Taking a deep breath to steady my shaking hands, I sat down at an old, out-of-tune spinet piano and started playing. After a simple sonata, three short jazz pieces, two oldies from the 1940s, and one polka, I finally had the gumption to shyly look up at my audience. It was the joyful toothless smiles, the way the lady in the wheelchair was clapping her hands out of beat, and the proud satisfaction on my grandma's face that made me realize "This is what music is for." Suddenly, I had something to give, to share. To them, it didn't matter that I was only nine and inexperienced at performing. It didn't matter that I missed those notes in Fur Elise, or played a flat rather than a sharp. My audience at the nursing home found joy in music. That was almost eight years ago. Since my grandma first introduced me that day, I have played many times at that same nursing home, as well as others in the community. Over the years I've gone from being able to play simplified versions of classics to tackling daunting original sheet music that would have intimidated my former self. Often, growing musicians like me fall prey to the belief that performing on a stage, being widely recognized, and being the best of the best is success. And if that's true, I'm okay with being a failure. Why? Because of my faith, I have a different definition of success.   Placing my identity in being a Christian first before being a musician has transformed my music into more than merely sounds or notes. It has become a ministry, especially to those who are hurting or lonely. Often, a simple song or a gentle melody does more to lift the spirits than a thousand words ever could. Music is like the language of the soul. Living in a rural area with little opportunity to perform my music on stage has turned out to be a blessing. With no spotlight in sight, I've naturally come to enjoy the quiet satisfaction of simply playing piano for my grandma, friends, and the school choir.  A lack of love for the spotlight is not a lack of ambition. As I write, I’m getting ready to attend college for music. Already, I anticipate the long hours of practice that await challenging and testing my resolve. But I know why I’m going. I go so I can have more opportunities to engage in musical excellence in my community someday. Specifically, I intend to start a piano studio for children. I have already tasted the vicarious joy of teaching. I have three little students I’ve taught for the last two years. I’ve learned how to motivate them to push past discouragement, taught them to notice the unique beauty in how music is composed, and helped them develop consistency– all skills that I had to learn, and will continue to refine at college.  So in a way, success at music is less about the music itself and more about the doors it opens into the heart, and the relationships built around it. I will have succeeded at music if I emerge from college in four years humble, capable, and passionate.  Then perhaps I will finally be worthy of the unconditional support my friends at the nursing home showed me all those years ago.

Taking a deep breath to steady my shaking hands, I sat down at an old, out-of-tune spinet piano and started playing. After a simple sonata, three short jazz pieces, two oldies from the 1940s, and one polka, I finally had the gumption to shyly look up at my audience. It was the joyful toothless smiles, the way the lady in the wheelchair was clapping her hands out of beat, and the proud satisfaction on my grandma's face that made me realize "This is what music is for." Suddenly, I had something to give, to share. To them, it didn't matter that I was only nine and inexperienced at performing. It didn't matter that I missed those notes in Fur Elise, or played a flat rather than a sharp. My audience at the nursing home found joy in music. That was almost eight years ago. Since my grandma first introduced me that day, I have played many times at that same nursing home, as well as others in the community. Over the years I've gone from being able to play simplified versions of classics to tackling daunting original sheet music that would have intimidated my former self. Often, growing musicians like me fall prey to the belief that performing on a stage, being widely recognized, and being the best of the best is success. And if that's true, I'm okay with being a failure. Why? Because of my faith, I have a different definition of success.   Placing my identity in being a Christian first before being a musician has transformed my music into more than merely sounds or notes. It has become a ministry, especially to those who are hurting or lonely. Often, a simple song or a gentle melody does more to lift the spirits than a thousand words ever could. Music is like the language of the soul. Living in a rural area with little opportunity to perform my music on stage has turned out to be a blessing. With no spotlight in sight, I've naturally come to enjoy the quiet satisfaction of simply playing piano for my grandma, friends, and the school choir.  A lack of love for the spotlight is not a lack of ambition. As I write, I’m getting ready to attend college for music. Already, I anticipate the long hours of practice that await challenging and testing my resolve. But I know why I’m going. I go so I can have more opportunities to engage in musical excellence in my community someday. Specifically, I intend to start a piano studio for children. I have already tasted the vicarious joy of teaching. I have three little students I’ve taught for the last two years. I’ve learned how to motivate them to push past discouragement, taught them to notice the unique beauty in how music is composed, and helped them develop consistency– all skills that I had to learn, and will continue to refine at college.  So in a way, success at music is less about the music itself and more about the doors it opens into the heart, and the relationships built around it. I will have succeeded at music if I emerge from college in four years humble, capable, and passionate.  Then perhaps I will finally be worthy of the unconditional support my friends at the nursing home showed me all those years ago.

