It is quite impossible to separate Angelica Rosado from music. This pair is so strong and inseparable. I, Angelica Rosado, have loved music even before day one. My mother would always sing to me, play Beethoven in my crib, and music has been the greatest joy in my life. I cannot picture a world, or my world, without music. Not even for a day. The short response for why I want to be a music teacher is because I love teaching others and music is the best thing in the world to me. Going deeper into this answer: I have always been a person that helps. Whether it is with a math problem, emotional support, or trying to help someone fix a broken castanet, I have always wanted to be the person people go to for aid. Personally, I find it so fulfilling helping other people. I am a Christian, and I was raised knowing that helping others is always better than doing something for yourself, and that it is always nice to share things with other people. Nothing could be closer to the truth. I can be a people-pleaser at times, but I always feel better about myself, knowing I helped someone else feel better about their situations and themselves. When it comes to the music aspect of it, I've always sang or played an instrument. I would even worship as a baby in church. I remember being maybe five years or older, I was a part of my church's choir in Puerto Rico, being the youngest member amongst full-grown adults. From then on, I touched on drum set, tried learning keyboard, guitar, sang solo at church, and it all just kind of snowballed from there. I was at Apollo Elementary School, finally being able to learn how to read music and expand my knowledge. The more I played and sang in my schools choir, the more I've learned about how great music is and can be. I still remember going to my music teacher after class, asking about the process on how I can become a music teacher. Ever since the sixth grade, I've known that music education is what I was made to do. And that decision still holds true today. Even though my teacher wasn't the warmest to others, she was my favorite teacher of all, and I loved how she taught, and I listened to everything she said. I decided I wanted to do what she did. Music is such a big part of my life, and I want to be able to pass that gift on to others. I want to give kids the inspiration, the hope, and the gift that is music. Music is so powerful, and it's quite literally in our everyday lives, we just don't always embrace it. In my opinion, having a job is only worth it when you enjoy what you are doing. Being a music teacher will not only make me feel fulfilled, but it will make me proud of myself, being able to go to my job everyday and going back home with a smile on my face. I get to enjoy what I do with the future of our world, and that is the next generation. I want to be a part of that special impact on the world.

Being a musician, I love to go to concerts, especially Christian concerts. Every year at Universal Studios, many Christian music artists come to perform and meet some of their fans. The festival is called "Rock the Universe". I was fortunate enough to go to two of these festivals so far! I have also been to two other concerts at a venue in Orlando, and they were amazing. The first concert I've ever been to was the "for KING & COUNTRY" Concert on their "RELATE" Tour in 2021. It was very fun! My mom and I spent previous months listening to as many songs of theirs as we could so we know most of the songs so we can sing along at the concert. The concert happened to be a 15th birthday gift for me! One of my classmates happened to go to the same concert, as well, which was pretty exciting. He gifted me his drumsticks that were the bands brand! I still have those to this day. As a percussionist, I enjoyed the concert a lot, because the band uses a lot of percussion instruments in their concerts. Their music is really fun. They also happened to talk about personal life stories and they were supporting a movement, helping kids from foreign countries to get funded because they lived poorly. Not only that, but the band also played an unreleased song for us, which I thought was pretty cool. I bought a hoodie that night, and I still have it to this day! I also happen to have a signed album of theirs, which I find pretty cool! My favorite concert, however, was at Rock the Universe 2023, when I got to meet my favorite artist ever: Tauren Wells. I went to a couple of rides and saw several artists throughout the night, when I saw a sign that several artists are doing meet-and-greets, and Tauren's name was on the sign! So, my parents and I waited for hours, passed time, and I was finally in line to meet my favorite artist. I saw him once I entered the building and I was in complete shock. I've never meet a celebrity before! You can imagine how excited I was. Then, it was finally my turn to meet with Tauren. I mentioned how much of a fan I was (I came to the concert knowing all of his songs), and my mom mentioned it, too! We took several pictures, and I was able to give him a hug! He complimented the hoodie I had on (from his brand) and I told him I'll see him when he performs later that night. I would say that was one of the best nights of my life. I cried after meeting him, being in complete awe. I bought drumsticks (because I'm a percussionist, so it's basically a must), and a bracelet. I also have all of his albums, one of which is signed. I love going to concerts, and I hope there are many more to come. I just hope I don't end up broke!

