Music has been vital in helping me cope with and make sense of my struggles with early onset derealization disorder. The condition causes frequent feelings that reality itself is intangible, leading to emotional isolation. But through turning those emotions into lyrics and melody, I've found connection and catharsis. Focusing my awareness on the tangible aspects of songcraft has been incredibly grounding when little else felt concrete. I'm pursuing a degree in Songwriting with a Performance focus at Berklee College of Music not just for creative expression, but to build community around mental health issues often suffered in silence. I aim to forge human connection through transparent, resonating songs about my journey with derealization. My goal is to make others facing similar disorders feel less alone through music that validates those experiences. Growing up as an artist in Detroit exposed me to how few resources many talented youth have to develop their potential. Once I establish my career, I plan to launch a foundation providing musical opportunities and mentorship to underserved students. I hope to uplift marginalized voices like those that shaped me. Through communing with others about mental health, spotlighting unseen talent, and leading by example - I want to push against limitations that once held me back. What I’ve gained from adversity makes me believe I can inspire people through the authentic, emotionally dynamic songwriting I’ve crafted over a lifetime of turning hardship into music. That ability motivates me every day as I pursue my dream career as a performing artist. Derealization disorder involves feeling detached from one's surroundings as if the external world is not real. It can be intensely disturbing and alienating. Music has given me an outlet to process these difficult emotions. By channeling my experiences into songwriting, I have found meaning and connection. Though reality often feels intangible, music provides a tangible way to understand myself and relate to others. The validating response my songs have received from live audiences gives me hope. My lyrics resonate with those struggling with their own mental health. Through transparency about my disorder in musical form, I aim to decrease stigma and foster support networks. Too many endure psychological disorders in silence due to shame or lack of resources. I plan to create free educational tools informing people about derealization and self-care strategies. My ideal is to enable those affected to feel understood and empowered. As an emerging artist, I recognize my responsibility to give back. My goal is to launch a non-profit record label identifying and nurturing talent in underserved communities. Having grown up in Detroit, I witnessed abundant creativity despite the lack of music programs in schools. I want to provide youth with the mentoring opportunities I lacked. What I have endured from derealization has given me insight and purpose. By openly communicating my experiences through dynamic songwriting, I strive to catalyze compassion and social change. My adversity fuels my motivation to support others struggling with mental health, spotlight marginalized artists, and expand access so creativity can blossom. I believe music has the power to heal as it has healed me.

I am passionate about music because when I am playing, writing, or singing I am filled by the presence of God, and that has been the case since I began singing at four years old. In middle school, my district began offering musical theater in curricular courses. I took theater classes throughout middle school and high school intending to refine my singing. During high school, I took the initiative and began releasing music at 14, and recently I have released my debut EP titled "Michigan" about life in Detroit and the struggles I went through as a young musician lacking direction. In applying for college, I aimed for the best - Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. Berklee was one of the three schools I applied to and it was my biggest reach. After a very strenuous and challenging audition process, I was offered a spot at the school starting Fall of 2022. At Berklee, I am majoring in Songwriting with a focus on Performance. Through my career, I plan to give back to the youth by being an advocate for their voices through artistic mediums. Coming from Detroit, which has the highest percentage of Black people in the entire Midwestern region, I see that many of my artistic peers are not as fortunate as I am. As I progress in my public music career as an artist, I also plan to be heavily involved in my community. In the coming years, starting a charitable foundation is in my plans. At Berklee, I am minoring in Creative Entrepreneurship to equip me with the skills to start a foundation. My foundation will provide underprivileged youth in Detroit with resources and training in songwriting, music production, recording, and performing. I want to give them access to instruments, studio time, mentors, and performance opportunities to develop their talents. My vision is to establish partnerships with schools, community centers, and local businesses to fund and sustain programs year-round. I also strive to showcase my students' talents through seasonal community concerts and public events. My goal is to create pipelines for youth to earn scholarships at institutions like Berklee College of Music to pursue music long-term. I plan to leverage my industry network to connect talented young musicians with labels, publishing deals, or touring opportunities. Through all this, I want to inspire kids who feel stuck in difficult circumstances that a brighter future awaits through music. My career success is meaningful only if I give back. I believe in paying forward the blessings I have received through my musical journey thus far. If my foundation provides even one student a lifeline through music, it's all worth it. Music saved me, so I’m passionate about letting it save my community.

Among the vast collection of books I've encountered, one stands out as my absolute favorite to date and one I believe everyone should read — "Can You Ever Forgive Me?" This captivating piece of literature was penned by none other than Lee Israel, an infamous forger who left an indelible mark on the world of writing. Israel, a New York-based author, found herself entangled in the web of her own crimes, eventually deciding to publish this extraordinary book. The public, eager for an explanation behind her actions, eagerly devoured its pages. However, upon its release in 2008, readers were taken aback by the sheer absence of remorse exhibited by a woman involved in the realm of forgery. The general sentiment was one of disbelief, perceiving her work as a bold and disrespectful move. Nevertheless, fate had something unexpected in store for "Can You Ever Forgive Me?". The book experienced a remarkable resurgence when it was adapted into a feature film, with the renowned actress Melissa McCarthy flawlessly portraying the complex character of Lee Israel. The film's resounding success and critical acclaim caught the attention of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, resulting in three prestigious Oscar nominations. Intrigued by this newfound buzz, I, along with countless others, felt compelled to dive into the pages of the book. To both myself and the newly-emerging post-film audience, "Can You Ever Forgive Me?" offers an intimate glimpse into the memoirs of a remarkable writer, whose brilliance, wit, and entertainment value are unparalleled. It provides a unique perspective from someone who, despite being caught up in a world of forgery, can scarcely muster an ounce of regret. This memoir resonates deeply, particularly when juxtaposed against society's expectations and norms. For those who dare to embark on this literary adventure—an experience I wholeheartedly recommend—you'll discover a powerful undercurrent of bold sarcasm that, in its strange and unconventional way, becomes increasingly endearing. "Can You Ever Forgive Me?" is a book that not only promises laughter but also unfolds an unbelievable narrative that will keep you utterly enthralled. Its ability to captivate readers, leaving an enduring impact, makes it a must-read for anyone seeking an extraordinary tale that transcends boundaries.

