From my preschool teacher who saw an extra spark in me, to my fourth grade teacher who let me lead our reading group, to my current band directors who tell me every day I am meant to pick up their torches and carry them further by teaching, I have felt seen and encouraged every step of the way. Each school year and leader, coach and/or mentor have built me up to be the strong, independent, engaging and empathetic young woman I am today. I look forward to carrying these traits on to college and then into adulthood. A wife and family are most definitely on my horizon. Being a member of the LBGTIA+ community, and also being a biracial female, I have been given insights about life most other students will never have. Those insights have given me a drive to make a difference in the world by negating stereotypes. This scholarship will help me move further in my career towards being a female high school band director in a male-dominated field. I would also like to teach children in special education to be able to learn and play music. Music has the ability to bridge people, cultures, and even different physical abilities. At college, I have met several other ladies who are as dedicated to music as I am. I have also been invited to join a sorority. (There is a running joke that because I am six feet tall, and most of the other girls are shorter, I am not allowed to play intermural basketball or flag football with them though.) My family and friends have been extremely supportive of me and my pursuit of music as a profession. My parents' music styles could not be more different, and my friend group is even more diverse. We have me as a biracial girl, a Hispanic girl, African American girls, and a white girly girl. We have talked and laughed about everything under the sun about being female, dating, and what our futures look like, all of which are very different as you can imagine. I have no doubt that at least one of us is going to conquer the world one day. With all that support and belief in me, I believe this scholarship can only help me shine and show my talents to more of the world and to students who love music as much as I do.

Being new is hard. Being new to a school, a city, or even an activity can be very daunting. Especially when your parents are in a mixed-race marriage, and you are gay. When you combine the color of my skin and my preference in dating partners, people give the funniest looks and pass judgments before you ever open your mouth. I recently began attending college, and that involved moving away from home and my friends. My social circle was those friends from the time of kindergarten, so I had to break from that comfort zone to even want to spend the night in my dorm room. I didn't have my dog to snuggle up to me at bedtime, and I learned very quickly that the cafeteria food is hit or miss at best. I was so bothered by all the change happening around me, I felt overwhelmed and depressed. My parents and friends all kept telling me it would get better, but that did not feel attainable. I lost sleep, I skipped class, and I developed unhealthy eating habits. But then the craziest thing happened. I came home for the summer after my freshman year on academic suspension because of my poor decisions, and realized how much it meant to actually try and overcome those intrusive thoughts in my head. I picked myself up, campaigned to get back into school, and even kept up with some friends and professors I had met on campus. Hearing them be excited about me returning and knowing I would be in a familiar place now made me see that being there was going to be beneficial after all. I love my major and know that if I don't strive to get and be better, I will not get my degree and be able to have the profession I want. So, as has been said time and time again, hang in there. IT DOES GET BETTER.

I believe my educational career was carved out for me long before I set foot in a school building. Maybe by God or fate or whatever universal power you believe in. From my preschool teacher who saw an extra spark in me, to my fourth grade teacher who let me lead our reading group, to my current band directors who tell me every day I am meant to pick up their torches and carry them further by teaching, I have felt seen and encouraged every step of the way. Each school year and leader and/or mentor has built me up to be the strong, independent, engaging and empathetic young woman I am today. I look forward to carrying these traits on to college and then into adulthood. Being a member of the LBGTIA+ community, and also being a biracial female, I have been given insights about life most other students will never have. Those insights have given me a drive to make a difference in the world by negating stereotypes. And as most southerners would say, momma's words are the wisest. My mother's motto for me every day is “Be a good person and learn one new thing.” If those aren't life, work and educational goals we all should follow, I don't know what should be. Having a supportive family, a college degree and a stable position with a school system or preschool would allow me to meet all of those goals. Imagine being the person who gets to sit and watch a four-year-old play the bongo for the first time and learn rhythm. Or being the mentor for a shy middle school snare drum player to show their hidden skills to the group. That is what I feel I am meant to do in the future. Earning this scholarship will assist me in following my dreams of being a music educator. I chose this major because of the awesome experiences I have had as a percussion section leader and a student conductor in high school. Hot, humid, all-day summer band camps in the south will show you just how much you want to be a part of that world. But the sense of responsibility and family you gain from those long days and nights makes the hard work worth it. My six best friends and I have shared all of those moments and grown together because of the life skills the band has taught us. I have had amazing directors and mentors throughout my high school band career, and I want to take my experiences and pass them on to future students who love music as much as I do. Music has been a staple in my household for as long as I can remember. My parents come from different backgrounds, so car rides could bring Willie Nelson, Lil Wayne, Pavarotti, Otis Redding or Pink Floyd flowing from the speakers. I love hearing new music and learning to play it on my guitar and drums. I cannot think of anything more rewarding than learning the tips and tricks of teaching a subject I love.

