I have always had a passion for music, partially because of my parents' involvement with music. My mother, from a young age, has been singing and songwriting. She performed in talent shows at school, and she has been a worship leader since I was born. My father, on the other hand, is from Mexico, and their music is a huge part of the culture. At every event, even day to day, the families are either playing music, listening, or performing. When my parents first met, they started their relationship by attending music festivals and such, and as their relationship expanded, so did their love for music. Since I was born, I can't recall a time when music wasn't playing. As a little kid, I would always beg for music in the car, in the house, outside-everywhere. Starting elementary school, I was in every chorus class, and every performance, and I even took lessons for ukulele and piano. Through middle school, I was in chorus, and I even joined the band at church with my mom and learned the guitar. In the band, I learned to sing backup, stage presence, guitar, bass, electric guitar, and Ableton. Proceeding into high school, my love for music grew even more, but not long into my freshman year, I began to struggle in all areas at school. I became too distracted with finding friends and having a social life, and as a result, I was slacking in sports, academics, and even music. I wasn't writing music as much as normally, I performed poorly on my band and soccer team, and I was failing classes. During this time, my mental health took a dive, and it was difficult to work towards doing better. It wasn't until junior year that I began doing well again, not only mentally, but in my lacking areas. I had new friends, and they pushed me to do my best in everything, while staying focused on academics. I started writing more to cope with issues I was experiencing, and this newfound love blossomed into a craving for a career in music production. I decided mid junior year to try out for Douglas Anderson, and to my surprise, I got in. I worried that I would struggle with making friends, joining extracurriculars, and just the switch overall, but nevertheless, I took the leap and accepted. Starting senior year was difficult, but after only a month I was getting used to the change, and I was learning so much. So far into the year, I have performed several of my own songs, and I have written more music than ever. In addition, I am making great connections that will benefit me in my career for years to come. After my senior year, I plan on attending Full Sail University, and pursuing a career in music production. With this career, I want to not only produce for well known artists, but I have a dream to give opportunities to high school students and small artists. Being a small high school artist now gives me the motivation to want to do that for future students. I feel that being a songwriter at a non art school for the majority of high school was hard, especially since no one else at my school did the same thing. It was hard to relate to anyone in this way, and I didn't have the tools I needed to succeed from there. Moving schools has been so beneficial, and it's teaching me many skills that I will use for the rest of my life.

I have always had a passion for music, partially because of my parents' involvement with music. My mother, from a young age, has been singing and songwriting. She performed in talent shows at school, and she has been a worship leader since I was born. My father, on the other hand, is from Mexico, and their music is a huge part of the culture. At every event, even day to day, the families are either playing music, listening, or performing. When my parents first met, they started their relationship by attending music festivals and such, and as their relationship expanded, so did their love for music. Since I was born, I can't recall a time when music wasn't playing. As a little kid, I would always beg for music in the car, in the house, outside-everywhere. Starting elementary school, I was in every chorus class, and every performance, and I even took lessons for ukulele and piano. Through middle school, I was in chorus, and I even joined the band at church with my mom and learned the guitar. In the band, I learned to sing backup, stage presence, guitar, bass, electric guitar, and Ableton. Proceeding into high school, my love for music grew even more, but not long into my freshman year, I began to struggle in all areas at school. I became too distracted with finding friends and having a social life, and as a result, I was slacking in sports, academics, and even music. I wasn't writing music as much as normally, I performed poorly on my band and soccer team, and I was failing classes. During this time, my mental health took a dive, and it was difficult to work towards doing better. It wasn't until junior year that I began doing well again, not only mentally, but in my lacking areas. I had new friends, and they pushed me to do my best in everything, while staying focused on academics. I started writing more to cope with issues I was experiencing, and this newfound love blossomed into a craving for a career in music production. I decided mid junior year to try out for Douglas Anderson, and to my surprise, I got in. I worried that I would struggle with making friends, joining extracurriculars, and just the switch overall, but nevertheless, I took the leap and accepted. Starting senior year was difficult, but after only a month I was getting used to the change, and I was learning so much. So far into the year, I have performed several of my own songs, and I have written more music than ever. In addition, I am making great connections that will benefit me in my career for years to come. After my senior year, I plan on attending Full Sail University, and pursuing a career in music production. With this career, I want to not only produce for well known artists, but I have a dream to give opportunities to high school students and small artists. Being a small high school artist now gives me the motivation to want to do that for future students. I feel that being a songwriter at a non art school for the majority of high school was hard, especially since no one else at my school did the same thing. It was hard to relate to anyone in this way, and I didn't have the tools I needed to succeed from there. Moving schools has been so beneficial, and it's teaching me many skills that I will use for the rest of my life.