Ever since I was a little girl, I was always the one who loved to help and give a piece of my heart to people. Growing up, I've always been the "mom" of the friend group, helping others and making sure everyone's emotions are in check. I've also loved music all of my life. From singing to playing instruments, it has always been something I've enjoyed doing. I can go on and on about how much I love music and aspire to learn more as an instrumentalist. I started singing when I was around five, in my old church in Puerto Rico. I was the only child in the adult choir, so you couldn't miss me. I was always hiding behind my music folder, even though I've already memorized the music. The point is, singing has always been a passion of mine, and I've been told people have been so moved, that they would start coming back to church. I had no idea I had the capacity to do that! I also received a recommendation letter from my high school band teacher, and he says (and I quote), "Angelica is always prepared for whatever challenges are laid before her...which often inspires others to do the same. Angelica is quite encouraging to her classmates." As a musician in high school, I was able to have some leadership roles and opportunities in order to help me with my skills of hopefully being a teacher someday. Not only that, I just enjoy the satisfaction I get from helping people. That's one of the main reasons I chose to be a music teacher, to motivate the generations to come and to make them passionate about something bigger than themselves. Music is such a beautiful thing, and I want others to be inspired and moved to join in the music community. Being a musician, as well, I am able to play certain pieces that even words could never explain. Beautiful melodies and chords can show more than 1 emotion at the same time, which can be portrayed to people easily enough. Emotional music can motivate and inspire people in so many different ways. This world needs more unity, and I believe the first step to that is an impact through music.

I still remember the day where my best friend Emma introduced me to K-Pop. It was our tenth grade chemistry class, two years ago. She was, and is, still obsessed with it. At the time, she slowly introduced the genre to me, and I found a group that stuck for a while, TXT. I listened to their music, watched their variety show (which is what I did most of the time), and even fell for my bias, Hueningkai. But then, a year after, I got more acquainted with her ultimate group, Enhypen. I fell hardest for their Australian, Jake. And man, Enhypen is such a good group, too! They come from different backgrounds, different lifestyles, different paths, different training lengths, and that makes them all the better! They can all sing, dance, act, they have great visuals, and the way they grow as artists and people is really cool to me. They are different from other groups because they made me realize that artists are still human; they are still living and growing people, like you and me! They push themselves to be better, they love what they do, and they love their fans to the moon and back. Enhypen impacted my life in so many ways. Not only has it helped me find a new genre of music to listen to, but it has inspired me to look more into the Korean culture. I've been inspired to try some of their foods (I've tried gimbap, so far!), and I've been trying to learn Korean as a possible third language, just for fun! One day, I hope to visit Korea one day, just to see what it's like. Maybe even carry on a conversation and eat some of their food! The K-Pop industry is so different from western artists. The fandoms are vastly different, and the connections the artists have with their fans is way closer than artists in America. Yes, they both have albums and concerts, but K-Pop artists also have multiple-day concerts, fancalls, fan meetings, fansigns, different versions of albums where you can collect photocards, and so much more! K-Pop has songs that are close to the heart and have sweet meanings to it; pure love, not like most western songs these days that talk about...you know. The impact that K-Pop has in the global culture is growing a lot. More and more people at my school are becoming aware of K-Pop, and I'm becoming more aware of how many people like K-Pop at my school! It's amazing seeing how K-Pop groups are touring in America, learning more about American cultures, learning English, and knowing that they are also aware of western artists that we all know and love! I believe K-Pop is getting bigger and bigger because these companies push their artists to be precise with every move, with every note they sing, and these artists are great at accomplishing all of these goals. It's no wonder that every K-Pop stan is absolutely stunned and in awe with their favorite groups and/or artists. Enhypen is all of the above. They are all growing, changing for the better. Their dancing is so precise, they are fantastic singers, and they are becoming more and more popular. I love the group and I wish others can appreciate them, as well.