I believe my educational career was carved out for me long before I set foot in a school building. Maybe by God or fate or whatever universal power you believe in. From my preschool teacher who saw an extra spark in me, to my fourth grade teacher who let me lead our reading group, to my current band directors who tell me every day I am meant to pick up their torches and carry them further by teaching, I have felt seen and encouraged every step of the way. Each school year and leader and/or mentor has built me up to be the strong, independent, engaging and empathetic young woman I am today. I look forward to carrying these traits on to college and then into adulthood. Being a member of the LBGTIA+ community, and also being a biracial female, I have been given insights about life most other students will never have. Those insights have given me a drive to make a difference in the world by negating stereotypes. And as most southerners would say, momma's words are the wisest. My mother's motto for me every day is “Be a good person and learn one new thing.” If those aren't life, work and educational goals we all should follow, I don't know what should be. Having a supportive family, a college degree and a stable position with a school system or preschool would allow me to meet all of those goals. Imagine being the person who gets to sit and watch a four-year-old play the bongo for the first time and learn rhythm. Or being the mentor for a shy middle school snare drum player to show their hidden skills to the group. That is what I feel I am meant to do in the future. Earning this scholarship will assist me in following my dreams of being a music educator. I chose this major because of the awesome experiences I have had as a percussion section leader and a student conductor in high school. Hot, humid, all-day summer band camps in the south will show you just how much you want to be a part of that world. But the sense of responsibility and family you gain from those long days and nights makes the hard work worth it. My six best friends and I have shared all of those moments and grown together because of the life skills the band has taught us. I have had amazing directors and mentors throughout my high school band career, and I want to take my experiences and pass them on to future students who love music as much as I do. Music has been a staple in my household for as long as I can remember. My parents come from different backgrounds, so car rides could bring Willie Nelson, Lil Wayne, Pavarotti, Otis Redding or Pink Floyd flowing from the speakers. I love hearing new music and learning to play it on my guitar and drums. I cannot think of anything more rewarding than learning the tips and tricks of teaching a subject I love.

I believe my educational career was carved out for me long before I set foot in a school building. Maybe by God or fate or whatever universal power you believe in. From my preschool teacher who saw an extra spark in me, to my fourth grade teacher who let me lead our reading group, to my current band directors who tell me every day I am meant to pick up their torches and carry them further by teaching, I have felt seen and encouraged every step of the way. Those people helped me every day to stay focused and grounded in my efforts. Growing up in the age of social media, the distractions are endless. From people trying to influence your clothes and food choices, to bullies who want nothing more than to see you fail, the ways to get trapped by all the noise can be overwhelming. Each school year and leader and/or mentor and the personal attention I have received have built me up to be the strong, independent, engaging and empathetic young woman I am today. I look forward to carrying these traits on to college and then into adulthood. Being a member of the LBGTIA+ community, and also being a biracial female, it goes without saying that the presence of hate and disdain in this world is staggering. I have been given insights about life most other students will never have. Those insights have given me a drive to make a difference in the world by negating stereotypes created by the giant footprint of social media against anyone considered to be "other." There are many online resources available for people affected by what they see and hear. But there needs to be more places to go and feel welcomed in your own skin. We have one such place near me, the Magic City Acceptance Center. If more people, especially youth, knew about what they do and how much they care, I believe a real difference could be made. Earning this scholarship will assist me in following my dreams of being a music educator. I chose this major because of the awesome experiences I have had as a percussion section leader and a student conductor in high school. Hot, humid, all-day summer band camps in the south will show you just how much you want to be a part of that world. But the sense of responsibility and family you gain from those long days and nights makes the hard work worth it. My six best friends and I (all "others") have shared all of those moments and grown together because of the life skills the band has taught us. I have had amazing directors and mentors throughout my high school band career, and I want to take my experiences and pass them on to future students who love music as much as I do.

