Ever since I was young, I’ve adored music. I have vivid memories of dancing around to U2, Michael Jackson, and Blur—thanks to my dad’s incredible taste. Deep down, I always knew I wanted music to be a part of my future. I just didn’t know how until I discovered live audio production. Live audio production is a field dedicated to managing and enhancing sound quality in real time for various events. This role primarily involves mixing and balancing audio for live venues, strongly focusing on creating an immersive experience during concerts and other performances. In my freshman year of high school, I joined the tech team as a sound engineer at my church, where I discovered the magic of live audio mixing. Merging my love for music with creativity, I dove into learning everything I could: audio hardware, stage wiring, microphone placement, sound wave frequencies, active listening, and clear communication. This hands-on experience taught me practical skills I could never have learned in a traditional classroom. A few years in, I was allowed to train a younger high schooler to mix for our band. When my trainee showed up for his first training session, I was afraid because I wasn’t sure if my knowledge of audio would translate well while I taught it. I powered on our mixing console and immediately felt at ease. I relied upon my past experiences and explained everything I could to my trainee, and he was eager to learn. Watching him succeed on his first day was one of my proudest moments. I realized I not only loved mixing but also teaching others to do it. The atmosphere of a live mixing set is something that cannot be put into words. The communication between a sound engineer and a band oftentimes is minimal, but with my band, there was always an open line of dialogue. That healthy environment helped me grow and inspired me to create the same experience for others. Live audio production may be a niche career, but I feel incredibly thankful to have found it. Standing behind the console, helping the band create the perfect sound, brings me joy, confidence, and creativity that is unmatched elsewhere. Audio engineering has made my educational journey more meaningful. No matter how stressful school became, I always looked forward to Sunday mornings, knowing I’d be doing what I loved. This fall, I will be attending Liberty University in Virginia to pursue a degree in Live Audio Production, where I can keep growing in my skills. I am eager to continue learning and applying these skills in the real world. With a lifelong passion for music and a love for mixing it live, I am confident that I have found the career I was meant for.

I used to believe that life’s challenges were meant for other people, distant stories that would never touch my world. That was until my Mum developed one of the most painful diseases known to humankind, trigeminal neuralgia, which ultimately required her to undergo brain surgery. This experience taught me the value of perseverance through trials. My narrow view of life changed almost instantly. My passion is for the protection of my family, so when Mum was diagnosed, it was a shock to everyone, but especially to me. Why did MY Mum, who is the sweetest and kindest person, always putting others before herself, have to suffer? I was heartbroken and confused, and there was nothing that I could do to help her. I couldn’t understand why this had happened. As a freshman in high school at the time, I learned several important life lessons. First, there is no avoiding hardships in life. Difficult things will happen and we must learn how to adapt to our circumstances to keep moving forward. I had to adapt to my family’s circumstances by sacrificing my time, comfort, and oftentimes my well-treasured sleep to put Mum and family first. This was frustrating because I selfishly wanted to focus only on myself. Instead, I learned to prioritize my family because I love and cherish them greatly. Second, the hardships we encounter in life can destroy us or we can use them to grow stronger. With this disease attacking Mum, I wanted to hate the world because I was scared of the potential pain that the world had to offer. Over time, I realized I could use this hardship to grow into a better person. People often asked how Mum was feeling, so when a friend asked me how I was doing, I was caught off guard. I pondered the question momentarily, and responded, “I’m sorrowful, but grateful to be in a position to take care of Mum.” Through the continual decisions to sacrifice my own needs to meet the needs of my family, I learned perseverance. I chose to be strong for Mum, to encourage others going through hardship, and to persevere through dark times. I realized that pain exists, but it doesn’t define me, what I choose to do as a result of difficult times says much about my character. As the looming front of adulthood nears, I know for certain that I will encounter hardships. Looking back, I can honestly say I am thankful for all of the painful circumstances throughout my life that have grown and shaped me into who I am today. With the self-knowledge that I gained through this heartbreaking circumstance of Mum’s disease, I am confident I will be able to approach my future studies without fear of difficulties and instead understand that hard circumstances will grow me into a stronger woman who will impact the world with my passion for others' well-being.