Math is a constant, in a world of change. It's very hard to argue with something as concrete as math. Now, I've had my ups and downs with math when I was growing up. It was always one of my more difficult subjects, but in a way, that only made me better at it. I was always up for a challenge, and boy, was math a challenge. I am a very perfectionist type of person, and math always threatened my grades from being complete A's. In a sense it was a perfect balance, math was always pushing me to be the best student I could. My name is James Camp and I am in my second year at Western Washington University. I am pursuing a degree in classical guitar performance. There isn't too much math in my degree, and it makes me sad every day. I have a big passion for math, but even more passion for music. Despite this, I have very fond memories of math in high school and even in my community college which is where my math adventure stopped. There was this tight knit sense of community in my high school geometry and trigonometry classes. I look back on those classes with massive appreciation for what I had. And my teacher, Mr. McCuen, is one of my all time favorite teachers. He was more of a mentor in a way, and very supportive of my decision to side line math for music. If there was a man who could've convinced me to give math another shot, it was him. It's truly a great subject, in fact it's more than an subject, it's a way of life. Thank you for your time, consideration and thought behind this scholarship.

When I was in eighth grade, I held a guitar in my hand for the first time. It was a part of my middle school's intro guitar class. That class no longer exists. My first ever guitar teacher, Mike Edmondson led that class. He studied at Central Washington University's guitar program. That program no longer exists. The Guitar studio at CWU was led by my professor's husband. Now he does not teach at all. Guitar, art, music for that matter, is not an option. It shouldn't be the first thing cut from a program when an administrator is looking for budget cuts. Music is more than just a class, like many others, music is my life. My name is James Camp and I am in my second year at Western Washington University. I am a classical guitarist pursuing a performance degree. And If not for the aforementioned guitar class and teacher, I would not be in my second year here at all. If not for that one random class I happened to have in middle school, I would have never found my passion, my life. Because every day after that class, I wake up with a purpose. I wake up and everything I do that day, every small thing, is to serve my one goal. To be the best player I can be. And now with that class gone, how many others like me will never get that chance? That is why I want to build myself up. I want to gain a platform. I want to use this platform to promote the arts, to celebrate them. To view them as a first choice, not a second choice or a cop out. I think art and music programs have been getting a rough assessment for far too long. They deserve funding, they deserve credit. The amount of joy and happiness these programs bring is insurmountable. I want to finish my degree here before I move on to graduate school. And after that, skies the limit. I want to teach, I want to inspire, I want to nurture a new generation of guitar players. I want to bring guitar, classical guitar, back into the spotlight. I want to be in a position to have my voice heard. I want to see new guitar programs in college, I want to see old programs come back, and at the very least I want kids in school to be able to play a guitar for the first time. I want kids to have the excitement I had when I picked up that guitar six years ago. I want children to have a future with music in it, with guitars in it. In an ever increasingly hostile world, I can't let arts fall to the waste side. Thank you for your time, your consideration, and thought behind this scholarship.

