Hi, I’m Bella Michael, pianist, piano teacher, and big believer in making music lessons possible for every kid! They say, “You can’t have your cake and eat it too.” But I totally disagree. When my mom lost her job, we had to choose between food and my piano lessons; the ones I needed to chase my college dreams. That’s when North Fulton Community Charities stepped in with fresh bread, rotisserie chicken, salads, and yes...chocolate cake! They helped us through a tough time and gave us hope. Even with that help, lessons were still too expensive. So, I got my first job teaching piano to pay for my own. That’s when I began to notice some kids were consistent in their training, while others had to stop because of money. I’ve been both students. So, I started a free online tutoring program called STEM Plus Art. Some of my friends and I teach music, coding, and video editing to help kids discover and explore their curiosities. We’ve already given over 350 hours of lessons! Our mission? To help kids learn, grow, and realize their creative ambitions. Charity showed me hot to spot opportunity and take action. Now, I’m studying Piano Performance and Entrepreneurship at the number one HBCU in social mobility, Spelman College. There I will learn how to build a school where kids don’t have to choose between learning and eating. My dream is to help every kid have their cake—and enjoy it too!

Remembering to Breathe I was in the middle of a full-blown panic attack. "Did you finish your resume? Turn in your assignment? We have to leave for practice in an hour!" The questions kept firing as I reached for my inhaler, heart racing. My thoughts screamed, "Please, Mom, just stop!" For a moment, I didn't care anymore. I was burned out, overwhelmed, and on the verge of a breakdown. Junior year had swallowed me whole. I wasn't sleeping, and maintaining my GPA was like hiking up a wet slope. I wanted to know if I could compete with the thousands and thousands of students chasing the same dream schools. I knew I couldn't quit, but I also couldn't keep going like this. Something had to change. I had confused productivity with purpose. I filled every waking moment with the responsibility to "succeed": AP Music Theory, AP Pre-Calculus, AP Language, AP Computer Science, Dual Enrollment classes in Entrepreneurship and Social Media Marketing, piano lessons, working part-time as a music teacher, participating in varsity track, and stacking my volunteer hours. My schedule was full of pride, but my spirit was empty. My world began to shrink, and even though I was surrounded by ambition, I felt alone, carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders. Escaping to TikTok, bingeing Vampire Diaries, eating pizza, and hanging out at the mall felt like my only breathing room, but they weren't enough. I was only wasting time and gaining weight. I was doing everything except taking care of myself. Then one day, while lying in bed, I saw it—the glittery canvas in my room that I had overlooked a hundred times. "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference." It hit me. I could change how I felt, and that started with taking care of my mental and physical health. Therapy changed my life. I found a therapist through a nonprofit called Chris 180. I began learning CBT and DBT skills like deep breathing, using cold sensations such as holding ice or sipping lemon water to ground myself, and learning to reframe and fact-check negative thoughts. I began prioritizing what was important versus what was just urgent. I stopped saying yes to everything and started using a digital calendar to plan time for myself, not just work. I also began learning about brain-healthy foods and made changes to my diet. I added leafy greens, berries, eggs, seeds, and healthy fats—foods that boosted my mood and focus. I paired that with regular workouts, lifting weights, and getting consistent sleep. Within weeks, I felt like myself again. I lost 50 pounds and felt great in my prom dress, but more importantly, I gained clarity. I could finally play complex pieces like Franz Liszt's Un Sospiro with a clear mind and stronger arms. My shot put and discus throws improved, and by the end of the season, I was running the 1600m. I closed out junior year with a near 4.0 GPA. Self-care saved me. It gave me the strength to be a better student, artist, athlete, and human. But more than that, it taught me how to listen to myself, to pause, breathe, and choose peace over pressure. As I prepare for college and the road ahead, I've realized that the best gift I can give anything or anyone is a healthy me. It's about showing up whole, centered, and grounded. And that's exactly who I intend to be. Franz Liszt's Un Sospiro Performed by Bella Michael: https://youtu.be/vBOdJdQqwHw

Success Breeds Success: My Greatest Accomplishment Everyone has something they're proud of. As for me, I can share a few achievements, including making my Carnegie Hall debut, earning the President's Volunteer Service Gold Award for 250 volunteer hours, graduating from high school with honors while leading the track team, or being accepted into both Howard University and Spelman College. Indeed, these are pretty epic for me. But there's one that stands out above all the rest—being a piano teacher at Thunder Road Music Studios in Roswell, GA. I've been a piano teacher since 2022. At first, I questioned myself because I was just 15 when I started." "What if the parents don't take me seriously because of my age?" or "What if my boss thinks I'm too inexperienced and fires me?" I wondered to myself. But I was wrong; they respected me. On the other hand, as a teacher, I am often tested. My tests are the recitals, and my grade is the student's performance readiness. I had students of all ages. Elementary kids, teenagers, and even a 50-year-old beginner. Working with students of all ages and learning styles wasn't easy. I had to meet each student where they were. First, I had to understand how to engage them. The younger kids would get bored fast, the teens wanted to do their own thing, and the adults needed a lot of clarity and detail. Next, I Googled learning styles for all ages. Then, I used a combination of visual, auditory, and hands-on techniques to engage each student. With the younger kids, I used bright music cards and rhythm games. We'd clap and stomp to the beat, which made it all the more fun. For the teens, I showed them how to create music, playing harmony with their left hand and melody with their right. Composing gave them hands-on experience and a sense of respect before we dove into classical compositions. And for my adult student, who had never performed before, I sat with them and broke down each section of the piece. When giving feedback, I also used a "compliment sandwich"—a technique I picked up in a business class at Gwinnett Technical College. I would tell them what they were doing well, offer some helpful tips, and then remind them how well they would do at the recital if they kept up the great work. Then it was showtime. At this year's summer showcase, I was blown away by what they all accomplished. The younger kids performed their pieces with ease and confidence. The teens, moving to the rhythm of Imagine Dragons, were feeling their music. And my adult student, who had never performed before, was smiling as the crowd gifted her a wave of applause after her sonata. That moment, seeing them all so proud, made me proud. Preparing all 18 students for a performance-ready recital is truly my biggest accomplishment! Their accomplishments as students are my accomplishments as a leader. To be the best teacher, I need to keep growing. This fall, I will begin my undergraduate studies in piano performance and entrepreneurship at Spelman College. There, I will prepare for my master's and then doctorate with a concentration in pedagogy at the New England Conservatory. After sharing my music worldwide, I want to open a nonprofit music academy in underserved Atlanta communities. The success I've achieved in piano performance, education, and leadership will help me create an environment where the next generation can succeed in music! My Performance Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBOdJdQqwHw Franz Liszt: 3 etudes de concert S. 144 No. 3 “Un Sospiro” performed by Bella Michael

