As a high achieving student, I try to be involved in as many clubs and organizations as possible. During this experience, I have earned a litany of leadership positions. By being a positive role model and having an affinity to lead, I rose up the ranks of leadership. Within the marching band, I have served as a Woodwind Captain since my tenth grade year. The next year, I auditioned and received the positions of Saxophone Section Leader and Band Captain. In my senior year, I finally achieved my dream of becoming the Drum Major. In Belleview’s Winterguard, I earned the role of Rifle Captain. Being a part of leadership has not only matured me, but taught me how to live in the real world. Learning many harsh realities early on, I am prepared to push forward into my college and post college life. Being a band student, I have found my calling in performing. With that, I am a part of Belleview High School’s Symphonic Band, Marching Band, Jazz Band, and Show Choir. Within these organizations, I feel as though I can express myself truly as I am. I can communicate with the audience my emotions on a deeper level than any words can bring. There’s something special about music. It can evoke emotions hidden deep within. Raw, unfiltered emotions can be spread through an entire auditorium with the first note. There’s a piece by my favorite composer, Frank Ticheli, called Rest. Based on an old Requiem, it brings forth feelings felt that I never felt before: grief, acceptance, and reconstruction. That is the beauty of music. It is the universal language. As a result, I joined the Music Theory/Composition club, and I was finally able to write these hidden emotions into beautiful pieces. Performing music brings the art to life, bringing beautiful music to the community. I plan to continue my education at Florida State University with the intention of completing a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Music Therapy. During this time, I will be joining the Marching Chiefs, Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, and Winterguard. I dream to become the drum major of the Marching Chiefs. With some time management, I will be able to include an internship at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital for music therapy in General Medical, as it is the career path that I intend on joining. Being able to join an internship enables me to use the knowledge needed to pass my certification board exam in the real world under a licensed, Board Certified music therapist. After graduation, I wish to work at a hospital in General Medical, helping whomever a doctor writes a referral to–whether that be patients suffering from a stroke, trauma, sensory overload, or paralysis. When I have enough experience, I look forward to opening a private practice, allowing me to have consistent patients and hours. This will allow me to explore life beyond the world of music therapy. I hope to spread advocacy on music therapy through high school honor bands, private lessons, and traveling. With this scholarship, I can attend college and achieve my future dreams without the financial stress and burden of student loans. I come from a very large family and this scholarship would be a blessing. I would no longer have the worry; how will I afford classes? How will I manage work, school, and my passions? The shock of paying for housing, general living, and textbooks will be relieved, which I will be grateful for. With this scholarship, I hope to be able to help others the same way this scholarship helped me.

Music Therapy. It's an odd and new field, raw with potential. From simple mood changes to solving speech and motor skill disabilities, it has a vast reach to any who needs it. Plato once professed, “[Music] gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.” To truly play music, you must not read the ink splats on the page, but reach deep into your heart and express your emotions. That’s what makes music so beautiful; the raw, unfiltered emotions yearning to be heard. Music isn’t just your ears listening; it is your soul listening. Your soul yearns to feel what cannot be spoken. Next time you hear a song, don’t focus on the lyrics and what they are trying to tell you. Listen to the music and find what it wants you to discover. Go deep inside to listen to your heart and find how the music is touching your soul. Feel all the raw emotion wallowing in the air. Feel the rhythm of the music connect with the rhythm of your life. Feel the music speak to your soul. Only then will you be free. That is Music Therapy. Before I chose Music Therapy, I was lost on what I wanted to accomplish in my future. Being a music teacher would be amazing, but my reach would be stuck with only a few students each year. A music performance major would be able to influence people around the world only if they became popular. This is also added on to the stress of the competition between, something I am not a fan of. Then, it hit me. Music Therapy, a new field promising a way to help every kind of person. After graduation, I wish to work at a hospital in General Medical, helping whomever a doctor writes a referral to–whether that be patients suffering from a stroke, trauma, sensory overload, or paralysis. When I have enough experience, I look forward to opening a private practice, allowing me to have consistent patients and hours. This will allow me to explore life beyond the world of music therapy. I hope to spread advocacy on music therapy through high school honor bands, private lessons, and traveling. Just like Marilyn Monroe famously said, "Keep smiling, because life is a beautiful thing and there's so much to smile about." Music has always been what has made me smile, and I am honored to be able to spread that joy to those around me.

As a freshman, I had a dream. I told everyone that I was going to be the drum major. From that point forward, I pushed myself in every aspect of my life to be the person on that podium, leading the band. I spent my free time going to leadership camps and investing in research on leadership skills, conduction techniques, and confidence boosting. When I finally got the chance to prove myself, I succeeded. As Drum Major, I kept up the hard work and worked to become the best drum major in Marion County. For two competitions, I was awarded with Best Drum Major in Class 2A and for Marching Band MPA, I was awarded a Distinguished Rating Drum Major award. Knowing that my hard work paid off, I began applying the rigor of trying to get drum major to the rest of my life. My work ethic, time management, and overall quality of work improved and I intend to continue applying what I have learned for my future.

