I support others in my everyday life by always striving to be kind, compassionate, and a good listener to my friends, family, and classmates. I think of myself as a particularly honest and empathetic person, as the thought of telling a lie sickens me, and I always try to “put myself in someone else’s shoes” as the saying goes. I always put forth my best effort to be inclusive of all kinds of diverse people, whether it is people with a different opinion, gender, race, or sexuality than mine; more importantly, I hold an infinite amount of respect for these people as well as the people who are similar to me. Every life is worth living, every human is deserving of love, and every person is worthy of respect. Additionally, and more than all of these, I try my absolute best to show everyone love and compassion, as it is my belief that this is the way all of us should live. In two years, I will be a student at a university somewhere, studying music and learning to become a music teacher. I will meet many people during those four years of university, many of which I’m sure I will hold very closely to my heart. I hope to continue my educational journey, but also my personal journey, in continuing my efforts to be a kind and compassionate person, and to show everyone love. After all, not everyone receives these wonderful things– kindness, compassion, and love– due to how cruel the current world is, which is just another reason why it is so important to me that I integrate these three things into my daily life. Ideally, some years down the road, I will be a wife to a wonderful husband, a mother to a child, a music teacher at an elementary school, a professional musician in an orchestra, and a private cello instructor for students of all ages. In all of these avenues, I will be able to continue supporting others in my everyday life– in this case, these people will include my family as well as my future husband, children, students, coworkers, and friends.

My favorite athlete to cheer for from Team USA is Simone Biles, a female artistic gymnast. Simone Biles is most definitely a household name, as she is the most decorated gymnast in the world– so far, she has won twelve Olympic medals, seven of which are gold. In addition to her Olympic medals, she has earned thirty world championship medals, and has four gymnastics skills named after her, on beam, floor, and vault. And more than her awards, she is constantly making the news. When you type into Google “Simone Biles”, many headlines stick out about both her skill and good character. For example, you’ll see“Simone Biles JUST DID THAT”, or “Simone Biles is leading the charge of older gymnasts at the Olympics who are redefining their sport”. But you’ll also see “Simone Biles Works With Nonprofit ‘Friends of Children’, or “Simone Biles Starts Scholarship for Foster Kids”. This is truly a testament to her great skill and fame, but more importantly, to her good-natured, generous, and kind being. This wonderful, talented, and beautiful woman is known not only for her gymnastics skills, but for her infectious smile and engaging personality. She is humble but also knows her worth. She uses her platform to advocate for change in sports, gymnastics, mental health protocols, and foster care, and she supports initiatives associated with these. She also seems to have a great sense of loyalty to her teammates, as she has publicly defended them amidst criticism directed at Olympic gymnasts by MyKayla Skinner, Simone’s ex-teammate. This makes it clear that Simone will always stand up for what is right, and is an extremely loyal person. On Netflix, there is a documentary called “Simone Biles: Rising”, in which Simone discusses her comeback to gymnastics following her departure from the finals in the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. Her departure was caused by “the twisties”, a mental block that causes a disconnect between the mind and body when a gymnast is airborne. This made it impossible for her to compete strongly and give it her all– she decided to leave the Tokyo Olympics (and for a while, gymnastics) in order to prioritize her mental health and work past this mental block. In the Netflix documentary, Simone referred to this block as a trauma response to the abuse she and hundreds of other gymnasts endured by USA Gymnastics former team doctor, Larry Nassar. She started seeing a therapist to help work through the trauma and negative feelings, and took a two-year break from gymnastics. Her comeback to the Olympics in Paris 2024 this year is remarkable, especially considering all of this. And not only has she made a comeback, she has, so far, led the USA Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Team to gold, and earned gold in the Women’s All-Around Finals as well as the Women’s Vault Finals. She is the most remarkable gymnast, and an equally positive role model for women, of any age, race, or walk of life. She is truly a leader on Team USA.

