It is very challenging to find true equality in society that empowers women. Though we have come a long way since the early 1900s, there is still much to be improved. For instance, in my future field of study which is music composition, I know of only one female composer. While I know there has to be more than just a handful, the greater majority of composers, especially in the film score area, are all males. Those that are female are never noticed by the media, almost never chosen for film composing, and therefore never have their hard work recognized. It's challenging to be successful in the area of music profession, especially in composing because it's a very niche area and majorly dominated by males. It's hard for females to be noticed and I have struggled with knowing whether I should ever follow my dreams and study it, since so few female composers are recognized and respected by the world that respects and recognizes all the male composers. But this is one example that I'm sure many can relate to, though in other fields. I think society can most effectively empower women by recognizing them equally as males. Not separately as female against female, but equally. I would like to see more recognition of females in fields that are normally dominated by males, such as music composition for example. Society needs to recognize that women have equal talent, and this could be done by awards and publicizing of women's accomplishments. Another way is to make it more accessible for women to get jobs and scholarships and opportunities usually only given to males. While I have seen progress in the STEM and law fields, which offer high-paying jobs, I haven't seen much support for women in the artistic world. There are few scholarships available in general for those interested in going to culinary, art, or music school, and almost none intended for specifically women. It would make it easier to get a career in the artistic field as a woman if there were scholarships and financial support for women interested in pursuing a career in the arts. It's challenging enough to gain respect as a female wanting to study music composition, let alone financial support for an expensive study. For a society that claims to want to support women, it's grievously lacking in its support for those wanting to go into the artistic fields in comparison with STEM or nursing or law. Society should do more to help encourage women to pursue any career, not just those that already provide support for females.

To me, legacy means leaving behind a way to be remembered. For instance, the famous author J.R.R. Tolkien left a legacy of being known as the father of modern fantasy and his works have become recognized internationally. Hans Zimmer, famous for composing the scores for films like Gladiator, Inception, and The Dark Knight Trilogy, already has a legacy as a film-score composer. I believe there are many different kinds of valuable legacies. Some are legacies such as the mark you leave on the arts, such as what Tolkien and Zimmer have done. Other great legacies are what someone has done for society or for their country. As an example, consider Mother Theresa. She has left a great legacy for caring for unwanted children in India and is respected world-wide. Others include people like Winston Churchill who left a legacy as a speech-maker and guiding Great Britain through World War II. There are many kinds of legacies to leave, though the arts and society or country are the most well-known. I personally want to leave a legacy of change and hope. While I'm obviously not a famous person right now and can only do so much, I hope to leave a legacy for those that know me that anything is possible. That it's possible to persevere in spite of mental health issues, in spite of being busy with school, that it's possible to do things most teenagers can only dream of while I'm not even out of my teens yet. I want others to see what I've created and find hope again, even if it's something small such as a story or a song. I hope to touch people's lives and make them happy and see the world in a new, beautiful way. That's the kind of legacy I want to leave.

I am a fiction writer. I've written across a variety of genres and my debut novel will be released to the public on April 27th of this year. I love to write stories that showcase real people and real emotions, while still giving hope to the reader. One of the things I have liked best as a reader was reading how people have overcome barriers set in their path and have come out victorious in spite of the hardships they have had to face. I try to write the same thing in my own books, with the underlying themes of hope and redemption regardless of how bad things may be. As someone who has written stories online, I know from personal experience how hard it is to truly stand out against the slushpile of both good and bad stories. I know tips such as having good writing (excellent grammar, solid plots, and well-rounded characters, etc.) but against a sea of good stories, it can be hard to stand out even if it's clear that my work isn't "bad". The only tip besides continuing to be the best that I can be is to never give up. Everyone has their own unique voice. And in the beginning, it's very difficult to be noticed by anyone, even if your work is vastly different from everyone else's (in a good way.) If you continue to persevere and develop your own voice, you will be heard in time. If you would like to read the beginning excerpt chapters of my soon-to-be published novel, you can do so using the link below.