As a freshman, I had a dream. I told everyone that I was going to be the drum major. From that point forward, I pushed myself in every aspect of my life to be the person on that podium, leading the band. I spent my free time going to leadership camps and investing in research on leadership skills, conduction techniques, and confidence boosting. When I finally got the chance to prove myself, I succeeded. As Drum Major, I kept up the hard work and worked to become the best drum major in Marion County. For two competitions, I was awarded with Best Drum Major in Class 2A and for Marching Band MPA, I was awarded a Distinguished Rating Drum Major award. Knowing that my hard work paid off, I began applying the rigor of trying to get drum major to the rest of my life. My work ethic, time management, and overall quality of work improved and I intend to continue applying what I have learned for my future. With performance being a passion of mine, I have been awarded myriad awards and achievements. Solo and Ensemble is a musical performance assessment every year to achieve a Poor, Fair, Good, Excellent, and Superior rating. Throughout the years, I have earned three Tenor Saxophone Solo superiors, three Saxophone Quartet superiors, and three Flag solo Superiors. With these performances, I have learned to keep going. While performing, you cannot just stop to take a breather. You must keep going strong and push yourself. Learning this, I can apply this to everything outside of music in my life to become a better person.

Being a band student, I have found my calling in performing. With that, I am a part of Belleview High School’s Symphonic Band, Marching Band, Jazz Band, and Show Choir. Within these organizations, I feel as though I can express myself truly as I am. I can communicate with the audience my emotions on a deeper level than any words can bring. There’s something special about music. It can evoke emotions hidden deep within. Raw, unfiltered emotions can be spread through an entire auditorium with the first note. There’s a piece by my favorite composer, Frank Ticheli, called Rest. Based on an old Requiem, it brings forth feelings felt that I never felt before: grief, acceptance, and reconstruction. That is the beauty of music. It is the universal language. As a result, I joined the Music Theory/Composition club, and I was finally able to write these hidden emotions into beautiful pieces. Performing music brings the art to life, bringing beautiful music to the community. Music performance and composition have always been a passion of mine outside of the marching arts. The thrill of being in front of so many people and pouring your heart out is exhilarating. At the same time, the ability to create a piece of music so deep with meaningful expression and emotion is beautiful. For the marching season, I wrote a stand tune for the saxophones in the stand. It had a simple motif but slowly, a beautiful countermelody would emerge and become the prominent voice. In the future, I would be honored to continue exploring this interest and possibly writing for a music publisher.

I plan to continue my education at Florida State University with the intention of completing a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Music Therapy. During this time, I will be joining the Marching Chiefs, Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, and Winterguard. I dream to become the drum major of the Marching Chiefs. With some time management, I will be able to include an internship at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital for music therapy in General Medical, as it is the career path that I intend on joining. Being able to join an internship enables me to use the knowledge needed to pass my certification board exam in the real world under a licensed, Board Certified music therapist. After graduation, I wish to work at a hospital in General Medical, helping whomever a doctor writes a referral to–whether that be patients suffering from a stroke, trauma, sensory overload, or paralysis. When I have enough experience, I look forward to opening a private practice, allowing me to have consistent patients and hours. This will allow me to explore life beyond the world of music therapy. I hope to spread advocacy on music therapy through high school honor bands, private lessons, and traveling.

I plan to continue my education at Florida State University with the intention of completing a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Music Therapy. During this time, I will be joining the Marching Chiefs, Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, and Winterguard. I dream to become the drum major of the Marching Chiefs. With some time management, I will be able to include an internship at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital for music therapy in General Medical, as it is the career path that I intend on joining. Being able to join an internship enables me to use the knowledge needed to pass my certification board exam in the real world under a licensed, Board Certified music therapist. After graduation, I wish to work at a hospital in General Medical, helping whomever a doctor writes a referral to–whether that be patients suffering from a stroke, trauma, sensory overload, or paralysis. When I have enough experience, I look forward to opening a private practice, allowing me to have consistent patients and hours. This will allow me to explore life beyond the world of music therapy. I hope to spread advocacy on music therapy through high school honor bands, private lessons, and traveling.

With performance being a passion of mine, I have been awarded myriad awards and achievements. Solo and Ensemble is a musical performance assessment every year to achieve a Poor, Fair, Good, Excellent, and Superior rating. Throughout the years, I have earned three Tenor Saxophone Solo superiors, three Saxophone Quartet superiors, and three Flag solo Superiors. With these performances, I have learned to keep going. While performing, you cannot just stop to take a breather. You must keep going strong and push yourself. Learning this, I can apply this to everything outside of music in my life to become a better person. As a freshman, I had a dream. I told everyone that I was going to be the drum major. From that point forward, I pushed myself in every aspect of my life to be the person on that podium, leading the band. I spent my free time going to leadership camps and investing in research on leadership skills, conduction techniques, and confidence boosting. When I finally got the chance to prove myself, I succeeded. As Drum Major, I kept up the hard work and worked to become the best drum major in Marion County. For two competitions, I was awarded with Best Drum Major in Class 2A and for Marching Band MPA, I was awarded a Distinguished Rating Drum Major award. Knowing that my hard work paid off, I began applying the rigor of trying to get drum major to the rest of my life. My work ethic, time management, and overall quality of work improved and I intend to continue applying what I have learned for my future.

