When I was younger, I knew without a doubt that I was going to become a chemical engineer. However, this all changed during my freshman year of high school, when I was exposed to a multitude of experiences that dramatically shifted my focus in life, eventually leading to my decision to pursue music as a career. One of these experiences was witnessing a concert held in honor of the retirement of a local choir director. I was not in a choir at the time, and I went along to the event simply because a few friends convinced me to attend the concert. I was completely unprepared for the emotional impact that night would have on me, and I still can feel some of the lingering emotions when I think back on it now. The choir director led his concert like any other, however, what he was unaware of was that several of his students from the past thirty years had collaborated with one another and come together to prepare a piece for him. After he finished conducting what he thought would be the final piece, several of his past students who had been waiting inconspicuously in the back of the auditorium came forward and took the stage, performing a song that had clear emotional significance for the director. As an audience member, the effect was stunning; it was extremely powerful to see alumni who had just graduated singing alongside those who were old enough to have started their own families, all united by their shared teacher and mentor. Already at this point in my life I had known that music was important and that I enjoyed being part of it, but this experience truly reinforced its incredible influence and ultimately made me decide that I needed to dedicate my life to it. Now, several years later as a music major with dreams of graduate school, I am enormously grateful for this experience. I began taking clarinet lessons, joined my high school's choir, auditioned and was accepted to my local youth orchestra for clarinet, in which I eventually worked my way up to principal chair of their highest ensemble. I participated in honor bands and honor choirs, competed in festivals and solo competitions, and attempted to participate in other musical experiences wherever possible. After auditioning at the University of Nevada, Reno for their music education program, I was placed as the principal chair clarinet in both the Nevada Wind Ensemble and Nevada Symphony Orchestra in my freshman year. I also auditioned into UNR's top choral ensemble, where I have been singing as a tenor. I have started teaching clarinet lessons and working to be more involved in community events, such as recently leading a masterclass-style audition clinic for high school students. I have also been able to perform in masterclasses with distinguished clarinetists including Mingzhe Wang and Mark Dover. Years ago, all of these experiences were something that I could have only dreamed of, however, they now comprise my daily reality and I feel so lucky every day that I can take part in them. Something that has definitely proven difficult is finding the time to work while also attending multiple rehearsals a day in addition to core classes. Being a recipient of the Godi Arts Scholarship would support me greatly in my aim of continuing to grow as a musician, and I have hope that with the support of scholarships such as these I will be able to attend graduate school with the end goal of getting my doctoral degree in musical arts.

When I was in high school, I could reliably tell when the best part of my day would happen, because it was consistent from day to day and week to week. Regardless of how I was feeling or what else was happening, I could almost always rely on my music classes to be the best part of my day and to provide me with valuable memories. On my bad days, creating music in band and choir helped me to feel whole again and to realize that all issues are only temporary, while on my good days, these classes provided me with a chance to express myself and communicate with others in unique ways. I have yet to find any medium more emotionally powerful than music, and it is because of its influence in my life that I am studying to become a music educator. Throughout my various musical experiences, there has definitely been one person who inspired me and ensured that I would continue to study music in higher education. While I certainly was influenced by my clarinet and piano teachers, guest directors at honor ensembles, youth orchestra directors, and college professors, the most influential person who kept me involved in music was my high school band and choir director. Mrs. Eddy was and is continuously positive, always seeking to meet students where they are and then to help them progress further. She understands the importance of helping students to develop by using the material she teaches, and works to promote holistic understanding by working individually with students and altering her curriculum to best expand their horizons. My high school was a very small, rural school, meaning that students had fewer opportunities to be involved in extracurricular activities. To combat this, Mrs. Eddy worked constantly to provide students with a chance to be involved in music activities that expanded the scope of their learning, such as participation in regional events, hosting of family-friendly concerts, and integrating the music programs with other school events such as sports games and graduation ceremonies. In addition to the way that Mrs. Eddy infused my high school with music, she also was endlessly supportive of students that were going through difficult times. While I was lucky enough to have a high school experience that was relatively free of hardship, I knew several friends who went through very difficult times during their high school years. Mrs. Eddy was there for these students, and her actions and words let them know that they were cared for and that she would continue to support them throughout whatever challenges they went through. Witnessing this was a major part of my inspiration to become a teacher, because if I can help even one student in the way that she helped my classmates, then I know I will be making a truly meaningful difference in this world. It is because of all my teachers that I have decided to pursue a career in music education, however, Mrs. Eddy is definitely my main inspiration. She is one of the rare teachers who understands the importance of her role in students’ lives, and has used this to create a positive impact upon her students. It is my goal to become a teacher like her, and I would consider my life successful if I am able to help my students in the way that she has helped hers.

As a freshman music major at the University of Nevada, Reno, I have had opportunities to work with people who inspire me and encourage me to be better. My classmates embody an exceptional level of dedication to their craft, and being surrounded by these individuals motivates me to work harder. In addition, my professors have high expectations that require me to put in my most focused effort. Lastly, my directors and conductors have expressed through their actions that they want only the best from their ensembles, meaning that all members need to do their best every day. Together, interactions and collaborations with these individuals have improved me as a musician and as a person as well, because all of them hold me to higher standards. To me, a collaboration is best described as a group of people each contributing something to a common goal, and when successful, they create something that is greater than the sum of its parts. In the four months since I started at UNR, I have gotten to experience this much more than I ever expected, and have worked to create music that I had only dreamed about years ago. One specific collaboration that stuck with me is when I was preparing for my first wind ensemble concert this semester. It was my first concert with the group and I had no clue what to expect, but the rest of the clarinet players in the ensemble helped me to adapt quickly. They anticipated where I would face difficulty, worked to help me through my music, gave me tips about performance aspects that I had not considered, and by the end I felt confident in myself and the ensemble. Without their kindness and encouragement, I would not have been nearly as successful. Their efforts embody the spirit of collaboration because in addition to contributing to the group through their own preparation, they brought others up as well. In the future, I hope to be as helpful to others as they were to me, so that their kindness will be passed on. This is just one small example of a way that collaboration impacted me, but there are many more. Preparing any type of concert takes a team, both on the stage and around it. In my experience, sometimes the most educational and powerful experiences come from those around us, and this is why collaboration is so meaningful.