My parents first came to the United States in 2005 with two suitcases, two toddlers, and roughly four-hundred dollars in their pockets. Although we have come a long way since then, growing up in a low-income immigrant household alongside wealthier families affected the way I view my future financially. Having to rely on my parents for anything is still something that I have trouble with after watching them work so hard for what we have now. They gave me and my sister a childhood they could have only dreamt of, having grown up in communist Romania. My parents' inspiring story as well as my own upbringing motivates me to pursue my passion in STEM and realize my dream to become a software developer focused on Artificial Intelligence. I hope to make my lasting impact on A.I. development, particularly through improvements in music notation software and production. As a double major in music and computer science, my heart longs to see changes that make it easier for musicians to express themselves and inspire others through art. I believe the world could always use more art, especially now with the rise of technology and the decreased emphasis on music and art in schools. In the midst of my studies, I learned how easily one can lose touch with their creative abilities when focusing on a STEM subject that is so mentally demanding. Therefore, I want to combine my love for computer science and music and use artificial intelligence as a means to increase our creative potential rather than decrease it, and I plan on doing this by improving upon existing notation software, MIDI technology, and sound production. Due to the lack of diversity of ideas in the tech field, I also aspire to bring a unique and artistic perspective to the workforce as someone who is studying an art alongside their STEM degree. I believe there is simply not enough creativity in the field, which is arguably the biggest difference between humans and any sort of artificial intelligence. The fear of A.I. taking over the world metaphorically and/or literally is bigger than it ever has been. Therefore, why not switch the focus to what makes us human in the first place? I believe I deserve this scholarship because it will help take away some of the financial burden that comes with studying two degrees. I have a clear view on what my future holds, as well as what I want to do with both computer science and music. The money would greatly aid me in pursuing this route and influencing the STEM community with a fresh and unique perspective. I am a strong believer that hard work and patience is the key to success, and I am confident that one way or another I will achieve my goals. At the end of the day, I also want to make my immigrant family proud of my accomplishments and be able to contribute to my parents' retirement funds down the line. Thank you for your consideration!

As the only musician in my immigrant family, it was difficult to pursue the flute because of the lack of understanding from my parents, as well as the financial burden that often comes along with studying music. However, the sacrifices my family have made for me to be able to continue playing is a gift I will never take for granted, as it has changed my life for the better. Throughout school, I found that I am also a very logical thinker, as I tended to enjoy math classes much more than other core subjects. When it was time to make a decision on what I wanted to study in college, I had trouble. I understood my parents' unease due to the financial difficulty we experienced for many years. I also knew that if I left the flute behind, my life would become dull. Therefore, I confidently entered college as a computer science and music double major, and have been on this path since August, 2022. Although my future goals with the two subjects seem distant, they are more interconnected than ever. My current goals in computer science focus on the growing field of Artificial Intelligence, which has been crucial in the advancement of other fields, including music. Over the past few years, advancements in A.I. have surpassed anything we could have previously imagined, and it has been especially helpful for music producers and composers to mimic the sounds of specific voices, instruments, and sound effects. Although it might be unnerving to some how closely A.I. has been able to mimic the voices of Drake and Barack Obama, it has actually helped the industry in many ways. My goal is to help with the development of MIDI instruments, as well as create more ways for A.I. to be regularly incorporated into music production. This would allow composers to play back their notated scores with as much accuracy as possible, as well as give producers and composers more creative freedom without having to worry about the more complicated aspects of creating music. As A.I. is becoming increasingly more intelligent, the fear of it replacing employees is simultaneously growing. However, because it was created by and absorbs all its intelligence directly from humans, I believe that in the right hands, A.I. should be no more than an enhancement of human intelligence with the sole purpose of making our lives more efficient. Alongside my goals to combine my passion for music with the tech career I am pursuing, I plan to continue playing my flute on the side. Although my journey in college pursuing both passions has not been an easy ride, I have gained a profound sense of fulfillment by continuing to make music. It can be easy to lose sight of one's creativity as a student in computer science due to the demanding coursework and the constant need for thinking logically. However, being able to express myself through music has given my life more balance that has in turn made me more successful in both subjects. Therefore, I would like to maintain this balance in the future, whether it be playing in a community orchestra, teaching kids lessons, or simply practicing on my own for fun. I am confident that this will aid me significantly in my career because of the lack of creative diversity that is often present in the field of technology, and the real prize at the end of the day would be the joy and spontaneity that music brings to my everyday life.