Being a band student, I have found my calling in performing. With that, I am a part of Belleview High School’s Symphonic Band, Marching Band, Jazz Band, and Show Choir. Within these organizations, I feel as though I can express myself truly as I am. I can communicate with the audience my emotions on a deeper level than any words can bring. There’s something special about music. It can evoke emotions hidden deep within. Raw, unfiltered emotions can be spread through an entire auditorium with the first note. There’s a piece by my favorite composer, Frank Ticheli, called Rest. Based on an old Requiem, it brings forth feelings felt that I never felt before: grief, acceptance, and reconstruction. That is the beauty of music. It is the universal language. As a result, I joined the Music Theory/Composition club, and I was finally able to write these hidden emotions into beautiful pieces. Performing music brings the art to life, bringing beautiful music to the community When I was younger, I used to beg to be admitted into my Elementary school’s gifted program. I was told that I just wasn’t cut out for it, but, like the stubborn person I am, I told them that I was. And I proved it. Though I was placed late into the program, I worked hard to excel past the competition. Now, I am a proud member of Belleview High School’s National Honor Society. Every Tuesday through Thursday, I can be found in the library tutoring students who are like me, (trying to get ahead and thrive). I am and will always be there to help people who want to be better. After being in the AICE program at Belleview, I can proudly say that I am prepared for college and ready to take the next step. The reason I became an AICE Ambassador is because I want everyone to feel ready to take that next step just like I did. As an ambassador, I go through Belleview with middle schoolers about to transition to high school and show them what a wonderful program AICE is. I also show them how it has benefitted my future. I show how it has changed my life for the better and how it can change theirs. I feel this makes a positive impact on my community, leaving them headed towards a better place and a brighter future. I plan to continue my education at Florida State University with the intention of completing a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Music Therapy. During this time, I will be joining the Marching Chiefs, Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, and Winterguard. I dream to become the drum major of the Marching Chiefs. With some time management, I will be able to include an internship at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital for music therapy in General Medical, as it is the career path that I intend on joining. Being able to join an internship enables me to use the knowledge needed to pass my certification board exam in the real world under a licensed, Board Certified music therapist. After graduation, I wish to work at a hospital in General Medical, helping whomever a doctor writes a referral to–whether that be patients suffering from a stroke, trauma, sensory overload, or paralysis. When I have enough experience, I look forward to opening a private practice, allowing me to have consistent patients and hours. This will allow me to explore life beyond the world of music therapy. I hope to spread advocacy on music therapy through high school honor bands, private lessons, and traveling.

As a freshman, I had a dream. I was going to be the drum major. From that point forward, I pushed myself in every aspect of my life to be the person on that podium, leading the band. I spent my free time going to leadership camps and investing in research on leadership skills, conduction techniques, and confidence boosting. When I finally got the chance to prove myself, I succeeded. As Drum Major, I kept up the hard work and worked to become the best drum major in Marion County. For two competitions, I was awarded with Best Drum Major in Class 2A and for Marching Band MPA, I was awarded a Distinguished Rating Drum Major award. Knowing that my hard work paid off, I began applying the rigor of trying to get drum major to the rest of my life. My work ethic, time management, and overall quality of work improved and I intend to continue applying what I have learned for my future. Being a band student, I have found my calling in performing. With that, I am a part of Belleview High School’s Symphonic Band, Marching Band, Jazz Band, and Show Choir. Within these organizations, I feel as though I can express myself truly as I am. I can communicate with the audience my emotions on a deeper level than any words can bring. There’s something special about music. It can evoke emotions hidden deep within. Raw, unfiltered emotions can be spread through an entire auditorium with the first note. There’s a piece by my favorite composer, Frank Ticheli, called Rest. Based on an old Requiem, it brings forth feelings felt that I never felt before: grief, acceptance, and reconstruction. That is the beauty of music. It is the universal language. As a result, I joined the Music Theory/Composition club, and I was finally able to write these hidden emotions into beautiful pieces. Performing music brings the art to life, bringing beautiful music to the community. Outside of marching arts, I spend my time researching psychology and sociology. I love seeing the reasons behind the person and why people function the way they do – either through learned behaviors or biological processes. My favorite psychology study is the Milgram Shock Experiment, where an American psychologist studied the effect of authority on the morals of an individual. My curiosity for how people function is why I am interested in the medical side of music; Seeing how music affects the brain is remarkably intriguing. I plan to continue my education at Florida State University with the intention of completing a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Music Therapy. During this time, I will be joining the Marching Chiefs, Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, and Winterguard. I dream to become the drum major of the Marching Chiefs. With some time management, I will be able to include an internship at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital for music therapy in General Medical. Being able to join an internship enables me to use the knowledge needed to pass my certification board exam in the real world under a licensed, Board Certified music therapist. After graduation, I wish to work at a hospital in General Medical, helping whomever a doctor writes a referral to–whether that be patients suffering from a stroke, trauma, sensory overload, or paralysis. When I have enough experience, I look forward to opening a private practice, allowing me to have consistent patients and hours. This will allow me to explore life beyond the world of music therapy. I hope to spread advocacy on music therapy through high school honor bands, private lessons, and traveling.

