upon but am still contemplating. As of now, I am a senior at Reach Cyber Charter School. I continue to play in the community orchestra as a 2nd violinist and to accompany the orchestra when I am asked. I am currently working on my college audition repertoire, but am looking forward to, as I have been asked, to perform a solo with our local community orchestra in the Spring of this year. In addition, I recently performed, alongside faculty and staff, in the CVSM, (Cumberland Valley School of Music), annual Gala performance earlier this Fall. Finally, I enjoy performing at my church in a musical ensemble that plays on the holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas and on Easter.