I was excited to see “How has your relationship with Jesus affected your faith, and how do you plan to implement that faith throughout your educational journey?” as the essay question I get to answer for your scholarship. That’s because, to me, my faith is far more important than my grades, my accomplishments, or any career goal that I might have. It’s not a general “faith” either. It’s very specific, and it has to do with someone named Jesus. It's my greatest joy to share the story of what God has done in my life with you. It all began thirteen years ago when the grace of God reached into little four-year-old Danica’s life and chose her to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus and his love for her. In those moments, he took me out of the darkness and into his glorious light. He gave me hope of eternity with him. At the time, I didn’t fully realize how being saved was going to change everything. Now I look back on those thirteen years since, and I see how God has been faithful to his promise to me in Philippians 1:6 which says, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” That said, I want to highlight for you some areas of my life faith in Jesus has transformed. First, I am a pianist. I’ve played piano for nine years. Because of my faith, music has become more than just notes or sounds to me. It’s a tool for ministry and worship. There is a story that illustrates this perfectly. My Grandma lives close to us, so our family has a lot of involvement in her life. She was usually very cheerful until one week last spring when she went into a depression because she couldn't drive anymore. She locked her doors, closed the curtains so her paneled house became gloomy, and became as sad as I’d ever seen her before. I wanted to cheer her up, so I went over and played piano for her. I played on her out-of-tune piano old dusty music from the 1940s, hymns, sad modern songs, ragtime, and any other music I could find. Eventually, I looked over and saw her smiling again. She came out of the depression within a few days. That's why I play piano: so that I can bring the joy of Christ into the lives of others. That’s just one example of how living for God has transformed how I use my talents. My relationship with Jesus has also given me peace as I decide what to do after high school. I’m able to work toward college with the understanding that if God wants me to go, he will make it possible. That is a precious peace. I know that these years out of high-school are crucial in anchoring me in my faith, so I have chosen to go to a Christian college. Knowing that I can learn to love Jesus more with both my heart and mind in college is something I greatly look forward to. Jesus is truly my greatest love and faith in him is why I live. I truly believe that if it were not for Jesus, I would not be here. He has sustained me through the darkest nights of soul, and given me hope. I hope that that is your hope too. Thank you for taking the time to get to know a little bit about me through the lens of my faith!

I was excited to see my faith as the subject I get to talk about for your scholarship. That’s because, to me, my faith is far more important than my grades, my accomplishments, or any career goal that I might have. In many ways, my faith hasn’t “impacted” my life, but is my life. It's my greatest joy to share the story of what God has done in my life with you. It all began thirteen years ago when the grace of God reached into little four-year-old Danica’s life and chose her to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus and his love for her. In those moments, he took me out of the darkness and into his glorious light. He gave me hope of eternity with him. At the time, I didn’t fully realize how being saved was going to change everything. Now I look back on those thirteen years since, and I see how God has been faithful to his promise to me in Philippians 1:6 which says, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” That said, I want to show you some areas of my life faith in Jesus has transformed. First, I'm a pianist. I’ve played piano for nine years. I’m also a piano teacher. Because of my faith, music has become more than just notes or sounds to me. It’s a tool for ministry and worship. There's a story that illustrates this perfectly. My Grandma lives close, so I am very involved in her life. She is usually very cheerful until last spring when she went into a depression because she wasn’t able to drive anymore. She locked the doors that are usually wide open and welcoming, and closed the curtains so her paneled house became gloomy.. I wanted to cheer her up, so I went and played piano for her. I played on her out-of-tune piano old dusty music from the 1940s, hymns, ragtime, and any other music I could find. Eventually, I looked over and saw her smiling again. She ended up coming out of the depression within a few days. That's why I play piano: so that I can bring the joy of Christ into the lives of others. Forget performing on a stage. To me, music is a ministry to those who are hurting. That’s just one example of how living for God has transformed what I use my talents for. My faith has also given me wisdom and peace as I decide what to do after high school. I’m able to work toward college with the understanding that if God wants me to go, he will make it possible. That's a precious peace. I know that these years out of high-school are crucial in anchoring me in my faith, so I have chosen to go to a Christian college. Knowing that I can learn to love Jesus more with both my heart and mind in college is something I greatly look forward to. I could write a thousand essays on the thousands of ways Jesus has changed my life, but this will have to do. Jesus is truly my greatest love. I truly believe that if it weren't for Jesus, I would not be here. He has sustained me through the darkest nights of soul, and given me hope. I hope that's your hope too. Thank you for taking the time to get to know a little bit about me through the lens of my faith!