"I hate school." There's a good chance you've heard this line, and who hasn't? I remember friends saying "I hate school" since I could comprehend what they were saying. And I also remember waking up, pitch black outside, walking to the bus stop in the freezing cold. But did I hate school? No. I remember classes that didn't interest me, classes that had people I didn't like, classes with teachers I didn't like. Again, did I hate school? No. I remember just last year waking up at 6:30 every day to go to my college's performing arts center just to practice an hour before my 8 am class. Just to stay in that same building another 8-10 hours. But do I hate school? No. The difference is, I got the chance to walk somewhere where a school bus would pick me up. Every day. For free. I got the opportunity to experience a plethora of new classes, subjects, meet people and teachers. Sometimes I didn't always like those I met, or subjects I was enrolled in. But there was no way I would of known any of that if I didn't go to school to find out. And I am grateful, eternally grateful I can get up and go to a performing arts center at 7 in the morning to practice. That I get to stay in that building all day and no one has a problem. I am grateful that school exists so I can do what I love, and make a career out of it. Without school, I would be nothing. And if those same peers who hate school so much stopped and thought about all that school has done for them, I bet they would be grateful too. School first taught me a routine, a structure. In a very uncertain world, school was my rock. School gave me a reason to get up in the morning, to present myself nicely everyday, it gave me independence from my parents, it gave me friends, character, interests, self-esteem, self-worth and it gave me music. There's just no way I could have discovered my passion for music by laying around all day doing nothing. In eighth grade I held a classical guitar in my hands for the first time and that was it. I'm now in my second year at Western Washington University pursuing classical guitar performance. School may seem boring, long, but they offer so much more than that. School wasn't always easy, I will say that. There were times where it is very hard, boring, and downright stressful. But through out my whole education, I was learning how to handle a stressful test, I was being taught how to behave when I was bored, and I was taught how to deal with tough times. Most people don't realize that while you're learning about assessable subjects, you're also learning and developing as a human. And sometimes it's very hard. Growing up while constantly attending school is a tough gig. But this gig also provides opportunities and resources you had no idea existed. School in the last 6 years alone, has let me find my passion, go to higher education for that passion, meet lifelong friends, and my future wife. School has filled me with this great burning purpose. I know what I want to do with my life. I feel very fortunate that I can say that so young, and the school system has helped me find that. After I finish my bachelors degree, I also want to attend graduate school. I want to go as far as I can to learn before I can't any longer. My little sister just started seventh grade. She comes home and says "I hate school" and it breaks my heart. As I've grown, I hope I can bestow some of my wisdom with her. I want my little sister to feel lucky that she can go to school everyday. That walking to the bus, boring science classes, or practicing her cello are just minor inconveniences. Because in the grand scheme of things, not everyone get's the chance to do those things. She has been given a great hand and I want her to realize that before she regrets it. Later in life, I also see myself as a teacher and a father. And I want nothing more than to help encourage a new generation find a passion for learning. Whether it's my own son, daughter, or an entire class room of young musicians. I want to fuel their learning, make them passionate, and inspire them everyday. Because that's what school did for me. School gave me a will to learn. And at the end of the day, that's all we are. We are life long learners. And hopefully I can convince my sister, son, and students, that school isn't so bad after all. Thank you for your time, consideration and thought behind this scholarship.

Growing up, I don't like looking back on who I was before music. Before music, I had no direction, no drive, no goals in life. High school is really when the teachers around me forged that connection and had an impact on me. Now every time I wake up, I get to be better than I was yesterday, and I have music to thank. In eighth grade I got my first guitar from my uncle. and I loved this instrument so very much. But something was still missing. For Christmas the following year, my parents got me a very cheap electric guitar, and this was my baby. I loved this guitar so much, I really loved playing it. I thought this was it, I thought this instrument was all I needed. But near the end of that next year, my sophomore year, one of the teachers at my high school, Charith Bagley, recognized my guitar playing ability. She invited me to the school's classical guitar ensemble the next year. And I am thankful every day she was so kind to me. Charith had shown me a whole new side to the instrument. I had never sight read on a guitar before, I wasn't even aware that you could do such a thing. She taught me a new way to hold the guitar, to not use a pick, to grow my nails. My mind was blown. There was this whole other world just waiting to be discovered. Charith had got me started, but there was something I found in myself then too. I wanted to be the best I could be, I wanted to do the most I could. My passion for guitar became obsession. I started to take lead roles in the ensemble, lead sections, play lead lines. And by the end of my senior year of high school I qualified for the state level competition as a guitar duo and soloist. No one at my school had or has since done that in the same year. I was the only soloist to make it to state that year as well. There was this hunger inspired by Charith's direction that gave me a purpose. There was an instrument I could feed that hunger into, that I could express myself with. And that hunger has not since diminished at all. My name is James Camp. I am in my second year of undergraduate studies at WWU. I am pursuing a bachelors in music performance, and I want to keep climbing the ladder doing my graduate studies shortly after I graduate in 2028. There are so many heartaches in the music education path. There are also no guarantees. But there is nothing else I'd rather be doing, I want to take that path, it's the only path I see. Thank you for your time, consideration and generosity with this scholarship.

