The unique contribution that I will give is teaching. For me growing up in a Hispanic household it was hard to get the mental health care I needed. They don't believe that I can be depressed when I'm so young because what can I possibly be stressed over? It was hard for me to start going to therapy because of their beliefs. But the one thing that I would have access to was choir. The choir gave me a place where I knew what I was doing mattered. It gave me a family, support, and a parent figure that gave me unconditional love and care, no matter what I did. The choir is the reason that I graduated. it’s the reason I survived, along with theater and having a way to express myself. To see me in the mirror and not feel like I was lost. I knew that if I was having a hard time at home I could come to school and take a period or two off. I can go to those teachers and get help. I can go to them and feel heard. It’s a unique way for me because along with that singing healed me. Singing helps me more than I could ever truly believe. More than anyone could ever understand. Singing has given me a reason to keep living. And I hope that I can be just as an amazing choir teacher to be that for future generations.

I’m passionate about music because it has always been a part of my life. I first realize that I truly loved I loved it in second grade. I had a teacher who wanted to be a music teacher originally but ended up being an elementary teacher who put music into the classroom. We had singing in the morning every day to get us up and get our brains working. That teacher put a big emphasis on using art and music and movement to learn. I learned how to play piano in kindergarten along with learning how to read basic music. It was something that set me apart from a lot of the others with being the only kid in my band who could read music. It gave me a sense of worth and like I could truly contribute. I didn’t grow up in a household that was big on celebrating accomplishments or saying a good job. The only times I felt like I made them proud was through performances. By being up there and putting myself out there. My passion for music grew even more during quarantine. A lot of the classes didn’t put a big emphasis on whether or not you were attending or doing your actual work. It felt easy to get lost in the screens and feel like you didn’t notice. But not in choir. My teacher always made it a point to have our cameras on and speak through our mics. To get us up and singing and truly be present. If someone wasn’t in class then he would have someone call or text asking if they were ok. Because of choir, I was reminded that I was noticed and I did matter. I don’t think that without both choir and theater during that time I would have survived. both o those programs gave me reasons to get out of bed and out of my house when we came back to in-person classes. A way to escape a not so supportive household that would constantly misgender and deadname me. I want to give this same solace to future generations. Give them a home away from home. Maybe outside of my classroom it sucks and they feel so small but in there, they’re an important part of the team. That if their chair was empty one day it would be noticed. I want to give another kid a reason to live

Hi, I'm Arlo I am a high school senior with a 3.9 GPA (weighted). My educational goal is to go to Cal State Fullerton majoring in music. It’s been my dream school ever since I realized I wanted to pursue music as a career. Music has been something that’s always been a part of my life. Around quarantine is when I realized that it was not only my passion but my fuel to keep going. I don’t think I would be here today finally being able to graduate, getting out of my house, or getting accepted to my dream school without it. Everyone that I’ve been taught by that has gotten their education from Cal State Fullerton has given me the most comprehensive life-changing lessons. I want to pay it forward. Give future generations the same opportunities. Because my career goal is to be a high school choir director. I know I want to give my students the best education I can provide them being there for them emotionally as well as sparking a passion in them. To give some other kid a way out of their house, another way out of their mind, and a way for them to finally wake up one day and say "I'm good enough." The only thing that stands in my way of making this reality is money. Financial aid isn't giving me enough for me to afford to go there. My parents are telling me to give up on that school. Go somewhere that offers more money because they can't afford it. I don’t want to go anywhere else. Ever since my sophomore year, I’ve been dreaming of that school. I've been on their campus and nothing has felt more like my home than that place. Which is why I am doing everything I can to apply for as many scholarships as I can. Because I got in! Not just into the school but into the music program. I had to audition with two songs one in a language I'd never spoken before. sight-read both rhythm and notes. Which my own choir director didn't believe I could do. He sat me down and told me "We don't work on that enough, so don't get your heart broken when you don't get in." I had to have the grades and the extracurriculars and I did it. Everything that I've done has been leading up to this moment. It would break my heart if the only thing standing between me and my dream is money.