As a high achieving student, I try to be involved in as many clubs and organizations as possible. During this experience, I have earned a litany of leadership positions. By being a positive role model and having an affinity to lead, I rose up the ranks of leadership. Within the marching band, I have served as a Woodwind Captain since my tenth grade year. The next year, I auditioned and received the positions of Saxophone Section Leader and Band Captain. In my senior year, I finally achieved my dream of becoming the Drum Major. In Belleview’s Winterguard, I earned the role of Rifle Captain. Being a part of leadership has not only matured me, but taught me how to live in the real world. Learning many harsh realities early on, I am prepared to push forward into my college and post college life. Being a band student, I have found my calling in performing. With that, I am a part of Belleview High School’s Symphonic Band, Marching Band, Jazz Band, and Show Choir. Within these organizations, I feel as though I can express myself truly as I am. I can communicate with the audience my emotions on a deeper level than any words can bring. There’s something special about music. It can evoke emotions hidden deep within. Raw, unfiltered emotions can be spread through an entire auditorium with the first note. There’s a piece by my favorite composer, Frank Ticheli, called Rest. Based on an old Requiem, it brings forth feelings felt that I never felt before: grief, acceptance, and reconstruction. That is the beauty of music. It is the universal language. As a result, I joined the Music Theory/Composition club, and I was finally able to write these hidden emotions into beautiful pieces. Performing music brings the art to life, bringing beautiful music to the community. I plan to continue my education at Florida State University with the intention of completing a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Music Therapy. During this time, I will be joining the Marching Chiefs, Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, and Winterguard. I dream to become the drum major of the Marching Chiefs. With some time management, I will be able to include an internship at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital for music therapy in General Medical, as it is the career path that I intend on joining. Being able to join an internship enables me to use the knowledge needed to pass my certification board exam in the real world under a licensed, Board Certified music therapist. After graduation, I wish to work at a hospital in General Medical, helping whomever a doctor writes a referral to–whether that be patients suffering from a stroke, trauma, sensory overload, or paralysis. When I have enough experience, I look forward to opening a private practice, allowing me to have consistent patients and hours. This will allow me to explore life beyond the world of music therapy. I hope to spread advocacy on music therapy through high school honor bands, private lessons, and traveling. With this scholarship, I can attend college and achieve my future dreams without the financial stress and burden of student loans. I come from a very large family and this scholarship would be a blessing. I would no longer have the worry; how will I afford classes? How will I manage work, school, and my passions? The shock of paying for housing, general living, and textbooks will be relieved, which I will be grateful for. With this scholarship, I hope to be able to help others the same way this scholarship helped me.

When I was younger, I used to beg to be admitted into my Elementary school’s gifted program. I was told that I just wasn’t cut out for it, but, like the stubborn person I am, I told them that I was. And I proved it. Though I was placed late into the program, I worked hard to excel past the competition. Now, I am a proud member of Belleview High School’s National Honor Society. Every Tuesday through Thursday, I can be found in the library tutoring students who are like me, (trying to get ahead and thrive). I am and will always be there to help people who want to be better. After being in the AICE program at Belleview, I can proudly say that I am prepared for college and ready to take the next step. The reason I became an AICE Ambassador is because I want everyone to feel ready to take that next step just like I did. As an ambassador, I go through Belleview with middle schoolers about to transition to high school and show them what a wonderful program AICE is. I also show them how it has benefited my future. I show how it has changed my life for the better and how it can change theirs. I feel this makes a positive impact on my community, leaving them headed towards a better place and a brighter future.

Being in multiple bands, extracurriculars, and clubs, time management is essential for success. Throughout my high school experience, I have learned how to keep going strong while still achieving eight hours of sleep. The first strategy I learned was to chew gum. While it is an odd strategy, chewing gum comes with plenty of benefits. First, it keeps you awake, as your body is now constantly in motion, so on those late night study days, you can stay actively engaged. At the same time, chewing gum can improve memory. Using the same flavor when you study and when you take your tests can improve memory retention and improve test scores. When I was in tenth grade, I made a commitment that I wanted to be in my bed by eleven. During this time, I discovered that, even though I had less time, I still finished all my work and excelled in school. Having a deadline not only kept me from procrastinating, it also made me more efficient. These deadlines forced me into action, improving not only my grades, but my work ethic. This also opened up time for other activities such as music performances and hobbies. There are multiple strategies to help study and I would like to leave with just one more. Listen to music. Music activates the brain like nothing else in this world. Music is special, as it will help your mental health alongside your memory. Where words fail, music speaks. That music pushes you to go an extra ten minutes in order to go up those extra points. Music is magical. Use it to become the best you that you can be.