As my career goal, I want to start a private piano studio and share the joy of making music with each student I teach. This particular interest has its origins in my childhood. I've enjoyed teaching ever since I was young. I used to get my younger siblings to sit on cardboard boxes in our living room while I pretended to teach them math and spelling. And at that young age, I barely understood those subjects myself! Then I started learning piano when I was eight years old. Now, nine years later, having combined my two loves, you can find me at home teaching two sweet little girls piano on Wednesday afternoons. I’ve learned how to motivate them to push past discouragement, taught them to notice the unique beauty in how music is composed, and helped them develop consistency – skills that will serve them well for the rest of their lives. Having two years of teaching experience under my belt, you might say that I understand how to teach beginner piano now. I could be content with that and declare my aspirations fulfilled, but I’m not content with mere proficiency. I desire excellence. I want to know the best way to motivate and the most effective way to teach theory. I need to hone my abilities and grow my own skills. That is why I am pursuing a piano pedagogy degree. I have found two colleges that have excellent piano pedagogy music programs. Oftentimes, colleges like that are expensive. I’m willing to sacrifice and work hard to go to a school like that. But, sometimes the difference between something being possible or not for me is simple. The difference is someone in the community caring enough to invest in me and my future. It’s like the time a neighbor lady offered to tutor me in Algebra for free, just because she wanted to. I do not take those expressions of kindness lightly. It is scholarship opportunities like this that make me think, “I can actually do this”. And having been homeschooled, I’ve had unique opportunities to work with my hands and learn how to cook, prune blueberries, run a chainsaw, build, garden, and so many other things. I plan to continue to use those skills after college. I have a farmhouse in mind that I want to purchase, renovate, and start my piano studio in, as well as develop the land. I’ve always disliked talking about myself and my own merits, so it is tricky to answer why I should be selected to receive this award. I could talk about financial need, or highlight some academic achievement, but I would rather point to the people whose lives I’ve touched as a testimony to my character and work ethic. Because, although piano teaching is my main objective, as a Christian I have an even greater love for building relationships and seeking to be a faithful teacher, daughter, and friend. And in the end, even though I will be going out of state for college, I plan to return to this same community that has shown me such kindness. In Alcona County, it’s a bit of a musical desert. It would bring me such joy to see the next generation of Alcona kids making music and thinking, “I can actually do this”.

As my career goal, I want to start a private piano studio and share the joy of making music with each student I teach. This particular interest has its origins in my childhood. I've enjoyed teaching ever since I was young. I used to get my younger siblings to sit on cardboard boxes in our living room while I pretended to teach them math and spelling. And at that young age, I barely understood those subjects myself! Then I started learning piano when I was eight years old. Now, nine years later, having combined my two loves, you can find me at home teaching two sweet little girls piano on Wednesday afternoons. I’ve learned how to motivate them to push past discouragement, taught them to notice the unique beauty in how music is composed, and helped them develop consistency – skills that will serve them well for the rest of their lives. Having two years of teaching experience under my belt, you might say that I understand how to teach beginner piano now. I could be content with that and declare my aspirations fulfilled, but I’m not content with mere proficiency. I desire excellence. I want to know the best way to motivate and the most effective way to teach theory. I need to hone my abilities and grow my own skills. That is why I am pursuing a piano pedagogy degree, and why I am applying for this scholarship. I have found two colleges that have excellent piano pedagogy music programs. Oftentimes, colleges like that are expensive. I’m willing to sacrifice and work hard to go to a school like that. But, sometimes the difference between something being possible or not for me is simple. The difference is someone in the community caring enough to invest in me and my future. It’s like the time a neighbor lady offered to tutor me in Algebra for free, just because she wanted to. I do not take those expressions of kindness lightly. It is scholarship opportunities like this that make me think, “I can actually do this”. I’ve always disliked talking about myself and my own merits, so it is tricky to answer why I should be selected to receive this award. I could talk about financial need, or highlight some academic achievement, but I would rather point to the people whose lives I’ve touched as a testimony to my character and work ethic. Because, although piano teaching is my main objective, as a Christian I have an even greater love for building relationships and seeking to be a faithful teacher, daughter, and friend. And in the end, even though I will be going out of state for college, I plan to return to this same community that has shown me such kindness. Where I live in Alcona County Michigan, it’s a bit of a musical desert. It would bring me such joy to see the next generation of Alcona kids making music and thinking, “I can actually do this”.

We find her in her piano studio, strong yet gentle, teaching the joy of making music to her young student, because this was her dream: to quietly and confidently change lives for the better while living out her passion for piano.

