Music has always been a profound source of joy, inspiration, and personal connection for me. I was born into a mesh of two cultures-Jamaican and Colombian-that both shared a large love for music. I grew up listening to all types of music and I was able to develop such a full appreciation for music. Nothing else in this world provides the freedom that music does. It allows us to connect and resonate with one another despite distance, and language barriers. I think what makes music so beautiful is the connection. Through music, we can bridge gaps and create a sense of unity among individuals from diverse backgrounds, creating a space where everyone can feel understood and valued. Furthermore, within music there is always something for everyone no matter what their personal taste is. The inclusivity that music provides is like no other. Although we might not enjoy the same music, we both enjoy music in our own unique way. We all appreciate music in our own way and I personally have a large appreciation for all kinds of music. Of course this wouldn’t have been possible if not for my parents who exposed me to all of what I know and love today. I don't think I would love music as much as I do today if not for my parents. They both have such a strong love for music and so I grew up listening to all types of genres. So when asked who inspires me to pursue music, my answer will always be my parents, especially my mom. My mom has always dreamt of becoming a singer. It’s been her lifelong dream and due to all the sacrifices she has made for me and my family, it isn’t something that she has been able to devote her time to. When I think of the fact that I have the opportunity to do so due to my parents support and sacrifices, I don't take it for granted. I have been blessed with such musical talent and that alone shouldn't be taken for granted. So as I continue to pursue my musical dreams and aspirations, I always keep in mind just how lucky and blessed I am to even have the opportunity in the first place. And it’s all because of my parents. Not only do I want to pursue my musical dreams, but I also want my mom to be able to experience through me what she sacrificed for her family.

Music has always been a profound source of joy, inspiration, and personal connection for me. From a young age, I was captivated by the power of melodies and rhythms to evoke emotions and tell stories. When I would think of what I could see myself doing in the future, I could see nothing but music. Nothing else in this world provides the freedom that music does. It allows us to connect and resonate with one another despite distance, and language barriers. I think what makes music so beautiful is the connection. Through music, we can bridge gaps and create a sense of unity among individuals from diverse backgrounds, creating a space where everyone feels understood and valued. My hope is that through music, I can connect with others and resonate with them on a deep level, providing them with comfort, inspiration, and a sense of belonging. Through studying music professionally, I hope to strengthen all of my musical skills and grow a love for writing music. I want to get to a point within myself that I can create music that touches the hearts and souls of others, just as the music that has shaped my own life has touched mine. So many are influenced by the music they listen to. It inspires and speaks to people. Not only do I hope to comfort others through my music, but I will use my platform to bring awareness to the many issues that plague our world. So many blessed with influence and a platform don't use it to help others. However, I will continuously bring awareness to the wrongdoings of our world and stand up for what I believe in.

As I reflect on my life and the experiences that have shaped me,one achievement that stands out as my greatest to date is getting over my fears of performing on stage. Growing up, I always had a passion for performing. Whether it was singing or dancing, performing filled me with a sense of joy and excitement. However, that excitement was often overshadowed by crippling nerves. I was always part of a chorus or ensemble whenever I performed on stage. I never realized it at the time, but performing within a group gave me a sense of and comfort. It wasn't until I decided to pursue a solo performance that I truly had to confront my fears of being on stage alone. I still remember the first time I auditioned for a lead role in the school's musical production. I was in sixth grade at the time and I had been practicing for weeks.When I arrived at the audition, my heart was racing and my hands were shaking as I waited my turn.When it was finally my turn to audition, my voice sounded a way it had never sounded before- weak and trembling. Despite my best efforts to control my nerves,my performance fell flat and I was not cast in the lead role. I had never felt so insecure about my talents before. I messed up during a crucial part of the song and my emotions took over. I ended up crying during the audition, I was devastated at the time, but looking back, that experience taught me a valuable lesson about myself. It showed me that I had to confront my fears if I wanted the areas at which I to grow as a performer. Although I didn't get the role I wanted, I decided to stay in the production as a member of the ensemble.Through this experience, I was able to learn so much about performing and the areas I needed to improve on. Over the time period of lockdown, I was able to truly work on myself. After completing my first year of high school online, it was finally time to resume in person learning. This was my opportunity to finally achieve what I had been working so hard for, a lead role. When it came to auditioning this time around, I felt calm and collected. I believed in myself wholeheartedly and had the confidence that I could accomplish this. I went into the audition room and sang my piece better than I ever had in practice. I was beyond proud of myself. When I later found out I had been cast in the lead role, I was overjoyed. All the hard work and perseverance had paid off. This experience taught me that with dedication and a positive mindset, I can accomplish anything I set my mind to. I discovered that when I believe in myself and push past my fears, I am capable of accomplishing feats I never thought possible. I continued to push myself in the years following, auditioning for all the opportunities that came my way, and constantly practicing my singing at home to grow and strengthen my skills and stage presence. Being able to confidently stand on stage and perform is one of the greatest feelings in the world. Whether it was dancing or singing, everything I experienced helped me grow so much as a performer and I’m extremely grateful for every single one of them. I knew performing was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life and so my next step was auditioning for my future college. Because I pushed myself and worked on my skills I was able to have a strong audition and was accepted to my future college. If I’d never pushed myself I would've never been able to achieve what I have been able to throughout my high school career. As I look towards my future, I hope to continue pushing myself towards my goals and never give up. I know the path to becoming a recording artist is no easy feat, but I believe that it is possible for me as long as I put in the work and always believe in myself. I hope that through my career I am able to inspire others to believe in themselves and know in their heart that they can do whatever they put their mind to. Furthermore, I hope that I connect with others and bring comfort in times of hardship.

Music has always been a profound source of joy, inspiration, and personal connection for me. From a young age, I was captivated by the power of melodies and rhythms to evoke emotions and tell stories. When I would think of what I could see myself doing in the future, I could see nothing but music. Many people give up on their dreams or push them aside for a more practical career in our society, but I could not live with myself if I didn't do what I love for the rest of my life. Why should we give up our happiness and passion for the sake of practicality? Nothing else in this world provides the freedom that music does. It allows us to connect and resonate with one another despite distance, and language barriers. I think what makes music so beautiful is the connection. Through music, we can bridge gaps and create a sense of unity among individuals from diverse backgrounds, creating a space where everyone feels understood and valued. That is why I believe that it is so important to keep music in schools. Everyone loves music, everyone listens to it, and everyone shares a unique connection with it. Whether it helps you get through the trials and tribulations of each day or helps to lift your spirits, everyone enjoys music in a contain way. Even if it isn't a student's desired career path, it provides valuable experiences that they will cherish for the rest of their lives. ln my own personal experience, I believe that the music education I received throughout me middle and highschool years greatly impacted my overall love for music. I've had peers who participated in chorus and band,who absolutely loved their experiences. For a lot of people, grade school music classes are their first experiences of performing in front of an audience, an experience that is life changing. Many students go into a music class only hoping to earn their required arts credits to graduate, but all leave with a new found appreciation for music and an unforgettable experience. Because well, what other class is like that of a music class? My hope is that through music, I can connect with others on a deep level, providing them with comfort, inspiration, and a sense of belonging. Through studying music professionally, I hope to strengthen all of my musical skills and grow a love for writing music. I want to get to a point within myself that I can create music that touches the hearts and souls of others, just as the music that has shaped my own life has touched mine. I want to be so connected to my music that it becomes a part of me, an extension of who I am as a person.