Hello there! My name is Ethan, and I certainly was drawn to Michael's story, may he rest in peace. As a matter of fact, his story reminds quite a bit of me of myself. Anyway, to answer the prompt, I have been interested in music for a couple of years now. I am just so drawn to this art and feel connections to many of the songs I choose to listen to. As I like to say, while painters beautify their canvases, musicians paint the air. To move on to my own musical talent, I practice guitar (acoustic and electric). I feel that the guitar is a very personal instrument that is applicable to just about any kind of music. That is probably why I chose it. I enjoy listening to and practicing classical music, rock, and metal in my free time, but sometimes I like to explore and venture off into other genres. The versatility of the guitar makes doing this very easy. Music is definitely my chosen way to express myself, and I want to study it in college so that I may share my talent with others. To be more specific, I, a devout Christian, believe that God has given each and every one of us a unique skill set with which we can honor Him as well as others. For me, that skill set revolves around music, which I think is kind of significant. You see, everything in the world began with a sound spoken by God. With that being said, we are all joined together by sound. It is simply how we all started. Of course, humans have used sound to our advantage, even going as far as to invent devices (which we call musical instruments) designed specifically to make sound (music) that is pleasing to others. Hopefully it is now clear that my fascination with music has deepened my understanding of God. Furthermore, it has actually helped to give me a deeper understanding of others as well. I have made a great number of friends through music, and I am so grateful for that. Music just brings people together. Combining all of these ideas together, my goal is to bring people together with my music and relate to them using the aptitudes God has given me. Music, as I stated previously, is my way of expressing myself. It is my way of communicating to others. I figured, "Why not communicate something positive?" I think that sharing my musical talent will please God. My pursuit of Him will shine through my music, and I intend for others to see that. Jesus looks to each and every one of us with open arms. It pains me to know that many people fail to realize that. By practicing my guitar and using the gift of my talent that the Lord has given me to honor Him and serve those around me, I may stand as an encouragement to others to do the same. Anyway, I would just like to say that I am so grateful for this opportunity to pursue music through this scholarship. I appreciate all who have come to read this, and even if I don't win, I am glad that I took the chance to perhaps change someone's perspective. God bless Michael: his life and legacy is certainly cherished. Just from reading his story, I can tell that he was someone who wanted to express himself with his unique talents and interests. I definitely hope that I can do the same while honoring the Lord and those around me. Music, an integral part of numerous cultures, is such an incredible thing, and I believe that it is the key to achieving my goals. Thank you.