I believe my educational career was carved out for me long before I set foot in a school building. Maybe by God or fate or whatever universal power you believe in. From my preschool teacher who saw an extra spark in me, to my fourth grade teacher who let me lead our reading group, to my current band directors who tell me every day I am meant to pick up their torches and carry them further by teaching, I have felt seen and encouraged every step of the way. Each school year and leader and/or mentor has built me up to be the strong, independent, engaging and empathetic young woman I am today. I look forward to carrying these traits on to college and then into adulthood. Being a member of the LBGTIA+ community, and also being a biracial female, I have been given insights about life most other students will never have. Those insights have given me a drive to make a difference in the world by negating stereotypes. And as most southerners would say, momma's words are the wisest. My mother's motto for me every day is “Be a good person and learn one new thing.” If those aren't life, work and educational goals we all should follow, I don't know what should be. Having a supportive family, a college degree and a stable position with a school system or preschool would allow me to meet all of those goals. Imagine being the person who gets to sit and watch a four-year-old play the bongo for the first time and learn rhythm. Or being the mentor for a shy middle school snare drum player to show their hidden skills to the group. That is what I feel I am meant to do in the future. Earning this scholarship will assist me in following my dreams of being a music educator. I chose this major because of the awesome experiences I have had as a percussion section leader and a student conductor in high school. Hot, humid, all-day summer band camps in the south will show you just how much you want to be a part of that world. But the sense of responsibility and family you gain from those long days and nights makes the hard work worth it. My six best friends and I have shared all of those moments and grown together because of the life skills the band has taught us. I have had amazing directors and mentors throughout my high school band career, and I want to take my experiences and pass them on to future students who love music as much as I do. Music has been a staple in my household for as long as I can remember. My parents come from different backgrounds, so car rides could bring Willie Nelson, Lil Wayne, Pavarotti, Otis Redding or Pink Floyd flowing from the speakers. I love hearing new music and learning to play it on my guitar and drums. I cannot think of anything more rewarding than learning the tips and tricks of teaching a subject I love.

I believe my educational career was carved out for me long before I set foot in a school building. Maybe by God or fate or whatever universal power you believe in. From my preschool teacher who saw an extra spark in me, to my fourth grade teacher who let me lead our reading group, to my current band directors who tell me every day I am meant to pick up their torches and carry them further by teaching, I have felt seen and encouraged every step of the way. Each school year and leader and/or mentor has built me up to be the strong, independent, engaging and empathetic young woman I am today. I look forward to carrying these traits on to college and then into adulthood. Being a member of the LBGTIA+ community, and also being a biracial female, I have been given insights about life most other students will never have. Those insights have given me a drive to make a difference in the world by negating stereotypes. And as most southerners would say, momma's words are the wisest. My mother's motto for me every day is “Be a good person and learn one new thing.” If those aren't life, work and educational goals we all should follow, I don't know what should be. Having a supportive family, a college degree and a stable position with a school system or preschool would allow me to meet all of those goals. Imagine being the person who gets to sit and watch a four-year-old play the bongo for the first time and learn rhythm. Or being the mentor for a shy middle school snare drum player to show their hidden skills to the group. That is what I feel I am meant to do in the future. Earning this scholarship will assist me in following my dreams of being a music educator. I chose this major because of the awesome experiences I have had as a percussion section leader and a student conductor in high school. Hot, humid, all-day summer band camps in the south will show you just how much you want to be a part of that world. But the sense of responsibility and family you gain from those long days and nights makes the hard work worth it. My six best friends and I have shared all of those moments and grown together because of the life skills the band has taught us. I have had amazing directors and mentors throughout my high school band career, and I want to take my experiences and pass them on to future students who love music as much as I do. Music has been a staple in my household for as long as I can remember. My parents come from different backgrounds, so car rides could bring Willie Nelson, Lil Wayne, Pavarotti, Otis Redding or Pink Floyd flowing from the speakers. I love hearing new music and learning to play it on my guitar and drums. I cannot think of anything more rewarding than learning the tips and tricks of teaching a subject I love.