The Happy Birthday Surprise that Made me, me! My favorite day of the year is my birthday. It could be the Cash App notifications or my annual slice of Oreo cheesecake. However, nothing compares to my 8th birthday, when I received a gift that kept giving. The day began with her slipping a pillowcase over my head. Stumbling down the hallway," Mommy has a surprise for you!" she whispered. She guided me to my room, giggling behind the camera as she recorded the moment. Then, one, two, three—she pulled the cover off. "Eeeeeee! Yes, yes, yes!" I squealed. There was a white Casio keyboard, paired with an iPad Mini, ready to lead me on a journey. The tablet lit up like magic. I tapped on the Yousician learning icon, and a colorful adventure began. Notes bounced across the screen as I played rhythms, scales, and my first song, La Bamba. With every note, the piano became my favorite place in the world. On my 12th birthday, my mom upgraded my piano to a Yamaha upright grand. Meanwhile, Mr. Gouvêa, a passionate pianist, prepared me for the American Protégé piano competition. For my winning prize, I found myself underneath the golden lights of Carnegie Hall at just 14 years old. Feeling like a princess in my black sequin gown, my fingers drifted like clouds over the ivory and black keys as Chopin's Nocturne No. 2 in C-sharp minor flowed with emotion. As the final note fell, a swirling wave of applause filled the room. That's when I knew I wanted to become a concert pianist. But I had a lot of work to do. I started participating in piano intensives at the University of Georgia and Berklee College of Music. I was on a college tour, surrounded by other pianists who lived and breathed piano. I embraced the experience, feeling both inspired and shaken. I immediately realized the competition was looking fierce and preparing my portfolio wasn't going to be easy. Time wasn't on my side, and neither was money. My single mom lost her job when I was 15. Piano lessons suddenly became a luxury we couldn't afford anymore. I didn't know where to begin. Working in fast food or at the mall would have been far too tempting—food, clothes, makeup—I'd blow every paycheck. With college auditions approaching, I couldn't sacrifice school or piano practice either. I needed a job that paid well and didn't require too much time or temptation. Then it hit me—teach piano! Teaching added a deeper purpose to my life. I guided quiet fingers as they transformed into melodic messengers. Under my instruction, brown girls like Ava found inspiration simply because someone who looked like them was there to represent and light their path. I knew then that representation wasn't just a buzzword but my calling. As I look back, I am so grateful for my happy birthday surprise and a supportive mother. What started with a Casio keyboard and an iPad became a launchpad for my career in piano performance and education. Now, I'm ready to live each day filled with curiosity, satisfaction, and a sense of purpose. First, I will study Piano Performance at Spelman College and prepare to become Dr. Bella Michael at the New England Conservatory. Then, one day, I'll perform on world-renowned stages and open a music academy, not for applause but to spark the gifts within others. Because with every melody I play and every note I teach, I am excited to share the gift of music—one that made my life! Happy Birthday Moment YouTube Short: https://youtube.com/shorts/PXZQV5MtbMw?feature=share  Performance Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBOdJdQqwHw

I can still see her gazing at me from her pink dollhouse, daring me to dream. With her big, luscious curls and tiny brown hands holding a teeny guitar, I saw a reflection of myself—a Black girl in music. Despite Barbie's complex legacy, the brand's resounding message —"You can be anything!"— set the stage for my dream of becoming Dr. Bella Michael Provo, a trailblazing musician. Growing up as a classical pianist, "representation" wasn't just a buzzword; it was a call to action. From performing at Carnegie Hall to studying at the University of Georgia and Berklee College of Music to every competition in between, my brown skin was often the surprise guest in the room. However, generational talents like Florence Price, Nina Simone, Alicia Keys, and Isata Kanneh-Mason prove that anyone can thrive in music performance if given the chance. Now, it’s up to me to continue those legacies. Like the pathfinders before me, I see myself as an inspirational force. I'm not only dreaming of it; I'm working towards it. First, I will attend Spelman College, where I will empower my development through piano performance and entrepreneurial studies. After undergrad, I will evolve into Dr. Bella Michael at the New England Conservatory. Next, I will perform on the biggest stages and shine as a beacon of inspiration. Most importantly, I will reach back to underserved youth by opening schools where music, business, technology, and core subjects come together. Through every note I play and every student I teach, I'll champion Barbie's message: "You can be anything!"