I want to be somebody that lives vicariously through their personal actions and successes unapologetically, without having to rely on anybody but themself to make things happen.

I would not consider myself to be exceptional in a lot of the ways that are thought to make a person "exceptional." I am no genius. I forget my left from my right now and then, and even simple addition in my head can be challenging for me. However, when I was growing up, there was always a voice telling me that I was just that- exceptional. Nothing specific ever stood out about me, but I have always been at the top of my class, and new things have normally come easily to me. If I was ever interested in a certain hobby or skill, I could get pretty good at it with a little bit of time and patience, no matter what it was. It was never a case of me being gifted in a specific subject and therefore focusing on that, but rather my ability to become a natural at anything if I had the motivation to do so. The trait I value most in myself is the one I believe to be the main factor for the success I have experienced in my life thus far, and that is my ability to easily adapt and quickly learn in any environment. Now that I am older, I have begun to realize how valuable adaptability is in any career. For example, everyone studying computer science in college, including myself, passes through a similar four-year class structure that gives them the same basic knowledge before they are thrown into the real world. The main problem with this that is largely unavoidable is that the tech field is so large and diverse that chances are, the jobs they land out of college will look nothing like what they studied in their bachelor's. Every company works differently, and the learning never really ends after receiving the degree. I think that having the ability to learn and adapt quickly out of college is a trait that tech companies look for above anything else, although it might not be the most obvious choice. With the world as busy and innovative as it is, less time can be made for individuals who learn and adapt more slowly, which is why I think having this trait will help me tremendously with my future career goals in this industry. Aside from career and academics, being able to adapt to change and learn quickly is crucial to living a happy personal life as well. Life throws curveballs to everyone in its path, and knowing how to get used to change quickly leads to healthier acceptances and easier transitions. Nobody is foolproof to every experience, but being good at adapting to change is a life skill that I think is important to have regardless of one's strengths and weaknesses. It is a trait that has helped me overcome hardships in the past and that will certainly help me in the future. Life is about constantly handling change and taking in new information, and the ease with which I do so is the strength that I value most about myself.

My journey with music began really early, and although it looked nothing like it does now, I still feel that it is important to note. I was six years old when I first messed around with the small, electric toy keyboard that I received as a gift. Before then, I never displayed any interest in music. Never before had I seen a musician and thought, "Wow, I want to be just like that guy." However, the natural interaction between my musical memory and my small hands on that keyboard kindled the passion that continues to burn bright in me today. My parents knew it the moment I effortlessly figured out the placement of the keys and quickly began playing by ear, and I felt it too. I had a gift for music. I am blessed to have had the experience at such a young age because I discovered the outlet through which I continued to express myself for years to come. A lot of things have changed since then. I do not play piano like I used to anymore, but my start on the instrument helped smooth my transition to the flute as I began to fall in love with the wind instrument. I fell in love with the way the keys felt under my fingers and the vibrations that rang throughout my body whenever I played in the lower register. I fell in love with the aesthetic of the instrument, the way the metal shined under stage lights. Most importantly, though, I fell in love with the way the flute allowed me to directly express emotion by pushing and pulling the sound with my air. My connection to the instrument felt so much deeper, and in this way, I learned to use the flute as an emotional outlet which in turn helped me overcome a variety of challenges that life handed me. Moreover, music has given me some of the most important and beautiful connections that I will continue to cherish in the future. My flute teacher, for one, is one of my biggest supporters, and sometimes I wonder how I could have made it through high school without her. Although my own passion for music carried me far, I would have never seriously considered studying the art after high school if it wasn't for her support. After graduating with a music degree, one of my plans is to open up a lessons studio in hopes of inspiring students in the same way she inspired me. I know private teaching is a task that should never be taken lightly, so the knowledge and experience that I will gain from studying music at university will give me the confidence and commitment required to start freelance teaching. Above all, however, my passion for music made it so that I could not envision a future without it. I know it is very likely that my musical plans will change over the next couple of years. One thing I know for sure, however, is that music will be a part of my future and that I will make sure to incorporate it whenever possible. It's not easy for me to pinpoint exactly why I am choosing to study music as it has always been a part of who I am, so continuing to study it simply feels like the most natural decision for me. I move forward with confidence knowing that I have the privilege to pursue what I love, and to me that has always been music.