My favorite book to date is called "Can You Ever Forgive Me?" It is a book penned by an infamous forger by the name of Lee Israel. Israel was a New York author who’d been caught in the middle of her crimes and published this book, which the public perceived as some sort of explanation as to why she did what she did. When this book hit the shelves in 2008, buyers and borrowers were stunned to see a woman who’d shown no remorse for committing forgery. In fact, the general public at the time saw it as highly disrespectful. The book had a resurgence as it was adapted into a film starring the renowned actress Melissa McCarthy as Israel. The film went on to do so well that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, also known as the Oscars, nominated the film for three awards. This is when I, and many others, decided to read the book. To me and its newer post-film audience, “Can You Ever Forgive Me?" the book is a memoir of someone who was a phenomenal, witty, and entertaining writer with a skewed perspective who’d been caught doing something she could hardly even begin to regret. If you ever give the book a read — which is something I strongly suggest — then you will find bold sarcasm that is, in a strange way, very endearing. I recommend "Can You Ever Forgive Me?" to anyone who’s in need of a laugh and an unbelievable story.

My twin brother, Devin, and I were born and adopted into a family just south of Detroit, Michigan. For as long as I can remember, Devin and I were very headstrong when it came to what we wanted to do. So, it came as no surprise to my family that when we both found passions as naive little kids, we stuck through with them. My passion is music. When I was younger, I only sang music I memorized from the radio. It took my first bully and the insecurity that comes with being a preteen to prompt me to write a song rather than to sing a cover of one. My first song was titled “I've Survived.” It was my attempt at a woeful ballad about my middle school bully. I performed it for my music class at the time and, although they may have been underwhelmed, I was applauded and told to keep at it, so I did. My life goal from then on was for my music to be a place where people would thoroughly feel their feelings. Quickly, writing songs overtook my life and, thankfully so. After writing many songs, I developed a system. I subconsciously picked a subject or event and concentrated on a moment in which my life was affected by it. In July of 2021, I asked myself what my life would be like if those who inspired me from the beginning were not around. Naturally, I decided to write a song about just that titled "Ruby." This song stands as a thank you to those who have helped me develop the "Creative Courage" this scholarship asks for because if they were not there for me as I grew into the artist I am, there would not be any artist at all.

I was very young when passion was first explained to me. My mom described it as a loving emotion that was hardly even controllable. She said that I would be blessed to be able to find what that was for me at such a young age. Fortunately, I found it in music. Ever since I found my passion, I’ve longed for it to be something I could do for the rest of my life. I can only assume that it was natural for music to help me in the way it did. Because of how effective music was at facilitating the quality of my life, I want to have that effect on others. I want to let people know that they’re not alone in their pursuit to find themselves; that they’re not a burden by having emotions they don’t understand. I want people to feel whatever they feel with me, and I want to do that through the music I create. That, personally, will be the greatest achievement of my life. The Bold Career Goals Scholarship asks that I explain the goals I have for my career, but, I hope that one day, my goals ascend what a traditional career often happens to be. I dream of reaching full self-realization for myself and, I hope to know that I have opened the door to that process of self-realization for others through doing what I have always loved.

As I got older and began to fall into my identity, It became increasingly evident that my identity would fall in between intersectional bounds from a social standpoint. Although what’s written previously is true, it does not mean I have not fallen short in the past when it comes to actively striving towards equality for all. After the pandemic struck our world, it gave me more chances to consume media, and with that, there came media from those who are underrepresented in communities across the world. I got the chance to listen and learn about their struggles as a minority from them without some other person speaking over them. With that newly-learned information, it became very easy to believe that racism, misogyny, classism, and ableism are things that are undeniable on a global scale. I tried my best to hold myself accountable and advocate for the communities I had seen suffering. Firstly, I began to watch what I say. While un-learning my damaging behavior, I found that a lot of the vernacular I used was vulgar or derogatory and they were terms from times where profiling and discrimination were not as frowned upon. Also, I regularly marched in local protests, signed petitions, and called my representatives about helping those who face housing inequality and racism most times. But, if there was a cause I did believe in that happened to not be those two that I participated in most frequently, I’d make time to do what was necessary to attempt to make things happen politically so, in the long run, true equality was achieved. I am proud to say that I have built a habit that will last a lifetime.

My grandma always said to me, “only bricks can build a building, for better or for worse,” and that is the mantra that has stuck with me up until now. Grandma always sought to find the joy and she believed it was found in the little things in life. When I was young, it was easy to ignore all of the little things that weighed on the world; simply because they did not concern me. Once I got older though, those ‘buildings’ became clearer to me and I understood why the spark in my eyes promptly faded away. When COVID-19 hit the world, my family and I vowed to find the joy like nothing had changed in the world. “Only bricks can build a building,” my mom reminded us. “We can at least try.” During our time together, we sang and laughed over melodies we came up with spontaneously, we danced and tripped over music from my parents’ early 20s, and we hoped and prayed that things between all of us would never change. We found results in our efforts. We are closer now than ever and that won’t ever change because we find joy in the little moments we share. Only bricks can build a building and we’ve built a home.