Ever since I was 6 years old, my life has been surrounded by music. Growing up, my family always moved from place to place. I never really had friends or schools to relate to and to call home. The only time I was ever able to relate to someone closely was through music. When I started my education in second grade, I was told what a great voice I had. At the time I attended a smaller school in Missouri, but still stood out from the crowd of kids. I was given the stage to sing the Star Spangled Banner for the first time, that year. After elementary school, I moved yet again to Kansas where I have found my home. It was here where I struggled with my mental health and was unable to make new friends, for it was halfway through middle school in a small town. The first person I ever connected with was my choral teacher. Angeline McGuffin. At the time, I was dealing with another military move, and I was living in an RV with the rest of my 5 siblings and parents. We were unable to afford a house at the time, and I was bullied for it. Mrs. McGuffin led me to a place of hopefulness and strength in my voice and allowed me to sing my first concert solo. What Child Is This? That Christmas solo changed my life and transformed me into the person I am today. Since then I have made the KMEA State Honor Choir 6 years in a row, and have even gotten medals for it. Music allowed me to be outgoing and gave me the courage to believe in myself. Throughout my musical career, I have experienced the change my voice can make for people. At one of my recent concerts, a man suffering from stage four lung cancer told me I was the last voice he wanted to hear, this information changed my interpretation of music forever. As a music educator and performance major, I vow to change people's lives for the good. I want to help students find their path on the musical trail, and guide the lost to where they belong. Being a music educator also gives me leadership skills and allows me to guide students, who are in bad situations like I was, to salvation. My love and drive for music will never die, and I want the world to know.

Ever since I was 6 years old, my life has been surrounded by music. Growing up, my family always moved from place to place. I never really had friends or schools to relate to and to call home. The only time I was ever able to relate to someone closely was through music. When I started my education in second grade, I was told what a great voice I had. At the time I attended a smaller school in Missouri, but still stood out from the crowd of kids. I was given the stage to sing the Star Spangled Banner for the first time, that year. After elementary school, I moved yet again to Kansas where I have found my home. It was here where I struggled with my mental health and was unable to make new friends, for it was halfway through middle school in a small town. The first person I ever connected with was my choral teacher. Angeline McGuffin. At the time, I was dealing with another military move, and I was living in an RV with the rest of my 5 siblings and parents. We were unable to afford a house at the time, and I was bullied for it. Mrs. McGuffin led me to a place of hopefulness and strength in my voice and allowed me to sing my first concert solo. What Child Is This? That Christmas solo changed my life and transformed me into the person I am today. Since then I have made the KMEA State Honor Choir 6 years in a row, and have even gotten medals for it. Music allowed me to be outgoing and gave me the courage to believe in myself. Throughout my musical career, I have experienced the change my voice can make for people. At one of my recent concerts, a man suffering from stage four lung cancer told me I was the last voice he wanted to hear, this information changed my interpretation of music forever. As a music educator and performance major, I vow to change people's lives for the good. I want to help students find their path on the musical trail, and guide the lost to where they belong. Being a music educator also gives me leadership skills and allows me to guide students, who are in bad situations like I was, to salvation. My love and drive for music will never die, and I want the world to know.