My journey with music began really early, and although it looked nothing like it does now, I still feel that it is important to note. I was six years old when I first messed around with the small, electric toy keyboard that I received as a gift. Before then, I never displayed any interest in music. Never before had I seen a musician and thought, "Wow, I want to be just like that guy." However, the natural interaction between my musical memory and my small hands on that keyboard kindled the passion that continues to burn bright in me today. My parents knew it the moment I effortlessly figured out the placement of the keys and quickly began playing by ear, and I felt it too. I had a gift for music. I am blessed to have had the experience at such a young age because I discovered the outlet through which I continued to express myself for years to come. A lot of things have changed since then. I do not play piano like I used to anymore, but my start on the instrument helped smooth my transition to the flute as I began to fall in love with the wind instrument. I fell in love with the way the keys felt under my fingers and the vibrations that rang throughout my body whenever I played in the lower register. I fell in love with the aesthetic of the instrument, the way the metal shined under stage lights. Most importantly, though, I fell in love with the way the flute allowed me to directly express emotion by pushing and pulling the sound with my air. My connection to the instrument felt so much deeper, and in this way, I learned to use the flute as an emotional outlet which in turn helped me overcome a variety of challenges that life handed me. Moreover, music has given me some of the most important and beautiful connections that I will continue to cherish in the future. My flute teacher, for one, is one of my biggest supporters, and sometimes I wonder how I could have made it through high school without her. Although my own passion for music carried me far, I would have never seriously considered studying the art after high school if it wasn't for her support. After graduating with a music degree, one of my plans is to open up a lessons studio in hopes of inspiring students in the same way she inspired me. I know private teaching is a task that should never be taken lightly, so the knowledge and experience that I will gain from studying music at university will give me the confidence and commitment required to start freelance teaching. Above all, however, my passion for music made it so that I could not envision a future without it. I know it is very likely that my musical plans will change over the next couple of years. One thing I know for sure, however, is that music will be a part of my future and that I will make sure to incorporate it whenever possible. It's not easy for me to pinpoint exactly why I am choosing to study music as it has always been a part of who I am, so continuing to study it simply feels like the most natural decision for me. I move forward with confidence knowing that I have the privilege to pursue what I love, and to me that has always been music.

As my skill level in music began to rise above the average level in my school band, I started to view my spot in the class as an opportunity to mentor the younger flutists and insert into them the love for music that my own teacher gave me. Rather than seeing the lack of challenge as a burden in my daily routine, I transformed it into an engaging experience that shaped the way I saw music in my own future. Teaching students as a part of my musical career was something I never even considered before having the privilege of being a role model to the young musicians in my hometown band. Once I saw myself in them, I decided that I would help shape the way they view music as I would have liked when I was their age. I am fully aware that these students will likely not follow the same path as me in music. However, a strict practice routine and a degree are completely unnecessary for one to fully appreciate the art. As someone they look up to, I want my own passion for music to help build their own. I want to encourage them to keep music in their lives regardless of what they decide to do in the future. Music brings people together. The happiest and most energetic people over 60 that I have ever met have been musicians. It is so important to never let go of music and to continue pursuing it, whether that be studying it at university, joining a community orchestra, or simply regularly attending concerts. This is the realization that I hope to bring upon the young flutists in my band class: music is a life enhancer and creating it is a privilege.

Some of my personal hobbies have earned me the nickname "Grandma" from a couple people in the past. I take no offense to the jab. In fact, I find it hilarious. At school, I race against the clock to finish my homework and get ahead on the next day's. I stay for extracurricular activities, go for runs in the park, and hurry to flute lessons and gigs. When I get home, however, my hair goes gray and my posture slants. In the warmth and comfort of my room, I cross stitch. I hand-make bracelets. I crochet every now and then, and, if time permits, I burn through a 500 pager every week. The types of hobbies that make me feel productive, even though I am not necessarily doing anything that contributes towards my school, career, or musical goals, have earned me the title. The connotation of the joke usually comes off as negative, but I take it lightly because of the value that I know my work has. The amount of delicacy, care, and precision that goes into hand-making bracelets and stitching is what really made me fall in love with it. It gives me a steady hand and teaches me new patience every day. Finally finishing a project that has taken weeks or even months gives me a kind of satisfaction and pride that straight A's in school never did. Besides, it makes for great gift-giving, straight from the heart. If creative and diligent handiwork has the ability to figuratively mature a teenager by 50 years in the eyes of today's society, then I will continue to show off my gray hair with pride.