Longing eyes and a hint of curiosity; as a sixth grader I was with nothing but a vision. With whispers of delusion and lack of support on the idea, I was holding on to that one beacon of a dream: become the Drum Major. Spending every moment working, sweat, blood and tears for just one moment of a dream come true. Embracing leadership positions to the Drum Major camps, auditioning for honor bands to performing solos, leading quartets to expounding on my musical abilities, I was involved. I spent my time learning and absorbing all that I can. As with every dream, there were plenty of obstacles I had to overcome; competition on the field, AICE school and homework, and familial responsibilities, it was a blur of time never tracked. Time management and prioritization, my friend and ultimate foe. My work ethic became a defining feature in life, as well as my academic career. Band isn't just a hobby; it’s my life. Seven years has gone me by and yet music has become not a choice, but a lifestyle. No feeling is comparable. No smile is brighter than the moment of stepping in front of a crowd, pouring your heart into a performance and remembering the music taking your soul; hearing the roar of an audience because of something you worked hard for... that is life. There comes a moment when the exhaustion hits as the last note plays and the deafening silence drowns you before the world splashes with the colors of sound… that’s what makes music so beautiful. Imagine being lost in your own head, drowning in your feelings. Suddenly, a small familiar tune plays in the distance drawing you out of your hole of despair, bringing you back to the light.Through music therapy, mental health can be dramatically improved. Music can bring dementia patients memories long lost and return speech to stroke victims struggling with aphasia. Music is special. Activating multiple parts of the brain, such as the nucleus acclumbens, the amygdala, and the cerebellum, music can release dopamine, making life just a bit more tolerable. Suffering from mental illness is not a joke, and with music, one song can keep someone holding on just long enough to push forwards. Plato once professed, “[Music] gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.” To truly play music, you must not read the ink splats on the page, but reach deep into your heart and express your emotions. That’s what makes music so beautiful; the raw, unfiltered emotions yearning to be heard. Music isn’t just your ears listening; it is your soul listening. Your soul yearns to feel what cannot be spoken. Next time you hear a song, don’t focus on the lyrics and what they are trying to tell you. Listen to the music and find what it wants you to discover. Go deep inside to listen to your heart and find how the music is touching your soul. Feel all the raw emotion wallowing in the air. Feel the rhythm of the music connect with the rhythm of your life. Feel the music speak to your soul. Only then will you be free.

Longing eyes and a hint of curiosity; as a sixth grader I was with nothing but a vision. With whispers of delusion and lack of support on the idea, I was holding on to that one beacon of a dream: become the Drum Major. Spending every moment working, sweat, blood and tears for just one moment of a dream come true. Embracing leadership positions to the Drum Major camps, auditioning for honor bands to performing solos, leading quartets to expounding on my musical abilities, I was involved. I spent my time learning and absorbing all that I can. As with every dream, there were plenty of obstacles I had to overcome; competition on the field, AICE school and homework, and familial responsibilities, it was a blur of time never tracked. Time management and prioritization, my friend and ultimate foe. My work ethic became a defining feature in life, as well as my academic career. Band isn't just a hobby; it’s my life. Seven years has gone me by and yet music has become not a choice, but a lifestyle. No feeling is comparable. No smile is brighter than the moment of stepping in front of a crowd, pouring your heart into a performance and remembering the music taking your soul; hearing the roar of an audience because of something you worked hard for... that is life. There comes a moment when the exhaustion hits as the last note plays and the deafening silence drowns you before the world splashes with the colors of sound… that’s what makes music so beautiful. Imagine being lost in your own head, drowning in your feelings. Suddenly, a small familiar tune plays in the distance drawing you out of your hole of despair, bringing you back to the light.Through music therapy, mental health can be dramatically improved. Music can bring dementia patients memories long lost and return speech to stroke victims struggling with aphasia. Music is special. Activating multiple parts of the brain, such as the nucleus acclumbens, the amygdala, and the cerebellum, music can release dopamine, making life just a bit more tolerable. Suffering from mental illness is not a joke, and with music, one song can keep someone holding on just long enough to push forwards. Plato once professed, “[Music] gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.” To truly play music, you must not read the ink splats on the page, but reach deep into your heart and express your emotions. That’s what makes music so beautiful; the raw, unfiltered emotions yearning to be heard. Music isn’t just your ears listening; it is your soul listening. Your soul yearns to feel what cannot be spoken. Next time you hear a song, don’t focus on the lyrics and what they are trying to tell you. Listen to the music and find what it wants you to discover. Go deep inside to listen to your heart and find how the music is touching your soul. Feel all the raw emotion wallowing in the air. Feel the rhythm of the music connect with the rhythm of your life. Feel the music speak to your soul. Only then will you be free.

Friday night lights; the hot, sweaty uniforms; the bustle of the stadium. Hundreds of hours of practice for just nine minutes, just a moments worth of the clock. “Drum Major, is your band ready?” In elementary school, there was this kid who would boast about his desire to play the saxophone, willing to talk to anyone. Little did they know that he would end up as the drum major in Belleview High School's Diamondback Marching Band; little did they know that the small red-head will be going to college for a degree in music therapy. My name is Brody Shawn Stump and I was that little kid.

