I've been a pianist since 1st grade, but homework and other extra-curricular activities were beginning to consume all my time in high school. In the midst of AP and Honors courses, I was also juggling martial arts, yoga, volunteering, and marching band. With that, I often neglected piano practice. Instead of making progress, I was starting to regress. When the pandemic caused my high school to shut down, many of my extracurricular activities were gone as well. The ones that remained were held over Zoom, which meant that I no longer had to worry about lengthy transportation times. I was left with double the time and half the commitments that I had before. Seeing it as an opportunity, I practiced piano diligently once again. In the summer of 2020, my friends and I organized and performed in a virtual benefit concert. In the end, we raised $2,700 for Hope Solutions, a local non-profit. At that point, I knew that I would want my career to involve music while being able to help those in need. This led me to where I am today: studying Music Therapy at the University of the Pacific.

Ever since a very young age, I’ve always had the notion that helping others was an essential part of life. I had been observing it in the family. From things like holding the door to chaperoning on field trips, volunteering seemed so casual. The spirit passed down to me when I came across chances to help. From the contentment that followed, I decided I would support those around me to the best of my ability. At first, it was simply helping classmates in school. As I grew older, that extended to volunteering in local charity groups and libraries. I was able to make an even greater contribution to the community in the past few years, through a student-run organization called Dynamic Change. Just last year, a few other musicians and I were able to raise $2,700 from a virtual benefit concert. The money went to Hope Solutions, which is an organization that provides permanent housing solutions and support services to the homeless. As I pursue further education, I imagine that I will be able to give back to the community to an even greater degree. The words “community service” nicely sum up everything from what I enjoy doing to what I want my future career to involve. Giving back to the community is immensely rewarding, and it is a way to express my appreciation towards everything the community has given me. Aiding others goes farther than simply doing small things that are considered “good”. A person who is truly intent on benefiting others will be willing to sacrifice something of their own. As I entered high school, I felt the increasing emphasis on academics, and it was becoming harder to find the time to volunteer. Having the grades to get into a good college was just as important as community work, so I had to focus on my new priority. Nonetheless, I still helped out whenever it was possible, whether it was volunteering during the summer or helping friends with homework at school. The work that I've done so far has given me new insights to my job preferences and interests: Open Heart Kitchen has not only taught me the basic skills of a kitchen worker, but also the patience and care needed to service seniors; being a teacher's assistant at my Chinese school let me work on the best ways to supervise young children while keeping them motivated enough to learn on a Friday evening. Both of these were very different experiences, but there was a similar feeling of satisfaction once I found the best approach to help them. Because of COVID-19, these activities were all cancelled. However, I recently joined an organization that provides access to free online music lessons to children of all ages. The feeling of benefiting others was even more gratifying when it involved the musical skill that I had grown up with.

I speak three languages: English, Chinese, and Music. Being born into a Chinese family, the former two languages came naturally. I started learning my third language at six when watching a DVD concert with my parents. Enticed by the virtuosity of the musicians and the pure timbre of the piano, I began taking piano lessons. Thanks to my teacher who always pushed me beyond my perceived limits, my musical path looked very promising. Nonetheless, I never felt that playing piano was the main focus of my life. Even when my friends asked, I never elaborated on my musical ability. To me, music was a safe haven where I could go on blissful adventures, and I’d wanted to keep those emotions personal. As I grew older and developed other interests, my time was divided among a grid of extra-curriculars. Piano playing was such a big part of me that I knew it would always be there, but it didn’t shine like it used to. The spirit I once possessed was slowly leaving me. As I continued to mature, I saw my commitment as more of a weight to drag me down than a stage to elevate me. That is, until the pandemic hit. My overloaded schedule with school, marching band, and volunteer work instantly diminished with the shelter-in-place order. As I paid off some sleep debt, my interests and curiosities were revived. I started to spend more time on the piano. I was even looking forward to the summer concert my friends and I would be hosting. Well, almost. The concert was a fundraising event we had organized and performed in since ninth grade. The donation this year would go to a local charity that helped the homeless. Seeing the persistence of the pandemic during the summer, we had considered cancelling the concert. But finally we agreed to hold it online, though I was dubious about the voluntary donation. Flaws in my past performances haunted me. What if I did not meet the audience’s expectations and brought down the donation? Yet, “the show must go on.” I decided the only solution was to practice arduously and present my best self during the performance. The recording sessions were more stressful than I imagined, but the greatest drawback was the lack of tacit support from the audience. I felt like I was performing in a vacuum without any emotional vibes. Amazingly, the concert turned out to be very well received. Never had I felt such a sense of accomplishment as when I read blocks of text from my friends, detailing their thoughts and sincere appreciation. As an unexpected benefit of a virtual concert, we were able to reach out to many more people and fundraised 2,700 dollars. Not only did we surpass our donation goal by 35%, but the amount was almost double those of preceding concerts. On reflection, I felt so proud to be able to contribute, and I found new significance in my piano playing. The challenges of COVID-19 allowed me to gain new insights. I felt raised by my friends’ unconditional support, and saw that my passion in music was something others could enjoy just as I had. By illuminating my talents, I could draw attention to important causes and help my society. Instead of my retreat, piano playing had become my spotlight. 2020 was a year of disruption: an agenda filled with martial arts and percussion competitions, SAT exams, and a driving test was suddenly wiped out. Nevertheless, it was also a year of self-revelation: putting in an earnest heart can resolve even the toughest situations. Thankfully, years of piano playing has taught me to be perseverant, and imparted me with a mindset I could rely on in tough times. With music as a key by my side, I will always have a way to unlock the door in the face of life’s hardships. Regarding my area of study, I have always had dreams to help people. To me, there is nothing more fulfilling than being able to benefit others in need. My strongest interest in life lies in music, whether it be performing it, learning it, or simply sharing it with others. Along with psychology, music can make a great impact. The benefits of music therapy fit very well with my own interests, as I enjoy spreading music and supporting people at the same time. Music is a unique medium that allows me to communicate with people from all walks of life. A strong sense of purpose is the most important thing in reaching out to help people. I strive to instill people with kindness and a peace of mind. I hope to work as a music therapist at best, or at least be a therapist in the social services field.

