A little girl surrounded by big people some successful others imprisoned; a world that can turn bad or good. That little girl loved the sound of a tune or the strung of an instrument. It was the way she coped with life falling around her whether her parents were fighting, or she was having a terrible day. Music was the beat of her heart to the soles of her feet that little girl is the one that felt the soul of music from a young age. This is what music did to my life changed me for the better. The type of music I listened to was used to shape the person I become and how I act in different situations. The most important time music played a major role in my life was when my grandfather passed during the time my parents were getting a divorce. I was about 6 years old when my life was changed forever in the worst ways. I lost the person I was closest to then in my home life there was a storm every day where I grew to hate arguing. My grandfather used to live in the country and during the summertime, he'd grab the radio and play everything from rock n roll to jazz music. While we dance under the stars on beautiful summers nights. These nights felt like the world was filled only with us it made all my hurt dissolve. I was young but when I close my eyes I can envision every detail of those nights that is how I fell in love with music. As time passed my grandfather became weak barely being able to snap his fingers so I had to be the one cheering him up with the music he once taught me. It was our happy place just a little piece of joy in the crazy world. Then, he passed away and it all felt like life was over. It was more arguing from my parents that led to more tears and hurt. I started to close my eyes, lay on the bed, and just play music all night long until the sunrise calmed my spirit. It also reminded me of my grandfather. I could just see his smile as we moved to the beat of the song. As I grew older music became more embedded into my lifestyle to where I listen to it in the car, while I study, and even sing in the shower a little. . I am passionate with music because it changed my life all I want to do is help uplift other people so it changes there’s I know I can be that example to younger boys and girls. I have been told I inspire so why stop with a few people when I can touch millions of people. I start to even take music seriously when I started high school now, I before shows for benefits, charities, family gatherings, and event openings. I use to be stage shy now one could never tell I was so much confidence is on that stage. I just love watching people smile like my grandfather used to make me smile. Every time I am on stage I can feel the presence of my grandfather right beside me cheering me the whole way. I make Instagram videos to spread messages of love to people and through my music. I hope to impact the music industry not by shaking what my mama gave me but using my knowledge everyone around me gave me. I want to empower all ages to know the sky is not the limit that the limit is set by the person and their own standards. The industry to me is putting a false standard on beauty and reality but instead men and women should be who they are not having to change that for some fame or fortune. I want to make a different inspiring a wave of people not afraid to be succumbed by the peer pressure of society but holding their own candle to the flame.

Bright lights, pain, monitors beeping, and one last push, a new life is here—the moment where life changes and a small tiny human has entered. As mothers, we bear a burden, joy, and pain but coming full circle to a blessing. No matter rich or poor, a mother’s love is infinite. A wise person I once knew said, “Living life without a mother is a life with no breath.” I feel alive being a mother, even with the challenges. What is a challenge? A challenge is going against something or taking part in a competition. Rising to the challenge is what I think about myself and my challenge as a mother. I was competing against myself to win the race. I could name a million challenges, but I overcame the biggest one, being raped and having my child through a horrific incident. I watched my child grow up to look like my rapist and still smile and love her like no other. Not taking my anger or emotions out on her made me the bigger person because love filled my heart more than evil. In the beginning, it haunted me to have a daughter by this monster. I even had malice take over my heart for a short time. I realized that malice I had only began to rot my kind heart, and this was not who I was as a person. I learned a change needed to happen when I was endlessly depressed and could not function to help her or myself. Every day I began to grow my faith not to let this parasite eat me from the inside out till I was a crumb. So, change began. I started to work harder in school, from failing to tutoring sessions five days a week to even graduating at 17. I was proud of myself; I was now an example for my daughter. I am even graduating college in three years with three degrees surpassing all the forced obstacles against me. The journey is never straightforward; if it were, many would have it made. But where is the fun in life without a variety of challenges to build character and more personality? Then I learned this is not my curse but a blessing from God to create human life even if I felt God was taking from me more than anything. As the days grew on, I figured out what it meant to be a mother; it was more than buying nice clothes, changing diapers, or quality time. It was about love, patience, compassion, and the ability to transform beyond just thinking of me. I was 15 years old when I had my child; I am now 21 years old; my baby girl is six years old and gives me the greatest joy I could ask for in life. I used to cry through this challenge every night while I sat in the corner, making sure no one could hear my cries or tears fall. At one point, I thought I was failing her and thought she was placed in the wrong home. Then, I had a reality check. God made no mistake that all of this was a small piece of the plan. The vision is clear, and the faith is vital that the goal came together like a piece of the puzzle. When I became a mother, college did not feel in my favor, nor did I graduate early in high school or college. It shows that when someone walks by faith, not sight, the ways are widened to many possibilities. How will this scholarship impact my life, help, and take care of my needs? This scholarship will impact my life because less money will be taken away from my daughter’s needs to help bring less of a financial burden from loans. It will boost determination knowing I have the scholarship to help assist in finishing my college education. The impact will be immense that it is not just the money but more of the opportunity that will be given to me to not fall in those statistics of a single mother going unfinished in school. The needs will be taken care of our food in our mouths, help for tuition, and less stress on the mind. It will give me more peace of mind knowing less money is coming from my pocket to focus more on finishing school than fighting to be more stressed about the pile of bills on the table. We may never be perfect as mothers, but we are excellent with all the flaws that create the whole. A role of a mother is complex that goes to say all we need is love at the end of each day. Our children look at us as a saint; when they are babies thinking we can lift the world in their eyes, we are the giant carrying the world’s weight. The perspective is different; it is okay to make mistakes and fall but not to stay down when fallen. That was getting up each time creates more growth for tomorrow willing to fight another day.