What makes a good friend? It doesn't matter if they can make you smile or they buy you gifts. What really matters is that someone is loyal and genuine with you. Anybody can make a person laugh. Anyone can buy someone a gift. A true friend can do this, too. But a true friend is something special. It all starts with the small things. "How was your day?" "Is everything okay?" "Want to talk about it?' All these examples show what a real friend should be saying. A real friend shows that there's more than just having a good time. A real friend shows that they genuinely care for you and that they are willing to help. Personally, a friend should always make another friend happy. Despite all of the obstacles around me, I always bringing myself to a smile. Just like Marilyn Monroe famously said, "Keep smiling, because life is a beautiful thing and there's so much to smile about." I pride myself on my optimism and I love to spread my positive behavior. If people look up to me and see me smiling, they will follow suit. If they see me enjoying something that could've possibly gone a little better, they'll see that its okay to have little hiccups in life. After all, silly accidents lead to fun stories.

Despite all of the obstacles around me, I always bringing myself to a smile. Just like Marilyn Monroe famously said, "Keep smiling, because life is a beautiful thing and there's so much to smile about." I pride myself on my optimism and I love to spread my positive behavior. If people look up to me and see me smiling, they will follow suit. If they see me enjoying something that could've possibly gone a little better, they'll see that its okay to have little hiccups in life. After all, silly accidents lead to fun stories. I spotted an albino dalmatian the other day... it was the least I could do for him. Truly believing that laughter is the best medicine, my goal with each person I meet is to make them laugh. I have memorized about a hundred cheesy one liners to ensure at least a smile. One day, I hope that I can make someone, who really needs a smile, rolling on the floor in laughter. Perhaps I could help them realize that life can be amazing if you just look from a different angle. Maybe I can help them see the world a little bit more colorful with a silly joke. Some people just need a laugh. While my true self isn't the most interesting, I believe that I can have the most impact on others around me. Seeing others be happy makes me happy and I will do whatever it takes to make someone's day a little bit better. To end, Marilyn Monroe wisely says, "This life is what you make it." My advice. Make it a happy life.

Despite all of the obstacles around me, I always bringing myself to a smile. Just like Marilyn Monroe famously said, "Keep smiling, because life is a beautiful thing and there's so much to smile about." I pride myself on my optimism and I love to spread my positive behavior. If people look up to me and see me smiling, they will follow suit. If they see me enjoying something that could've possibly gone a little better, they'll see that its okay to have little hiccups in life. After all, silly accidents lead to fun stories. I spotted an albino dalmatian the other day... it was the least I could do for him. Truly believing that laughter is the best medicine, my goal with each person I meet is to make them laugh. I have memorized about a hundred cheesy one liners to ensure at least a smile. One day, I hope that I can make someone, who really needs a smile, rolling on the floor in laughter. Perhaps I could help them realize that life can be amazing if you just look from a different angle. Maybe I can help them see the world a little bit more colorful with a silly joke. Some people just need a laugh. While my true self isn't the most interesting, I believe that I can have the most impact on others around me. Seeing others be happy makes me happy and I will do whatever it takes to make someone's day a little bit better. To end, Marilyn Monroe wisely says, "This life is what you make it." My advice. Make it a happy life.

Longing eyes and a hint of curiosity; as a sixth grader I was with nothing but a vision. With whispers of delusion and lack of support on the idea, I was holding on to that one beacon of a dream: become the Drum Major. Spending every moment working, sweat, blood and tears for just one moment of a dream come true. Embracing leadership positions to the Drum Major camps, auditioning for honor bands to performing solos, leading quartets to expounding on my musical abilities, I was involved. I spent my time learning and absorbing all that I can. As with every dream, there were plenty of obstacles I had to overcome; competition on the field, AICE school and homework, and familial responsibilities, it was a blur of time never tracked. Time management and prioritization, my friend and ultimate foe. My work ethic became a defining feature in life, as well as my academic career. Band isn't just a hobby; it’s my life.

Seven years has gone me by and yet music has become not a choice, but a lifestyle. No feeling is comparable. No smile is brighter than the moment of stepping in front of a crowd, pouring your heart into a performance and remembering the music taking your soul; hearing the roar of an audience because of something you worked hard for... that is life. There comes a moment when the exhaustion hits as the last note plays and the deafening silence drowns you before the world splashes with the colors of sound… that’s what makes music so beautiful. Plato once professed, “[Music] gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.” To truly play music, you must not read the ink splats on the page, but reach deep into your heart and express your emotions. That’s what makes music so beautiful; the raw, unfiltered emotions yearning to be heard. Music isn’t just your ears listening; it is your soul listening. Your soul yearns to feel what cannot be spoken. Next time you hear a song, don’t focus on the lyrics and what they are trying to tell you. Listen to the music and find what it wants you to discover. Go deep inside to listen to your heart and find how the music is touching your soul. Feel all the raw emotion wallowing in the air. Feel the rhythm of the music connect with the rhythm of your life. Feel the music speak to your soul. Only then will you be free.