Ever since a very young age, I’ve always had the notion that helping others was an essential part of life. I had been observing it in the family. From things like holding the door to chaperoning on field trips, volunteering seemed so casual. The spirit passed down to me when I came across chances to help. From the contentment that followed, I decided I would support those around me to the best of my ability. At first, it was simply helping classmates in school. As I grew older, that extended to volunteering in local charity groups and libraries. I was able to make an even greater contribution to the community in the past few years, through a student-run organization called Dynamic Change. Just last year, a few other musicians and I were able to raise $2,700 from a virtual benefit concert. The money went to Hope Solutions, which is an organization that provides permanent housing solutions and support services to the homeless. As I pursue further education, I imagine that I will be able to give back to the community to an even greater degree. The words “community service” nicely sum up everything from what I enjoy doing to what I want my future career to involve. Giving back to the community is immensely rewarding, and it is a way to express my appreciation towards everything the community has given me. Aiding others goes farther than simply doing small things that are considered “good”. A person who is truly intent on benefiting others will be willing to sacrifice something of their own. As I entered high school, I felt the increasing emphasis on academics, and it was becoming harder to find the time to volunteer. Having the grades to get into a good college was just as important as community work, so I had to focus on my new priority. Nonetheless, I still helped out whenever it was possible, whether it was volunteering during the summer or helping friends with homework at school. The work that I've done so far has given me new insights to my job preferences and interests: Open Heart Kitchen has not only taught me the basic skills of a kitchen worker, but also the patience and care needed to service seniors; being a teacher's assistant at my Chinese school let me work on the best ways to supervise young children while keeping them motivated enough to learn on a Friday evening. Both of these were very different experiences, but there was a similar feeling of satisfaction once I found the best approach to help them. Because of COVID-19, these activities were all cancelled. However, I recently joined an organization that provides access to free online music lessons to children of all ages. The feeling of benefiting others was even more gratifying when it involved the musical skill that I had grown up with. My ideal area of study will let me fulfill my dreams to help people. To me, there is nothing more fulfilling than being able to benefit others in need. My strongest interest in life lies in music, whether it be performing it, learning it, or simply sharing it with others. But it doesn’t have to be a standalone thing. Along with psychology, music can make a great impact. The benefits of music therapy fit very well with my own interests, as I enjoy spreading music and supporting people at the same time. Music is a strong medium that allows me to communicate with people from all walks of life. A strong sense of purpose is the most important thing in reaching out to help people. I strive to instill people with kindness and a peace of mind. I hope to work as a music therapist at best, or at least be a therapist in the social services field.