This piece was initially inspired by a story one of my best friends wrote: a retelling of the Pied Piper, one where the piper, Rowan, was tasked with protecting the world through the magic of music. However, his predecessors had corrupted the music, and Rowan had to heal the corruption and save the world, even if it cost his life. I wrote this piece based on the struggle between his calling and his desire to live. If you listen closely, you can hear the conflict of the story slowly be resolved throughout the piece. It's the composition I'm the proudest of and I hope you enjoy it!

Music has been my passion ever since I can remember. I started composing back in 2015 after reading a great fantasy series and music to a song in the books just popped into my head. Since then, I've composed a variety of pieces for famous books such as J.R.R. Tolkien's Silmarillion to books by indie authors and even my own. However, I struggle with knowing how to write down my compositions, as I just play what I hear in my mind. I am intending to go to Cedarville University so I can study music composition and not just understand music theory and learn how to write it down, but also learn all that goes into being a professional composer. I hope to have a career in composition, perhaps even as a film score composer, and that is my goal for college. I need this scholarship because the university that I've been accepted to and hope to study at is both a prestigious music school and also a very expensive one. I'm only able to go if I can get enough scholarships to pay tuition and boarding costs so I won't have a large loan to pay off when I graduate. I hope through music that I can change the world to make it a better place, even if it's only in a small way. I was unsure whether it was wanted for me to show a video of me playing or a sound recording, so I am including both. One is from my winning audition submission and the other is of my latest composition. Video: https://youtu.be/i6_WNaVRh0c Composition: https://youtu.be/jEieX3HzuyQ

It's extremely classy to have a traditional quote or motto as one's motivator. However, I'm not someone who follows the crowd and so the quote that challenges me the most is not one you see often. I found it scrolling through Pinterest one day, seeing the Latin phrase, "semper ad meliora" and promptly Googling the last word as it's been a few years since I studied that language. The meaning is, simply, "always towards better things." This stood out to me in contrast to the popular "carpe diem" and "ad astra per aspera" as seizing the day isn't always possible due to school and work, and to the stars through difficulties isn't always encouraging, especially when I seem to land anywhere but the stars when working through problems. Instead, semper ad meliora is a much better fit for me, as it challenges me to always strive towards becoming a better person, a better writer, a better musician, etc. despite the obstacles in my path. Since discovering this phrase a couple years ago, it has changed my life for the better, motivating me to always struggle, despite difficulties, towards a higher goal than the one I am at right now. Little-known quote, yes, but it is very powerful and has made me become a better person.

As someone who was born and raised in a Christian family, I struggled for years to really understand why some people were passionate about the Gospel. Songs like "'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" never quite made much sense to me, because the Christian faith, while I claimed to be a Christian, wasn't fully my own. It wasn't until I began to struggle with anxiety and depression that I realized that faith was more than just simply reading my Bible, going to church, and trying to be a nice person. Faith in Jesus, truth faith, was being able to trust Him in the darkest storms of life and remain strong in Him and His word. I can't say that this has been an easy lesson to learn, or that it's one I have mastered. I still struggle to remember and believe that God is in control over every situation, and not me. As a control freak, I hate letting other people be in control and I feel safest when I can control the situations and circumstances in my life. Of course, I'm never truly in control, God is. I just have to trust Him with everything, which doesn't come naturally. And yet, as difficult as this has been for me to learn, it has really sweetened and deepened my relationship with Jesus. So much of my future is unknown to me, and quite honestly, the thought of college and all that comes with becoming an adult terrifies me. But I can have peace and rest knowing that Jesus will be with me all the way, whether it's guiding me and protecting me as I begin my first year at college or helping to supply the funds necessary to afford university. Scripture affirms that Jesus will always be with His children; we just have to trust Him.