In my community, I travel around and perform for those looking to find some peace through music. Music has a magical power in calming the mind. For the disabled, music can bring a moment of peace. For the elderly, it can bring memories and joy. Just like Louis Armstrong said, "Music is life itself." Music is good for the soul and I love spreading the joy to my community. I enjoy volunteering at a local elementary school and working with the younger grades on how to discover the world. I love seeing a spark as I expose children to other fields and I love seeing small children with big dream. Hoping that I make an impact on their lives, I want to inspire them to become something more than I can ever be. Anybody can change the world. I hope to bring someone to their passion and lead them to changing the world.

Friday night lights; the hot, sweaty uniforms; the bustle of the stadium. Looking down, there are all my friends on the field, eager. Hundreds of hours of practice for just nine minutes, just a moments worth of the clock. “Drum Major, is your band ready?” In elementary school, there was this kid who would boast about his desire to play the saxophone, willing to talk to anyone who listened. Little did they know that he would end up as the drum major in Belleview High School's Diamondback Marching Band; little did they know that the small, innocent red-headed boy would be the face of the music program at his high school; little did they know that he will be going to college for a degree in music therapy. My name is Brody Shawn Stump and I was that little kid. Longing eyes and a hint of curiosity; as a sixth grader I was with nothing but a vision. With whispers of delusion and lack of support on the idea, I was holding on to that one beacon of a dream: become the Drum Major. Spending every moment working, sweat, blood and tears for just one moment of a dream come true. Embracing leadership positions to the Drum Major camps, auditioning for honor bands to performing solos, leading quartets to expounding on my musical abilities, I was involved. I spent my time learning and absorbing all that I can. As with every dream, there were plenty of obstacles I had to overcome; competition on the field, AICE school and homework, and familial responsibilities, it was a blur of time never tracked. Time management and prioritization, my friend and ultimate foe. My work ethic became a defining feature in life, as well as my academic career. Band isn't just a hobby; it’s my life. Seven years has gone me by and yet music has become not a choice, but a lifestyle. No feeling is comparable. No smile is brighter than the moment of stepping in front of a crowd, pouring your heart into a performance and remembering the music taking your soul; hearing the roar of an audience because of something you worked hard for... that is life. There comes a moment when the exhaustion hits as the last note plays and the deafening silence drowns you before the world splashes with the colors of sound… that’s what makes music so beautiful. Being a young driver, I am exposed to few losses due to drunk driving. My late uncle suffered from substance abuse. This destroyed me and I believe that the same can be said for drunk driving. But the difference is, it hurts two families. I pledge to never drink and drive. In honor of everyone who was lost.

Despite all of the obstacles around me, I always bringing myself to a smile. Just like Marilyn Monroe famously said, "Keep smiling, because life is a beautiful thing and there's so much to smile about." I pride myself on my optimism and I love to spread my positive behavior. If people look up to me and see me smiling, they will follow suit. If they see me enjoying something that could've possibly gone a little better, they'll see that its okay to have little hiccups in life. After all, silly accidents lead to fun stories. I spotted an albino dalmatian the other day... it was the least I could do for him. Truly believing that laughter is the best medicine, my goal with each person I meet is to make them laugh. I have memorized about a hundred cheesy one liners to ensure at least a smile. One day, I hope that I can make someone, who really needs a smile, rolling on the floor in laughter. Perhaps I could help them realize that life can be amazing if you just look from a different angle. Maybe I can help them see the world a little bit more colorful with a silly joke. Some people just need a laugh. While my true self isn't the most interesting, I believe that I can have the most impact on others around me. Seeing others be happy makes me happy and I will do whatever it takes to make someone's day a little bit better. To end, Marilyn Monroe wisely says, "This life is what you make it." My advice. Make it a happy life.

In elementary school, there was this kid who would boast about his desire to play the saxophone, willing to talk to anyone who listened. Little did they know that he would end up as the drum major in Belleview High School's Diamondback Marching Band; little did they know that the small, innocent red-headed boy would be the face of the music program at his high school; little did they know that he will be going to college for a degree in music therapy. My name is Brody Shawn Stump and I was that little kid. Longing eyes and a hint of curiosity; as a sixth grader I was with nothing but a vision. With whispers of delusion and lack of support on the idea, I was holding on to that one beacon of a dream: become the Drum Major. Spending every moment working, sweat, blood and tears for just one moment of a dream come true. Embracing leadership positions to the Drum Major camps, auditioning for honor bands to performing solos, leading quartets to expounding on my musical abilities, I was involved. I spent my time learning and absorbing all that I can. As with every dream, there were plenty of obstacles I had to overcome; competition on the field, AICE school and homework, and familial responsibilities, it was a blur of time never tracked. Time management and prioritization, my friend and ultimate foe. My work ethic became a defining feature in life, as well as my academic career. Band isn't just a hobby; it’s my life. Seven years has gone me by and yet music has become not a choice, but a lifestyle. No feeling is comparable. No smile is brighter than the moment of stepping in front of a crowd, pouring your heart into a performance and remembering the music taking your soul; hearing the roar of an audience because of something you worked hard for... that is life. There comes a moment when the exhaustion hits as the last note plays and the deafening silence drowns you before the world splashes with the colors of sound… that’s what makes music so beautiful. To avoid falling into debt and graduating without any debt, I plan to use my Bright Future Scholarship that I earned with my Aice diploma and 100 hours of community service along with the scholarships that I work for in other scholarships. My goal is to use only the money I earn as a performer for my personal items and to use the money I earn through scholarships for my education. I will use the scholarship money to afford buying myself a guitar and saxophone for my career in music therapy. I am a hard, dedicated worker and even if I don't achieve every scholarship, that won't stop me from graduating with no debt.