During spring break this year, I watched one of the most popular Netflix shows for kids my age: Cobra Kai. Months in advance, I watched maybe 3 episodes and wasn't my favorite thing, but it's like any other show you watch: the first few episodes are a little slow because they are introducing characters and the different plots to come, but once you have moved past that stage, the show is very intriguing and you can get lost in a whole new world! Cobra Kai is definitely worth a watch in my opinion. Even though the language is not appropriate for younger age, it includes everything you could want from a series: romance, high school drama, revisiting past experiences, enemies to friends, and so much more! Not only that, but Cobra Kai is a spin-off show based off of the original Karate Kid movies with Ralph Macchio! I was so intrigued by the show that I even watched the three original movies. Now, Cobra Kai takes the perspective of the antagonists of the Karate Kid movies, and those include: Johnny Lawrence, John Kreese, and eventually Terry Silver. Cobra Kai gives more insight on how the lives of these minimal characters changed throughout the years. The show is taking place around thirty to forty years after the three movies, all the way from 1984. So, you can imagine they have children of their own. In the show, Daniel Larusso's past comes back to get him after his two victorious karate tournaments. Johnny Lawrence becomes the new sensei of Cobra Kai, showing self defense and striking others first with no mercy. Because Cobra Kai is back open to hurt others, Daniel decides to open up Miyagi-Do Karate (named after his deceased sensei). Miyagi-Do is all about self-defense only; when it's absolutely necessary. Miyagi-Do does not belong in violence. The history between Johnny and Daniel go back forty years, and they despise each other, so their dojos are constantly at each others' necks, which is the main plot. Later, however, Johnny realizes that his students are becoming what he feared most. He had a change of heart and started a new dojo that eventually joined Miyagi-Do Karate. The plot thickens, however, when new students enter Cobra Kai under the leadership of John Kreese, Johnny's former sensei and the former sensei of Cobra Kai. After Kreese ends up in jail, a man named Terry Silver, who used to work with Kreese, becomes the new Cobra Kai sensei, being the most ruthless of all. New students come and go, shifting sides, from good to evil. Some kids start karate for self defense, but many are unaware of the evil bonds Cobra Kai puts on them. A lot of flashbacks in the show occur, some referencing the previous movies, but also Kreese's younger life in the military, as well as younger Johnny (neither of these were in the movies, though). This show is gut-wrenching, heart-breaking, but also exciting and puts you on the edge of your seat time and time again. You won't get enough of this show after you finish the current five seasons!

My name is Angelica Rosado, and I live in the Space Coast of Florida. My high school is around the heart of Titusville, and Titusville is known for the Kennedy Space Center. My interests are all around music. I've been in band, chorus, orchestra, and percussion ensembles throughout my career. Currently, I am involved in a lot of band events, but I still sing outside of school. Within my local church, I sing in the choir, I play many instruments and sing in the youth group, and so many other things. At my school, I am a part of the National Honor Society, helping my school, local churches, and neighborhoods by volunteering. I've helped my school by volunteering to help during Music Performance Assessment days, setting up stages for concerts, and I also help my local elementary school by assisting second graders in their reading, math, or anything else they need help with. I have also volunteered with my youth group for two years to go around local neighborhoods to help people clean up their yards, painting their houses, or just simply talk about life. After high school, I plan to attend the University of North Florida, studying music education and receiving my Bachelors. After I complete my Bachelors, I may think about receiving my Masters, as well. After college, I plan to have a job as a music teacher (hoping to be a band teacher) for most of my life, and hopefully build a family in the meantime. If I were to start my own charity, the mission would be to make money for local schools and their music programs. Many schools around the state are very well funded, but equipment and instruments always end up getting broken. My school gets funded pretty well, but mostly for our sports teams. Percussion equipment is especially expensive, and with us percussionists constantly hitting instruments, there is plenty of wear-and-tear everywhere. I would start a budget, then I would hold concerts to pay for music equipment. Tickets would be at a reasonable price. Volunteers could be a part of the concerts, as well as hosting possible talent shows. It's very important to me that people who wish to pursue music has the ability to. A portion of the proceeds will also go towards music scholarships, so children that are less fortunate and don't have as much money (and they would like to pursue music), they wouldn't have to worry about expenses. Music is something that should be enjoyed freely, something that shouldn't be limited because of finances. Me, hoping to be a future music educator, I want for children to be able to experience the gift and the beauty that is music. It changed my life, and I'd like to do the same for others.