Without music, I had no direction, I had no future plans, and I had no goals. I didn't feel a purpose when I woke up, I didn't have a burning passion, I didn't have character. And now every day when I wake up, there is one goal. "How can I be better than I was yesterday?" and I have music to thank for that. My name is James Camp, I'm currently in a performance bachelors degree, and I want to go to grad school right after. When I was in high school, like many other high schoolers, I had no idea what I was going to do after I graduated. Sure, there were a couple ideas, some little hobbies, but nothing that stuck out as a career path. My freshmen year of high school I got my first electric guitar, and that's where it all begun. Every day I just wanted to play that guitar, I wanted to make music, I wanted to create something from nothing. And at that age the last thing in my head was playing guitar post high school as a career, I was just having fun. It wasn't until the end of my sophomore year that a music teacher at my school recognized my guitar playing ability and asked if I wanted to join the classical guitar ensemble. Let me tell you, I am thankful every single day for that act of generosity by my old teacher Charith Bagley. Because from the moment I stepped into that class, that was it, just like that. This was what I was going to do after high school. This is what I was supposed to do after high school. I wanted to be the best I could at this instrument, I wanted to blow everyone's expectations out of the water. I wanted to prove I could do this. That is when passion, turned into obsession. I started playing the best guitar I've ever played. I was taking key roles in the ensemble, leading sections, playing lead roles and lines. And by my senior year of high school I qualified to go to the state competition level as a guitar duo, and a guitar soloist. No one at my high school had ever done both in the same year. I was also the only one to go as a soloist that year. There was this drive, this fire that I had to keep going. And even now, it is no where near extinguished And that's the funny thing. Music has a funny way of seeing if you can sacrifice time, money, and effort just to keep doing something you love. There is no guarantees with pursuing music, no finish line at the end that says "you deserve this." You have to fight tooth and nail to carve out a career for yourself. It may be arrogant, selfish and maybe stupid. But there is nothing I'd rather do. That is why I am proud to call myself one of the few, the only classical guitarist from my high school that is still going for it. I want to carve out a road for myself, I want to get to that finish line. Except it won't say "you deserve it," it'll say "you've earned it." Thank you for your time, consideration and thought behind this scholarship.

Music is what gave me a chance. I was just some scraggly kid in middle school with no direction before music. It wasn't until a great man named Mike Edmondson started to teach me guitar in eighth grade that my life would change forever. It was him who first started me on this path that put me before your scholarship today. I started playing the guitar in middle school, and graduated high school this July, now I am pursuing music at the college level this fall. There is a lot of risk in that, but music is what I love doing, and I can't think of an alternative. In high school I was also met with great teachers who help shaped my journey to where I am now. The kind nature and discipline these people taught me is what makes me what to pursue music education. I want to be a music teacher and help those who were just like me, unsure, hesitant, and had no goals. Now I am confident, driven, passionate, and those teachers played a huge part of getting me there. Playing music in high school also led to so many great opportunities that I don't know who I would be now if it wasn't for it. I got the chance to play with other like minded people, play on big stages at my high school, and at the state level. I joined groups even outside of high school, playing in a local uptown jazz band that got me paid. Middle school me never thought I would have the chance to play every week on the stage for people, and let alone get paid for it. Music made me obsessed. To absolutely connect myself to the material. I wake up everyday thinking, "what can I do today that will further my musical goals?" Every choice I make is to make me a better musician, and a better guitarist. Earning my degree in music ed will give me a vast repertoire of knowledge, a commonwealth of material and skills. But it will also give me a platform to help inspire a new generation of musicians and guitarists. It will help me have financial stability in order to connect with younger audiences that I might not have without going to college. I hope you will consider me in this scholarship as pursuing this degree may lead to less money in the future, but it can't replace my passion. Thank you, James.

Hello, my name is James, and my first concert was actually earlier this year in January. The concert was the G3 Reunion tour, starring three of the most legendary guitarists to ever live, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, and Eric Johnson. I am a guitarist myself, and am attending college to pursue it. And there is no way I would be where I am, and where I am going if not for the people I saw on stage that night. They are some of the most inspiring and hardworking musicians I have ever seen. And it was an honor to seem them live on stage. It was around a 5 hour drive total. Me and my friend had drove up after school and arrived after dark. We got home near 1 am that same night because I had to get up at 6 am for school. The drive home was very scary, thick fog where the hi beams did nothing, no cars out at this time of night, low visibility, we swear the country back roads had wendigos. The event itself took place at the First Interstate Center for the Arts, a very nice building. We had got there fairly early, because I'm an anxious person, and I wanted to make sure I got there on time. So, with a bit of time, we wandered around for a bit. I met this nice old man who spotted my analog watch and asked about it. We chatted for a few minutes about bands, as he noticed my Led Zeppelin shirt as well. It was nice to meet someone like him. Eventually we were allowed in, and we had these nice seats on the terrace level. It was crazy to see nobody in there but just us. Eventually people came in, but for about ten minutes it was just us in our area. Pure emptiness, this huge stage in front of me, it felt special to be there. The performance itself was amazing. Four sets, lasting almost four hours. Steve started, the intro was absolutely mind numbing. I have a clip of it, and it is still my one of my favorite moments of that night. The drums start banging, and you hear Steve start playing, eventually he walks into view, just ripping it. After his set Eric followed, and then Joe. Joe had some of the best stage presence I've ever seen, crowd work, talking, he was a dream to see live. At the end, all of them got together and played some jams together. One thing I remember about that, was how loud three guitars shredding at full speed is. Another reason this was so significant was that I really connected to Joe's latest album when it came out two years ago. It was during a long road trip. I had the average middle child experience, crammed in the seats in the way back with luggage and dogs all over me. One of my core memories from that trip was hearing Joe Satriani's track called 'Sahara.' There is this section in the chorus that made me sit right up in my seat, chills down my arm, mouth open wide. I was just this sophomore with no direction listening to those songs passing through big cities. It was a mind blowing listening experience, and I was even lucky enough to listen to Joe play it live on that night in January. It was truly full circle to see him play that song that changed my life. Thank you for reading this, and I hope you consider me for this scholarship.