I believe my educational career was carved out for me long before I set foot in a school building. Maybe by God or fate or whatever universal power you believe in. From my preschool teacher who saw an extra spark in me, to my fourth grade teacher who let me lead our reading group, to my current band directors who tell me every day I am meant to pick up their torches and carry them further by teaching, I have felt seen and encouraged every step of the way. Each school year and leader and/or mentor has built me up to be the strong, independent, engaging and empathetic young woman I am today. I look forward to carrying these traits on to college and then into adulthood. Being a member of the LBGTIA+ community, and also being a biracial female, I have been given insights about life most other students will never have. Those insights have given me a drive to make a difference in the world by negating stereotypes. And as most southerners would say, momma's words are the wisest. My mother's motto for me every day is “Be a good person and learn one new thing.” If those aren't life, work and educational goals we all should follow, I don't know what should be. Having a supportive family, a college degree and a stable position with a school system or preschool would allow me to meet all of those goals. Imagine being the person who gets to sit and watch a four-year-old play the bongo for the first time and learn rhythm. Or being the mentor for a shy middle school snare drum player to show their hidden skills to the group. That is what I feel I am meant to do in the future. Earning this scholarship will assist me in following my dreams of being a music educator. I chose this major because of the awesome experiences I have had as a percussion section leader and a student conductor in high school. Hot, humid, all-day summer band camps in the south will show you just how much you want to be a part of that world. But the sense of responsibility and family you gain from those long days and nights makes the hard work worth it. My six best friends and I have shared all of those moments and grown together because of the life skills the band has taught us. I have had amazing directors and mentors throughout my high school band career, and I want to take my experiences and pass them on to future students who love music as much as I do. Music has been a staple in my household for as long as I can remember. My parents come from different backgrounds, so car rides could bring Willie Nelson, Lil Wayne, Pavarotti, Otis Redding or Pink Floyd flowing from the speakers. I love hearing new music and learning to play it on my guitar and drums. I cannot think of anything more rewarding than learning the tips and tricks of teaching a subject I love.

I believe my educational career was carved out for me long before I set foot in a school building. Maybe by God or fate or whatever universal power you believe in. From my preschool teacher who saw an extra spark in me, to my fourth grade teacher who let me lead our reading group, to my current band directors who tell me every day I am meant to pick up their torches and carry them further by teaching, I have felt seen and encouraged every step of the way. Each school year and leader and/or mentor has built me up to be the strong, independent, engaging and empathetic young woman I am today. I look forward to carrying these traits on to college and then into adulthood. Being a member of the LBGTIA+ community, and also being a biracial female, I have been given insights about life most other students will never have. Those insights have given me a drive to make a difference in the world by negating stereotypes. And as most southerners would say, momma's words are the wisest. My mother's motto for me every day is “Be a good person and learn one new thing.” If those aren't life, work and educational goals we all should follow, I don't know what should be. Having a supportive family, a college degree and a stable position with a school system or preschool would allow me to meet all of those goals. Imagine being the person who gets to sit and watch a four-year-old play the bongo for the first time and learn rhythm. Or being the mentor for a shy middle school snare drum player to show their hidden skills to the group. That is what I feel I am meant to do in the future. Earning this scholarship will assist me in following my dreams of being a music educator. I chose this major because of the awesome experiences I have had as a percussion section leader and a student conductor in high school. Hot, humid, all-day summer band camps in the south will show you just how much you want to be a part of that world. But the sense of responsibility and family you gain from those long days and nights makes the hard work worth it. My six best friends and I have shared all of those moments and grown together because of the life skills the band has taught us. I have had amazing directors and mentors throughout my high school band career, and I want to take my experiences and pass them on to future students who love music as much as I do. Music has been a staple in my household for as long as I can remember. My parents come from different backgrounds, so car rides could bring Willie Nelson, Lil Wayne, Pavarotti, Otis Redding or Pink Floyd flowing from the speakers. I love hearing new music and learning to play it on my guitar and drums. I cannot think of anything more rewarding than learning the tips and tricks of teaching a subject I love.