It would be my dream to compose a film score for a movie. Ever since I began composing my own soundtrack-style pieces, I've been working to better understand how melodies work against each other, how chord progressions change the mood of a piece, and how music affects how we think or feel in order to become a better musician and composer. And as I've been growing in my knowledge of how music works, so has the quality of the pieces I create. I am hoping to afford to pay my way through university so I can study music composition and become a composer, learning from experts and professionals in the field so I can become a better music artist. It would be my dream to land a job as a film score composer, and I am working towards that dream, even though it is only recording music on my own and putting it on Youtube for people to enjoy. I believe that everyone has a story to tell, and mine is through music. While at this time, I've only composed songs based on books, including my own, I am steadily growing and hope to one day fulfill my dream as a professional film score composer.

Playlist link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWdd-tqFNk7dgOkOvT3l4gvyGH10y1Qea This playlist started back when I first heard Now We Are Free from Gladiator. I loved the terribly tragic tones of the major-to-minor chord sequence and wanted to find more songs like that, especially to listen to when writing. So I began compiling several songs with similar themes or that evoked the same sort of sorrowful feeling in me when listening, which birthed this playlist.

The idea of having the time to create music like I've always wanted would quite literally be a dream come true. Ever since I was a little kid, I've been subconsciously creating melodies in my head, and a few years ago, I began to actually record and write them down. As an aspiring composer and someone who hopes to major in music composition, creating music is my greatest passion. Many times I feel frustrated by the lack of time and resources available to me to create the music I want to. But in those rare moments when I can create and record, it is one of the most wonderful feelings in the world. Getting to sit down at a piano or any other instrument that I know and just play the music I hear in my head is something that I love immensely and wish I had more time for. I would happily sit there for an hour or more just playing and messing around, shaping the melody into something I am proud of. Not to mention getting to share my music with people is likewise fulfilling. Whether seeing comments on my Youtube videos or seeing authors and friends love the music I composed for them, it is equally an amazing feeling to know that not only is composing something I love, but other people are touched by my music. Getting to change peoples' lives by something I love is worth all the struggles of a growing composer.

As a musician, music has influenced every area of my life. But there are especially certain songs that, listening to them at a particular time in my life, bring back memories of that time. While there are many, this one that is very special to me is called "Never Ending Road" by Loreena McKennitt. It is a simple song, very melodic and happy, even though it is a beautiful love song. I was listening to this the weekend before summer camp and the song was often playing in my mind while at camp, and the words even fit the memories I have of that special time. The words speak of the beauty of nature and the peace of being with the one you love. The song is, in a sense, a promise to a loved one, but many of the words reflect the memories I had at summer camp and every time I listen to it, I remember being there and all the wonderful events that happened. The song, in a strange way, makes me very happy when I listen to it, even though the song has a bit of sadness to it. There's a lot of scientific evidence that indicates that the human brain stores memories connected with music and it takes a few notes of a song to trigger that memory, and I would definitely say that is the case. Whenever I listen to "Never Ending Road", I think of a happier time and that song never fails to bring a smile to my face.

