"Really! They are just a boy group from South Korea," is how most people respond when I tell them my role model is BTS. I discovered BTS at a time when I was struggling with self-confidence and other things. When I first found BTS, they were not as popular in the U.S. as they are today. These boys were also not popular in South Korea because they did not fit the traditional mold of a K-Pop group. They followed their own path and embraced many topics in their albums including, mental health, racism, the importance of self-love, and so much more. Eventually, these seven men from South Korea made history by being the first Korean act to win an American Billboard Award. They inspired me and showed me that if you dream big enough and work hard enough, anything is possible. Their songs inspired me to be the best I can be and empowered me to be a more confident individual. Thanks to these seven men from South Korea, I decided that I would like to major in Korean, hopefully at the University of Texas at Arlington. I would have never been able to decide on a major as easily; if it was not for BTS. These men have changed the way I view people and the world in ways that I can't explain. The leader of BTS once said, " it does not matter who you are, where you're from, your skin color, your gender identity, just speak yourself. Find your name and find your voice by speaking yourself." Ever since I read these powerful words, I have tried to stay true to myself and what I want in this life. Although my future is uncertain and forever changing, they have inspired me to embrace myself, which is why I consider them to be my role model.

"I want to help us win," that is what I told myself as I walked on stage. Conquering my stage fright, I forced myself to make eye contact with the audience and three other judges as I danced and sung my song. Once I finished speaking with the judges, I received cheers from the audience. Finally, my show choir auditions were complete. A few hours later, I received a notification that I made the Voltage Show Choir as a Soprano 1. I was so happy to be a part of a new team with the same goal in mind.