I'm unique because I'm a follower of Christ. Just saying that instantly makes me "uncool" to most of my peers. Why? Because it isn't fashionable to believe in absolute truth, practice self-sacrificial love, or live like God exists. I am also unique because I don't find my identity in myself or others. Looking there is a dead end. My identity is found solely in my Savior, Jesus Christ. And that is what truly frees me to embrace my God-given creativity and talents. I'm free to use them to love and serve others, not to inflate my self-esteem. What I am saying is not popular. Teenagers like me are expected by our culture to live selfishly. I reject that. I'm passionate about showing my peers what living in true freedom looks like. It's not the rebellious self-centered picture our culture tells us it is. Plus, I'm homeschooled. When I introduce myself as a homeschooler, I know the next question I will get. "Are you socially adjusted?" They ask. People consider homeschoolers as socially awkward, smart aleckly, recluses from society. I love breaking their stereotypes. I'm outgoing and fun-loving, but also can be very thoughtful and serious. I believe this character combination will help me throughout my life. I've been raised by my parents to be a hard worker, to be self-motivated, and to love others more than I love myself. I fail more than I'd like to admit, but the grace of God covers my failures. That's why even my goals are different. While many seek to climb the ladder of society, to become well-known, or to be rich, I don't desire that. I want to go to a small Christian college, get a degree in piano pedagogy and return to northern Michigan. I want to give back to my community by teaching piano at a private piano studio. I want to share the joy of creating music with others. But even that is not my end goal. I want to get married, settle down, and raise children. I am not ashamed to say that it is the desire of my heart. Our current despises my dream. They say "Oh, but you're limiting yourself! You could be doing something important, like filing paperwork! Kids are hard work, and marriage is outdated." Maybe that's just going to be the story of my life. Quietly, lovingly being a countercultural Christian as I live a fulfilling life glorifying God and seeking to love those around me.

I enjoy imagining myself as Rapunzel. There are a thousand characters to choose from, but there's something about that particular Disney character that inspires me, even as a "mature" junior in high school. Rapunzel is a fun character, and quite simply, I adore her long silky blonde hair since I am a natural blonde myself. Hearing her sing about the troubles of having long hair gives a hilarious voice to my rather petty complaints about caring for my hair. I grimace good-naturedly when I see her swing down from her tower on her hair. Doesn't that hurt? But at the same time, I smile to imagine my hair long enough to reach from my attic room window to the lush green grass of the lawn below. Perhaps one day I will hear "Danica, let down your hair!". A girl can dream, can't she? As much as I admire her unrealistically long hair, I admire her personality more. She's slightly, sweetly naive, but with courage and zeal for adventure that inspires me. Some days as I'm working on school her signature song "I Have a Dream" is humming through my mind. And I do have a dream! Like Rapunzel's journey to the floating lanterns, it will be an adventure to get to my dream, filled with piano music of my own making. And when I get there, at that moment when I complete my education, it will be as glorious as being Rapunzel myself and watching those lanterns float around me. That's when my life begins!

I have lived in Northeast Michigan for most of my sixteen years. I love everything about where I live, from the people in my community to Lake Huron just two miles from our house. But I am preparing to leave the home I love and go to West Virginia in pursuit of my goals. What brings me to West Virginia? It is the opportunity to learn piano pedagogy at Appalachian Bible College, and broaden my horizons. I have been a teacher at heart since I was little. I would create and teach "school" to my little siblings when I was eight years old, adamantly insisting "raise your hand! raise your hand!". I love the piano as well as teaching, and having played piano for years, I realized that I could combine my two passions into a smart, sustainable business. I dream of having a private piano studio and sharing my love of music with my students. I will return to Northeast Michigan to give back to my community by bringing the joy of music into people's lives. College is a crucial step on that journey. I am blessed to be part of a family of seven. Growing up in a bigger family can be a challenge as well as a blessing. My siblings are some of my best friends and most loyal supporters, and my parents strive to raise me with a godly foundation for life. But that doesn't mean it's always easy. My mom has been chronically ill for eleven years, and as the second oldest, it takes a toll on me. I would compare her sickness to a shark lurking under the surface of the water. Even in the happiest moments, when she almost seems normal again, that pain lurks under the surface, threatening to rip our joy away. Doctors aren't cheap. My dad is self-employed, and whatever extra money he makes goes towards treatments for my mom. As of writing this, my mom has been to over 100 specialists. They take her money and time and leave her with dashed hopes of healing. So after eleven years of our family playing that futile game, I find myself ready to go to college with my older brother, but funds are tight. Even though my dad wants to help pay for our education, he still has to provide for the rest of the family. That is why winning this scholarship is so important to me. Scholarship opportunities like these give me hope. Winning this would help me achieve my dream of (through my college education) becoming the best piano teacher I can be.