Hello, my name is James Camp. I am a senior at Chiawana high school. For the last 5 years I have been playing guitar. I used to just only play rock music, but I eventually found the discipline of classical guitar, and then jazz. I've come a long way, high school had plenty of ups and downs, but music has been the one consistent thing in my life. It started in middle school, a teacher named Mike Edmondson got me started on the guitar, and my life changed forever. It felt like an outlet, I could just play instead of talk. It felt very minor at the time, but it started an obsession that has stuck with me 5 years later. In my freshmen year of high school, COVID struck, and it set me back a little, I felt unenthusiastic, I felt kind of tired of guitar. I hung it up for a little and played baseball, a mistake I would never make again. My sophomore year, Charith Bagley, encouraged me to join the classical ensemble and my life changed forever. I could not only play in the ensemble, but I finally had people who got me. My peers understood what I was playing, what I was going through, all my fascinations. And we played together well too, I had found a clique of people that I connected with. And I'm still friends with those people today, even those who graduated in early years. And that class led to great things. This year, I won 1st place in regional solo and ensemble and got to state, same with ensemble where we won 2nd place at the state level. I also won the Charleston Baroque music competition for guitar in second place. I've played at CWU, PLU, and many concerts at Chiawana. This class also gave me the confidence in my ability to tackle jazz music. I joined the school's vocal jazz as a guitarist and really connected with the rhythm section there too. I even jam rock music with the drummer. Prior to this, I very luckily got to join an uptown house band and learn jazz while playing weekly for money even. I got to play solos, melodies and learn. All these stories have great teachers involved, and that's what brings me to my next topic. I want to pursue music education next year. I want to teach and spread my knowledge and help new students like how my teachers taught me. I was a struggling kid with minor playing ability, and no direction, no confidence. And here I am at the end of my senior year, playing competitions, playing live multiple times a month, and trying new things. These teachers have inspired and led me to find and pursue my passion. I want to do that, just like them. This starts at Western Washington University next year, I am going for a Music Education BA, and then eventually a masters in musicology. Another point, classical guitar is a very underfed study of music and instrument for that matter. There isn't many classic guitar based scholarships, programs, and ensembles. This is why I hope you consider this when giving out scholarships, I am struggling to find money for college, and classical guitar is all I have to get some loose change. Thank you for time and consideration.

The way I got into music myself was through very impactful and great teachers. From my middle school and high school years, I had the opportunity to learn and study from some great people. They let me express myself, and not feel afraid to mess up. They led me through the darkness and helped me find myself even. I started as some misfit kid with no real identity, confidence, esteem, and idea of what to do. And now, at the end of my senior year, I am playing live multiple times a month for money, entering competitions and branching out. These teachers made me great, and made me who I am. This is why I want to be like them. I want to make a positive impact with my music and knowledge in the form of teaching. I want to look for those kids who don't know what they want to do, with no direction, with no idea of who they can be. I want to inspire, and teach just how my teachers had inspired me. I want to raise a generation of new musicians with a real respect for their instruments and work ethic. This will keep music alive, and not let it burn out, like many school districts are doing by shutting down classes. The world is a better place with music in it. It gives a chance for creative freedom, passion to excel, and the ability to learn. I want to help grow that in my music going forward in college. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Hello, my name is James Camp. I am a senior at Chiawana high school. For the last 5 years I have been playing guitar. I used to just only play rock music, but I eventually found the discipline of classical guitar, and then jazz. I've come a long way, high school had plenty of ups and downs, but music has been the one consistent thing in my life. It started in middle school, a teacher named Mike Edmondson got me started on the guitar, and my life changed forever. It felt like an outlet, I could just play instead of talk. It felt very minor at the time, but it started an obsession that has stuck with me 5 years later. In my freshmen year of high school, COVID struck, and it set me back a little, I felt unenthusiastic, I felt kind of tired of guitar. I hung it up for a little and played baseball, a mistake I would never make again. My sophomore year, Charith Bagley, encouraged me to join the classical ensemble and my life changed forever. I could not only play in the ensemble, but I finally had people who got me. My peers understood what I was playing, what I was going through, all my fascinations. And we played together well too, I had found a clique of people that I connected with. And I'm still friends with those people today, even those who graduated in early years. And that class led to great things. This year, I won 1st place in regional solo and ensemble and got to state, same with ensemble where we won 2nd place at the state level. I also won the Charleston Baroque music competition for guitar in second place. I've played at CWU, PLU, and many concerts at Chiawana. This class also gave me the confidence in my ability to tackle jazz music. I joined the school's vocal jazz as a guitarist and really connected with the rhythm section there too. I even jam rock music with the drummer. Prior to this, I very luckily got to join an uptown house band and learn jazz while playing weekly for money even. I got to play solos, melodies and learn. All these stories have great teachers involved, and that's what brings me to my next topic. I want to pursue music education next year. I want to teach and spread my knowledge and help new students like how my teachers taught me. I was a struggling kid with minor playing ability, and no direction, no confidence. And here I am at the end of my senior year, playing competitions, playing live multiple times a month, and trying new things. These teachers have inspired and led me to find and pursue my passion. I want to do that, just like them. This starts at Western Washington University next year, I am going for a Music Education BA, and then eventually a masters in musicology. Another point, classical guitar is a very underfed study of music and instrument for that matter. There isn't many classic guitar based scholarships, programs, and ensembles. This is why I hope you consider this when giving out scholarships, I am struggling to find money for college, and classical guitar is all I have to get some loose change. Thank you for time and consideration.