From a very young age, my mental health has struggled. That's the sad reality for many. It's scary to know that at such a young age, kids can have issues with their mental health. Since elementary school, I've lost friends and nearly lost friends to mental health battles. This is why I want to do something about it. I am going to make a change. I began struggling with my mental health in elementary school due to bullying and small stresses from extracurriculars and school. The issues were there but unaddressed until middle school. My grades slipped, and I started struggling badly, and I felt like there was no one to talk to about it. Suddenly, the pandemic hit, and my once-weak mental health took a toll. Once classes resumed as normal, I did well and tried to make the most out of my eighth-grade year. I was so excited about high school, and I finally felt happy to be moving on from the negative environment at my middle school. High school started strong. I joined the soccer, volleyball, and even the basketball teams, and I was the leader of a band. Then, my mental health once again began struggling. My grades started slipping again, and so did my performance in my extracurriculars. I slowly began fading out of my passions, and by the end of 10th grade, I had quit everything I had ever loved and known. Through the summer, the days felt like the best I had ever had, but at night, I felt so alone, and I searched for comfort relentlessly. After searching for comfort in every person, and every hobby, I finally found my comfort, my outlet, my true passion. Music. Not just music though, specifically, songwriting. I started writing songs and they just kept coming, I felt like all I ever did was write, but for me, it was a release to write about the struggles I was facing and my fears for the future. I decided to try out for Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, for their songwriting program. I was luckily accepted into not only the songwriting program, but the vocal program as well, and I have done exceedingly well so far. Switching schools senior year has been a journey, but I know that in the end, it will have all been worth it. I have a plan for my life and goals for the future. I plan to attend Full Sail University for their Music Production program, and after earning my bachelor's, I plan on moving to Boston and getting my master's from Berklee. With the knowledge I gain from college, I want to begin by producing music for a company and slowly move into building my own company. With my own company, I want to help songwriters get their music out into the world. Since music has inspired me and helped me through the hardest times of my life, I feel that it's so important to continue to make more music to reach all kinds of people from all walks of life and all different situations. Music saved my life, and it could save other's lives. I want nothing more than to make that a reality.

I have faced adversity my whole life, especially in school. Not only this, but I am a first-generation college student and the first in my family to graduate high school. Being the first of these two things is, of course, an honor, but it also brings stresses that are hard to combat. Through elementary school, I had straight A's and did plenty of extracurriculars like music lessons, dance lessons, and soccer. Even into middle school, I kept these passions, but as more classes and work were added, my grades started slipping. This was difficult for me to admit and own up to, mainly because I had never gotten poor grades in class, but I also felt the need to be the best in school while maintaining my outside passions. I worked to manage my time better but still struggled, and because of this, I slowly stopped going to music and dance lessons. Starting high school felt like a fresh start, and I started strong, but like in previous years, I slipped up in my schoolwork and faced not only pressure from my teachers and parents but also from myself. My teachers and parents weren't intentionally pressuring me but simply encouraging me to seek help with my work because they knew what I was capable of and they wanted to see me succeed. By my junior year, I found a way to manage my work. I still struggled, but I worked through it and gave it my best efforts. I even joined the volleyball and soccer teams. The year started great. I had friends and teammates, and my parents were pleased with my performance in all I did. But, as always, struggles arose. This time, I lost motivation in all areas: songwriting, soccer, volleyball, school- everything. This caused tension at school and home and took a toll on my mental health. I struggled through the second quarter, but as I always do, I found a way out of this rut. With motivation from my parents, I decided to try out for my dream high school, Douglas Anderson School of the Arts. Trying out for senior year was scary for me because most students go to their connected middle school, LaVilla. I was accepted into their songwriting and vocal program, and I have excelled in all areas. My grades have been steady, and my mental health has been at its peak. I had to give up on sports, to make more time for songwriting and vocal extracurriculars, but it was the best decision I could have made. Because I decided to chase my high school dream, I am motivated to reach for all of my dreams. I now have a strong plan for my life, and I am confident in my success. I am going to attend Full Sail University for music production, receive my bachelor's from there, and then move to Boston and get my masters from Berklee. After my schooling, I am going to start producing for a company, and gradually branch off and start my own company. I am so excited to reach my goals and have my passion as a career.