I believe my educational career was carved out for me long before I set foot in a school building. Maybe by God or fate or whatever universal power you believe in. From my preschool teacher who saw an extra spark in me, to my fourth grade teacher who let me lead our reading group, to my current band directors who tell me every day I am meant to pick up their torches and carry them further by teaching, I have felt seen and encouraged every step of the way. Each school year and leader and/or mentor has built me up to be the strong, independent, engaging and empathetic young woman I am today. I look forward to carrying these traits on to college and then into adulthood. Being a member of the LBGTIA+ community, and also being a biracial female, I have been given insights about life most other students will never have. Those insights have given me a drive to make a difference in the world by negating stereotypes. And as most southerners would say, momma's words are the wisest. My mother's motto for me every day is “Be a good person and learn one new thing.” If those aren't life, work and educational goals we all should follow, I don't know what should be. Having a supportive family, a college degree and a stable position with a school system or preschool would allow me to meet all of those goals. Imagine being the person who gets to sit and watch a four-year-old play the bongo for the first time and learn rhythm. Or being the mentor for a shy middle school snare drum player to show their hidden skills to the group. That is what I feel I am meant to do in the future. Earning this scholarship will assist me in following my dreams of being a music educator. I chose this major because of the awesome experiences I have had as a percussion section leader and a student conductor in high school. Hot, humid, all-day summer band camps in the south will show you just how much you want to be a part of that world. But the sense of responsibility and family you gain from those long days and nights makes the hard work worth it. My six best friends and I have shared all of those moments and grown together because of the life skills the band has taught us. I have had amazing directors and mentors throughout my high school band career, and I want to take my experiences and pass them on to future students who love music as much as I do. Music has been a staple in my household for as long as I can remember. My parents come from different backgrounds, so car rides could bring Willie Nelson, Lil Wayne, Pavarotti, Otis Redding or Pink Floyd flowing from the speakers. I love hearing new music and learning to play it on my guitar and drums. I cannot think of anything more rewarding than learning the tips and tricks of teaching a subject I love.

I believe my educational career was carved out for me long before I set foot in a school building. Maybe by God or fate or whatever universal power you believe in. From my preschool teacher who saw an extra spark in me, to my fourth grade teacher who let me lead our reading group, to my current band directors who tell me every day I am meant to pick up their torches and carry them further by teaching, I have felt seen and encouraged every step of the way. Each school year and leader and/or mentor has built me up to be the strong, independent, engaging and empathetic young woman I am today. I look forward to carrying these traits on to college and then into adulthood. A wife and family are most definitely on my horizon. Being a member of the LBGTIA+ community, and also being a biracial female, I have been given insights about life most other students will never have. Those insights have given me a drive to make a difference in the world by negating stereotypes. And as most southerners would say, momma's words are the wisest. My mother's motto for me every day is “Be a good person and learn one new thing.” If those aren't life, work and educational goals we all should follow, I don't know what should be. Having a supportive family, a college degree and a stable position with a school system or preschool would allow me to meet all of those goals. Imagine being the person who gets to sit and watch a four-year-old play the bongo for the first time and learn rhythm. Or being the mentor for a shy middle school snare drum player to show their hidden skills to the group. That is what I feel I am meant to do in the future. Earning this scholarship will assist me in following my dreams of being a music educator. I chose this major because of the awesome experiences I have had as a percussion section leader and a student conductor in high school. Hot, humid, all-day summer band camps in the south will show you just how much you want to be a part of that world. But the sense of responsibility and family you gain from those long days and nights makes the hard work worth it. My six best friends and I have shared all of those moments and grown together because of the life skills the band has taught us. I have had amazing directors and mentors throughout my high school band career, and I want to take my experiences and pass them on to future students who love music as much as I do. Music has been a staple in my household for as long as I can remember. My parents come from different backgrounds, so car rides could bring Willie Nelson, Lil Wayne, Pavarotti, Otis Redding or Pink Floyd flowing from the speakers. I love hearing new music and learning to play it on my guitar and drums. I cannot think of anything more rewarding than learning the tips and tricks of teaching a subject I love.

