The marching arts have provided me with lifelong friends, priceless education, and unforgettable experiences. Through this unique educational experience, I have matured as a musician, a performer, and a human being. I began my time in the marching arts in 2018 and will end my journey as a performer this summer season. Throughout the years, this community has been a safe space for me. The connection between members in these ensembles is unlike anywhere else in the world. The comprehensive desire for self-improvement and quality performance brings the most passionate musicians together. This creates the perfect environment for learning and growth. Additionally, the marching arts have provided me with a community of kindness and support in times of darkness. Many times in my life, performing has been a lifeline for my survival. On a grander scale, being able to travel the country and perform for thousands of people is a feeling of fulfillment that cannot be replicated. More specifically, marching in drum corps rekindled my love for musical performance. After my 2023 DCI season, I was reminded of why I wanted to be a musician in the first place. As a musician, I want to contribute to the universal community of inspiration and creativity that is music. Marching DCI is simultaneously the most difficult and amazing activity I have ever done, and I am beyond excited to do it one last time this summer. My current goals include completing my final DCI season, graduating college, and starting a career in my desired field. I am a third-year student at East Tennessee State University earning my Bachelor of Science in Parks and Recreation Management along with double minoring in Music and History. Post-graduation, I plan on going into outdoor recreation. While I am still exploring specific career options, I am drawn to the positions of Park Ranger and Wildland Firefighter. More specifically, I want to use my degree, experience, and training to share the outdoors with others. I want to be a bridge of connection between individuals and nature. I hope to kindle appreciation within each person I interact with so they too are driven to protect these lands for future generations. Additionally, I am interested in being a marching arts instructor. The marching arts provided me with such amazing opportunities and community, and I want to give the next generation the same wonderful experience I had. Receiving this scholarship would allow me to perform in the marching arts one last time. First, I will gain more valuable education to teach my future students. Second, I will have more travel experience that will benefit me in my future career. Lastly, I will be able to reset my mind and soul after the most difficult months of my life. Hurricane Helene devastated my family and community. After rescuing my mother and three pets from isolation in Western North Carolina, I brought them back to my small apartment. For the next few months, I juggled caring for my family, attending classes, going to work, going to an internship, and being a leader for my university marching band. The immense amount of stress and heartbreak affected my academic ability and work availability. In the chaos of the disaster, we were focused on survival. Anything of value that survived the hurricane was sold in order to stay afloat. Even today, both my family and hometown are recovering physically, financially, and emotionally. However, within all the darkness, a music-filled summer was the image that motivated me. Doing my favorite activity a final time would bring me indescribable joy after a terribly dark chapter.

A woman who has been extremely influential on the person I am today is my mother. Growing up, I learned much about leadership from my mom. My mother raised three girls alone, and showed me the importance of hard work, independence, confidence, and persistence. I have been able to apply these principles to my many leadership roles throughout my life. I have learned that being a true leader means creating a welcoming environment where others can grow. Even with all the stress she was under, my mother always made time to show support for our passions and provide the tools we needed to follow our dreams. Leaders are meant to guide others to the correct path and provide the tools for success. My mother also raised us in a very open minded home. She encouraged us to do our own research on topics and speak to people of different beliefs and backgrounds so we could form our own opinions. She taught me to speak up for myself even if it felt as though the whole world was against me. In the future, I plan to use all the skills my mother taught me to graduate college, fight for equality, continue creating music, and traveling the world. Just like my mother is to me, I hope to be a guide to others in this lifetime.

A song I always find myself going back to is “Car Radio” by Twenty One Pilots. This song inspires me to keep fighting, because it reminds me I am not alone. This song is based on the story that a boy has the radio of his car stolen, so now, the boy could no longer distract himself with music. He now has to face all the emotions he had been purposely avoiding. I also use music as an escape. It allows me to enter a space where I can become someone else or let go of my worries, even just for a few minutes. Twenty One Pilots is my favorite band and has gotten me through very difficult times of my life. “Car Radio” always has, and always will be, my favorite song by them. Knowing that many people also struggle fighting their fears makes me feel understood. Just knowing that I am not alone is so powerful. That information alone motivates me to continue fighting every day. Music is a universal language, and I hope to create a song as beautiful and unique as “Car Radio” that inspires other people to keep fighting.

I am prepared for success in many aspects in life. I have already had two jobs, volunteered at many facilities, participated in many sports and art activities and have an internship lined up for this summer. I understand the role of being a strong leader and a capable listener. I was raised by a single mother and my older sister. In addition, I had little contact with my extended family. Growing up in such a small environment, I became independent at a young age. Having two women as my role models, I was always taught of the unfairness that women faced. I believe this prepares me for success because I always put forth as much effort as I can when it comes to school, and any other job for that matter. Even when a task requires more work or is more difficult, I choose that path to prove that I am worthy of my place at the top of the class and deserve to be recognized. The drive to prove that women are capable of anything is a powerful motivator. I will always be thankful to my family for encouraging me and inspiring me. My sister left for college when I was in the 4th grade. She had helped my mom a lot around the house, so I had to fill in her shoes. Later, my mother had multiple surgeries, leaving me to be her main caretaker when she returned home. Multiple times I have had to balance school work, cleaning, cooking for myself and my mother, caring for multiple pets, and helping my mother with anything else related to her recovery. The periods of time when my mother was recovering from surgery were very stressful parts of my life. I suddenly had the responsibilities of an adult and had to adapt quickly. Though they may have been stressful, these moments made me develop an appreciation for all that my mother and sister did, and still do, for me. I was able to learn valuable life skills, such as time management, working under pressure, staying on a schedule, proper cleaning, and even how to cook simple recipes. I believe that these difficult times presented a valuable lesson, and have set me up for lifelong success. My personal definition of success is when someone feels satisfied with the progress they have made. One can be successful at a number of things, no matter if they are simple or grand. After putting in the time and effort to that project or activity, if that person feels satisfied with their improvement and change, that is success. Whether they have reached their ultimate goal, or they have just started on the right path, success is a satisfying feeling. In twenty years I hope to be traveling the world. I am pursuing a major in music performance, so I wish to continue performing for audiences of all sizes. Whether that be playing in the music pit for Broadway shows or on stage with a small band. Additionally, I have a great love for the outdoors. It has been a dream of mine to work in the National Park System. I hope to be a Park Ranger that has traveled the country and experiences the different environments and adventures each park has to offer. In twenty years, I see myself happy and free.

For the 2nd semester of my sophomore year, I attended a boarding school called The Outdoor Academy. Including myself, the class consisted of 19 students total. The school aimed to integrate learning with the outdoors. They did not let us have any electronics, encouraging us to interact with one another. While attending my classes, I also spent significant time outdoors and learned skills for when in the backcountry. Unfortunately, COVID cut my time at the Outdoor Academy short. Even so, I found the time I spent there invaluable. I went on two backpacking trips, learned new arts and crafts skills, and learned new communication skills. Living in such a small community allowed the students to connect to each other and the teachers in a unique way that most students never get to experience. The Outdoor Academy opened the opportunity for students to truly bond with their teachers and with one another. This school encouraged and taught independence, the value of hard work, originality, and the importance of the natural world. That time away from home allowed me to grow as a person and have a better understanding of who I aim to become. This school truly made me realize how much the outdoors mean to me, and how I want to spend my future exploring and protecting the outdoors.