My main goal for life, is to bring more music to more people. I plan on attending college for music production, earning my masters degree, and then starting my own company for music production. By building a company of my own, I want to use it to reach out to the songwriters in the community across the country, and even the world. Starting off as a songwriter myself, I notice a deep longing for sharing music, within me. Looking outward, I also notice this among my peers. I want to help songwriters fulfill this longing, from the near community, and even around the world, and I can do this through my own company. I not only want to produce their music, but I want to do so at a low or no cost. Nowadays, music producing companies cost a lot, and this is part of the reason that many songwriters must learn to do it themselves, or just accept defeat and not produce their writing at all. As a music lover, this is disappointing to know that so many songs, masterpieces, have not been heard, simply because of the lack of money. As of now, I am still in my senior year of high school, but I have already began reaching out to the community in any way I can. From performing and posting my songs, to speaking with peers and friends, I am doing my best to educate others and motivate them to pursue their dreams. I am currently enrolled in the music production class at school, and in this class I am working diligently to learn as much about producing before college, so that I can begin my career journey as soon as possible. When it comes to my dream, my only dilemma is money. Things in life are costly, and being a full time student and working is bound to be difficult. Being a first generation college attender makes the process all the more difficult. My parents know little about the college process, and how to help me, and as a result, I have struggled to find help with applying for scholarships, colleges, and knowing what the best decisions are to make. I have worked very hard to get as far as I have gotten, and I will continue working until I have fulfilled my dream, and changed lives, not just in my community, but world wide.

My top three Billie songs are My Future, Happier Than Ever, and Skinny. To begin, my future resonates with me because of how much I can relate to it. In this song, Billie talks about being "in love" with her future, and the song is sung in a way that aims it at a lover or past lover. This song speaks to me so much, mainly because I agree with every word of this song. From telling this person that she feels distracted and she's disappearing almost to telling the person she's decided to follow her future rather than them. I was instantly hooked to this song because telling someone that you're choosing your path and your future over them is so difficult- likely one of the hardest things to do. It's hard to explain the feeling of knowing you'll miss this person, but you still want the best for yourself without sounding selfish, and I feel that Billie said it perfectly through this song. Another song that resonates with me is happier than ever. In this song, she's talking about feeling relief and being at peace when she's away from this person rather than with them. What I like about this song is that it can be interpreted as being about anyone. It could be about a friend, lover, family member, or anyone. This song is such an angsty song, and I relate to every lyric of this song. Dealing with anger and frustration toward a person is very difficult, and being able to channel that into a song is admirable. The third song that I resonate with, and the most recent, is SKINNY. The way that Billie addresses her fans and calls them out in this song is incredible. It takes gut to address an issue you feel strongly about, especially in a song. The risk of losing fans is so high, but I feel that this is the absolute best way that this could have been handled. I like how she addresses the fact that her support has increased now that she is skinnier. Not only does she say this, but she also addresses the pressure that many girls deal with - to conform to social norms to fit in.