As a child of musician parents, music has been an integral part of my life from birth. My mother is an orchestra teacher and as a child, watching her practice and perform on the violin is what inspired me to pursue playing the viola at ten years of age. I now join my dad onstage as he leads praise and worship at our church. My love of music began with my parents and has since grown into a passion that has shaped me as a person. This passion is what has led me to strive for a music-focused education at a Christian university. I am blessed to have been educated in a school district with a well-established orchestra program. Spending seven years in the honors orchestra has allowed me to perform in Region and All-State events, accompany professional musicians, travel to events throughout South Carolina, and perform with our local community symphony. Music has been my sole focus as an elective. While other students were pursuing athletics or other types of arts, my passion for music has never wavered. Though classically trained on the viola, I have developed a love for man-made sound and how it can be integrated into new kinds of music. I am inspired by composers and artists, such as Hans Zimmer and Ludwig Goransson, that explore sounds outside of traditional composition, with some going so far as to modify existing instruments to create new sounds. Recently, I was gifted a MIDI keyboard which allows me to experiment with different synths and styles of music. Technology is a growing aspect of the music industry, and I am excited to be able to experience using technology for musical purposes. My journey thus far has encouraged me to major in commercial music at Anderson University in Anderson, South Carolina. There I will learn theory and composition, music technology, sound engineering, recording, producing, and music business. With many opportunities for a career in sound engineering and recording, I am excited to see where this unique educational opportunity will take me. My personal goal is to eventually use these skills to one day make and produce my own unique sound and style of music. I believe that this goal is both realistic and important in terms of my success as a music student. As a musician and lover of music, my tastes are broad and eclectic. Though the influences that once shaped me as a young child have shifted as a young adult, the foundations of my musical upbringing have remained steadfast. My musical journey is more than an education or a path to a career; it is a calling.