My crossover episode would be titled: "Austin & Ally-A-Rooney". I imagine that a crossover episode between my two favorite Disney Channel shows, “Austin and Ally” and “Liv and Maddie”, would go a little something like this: The doorbell rings at the Rooney home in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Pete, the father of Liv, Maddie, Joey, and Parker, stands from the couch and answers the door, because Karen is in the kitchen making dinner. When Pete opens the door, standing there are Austin, Ally, Trish, and Dez. “Can I help you?” He asked, but before anyone could answer, there was a scream from Parker, who had just come downstairs for a snack: “Is that AUSTIN MOON?!” Immediately afterward, the sound was like stampeding elephants– the family rushing downstairs to see what all the commotion was about. “Why don’t you come in and sit down?” Pete asked quietly, and the four obliged. When Liv reached the living room and sat down, Ally, who had been attempting (in vain) to speak during the ruckus, was finally able to get a word in. “Hello, Liv! This is Austin, Trish, Dez, and I’m Ally,” she said, while pointing to each of her friends. “I’m sure you know about Austin?” “Oh of COURSE I do!!” Liv exclaimed. “So what’s going on? Not that I don’t appreciate you visiting me, of course.” “Well,” Austin said, “Ally writes my songs and the other day, we were working on a new song for the Grammys– and that’s when Ally said, ‘Hey Austin, we should have you do a duet with someone!’ And from there, we decided that you were the obvious choice, which is why we’re here now, to ask you if you would like to do it.” By this point, the entire family was hovering behind Liv, clearly invested in this conversation, and particularly the offer. Liv hesitated. “Well, I’d love to,” she said finally. Everyone looked on with uncertainty. Silence. Then– “Of course I would love to,” she repeated, clearly more relaxed. “Great!” Trish exclaimed, mostly to herself. “Perfect, this is perfect! This is going to do wonders for your image, both of you!” “Plus, maybe Liv can be my star in my next new film!” Dez said excitedly. He was very clearly getting carried away quickly. “Um, I’ll think about it, for sure,” Liv said with a nervous smile. “Don’t listen to him,” Trish said conspiratorially. “So, how can I get in touch with your agent?” “Oh, I’m glad you asked, you’re going to love her! Her name is Becky Bicklehoff,” Liv replied. “Let me write down her number for you real quick.” When Liv left the room, Joey and Parker, seeing their opportunity, sauntered closer to the four. “So, what’s up Austin?” Parker asked nonchalantly. “Um… I’m good,” Austin answered awkwardly. “Cool bro,” Joey replied. Joey, the definition of uncool, was breaking a nervous sweat and struggling to keep calm. Finally, he broke. “You’re so cool, I can’t believe I’m meeting Austin Moon!” He began to do his ‘excited dance’, jumping up and down. Not to mention, being uncool. Parker put his head in his hands. Liv returned with a piece of paper with hers and Becky’s phone numbers on it. “Well, you’re welcome to stay for dinner,” she smiled. “We have to check into our hotel,” Ally said with a glance at Trish, who was obviously uncomfortable with Joey’s spectacle. “Okay, well, it was nice to meet you, and I hope we see you soon!” Liv said, helping usher them out the door. When they were gone, Parker shook his head at Joey disappointedly.

I continue my pursuit and passion in the world of music knowing that no technology can replicate the music I can create through my emotions and experiences– in fact, not even a person can replicate the music I create, as each human is unique; therefore, so is each piece of painting, each song, each poem. Humanity can never be replaced by technology, as it would be a poor substitute for the very real feelings that everyone experiences differently. In a world where technology is constantly advancing, artificial intelligence is developing, and it becomes harder to distinguish truth from lies. However, we can always count on one thing– humanity’s imperfection. Unlike a machine’s mechanical precision, humans make mistakes, they have emotions, and they each are unique. Not one human is identical to another. True art speaks words that cannot be spoken aloud, by representing an artist’s perspectives, experiences, and core identity, of which technology has none. Technology’s “art” is not authentic, it is ARTIFICIAL, while humans are authentically intelligent. That is what makes the arts so special, and irreplicable by artificial intelligence’s “art”. While the future will obviously look different than the past in many aspects, with artificial intelligence becoming increasingly integrated into our everyday lives, we can take comfort in the fact that art is HUMAN. No technology can take our humanity away, or remove our passion for art, and as such, no technology can recreate our art. In the future, my big lifelong project will hopefully consist of being a mother and a music teacher, teaching the love of music to as many people as I can, young and old. I believe that everyone deserves to have the chance to learn music, and learn to love and appreciate its small intricacies and huge emotions. Thus, I plan to continue making and pursuing music for the rest of my life. I will keep my passion for music in my heart, and hopefully as a future music teacher and mother, will pass this passion on to my students and children, and their children, and their children’s children, forever. This is so important to me, as it is my belief that there is no connection quite as deep as one built on the foundation of art and music. After all, what would this meek life be without music, if not empty?