Ever since a very young age, I’ve always had the notion that helping others was an essential part of life. I had been observing it in the family. From things like holding the door to chaperoning on field trips, volunteering seemed so casual. The spirit passed down to me when I came across chances to help. From the contentment that followed, I decided I would support those around me to the best of my ability. At first, it was simply helping classmates in school. As I grew older, that extended to volunteering in local charity groups and libraries. I was able to make an even greater contribution to the community in the past few years, through a student-run organization called Dynamic Change. Just last year, a few other musicians and I were able to raise $2,700 from a virtual benefit concert. The money went to Hope Solutions, which is an organization that provides permanent housing solutions and support services to the homeless. As I pursue further education, I imagine that I will be able to give back to the community to an even greater degree. The words “community service” nicely sum up everything from what I enjoy doing to what I want my future career to involve. Giving back to the community is immensely rewarding, and it is a way to express my appreciation towards everything the community has given me. Aiding others goes farther than simply doing small things that are considered “good”. A person who is truly intent on benefiting others will be willing to sacrifice something of their own. As I entered high school, I felt the increasing emphasis on academics, and it was becoming harder to find the time to volunteer. Having the grades to get into a good college was just as important as community work, so I had to focus on my new priority. Nonetheless, I still helped out whenever it was possible, whether it was volunteering during the summer or helping friends with homework at school. The work that I've done so far has given me new insights to my job preferences and interests: Open Heart Kitchen has not only taught me the basic skills of a kitchen worker, but also the patience and care needed to service seniors; being a teacher's assistant at my Chinese school let me work on the best ways to supervise young children while keeping them motivated enough to learn on a Friday evening. Both of these were very different experiences, but there was a similar feeling of satisfaction once I found the best approach to help them. Because of COVID-19, these activities were all cancelled. However, I recently joined an organization that provides access to free online music lessons to children of all ages. The feeling of benefiting others was even more gratifying when it involved the musical skill that I had grown up with. Looking into the future, I hope to work as a music therapist at best, or at least be a therapist in the social services field. To me, there is nothing more fulfilling than being able to benefit others in need. My strongest interest in life lies in music, whether it be performing it, learning it, or simply sharing it with others. But it doesn’t have to be a standalone thing. Along with psychology, music can make a great impact. The benefits of music therapy fit very well with my own interests, as I enjoy spreading music and supporting people at the same time. Having the opportunity to pursue an education at a good college is the first step towards my goal.

I speak three languages: English, Chinese, and Music. Being born into a Chinese family, the former two languages came naturally. I started learning my third language at six when watching a DVD concert with my parents. Enticed by the virtuosity of the musicians and the pure timbre of the piano, I began taking piano lessons. Thanks to my teacher who always pushed me beyond my perceived limits, my musical path looked very promising. Nonetheless, I never felt that playing piano was the main focus of my life. To me, music was a safe haven where I could go on blissful adventures, and I’d wanted to keep those emotions personal. As I grew older and developed other interests, my time was divided among a grid of extra-curriculars. Piano playing was such a big part of me that I knew it would always be there, but it didn’t shine like it used to. The spirit I once possessed was slowly leaving me. As I continued to mature, I saw my commitment as more of a weight to drag me down than a stage to elevate me. That is, until the pandemic hit. My overloaded schedule with school, marching band, and volunteer work instantly diminished with the shelter-in-place order. As I paid off some sleep debt, my interests and curiosities were revived. I started to spend more time on the piano. I was even looking forward to the summer concert my friends and I would be hosting. Well, almost. The concert was a fundraising event we had organized and performed in since ninth grade. The donation this year would go to a local charity that helped the homeless. Seeing the persistence of the pandemic during the summer, we had considered cancelling the concert. But finally we agreed to hold it online, though I was dubious about the voluntary donation. Flaws in my past performances haunted me. What if I did not meet the audience’s expectations and brought down the donation? Yet, “the show must go on.” I decided the only solution was to practice arduously and present my best self during the performance. The recording sessions were more stressful than I imagined, but the greatest drawback was the lack of tacit support from the audience. I felt like I was performing in a vacuum without any emotional vibes. Amazingly, the concert turned out to be very well received. Never had I felt such a sense of accomplishment as when I read blocks of text from my friends, detailing their thoughts and sincere appreciation. As an unexpected benefit of a virtual concert, we were able to reach out to many more people and fundraised 2,700 dollars. Not only did we surpass our donation goal by 35%, but the amount was almost double those of preceding concerts. On reflection, I felt so proud to be able to contribute, and I found new significance in my piano playing. The challenges of COVID-19 allowed me to gain new insights. I felt raised by my friends’ unconditional support, and saw that my passion in music was something others could enjoy just as I had. By illuminating my talents, I could draw attention to important causes and help my society. Instead of my retreat, piano playing had become my spotlight. 2020 was a year of disruption: an agenda filled with martial arts and percussion competitions, SAT exams, and a driving test was suddenly wiped out. Nevertheless, it was also a year of self-revelation: putting in an earnest heart can resolve even the toughest situations. Thankfully, years of piano playing has taught me to be perseverant, and imparted me with a mindset I could rely on in tough times. With music as a key by my side, I will always have a way to unlock the door in the face of life’s hardships. A strong sense of purpose is the most important thing in reaching out to help people. I strive to instill people with kindness and a peace of mind. In the future, I wish to become a music therapist, or at least a psychologist working in the social services field. To do that, I need to gain further knowledge. The benefits of music therapy fit very well with my own interests, as I enjoy spreading music and supporting people at the same time. Music is a strong medium that allows me to communicate with people from all walks of life. This career path would also help me learn about how I connect with the world and impact others.