The only book (so far) that I have read before watching the movie was called Wonder. It is about a kid with a facial deformity and his life in middle school. He makes friends and enemies, and he learns to persevere throughout the movie. Not only does it talk about his life, but how his family manages with their lives and his life's affects to theirs, as well. The really interesting thing about the book is that several sections of it are in different points of view of the characters, so the reader is able to see Auggie's (the main character) point of view, Via's (his sister) point of view, his mom's, Via's boyfriend Justin, Auggie's friends Summer and Jack, and more. Once I watched the movie, it gave me a whole new perspective of the storyline. Most everything was the same, except little phrases here and there. For example, there was a "code word" that Summer told Jack, and in the book, it was "Bleeding Scream," whereas in the movie, it was "Ghost Face." I loved the movie almost as much as the book! Usually when we read books, we tend to already have a picture of the characters in our head, so when they put them on the big screen, it may be totally different. I didn't have much of a picture of the characters, as I read the book close to the date when the movie was coming out, but I do believe I had a different face for some of the characters, like Summer and Justin. This book is special to me because it was a beautiful and heart-warming coming of age story about Auggie who tries to manage with his life. He made some true friends along the way, the bullies also became his friends, the teachers cared for him deeply, and Auggie was a very accomplished student. He was very smart and he acted just like the other kids. It was a beautiful story going along with the theme of "don't judge a book by its cover." Watching the movie after reading the book is a wonderful experience. I believe books have more information than the movies do; usually movie adaptations of books are around an hour and a half, and a book has enough information for three hours! Movies also tend to change details about books to make the movie more intriguing and make the storyline smoother. Watching it in the reverse order is not the best thing in my opinion, just because it leaves a lot of gray area, saying "this didn't happen," or "they left that out." However, it was a wonderful experience all in all; reading the book, loving the book, and then watching the movie afterwards. It made such an incredible connection in my mind, and it was an amazing book to read.

One of my all-time favorite Disney Channel shows is Austin and Ally. It is about two high school teenagers meeting in a music store. They are polar opposites, but they team up and make Austin a pop star while Ally writes his songs. Another show that I really enjoy is Liv and Maddie. They are also polar opposites, but they are identical twin sisters. Liv is a famous actress, while Maddie is your average tomboy. The episode title would be Chances and Changes. It will be an hour-long special. The plot would be about Austin having a tour date in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. After his concert, his plane is not able to fly back to Florida, so him and his friends are forced to stay in Wisconsin for another week. Meanwhile, Liv has been out of the spotlight for 5 months, focusing on her family and away from the paparazzi. However, her manager Becky is not happy about it. She tells Liv she needs to do something to maintain her image out in the world, otherwise, she'll be a nobody. She worries about it so much, she decides to take a day to herself and go out for a drive to the park. Austin and his gang also decide to go to the park to clear their minds about the situation. They were in a panic about the plane scenario when they accidentally bump into Liv! They recognize each other and they talk about their situations. Liv and Austin agree to help each other. Austin offers to write and record a song with Liv, and Liv invites Team Austin into her house for the week. Everything is nice and smooth for the next few days. Team Austin learn more about Wisconsin, while Austin and Liv are busy trying to figure out what they are going to do for their song. During this, Ally gets jealous of all the time Austin and Liv spend together. Yes, Austin is her boyfriend, but he hasn't said anything about needing her help. And Liv seemed a little too flirtatious around him. Maddie is also jealous about the attention Liv is giving Austin. She has been wanting to spend time with her twin sister after Liv living the celebrity life. Austin also seemed to in love with the Wisconsin life, too. It's like he completely forgot what his life was like back in Florida. So Ally and Maddie team up to get revenge on Austin and Liv. Absolutely nothing worked. It did manage to get Austin's attention, however. Austin and Ally had an argument and decided to go their separate ways. Liv and Maddie get back together, and they try to do what they can to fix Austin and Ally's relationship. Once they are able to work out their disagreement, Austin and Ally get back together and Ally is able to help write the song. They publish the duet, and the plane is operating again! Team Austin are able to go back to Florida, and Liv is back in the public eye!