My first (and favorite) concert ever was in June 2022, when my mother, grandmother, father, and I went to see Paul McCartney perform in Oriole Park during his Get Back North American Tour. I have always been a huge fan of the Beatles, whether it was their band music or solo music. Since I was little, my mother has always encouraged my interest in music in general, so music has always been the central point of my life. I especially took to liking the Beatles, and eventually began listening to each of their solo music as well. When my grandmother told me she bought tickets for us to go see Paul McCartney live, I jumped and screamed for joy. I was so excited to see him live, as I had never seen a big live concert like this before. I had seen professional symphony orchestra performances, chamber ensemble concerts, and school band, orchestra, or choir concerts, but never had I ever been to an event as big as this. The afternoon of the concert, we drove to Baltimore, which took about two hours. The whole car ride, I felt like I would burst from excitement. We checked into our hotel room and unpacked our things, as we would be staying the night after the concert was over, and relaxed a bit before leaving for dinner. We went to Chipotle and ordered burritos. By this point, it was two hours before the concert was to start, 5pm and I could barely contain my excitement. After eating dinner, we headed to Oriole Park, parked our car, and made our way into the long winding line at the gate. We waited for about an hour, maybe a little more, for our turn to enter the gate and walk up the many stairs to our seats. On the way up, my grandmother bought a t-shirt for me, which I still have– it’s one of my favorites. Once we finally reached our seats, which were very high in the stadium, we sat and waited in anticipation (except for my dad, who was not a fan and only came along with us to be our driver– he still had a fun time though, despite the fact that he will always deny it). The concert was supposed to start at 7pm, but Paul didn’t come out until 8pm. This had me a bit concerned, but I waited patiently and his performance was definitely worth the wait. I knew almost every song in the set-list, and sang along with each one. My favorite by far was when he sang “She Came In Through The Bathroom Window”, a Beatles song, but I also thoroughly enjoyed “Helter Skelter”, and “Live And Let Die” with the pyrotechnics and fireworks and other special effects. I also appreciated “I’ve Got A Feeling”, which was a duet with John Lennon, and “Here Today”, a very heartfelt and emotional song that Paul wrote about John following his death. Overall, the concert was such a wonderful experience, and when we returned to the hotel that night, I couldn’t fall asleep. But that was okay, because I will always have the memory of that night with me, and will always be so grateful for the experience. (The photo I submitted alongside this essay was taken with my grandmother. It is a replica of a photo that was taken of the two of us when I was a baby.)

