My name is Amanda Simpson. I am from Kingston, Jamaica, and reside in Blountstown, Florida. Moving to a different country hasn't been easy. I've had to change many aspects of my life, even down to the spelling of words. However, some things have stayed constant; family and music. The first time I went to a choir class in America, I was so confused. I remember thinking "treble clef? Sight-reading? what!?" Although I was so intimidated, my love for music compelled me to keep trying. My classmates knew how to read music, and I was too afraid to ask them. I felt inferior because I was only taught to sing by memory. So, I taught myself. As soon as I learned how to follow the sheet music, I grew to appreciate music even more than before. Truthfully, I hated school. Initially, the people weren't friendly, and my sister made friends while I didn't. Despite that, I always wanted to go to school because I knew I would learn more about music there. In every school I attended, this was the same. About two years later, I was going to my third and current school and I got the opportunity to try for a seat in FMEA's All-State Choir. Unfortunately, I was not offered a seat. However, I didn't allow this to get me down. So, this year I put in several hours a day to hone my skills and I was offered a seat in their Concert choir. While studying for this, I found myself helping my peers (and those younger than me) understand music theory and how to become a better sight reader. This helped me develop leadership skills and I felt so accomplished seeing them smile once they got it and even better when they continued to improve. During the summer, I composed a choral piece (The River) and I just pictured myself conducting a choir of my own. I felt so warm inside and I couldn't wipe the smile off my face. It was then I realized that I wanted to become a music teacher. When I was younger I always wondered why there were so many teachers. I wondered why so many adults decided to waste their talents and skills on people like us. But now I know why. They weren't wasting their time, they were investing their time in us, and they enjoyed it. This is what I want too. I want to help others who feel the way I felt when I first came here: clueless, scared, and inferior. I want to help them feel as passionate and confident about music as I do now. I want to stimulate young minds and make beautiful music with talented individuals. I want to have fun through song (and maybe even dance) and allow my students to do the same. And lastly, I want to be the kind of teacher that people aren't afraid to ask questions. As a result of music, I have become determined, confident, and happy, and I hope to make the same difference in someone else's life.

My name is Amanda Simpson. I am from Kingston, Jamaica, and currently reside in Blountstown Florida. Moving to a different country hasn't been easy, I've had to change many aspects of my life, even down to the spelling of words, but some things have stayed constant; family and music. The first time I went to a choir class in America, I was confused. I remember thinking "treble clef? Sight-reading? what!?" Although I was so intimidated, my love for music compelled me to keep trying. My classmates knew how to read music, and I was too afraid to ask them, so I taught myself. As soon as I learned how to follow the sheet music, I grew even fonder of it. Truthfully, I hated school. Initially, the people weren't friendly, and my sister made friends while I didn't. In spite of that, I always wanted to go to school because I knew I would learn more about music there. In every school I attended, this was the same. About two years later, I was going to my third and current school and I got the opportunity to try for a seat in FMEA's All-State Choir. Unfortunately, I was not offered a seat. However, I didn't allow this to get me down. So, this year I tried even harder and was offered a seat in their Concert choir. While studying for this, I found myself helping my peers (and those younger than me) understand music theory and how to become a better sight reader. This helped me develop leadership skills and I felt so accomplished once they got it and continued to improve. During the summer, I composed a choral piece (The River) and just pictured myself with my own choir, having fun and enjoying life. It was then I realized that I wanted to become a music teacher. I wanted to help others in the same boat I was when I first came here: clueless and scared. I want to help them feel as passionate and confident about music as I do. I want to stimulate young minds and make beautiful music with talented individuals. I want to have fun and allow my students to do the same. And lastly, I want to be the kind of teacher that people aren't afraid to ask questions. As a result of music, I have become determined, confident, and happy, and I hope to make the same difference in someone else's life.

My name is Amanda Simpson. I am from Kingston, Jamaica, and currently reside in Blountstown Florida. Moving to a different country hasn't been easy, I've had to change many aspects of my life, even down to the spelling of words, but some things have stayed constant; family and music. The first time I went to a choir class in America, I was confused. I remember thinking "treble clef? Sight-reading? what!?" Although I was so intimidated, my love for music compelled me to keep trying. My classmates knew how to read music, and I was too afraid to ask them, so I taught myself. As soon as I learned how to follow the sheet music, I grew even fonder of it. Truthfully, I hated school. Initially, the people weren't friendly, and my sister made friends while I didn't. In spite of that, I always wanted to go to school because I knew I would learn more about music there. In every school I attended, this was the same. About two years later, I was going to my third and current school and I got the opportunity to try for a seat in FMEA's All-State Choir. Unfortunately, I was not offered a seat. However, I didn't allow this to get me down. So, this year I tried even harder and was offered a seat in their Concert choir. While studying for this, I found myself helping my peers (and those younger than me) understand music theory and how to become a better sight reader. This helped me develop leadership skills and I felt so accomplished once they got it and continued to improve. During the summer, I composed a choral piece (The River) and just pictured myself with my own choir, having fun and enjoying life. It was then I realized that I wanted to become a music teacher. I wanted to help others in the same boat I was when I first came here: clueless and scared. I want to help them feel as passionate and confident about music as I do. I want to stimulate young minds and make beautiful music with talented individuals. I want to have fun and allow my students to do the same. And lastly, I want to be the kind of teacher that people aren't afraid to ask questions. As a result of music, I have become determined, confident, and happy, and I hope to make the same difference in someone else's life.