I believe my educational career was carved out for me long before I set foot in a school building. Maybe by God or fate or whatever universal power you believe in. From my preschool teacher who saw an extra spark in me, to my fourth grade teacher who let me lead our reading group, to my current band directors who tell me every day I am meant to pick up their torches and carry them further by teaching, I have felt seen and encouraged every step of the way. Each school year and leader and/or mentor has built me up to be the strong, independent, engaging and empathetic young woman I am today. I look forward to carrying these traits on to college and then into adulthood. A wife and family are most definitely on my horizon. Being a member of the LBGTIA+ community, and also being a biracial female, I have been given insights about life most other students will never have. Those insights have given me a drive to make a difference in the world by negating stereotypes. And as most southerners would say, momma's words are the wisest. My mother's motto for me every day is “Be a good person and learn one new thing.” If those aren't life, work and educational goals we all should follow, I don't know what should be. Having a supportive family, a college degree and a stable position with a school system or preschool would allow me to meet all of those goals. Imagine being the person who gets to sit and watch a four-year-old play the bongo for the first time and learn rhythm. Or being the mentor for a shy middle school snare drum player to show their hidden skills to the group. That is what I feel I am meant to do in the future. Earning this scholarship will assist me in following my dreams of being a music educator. I chose this major because of the awesome experiences I have had as a percussion section leader and a student conductor in high school. Hot, humid, all-day summer band camps in the south will show you just how much you want to be a part of that world. But the sense of responsibility and family you gain from those long days and nights makes the hard work worth it. My six best friends and I have shared all of those moments and grown together because of the life skills the band has taught us. I have had amazing directors and mentors throughout my high school band career, and I want to take my experiences and pass them on to future students who love music as much as I do. Music has been a staple in my household for as long as I can remember. My parents come from different backgrounds, so car rides could bring Willie Nelson, Lil Wayne, Pavarotti, Otis Redding or Pink Floyd flowing from the speakers. I love hearing new music and learning to play it on my guitar and drums. I cannot think of anything more rewarding than learning the tips and tricks of teaching a subject I love.

I believe my educational career was carved out for me long before I set foot in a school building. Maybe by God or fate or whatever universal power you believe in. From my preschool teacher who saw an extra spark in me, to my fourth grade teacher who let me lead our reading group, to my softball coaches from the age of eight, to my current band directors who tell me every day I am meant to pick up their torches and carry them further by teaching, I have felt seen and encouraged every step of the way. Each school year and leader and/or mentor has built me up to be the strong, independent, engaging and empathetic young woman and athlete I am today. I look forward to carrying these traits on to college and then into adulthood. A wife and family are most definitely on my horizon. Being a member of the LBGTIA+ community, and also being a biracial female, I have been given insights about life most other students will never have. Those insights have given me a drive to make a difference in the world by negating stereotypes. And as most southerners would say, momma's words are the wisest. My mother's motto for me every day is “Be a good person and learn one new thing.” If those aren't life, work and educational goals we all should follow, I don't know what should be. Having a supportive family, a college degree and a stable position with a school system or preschool would allow me to meet all of those goals. Imagine being the person who gets to sit and watch a four-year-old play the bongo for the first time and learn rhythm or hit a ball off a tee and their face light up. Or being the mentor for a shy middle school snare drum player or softball player to show their hidden skills to the group and become a valued member of the team. That is what I feel I am meant to do in the future. Earning this scholarship will assist me in following my dreams of being a music educator in the classroom and a leader on the field. I chose this major because of the awesome experiences I have had as a percussion section leader and a student conductor in high school, along with being our softball team captain. Hot, humid, all-day summer band camps and softball tournaments in the south will show you just how much you want to be a part of those worlds. But the sense of responsibility and family you gain from those long days and nights makes the hard work worth it. My six best friends and I have shared all of those moments and grown together because of the life skills teamwork has taught us. I have had amazing directors, coaches and mentors throughout my high school band career, and I want to take my experiences and pass them on to future students who love music and softball as much as I do.