Since a very young age, music has always been the center of my life. My mother is a music teacher, so she has fostered my love for music since I was just a baby, starting by giving me piano lessons. Ever since it was introduced to me, I have always been passionate about music. Even before I could talk, I loved music. I have since learned that this is partially because music has the ability to connect people, even those who cannot speak the same language. Music IS a universal language that transcends age, language, or culture. It translates emotions, thoughts, experiences, and more into something meaningful that anyone can understand. It allows you to learn about and appreciate cultures different from your own. It is a powerful form of expression, and fosters emotional connection between individuals. Music allows me to express my thoughts and feelings, and connect with others on a deeper level. Additionally, music has a positive effect on the body and the mind. Music is capable of lifting my mood, calming my mind, and giving me energy, motivation, and inspiration. It allows me to be creative, think outside the box, and push my limits. Music is similar to therapy; it helps me cope with stress and anxiety, and gives me a safe space where I can escape from reality and find my peace. Music is also fascinating in other aspects, not just the social, psychological, and physical aspects. For one thing, I am fascinated by the historical aspects of music and composers, how music styles have gradually changed over time, and how different composers, musicians, and artists influenced the music of their time. Music also makes room for learning and positive growth, whether it is learning about its history, the psychology behind it, or even learning a new instrument. One can never learn all there is to know about music, and that is why it is so unique in that music is a never-ending journey for one to embark upon. Most of all, I find beauty in the intricate details of all music. Whether it is in melodies, rhythms, harmonies, or even simply ornaments, I deeply admire the small details that create a huge, beautiful, musical picture. In conclusion, music has been an integral part of my life, shaping my identity. As I previously mentioned, it has always been the favorite part of my life for many reasons, but it also has supported my entire educational journey. It has helped me learn to appreciate different cultures, languages, and other differences in peoples and communities. Music has also allowed me to become good at teamwork and collaborating with others, motivating me, and teaching me patience and discipline. All of these things have helped me in my educational journey, as appreciation for different cultures has allowed me to learn more about other people, learning teamwork has allowed me to become a more efficient communicator at work and in school, motivation has allowed me to complete schoolwork and maintain focus, and patience and discipline has allowed me to improve my time-management skills, meet deadlines, and make improvements. I hope that in the future, I can attend a four-year university to receive a Master’s degree in Music Education and a certificate in Music Performance. From there, I hope to become an elementary school music teacher, start a private cello studio, and perform with a professional orchestra. This scholarship would help me achieve those goals! Music is the heart of my life, and it has (and continues to) make all of my dreams come true!

When I was in sixth grade, the COVID lockdown began and I didn't have a lot to do, so I ended up watching a lot of TV during that time. Early on, I found a show called "Alexa and Katie", which is about a girl named Alexa, her journey with leukemia, and her best friend Katie. I immediately loved the show for many reasons, but the main reason was because of Katie. Katie, unlike Alexa, is a very anxious character, and she later realizes she has anxiety and panic attacks often. I could identify quite well with her character, as I began struggling with these same issues at the time I began watching the show. Katie is also a very good friend to Alexa, supporting through her chemotherapy and always being there for her, cheering her up. In the first episode, when Alexa starts to lose her hair, Katie even shaves her own hair off so Alexa doesn't feel alone, something extremely selfless and brave to do, especially right before both of them were due to start freshman year of high school. It was also inspiring to watch how the two characters grew throughout the four seasons, one for each year of high school. In the girls' sophomore year, Alexa was cleared to play sports again and got put on the JV basketball team, a huge blessing. Katie, after discovering her passion for acting in freshman year, continues to pursue acting in the school play. Both of the girls' hair grew back to be almost shoulder length, which was also exciting for the both of them. Alexa got a boyfriend, Dylan (they later broke up), Katie also got a boyfriend, Ryan (they also broke up) and Alexa and Katie's friendship continued to grow and flourish despite any struggles or arguments either of them had throughout the year. In the girls' junior year, Katie became very successful with acting, visiting London on a field trip all on her own money that she worked hard to make from working at a coffee shop. She also becomes very stressed about taking the SAT, which is how she figures out she has anxiety. She receives the lead role in "Our Town", however she gives it up to continue her preparation for the SAT. Alexa eventually reached cancer remission and got her driver's license, a big accomplishment for her because at one point she had worried she'd never get to do those things. Alexa also meets a new boy, Spencer, who has lymphoma, and they begin dating at the end of Alexa's junior year. In the girls' senior year, Katie receives the lead in "Taming of the Shrew" and is promoted to assistant manager at the coffee shop. She also later starts dating her coworker Aidan towards the end of her senior year after having a crush on him for a long time. Alexa spends a lot of time deliberating on whether she should write her college essay about having cancer, because she doesn't want to be labeled-- she wants to get into college based solely on her own merit. She is also still dating Spencer. While Alexa and Katie's original plan was to go to University of North Carolina together, Katie gets into her dream school, Tisch. Ultimately, they part but still remain wonderful friends. In conclusion, I found it so beautiful how Alexa and Katie had their own lives and accomplishments, but they also had each other and cared for each other deeply. They supported each other, whenever the other needed anything, and had such a pure friendship, which I greatly admired.