There are some times in life where it takes a while to figure something out, while others you can pick up right off the bat. For me, ever since the sixth grade, I've known that I was meant to pursue a music career. That is what made me the happiest in life. I have always been a person that loves to help and gets satisfaction from it. I also like to teach topics I enjoy. When it comes to music, it makes every situation one hundred times better. Music has made my life more enjoyable, for sure. I have made more friends, I've been happier, and I'm more involved in many things, like church, concerts, school events, and so much more. I would like to perform in the future to keep passing on the gift; music really is a gift that keeps on giving. It's been around (probably) since the beginning of time itself. Music has changed and developed over time, and I am a witness. Performing is a wonderful way to pass it on. Not only can the musician have fun and experiment with their body language and repertoire, but the viewer/listener can feel the emotion and enjoy a soothing performance. As a musician, learning a new piece to perform gives a challenge, but it's enjoyable. Once every piece is put together and ready to be performed, you go into your performance ready to play, but we always seem to be unaware of the impact it can make to others. Not only that, but you learn to appreciate the advantages of the challenge, and you learn to appreciate the piece even more. I also plan to get a Bachelor's in Music Education. I love teaching and helping others, and music is so special and important to me. Music should never be a burden, or something that can be easily taken away. Music should be taught to everyone in the world! It can get rid of anxiety, fears, and can even portray your emotion to others without even speaking! Someone from Japan can understand how an American feels by how their song is portrayed. Isn't that neat? The point is, music is truly a universal language, and it is a gift that should be passed on to the generations to come, and I want to be a part of that. I would love to make my mark in the lives of the future generations, by implementing something that has been preciously given to me into their lives.

I've been involved in music for as long as I can remember. I started playing music in the 5th grade, playing violin. Since then, I've grown into percussion and I am actively trying to learn other instruments for college (trying to pursue music education). I've been singing for most of my life. I can go on and on about how music has been a major part of my life. It's brought me joy in any moment and every moment. I'm involved in music at school, church, and youth group. I'm also trying to write music of my own. Whenever I'm feeling sad, I put in my headphones and listen to an artist I love and it makes me happier. Playing my guitar keeps me at peace whenever I feel angry. Without music, I feel like my life feels empty. I literally sing every day, whether it's before bed or in the shower! Music can portray any emotion far better than words can. For example, you can tell someone you're feeling like you're in love, and you can try to describe how you feel, but a song like, for example, Mia and Sebastian's Theme, can portray it very well. Music is also a universal language. For example, if you're visiting a foreign country, you're not going to know what they're saying, but you can communicate feelings through music. I aspire to go to college and study music education to be able to spread that gift to others. I also love to teach others, so it just combines two of my favorite things! I've recently applied to five colleges in my state (Florida) and I will be auditioning to four of them for the music program. As I learn how to teach music, I also plan to continue playing music, as well. I look forward to these next four years learning more about a strong passion of mine, as well as more leadership, independence, and more discipline. It will not be easy, but that's how we learn; through failures and challenges. That's how we grow as students and as people. From watching musicals to performing marimba solos, I am surrounded by music, and so is the rest of the world. Embracing this worldwide gift makes me happy and helps me forget my worries. When I'm in the moment of performing, I concentrate everything into what I'm doing, and it makes me really happy. And I want others to know that feeling.