It began with a small note. A few scrawled lines on some pages I had handed my English teacher after she had mentioned being interested in reading my fictional writing. Those lines changed my life. "This needs to be published." Up until that point, I had not seriously considered publication. I had just started with writing my first book and had only finished the first four chapters. If anything, I had expected critiques, maybe saying she wanted to read more. Definitely not this, stating that I should continue writing and eventually pursue publishing. But if it wasn't for her, I would not be the same person I am today. Many people take up hobbies or similar enjoyments simply as a way to relax or have fun. Some take these pastimes very seriously—some might even attempt to work hard enough at it to earn money by it—but most end up forgoing it when life gets hectic. I certainly would have done the same with writing, if not abandoning the prospect completely, if I had not had such encouragement from my English teacher, whom I respect greatly. Through her advice and confidence in me, I was motivated to continue with the story and eventually finished the first draft half a year later. While this story as of yet remains unpublished (being the first book in a trilogy now completed and in various stages of editing), her words inspired me to take my writing seriously. Not just with that one particular book, but with all of it. Through the years of high school following eighth grade, I used that small note she had written to me as a motivator when discouraged or struggling with my writing. Constantly reminding myself why I had started, I persevered my way through several more novels and novellas, oftentimes thinking of my teacher while I was writing and editing. I used her advice on my essays and other written works submitted during classes to help strengthen and hone my skills as a creative writer. I kept her updated with my writing journey, many times sharing chapters with her for her feedback, which I always received with delight. It is one thing to have a role model. It is quite another to have a role model who is an active support in your life, and I was greatly encouraged by her enthusiasm for my work. After several grueling rounds of editing, I began to venture out and query what would become my debut novel. It was a very challenging ordeal simply because literary agents and publishing presses only see your work as something to make several thousand grand on, not as a piece of literary value. I was often discouraged and set back by the many rejection letters I received. However, my English teacher believed in me and had worked in the publishing industry as an editor at one point, and so I worked hard to not give up because I wanted my dream of being a published author to come true for both of us. And in the end, perseverance paid off. While I was unable to tell her in person of my publishing deal because of the COVID-19 lockdown, I was, fortunately, able to communicate to her my success at finally achieving what she believed I was capable of all along. I owe my English teacher so much. She has been a great inspiration and encouragement to me as an English student and an aspiring author, a true role model in terms of writing, and I would not be the same person without her. I owe my writing success to her beliefs years ago that I was competent to make dreams I had not even dared to dream a reality. She is very much a role model to me, and I would not be the same person without her positive influence in my life.

Rejection to Acceptance "We greatly enjoyed your work, but unfortunately this will not work for us...While your story hooked me in, it isn't what I can represent...We wish you the best of luck elsewhere." As an aspiring writer querying her debut novel, rejections from literary agents and publishing presses became something of a norm, a rejection getting sent to my email every few weeks. Though I had spent months to a few years writing and editing this story, putting a lot of effort and care into it, agents and presses repeatedly turned it down—not because the writing was bad or needed more work, but because they did not see it as something that could make a killing. But my story is but one of many. Every writer who seeks to be published faces this kind of rejection. As someone querying in a less popular genre, it was even harder for me. Some agents were not as kind, sometimes even to the point of critiquing submission apart, and their rejections left me in tears. Others showed encouragement, but the answer was still the same. My work was not quite what they were looking for. Many times I considered shelving my novel, maybe taking something else and querying that instead. But I also did not want to give up, constantly hoping that just maybe, the next agent email would be a full request, or even an offer of representation or publishing deal. It was very discouraging facing rejection after rejection, but I refused to give up completely. Essentially, I rejected rejection and made a plan to keep myself from falling into despair. My strategy? Every time I received a rejection, I would research another agent and query them so I always had the same amount of queries—or more—in the field. Of course, rejections continued to roll in, but at least I had a plan to continue to hope. I made a promise to myself that I would not quit until I had queried every literary agent or publishing press out there that accepted historical or literary fiction. And of course, that meant I would be busy for a long time, but it also meant that there had to be at least one person who would fall in love with my novel as much as I did. After a few weeks of this new plan, I received my first full request. Unfortunately, it fell through, and though greatly disappointed, I sent out three queries that evening. Perhaps my plan was not the greatest out there, but it was better than nothing, and it was what inspired me to keep going in spite of constant rejection. A few months and many rejection letters later, I finally received a publishing request and accepted it. While this is great news for any querying writer and future author, it would not have happened if I had let the pain of rejection get to me. I had a choice: let rejection overwhelm me, or use it to fuel my desire to succeed. Every aspiring author will face rejection at some point, and most times, more than once during their writing/editing/querying process. Rejection is hard and very difficult to deal with, but you can turn it to grow from mistakes and inspire you to try even harder to succeed. It is crucial to not let rejection get the better of you and instead use it to harden your determination to succeed and do well. Victory after defeat is all the more sweeter. Rejection, if it inspires you to try harder and succeed, can after all be a good thing.