I believe my educational career was carved out for me long before I set foot in a school building. Maybe by God or fate or whatever universal power you believe in. From my preschool teacher who saw an extra spark in me, to my fourth grade teacher who let me lead our reading group, to my current band directors who tell me every day I am meant to pick up their torches and carry them further by teaching, I have felt seen and encouraged every step of the way. Each school year and leader and/or mentor has built me up to be the strong, independent, engaging and empathetic young woman I am today. I look forward to carrying these traits on to college and then into adulthood. A wife and family are most definitely on my horizon. Being a member of the LBGTIA+ community, and also being a biracial female, I have been given insights about life most other students will never have. Those insights have given me a drive to make a difference in the world by negating stereotypes. And as most southerners would say, momma's words are the wisest. My mother's motto for me every day is “Be a good person and learn one new thing.” If those aren't life, work and educational goals we all should follow, I don't know what should be. Having a supportive family, a college degree and a stable position with a school system or preschool would allow me to meet all of those goals. Imagine being the person who gets to sit and watch a four-year-old play the bongo for the first time and learn rhythm. Or being the mentor for a shy middle school snare drum player to show their hidden skills to the group. That is what I feel I am meant to do in the future. Earning this scholarship will assist me in following my dreams of being a music educator. I chose this major because of the awesome experiences I have had as a percussion section leader and a student conductor in high school. Hot, humid, all-day summer band camps in the south will show you just how much you want to be a part of that world. But the sense of responsibility and family you gain from those long days and nights makes the hard work worth it. My six best friends and I have shared all of those moments and grown together because of the life skills the band has taught us. I have had amazing directors and mentors throughout my high school band career, and I want to take my experiences and pass them on to future students who love music as much as I do. Music has been a staple in my household for as long as I can remember. My parents come from different backgrounds, so car rides could bring Willie Nelson, Lil Wayne, Pavarotti, Otis Redding or Pink Floyd flowing from the speakers. I love hearing new music and learning to play it on my guitar and drums. I cannot think of anything more rewarding than learning the tips and tricks of teaching a subject I love.

I believe my educational career was carved out for me long before I set foot in a school building. Maybe by God or fate or whatever universal power you believe in. From my preschool teacher who saw an extra spark in me, to my fourth grade teacher who let me lead our reading group, to my current band directors who tell me every day I am meant to pick up their torches and carry them further by teaching, I have felt seen and encouraged every step of the way. Each school year and leader and/or mentor has built me up to be the strong, independent, engaging and empathetic young woman I am today. I look forward to carrying these traits on to college and then into adulthood. A wife and family are most definitely on my horizon. Being a member of the LBGTIA+ community, and also being a biracial female, I have been given insights about life most other students will never have. Those insights have given me a drive to make a difference in the world by negating stereotypes. And as most southerners would say, momma's words are the wisest. My mother's motto for me every day is “Be a good person and learn one new thing.” If those aren't life, work and educational goals we all should follow, I don't know what should be. Having a supportive family, a college degree and a stable position with a school system or preschool would allow me to meet all of those goals. Imagine being the person who gets to sit and watch a four-year-old play the bongo for the first time and learn rhythm. Or being the mentor for a shy middle school snare drum player to show their hidden skills to the group. That is what I feel I am meant to do in the future. Earning this scholarship will assist me in following my dreams of being a music educator. I chose this major because of the awesome experiences I have had as a percussion section leader and a student conductor in high school. Hot, humid, all-day summer band camps in the south will show you just how much you want to be a part of that world. But the sense of responsibility and family you gain from those long days and nights makes the hard work worth it. My six best friends and I have shared all of those moments and grown together because of the life skills the band has taught us. I have had amazing directors and mentors throughout my high school band career, and I want to take my experiences and pass them on to future students who love music as much as I do. Music has been a staple in my household for as long as I can remember. My parents come from different backgrounds, so car rides could bring Willie Nelson, Lil Wayne, Pavarotti, Otis Redding or Pink Floyd flowing from the speakers. I love hearing new music and learning to play it on my guitar and drums. I cannot think of anything more rewarding than learning the tips and tricks of teaching a subject I love.