My mom stopped at a red light and eagerly turned up the radio. She noticed through the rearview mirror how happy I looked listening to that song, “Esta Vida” by Jorge Celedon and Jimmy Zambrano. Hearing those iconic guitar chords as a kid makes me think of my childhood whenever I hear the song now, and I remember just how much I was affected by music. The first time I picked up an instrument was in 5th grade, when my music teacher taught me to play the ukulele. Although I enjoyed myself, I found myself frustrated with it as well. In middle school, my new band teacher wanted me to learn the trumpet, which I became very excited about. It was a more satisfying instrument to learn, especially now that I could learn to play harder pieces, but I never found myself itching to practice. Whenever I played the trumpet, I never found myself playing with passion; I felt like I was simply reading notes off paper. By the time I was in high school, I had stopped playing the trumpet and was looking for a new way to play music. I found my dad’s old guitar tucked away in his closet and saw it as an opportunity for my next musical journey. I started watching every beginner guitar video I could find, and I found myself in a position I had never been in before. I was learning music on my own, without any teacher or director telling me how to play it; my only motivation was my resolve. I practiced whenever I could to improve my chord shapes, strumming, rhythm, and any other imperfection. The more I played, the more freedom I gained. My best performances were done with the guitar, because I had passion behind it and the independence of playing it how I wanted. As time went on, my motivation to play grew beyond simple passion, but it became driven by curiosity as well. I found myself aching to know how a guitar organized its notes and how to take advantage of this knowledge. Unlike other instruments, one can play the same note or chord on the guitar several different ways, a versatility that I had been unaware of in music until now. As I listened to more songs, I also realized how flexible a guitar’s sound really was. It amazed me how a simple change in chords or strumming pattern could alter the piece being played. The more I learned about the instrument, and the more I experimented with several styles, the more I came to admire its unique versatility. Having to test out various instruments before finally finding one I resonated with not only showed me my perseverance, but it also led me to discover what I truly value. I enjoy being independent in my decision-making and having different options. I enjoy having the freedom to make my own decisions, whether they relate to music, education, or daily life. Playing guitar allowed me to discover and understand these aspects of myself because it gave my passion and curiosity a way to directly influence me. As I sat in the car that day listening to that Colombian tune, I never would’ve imagined what hearing those guitar chords would lead me to in the future. I especially wouldn’t have dreamed the outcome while I was busy learning the ukulele or the trumpet, but now, my journey makes sense. My passion and curiosity found a way to help me grow through music. I can apply the things I’ve learned about myself to every area of my life.