Imagine a world where we have no hunger, no sickness, no war. I have this friend that I believe could change the world with his views. Unfortunately, since his family struggles with money, he will not be going to college and will try to enlist in the marines. Though he is going to honorably serve this country, his potential will not be fully expressed. If we had educational equality, many of our untapped potential could have the opportunity to change the world. We could possibly find the cure for cancer, or perhaps achieve world peace. All these people are held back when all they need is a little education to create the world into something beautiful.

Despite all of the obstacles around me, I always bringing myself to a smile. Just like Marilyn Monroe famously said, "Keep smiling, because life is a beautiful thing and there's so much to smile about." I pride myself on my optimism and I love to spread my positive behavior. If people look up to me and see me smiling, they will follow suit. If they see me enjoying something that could've possibly gone a little better, they'll see that its okay to have little hiccups in life. After all, silly accidents lead to fun stories. I spotted an albino dalmatian the other day... it was the least I could do for him. Truly believing that laughter is the best medicine, my goal with each person I meet is to make them laugh. I have memorized about a hundred cheesy one liners to ensure at least a smile. One day, I hope that I can make someone, who really needs a smile, rolling on the floor in laughter. Perhaps I could help them realize that life can be amazing if you just look from a different angle. Maybe I can help them see the world a little bit more colorful with a silly joke. Some people just need a laugh. While my ideology isn't the most interesting, I believe that I can have the most impact on others around me. Seeing others be happy makes me happy and I will do whatever it takes to make someone's day a little bit better. To end, Marilyn Monroe wisely says, "This life is what you make it." My advice. Make it a happy life.

Despite all of the obstacles around me, I always bringing myself to a smile. Just like Marilyn Monroe famously said, "Keep smiling, because life is a beautiful thing and there's so much to smile about." I pride myself on my optimism and I love to spread my positive behavior. If people look up to me and see me smiling, they will follow suit. If they see me enjoying something that could've possibly gone a little better, they'll see that its okay to have little hiccups in life. After all, silly accidents lead to fun stories. I spotted an albino dalmatian the other day... it was the least I could do for him. Truly believing that laughter is the best medicine, my goal with each person I meet is to make them laugh. I have memorized about a hundred cheesy one liners to ensure at least a smile. One day, I hope that I can make someone, who really needs a smile, rolling on the floor in laughter. Perhaps I could help them realize that life can be amazing if you just look from a different angle. Maybe I can help them see the world a little bit more colorful with a silly joke. Some people just need a laugh. While my true self isn't the most interesting, I believe that I can have the most impact on others around me. Seeing others be happy makes me happy and I will do whatever it takes to make someone's day a little bit better. To end, Marilyn Monroe wisely says, "This life is what you make it." My advice. Make it a happy life.

Friday night lights; the hot, sweaty uniforms; the bustle of the stadium. Looking down, there are all my friends on the field, eager. Hundreds of hours of practice for just nine minutes, just a moments worth of the clock. “Drum Major, is your band ready?” Seven years has gone me by and yet music has become not a choice, but a lifestyle. No feeling is comparable. No smile is brighter than the moment of stepping in front of a crowd, pouring your heart into a performance and remembering the music taking your soul; hearing the roar of an audience because of something you worked hard for... that is life. There comes a moment when the exhaustion hits as the last note plays and the deafening silence drowns you before the world splashes with the colors of sound… that’s what makes music so beautiful. Plato once professed, “[Music] gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.” To truly play music, you must not read the ink splats on the page, but reach deep into your heart and express your emotions. That’s what makes music so beautiful; the raw, unfiltered emotions yearning to be heard. Music isn’t just your ears listening; it is your soul listening. Your soul yearns to feel what cannot be spoken. My dream life is a life where music remains in it. Where I can perform and have people appreciate the beauty of music. My dream life lives in a world of music. And I will get my dream.

While in high school, I held five leadership positions in my band program: Woodwind Captain, Saxophone Section Leader (x2), Band Captain, and Drum Major. Since my first year in high school, it was my dream to push forward and win my goal of becoming the drum major. It was my ultimate dream to be on the podium, pushing and leading the band to success. I am glad to say I succeeded, with the band winning six superiors along with my personal accomplishments, a two-time Best In Class and Distinguished Drum Major. My goal as a leader is to lead the band to success. My strategy - Make them love what they are doing. If a person loves to perform, then they will work harder to perform better. If they perform better, they succeed. In order to do this, I always have a smile on my face and I always try to make everyone else smile. Sometimes I succeed, and that is the best feeling. Watching the band stand and perform with pride... That is what makes being a leader worth it. Watching everyone succeed because you pushed them... That is beautiful. Even if its something small as one person stands a little bit taller. As long as one person's world is a little better, it makes everything worth it.