When I first entered high school, I was very cocky as a musician and a student. Coming from middle school with the 5th highest GPA and being the best saxophone player, I felt as if I was better than everyone else. I had a girlfriend that I thought I was so in love with at the time and it just seemed as if I had it going in. I was quickly humbled. In my freshmen year, I was at the top of all my classes except for the band. I walked into the band room thinking that was going to be the best saxophone player in the school and at the time I only wanted to play tenor. In that class, I met a close friend of mine today named Joshua. Josh is the best student saxophonist I've honestly ever heard play. He could do things that I could not. His sound was just so much better than mine. However, he was very humble. He never boasted or show-boated, he was just himself. Very soon Josh got moved up to the next level class whereas I was still in the beginner class. That happening to me made me realize, I'm not going to always be number one. I was very rude to a lot of people, people who even tried to help me. Because I thought I knew everything. That experience in my freshman year struggling on band made me realize, people have to work hard to get to the levels that they wish to be at in their lives. Josh practiced way more than I did, even in his classes he studied very hard. All while being nice and accepting of the people around him. Since then I've really grown as a person. I'm now the president of Future Business Leaders of America, President of the Band, and the woodwind captain. Meeting Josh pushed me to knock some sense into myself and actually work for the things that I wanted and just be nice to people. I'm a more reliable person now, and people trust me. Since my freshman year, I've made a positive impact on all my teachers and my life has just been floating. Yes, there are times when life gets hard because in order for me to ever experience perfection, I'll have to experience many imperfections in my life. Theres no way around it. I'm grateful he was placed in my life, I'm grateful for the impact music has had in bringing more and more for me in my life, and grateful for the grace of God to be able to be the person that I am today.

A woman in my life has been many things to me—a friend, life coach, mother, pastor, and teacher. When I was younger she was a pastor to me (she still is to this day) and always made sure that I spoke to her. I did not know that later in my life she would end up becoming my teacher for two years of my life. In private school life was rough. It was a new environment for me. But she approached me differently. With other kids, she was more firm but with me, she preferred to talk. She could tell that I was hurting and I had not known a lot of the things that she did for me at the time. In private school, she introduced me to books such as "Think & Grow Rich," "7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens," and "How to Win Friends and Influence People." These books helped me and pushed my mind to expand beyond its boundaries. Because of her, I had a love for reading and it is what we continue to do together today. When I left the school in the 6th grade she kept telling me "You're going to do amazing in public school." and "You and your brother will be well ahead of everyone else." In middle school, she began to take me on "mother-son" dates. On these outings we talked about my life overall and how I was doing. She noticed how I loved music and wanted me to push toward what I love. She told me "When you love your career, it isn't work." When I remember all of the things and the moments I've spent with her, I realize how much of an impact she has had on my life. Her pushing me so hard during the time she had me as her student gave me the life skills to push for the things that I love in my life. Today I am a much different child than when I first met her. I'm getting ready for college and she has been there every step of the way. Recently in church, she told me something that I continue to repeat to myself. She told me, "Don't be afraid to walk on your calling. God has already given it to you so take it." Seeing all the things she's done for me, all of her students, my family, and our church, shows me what working hard and living every day to the fullest looks like. I never once saw her upset or frustrated because she always seems at peace with the world. She's an example of the way I want my life to go. She's her boss and it's what I wish to be someday.

My favorite thing about Disney is that Disney always shows what hard work and determination can get you when you work for something. Movies like Princess and the Frog, Toy Story, Cars, Planes, and many others all express story lines of characters who worked hard to achieve a greater goal for themselves. When a big company such as Disney can continue to show what hard work gets you through something as simple as a family cartoon, it can really have an impact on their audience. When I first saw the movie Cars, Lightening McQueen was a young, cocky racer. Yes he was fast, he was a winner, but he lacked experience and determination; he could not even work so well with his pit crew because all he wanted to do was win. When McQueen had his major accident in a race he was sent to Radiator Springs. There he met an older car named Doc Hudson (The Hudson Hornet), who quickly humbled McQueen and helped him work hard to become a much better racer. With discipline and practice McQueen transformed on screen from this arrogant racer, to a team player. All because of hard work, discipline, and respect for the people he had around him. A lot of times I see myself as being McQueen. When I was younger I was very vain, because I was usually the smartest child in the classroom. I acted as if I lived an opulent life when that really was not the case. It was not until I was placed in a school where there were children smarter than me, could play their instruments better than I could, and had better personalities, that I was able to do an reality check on my self. Similar to how Disney changed the environment of McQueen to produce a better character, my environment was changed by my parents to create a better person. Now that I’m an actual leader in my school and community, I owe some of the qualities that I now have to Disney. I’ve worked and have had success much like the many characters in Disney. I appreciate Disney and everything Disney has done over the years. Walt Disney worked beyond hard to make Disney as successful as it is, and the characters he creates exemplify what hard work can get you. Through traits and principles expressed from Disney as well as my parents guidance, I have become the president of the band program at my high school (Fayette County High School), and the president of Future Business Leaders of America. God truly blessed Walt Disney, and he has touched the lives of many who watch his movies and shows. Disney will continuously be an amazing part of my life and I hope that it impacts the future to come.

The song "Counted Steps" by artist Rod Wave has the most important message to me. The song talks about how you have to grow yourself in order to move forward in life. The artist talks about the pain from his past and how the pain has helped him move forward in life. This song has taught me how to turn my hardships into motivation to press forward in life. The artist teaches that trial and tribulation should be fuel for you to want to succeed in life. This song is in all of my playlists because it helps to motivate me no matter what kind of day I'm having.