Hello, my name is James Camp and I am a senior at Chiawana High School. I have been playing the guitar as my main instrument for almost five years. It was my first escape in middle school, and the way I kept myself sane during my COVID freshmen year of high school. At first, all I would do is play rock and metal music. As many young guitarists dream of, I would shred on my electric in my room and think I was the best around. It wasn't until my sophomore year of high school that my guitar career took a turn, one that would alter my entire career path going forward. I was invited to join my school's advanced guitar ensemble by the director Charith Bagley. This was a major leap in what I had been playing, and an entirely different discipline. I had to learn how to sight read, read dynamics, key changes, how to hold the guitar in classical position was even a struggle! It was a whole new beast, and I am so glad I tackled it. Two years later, my playing has never been better. I got first place for classical solo at my school's regional solo and ensemble contest, and third in classical ensemble for the second year in a row. I will compete at the state level on Saturday (hopefully that goes well) I also got second place in the Charleston international baroque contest this last March. This class has given me a chance not only to play better, enhance my technique and become a better musician, but a chance to play out in the world. The class introduced me to playing in public. I have played classical music at numerous events and venues, but also played my electric music at restaurants too. This also ended up in me landing a spot in a local restaurants house jazz band. I get to play jazz standards, solo, improvise, experiment and even get paid too. Being in the the classical ensemble allowed me to perform at the PLU festival the last two years in a row, perform at CWU for competitions, and major recitals and concerts. It has been a whirlwind. And it hasn't stopped there. I am in a house band, but also joined my school's Jazz choir as a jazz guitarist. I get to play with them, solo and play on stage for concerts and jazz nights too. Throughout this entire journey, I have gained a passion for music theory and teaching. The complexity and beautiful way music theory is arranged, how it connects, the technical aspect. It fascinates me, I have learned as much as I can handle, and have applied it to my instrumental work. But, I also want to take this passion to university and learn more and more, so I can become an expert and teach it, just like my teachers have taught me. I want to give back to other young struggling musicians who don't have any direction. Because without these teachers in my life, I would not be the person, or musician I am today. Another major thing I've learned in my playing is that classical guitar gets far less attention than other musical instruments, and therefore there are less opportunities and scholarships for classical guitarists like myself. This is why I hope you take me into consideration when reviewing this application. Thank you for your time, and I hope to hear from you soon.

I was lost before music. I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life, I had ideas, but never anything solid. But after I pursued the guitar, my life changed forever. Music has given me opportunities I never thought possible. I got the chances to travel, to play at colleges, in front of numerous audiences, as a soloist, duo, trio, in a number of genres. I have met new people, lifelong friends, new groups, if I had no music, I would not have any of them. I had begun as an electric guitarist playing rock and metal music. This was only a side project, just for myself, but in my sophomore year, it became more. It was the start of the rest of my life. A teacher at my school gave me the chance to play some songs at a local restaurant. Two years later, I now play in that same restaurant as the house band jazz guitarist on Wednesday nights where I even get paid. That first night gave me a chance to spread my music, to play, to let others listen. It was life changing. I met other people, aspiring musicians like myself, it was a connection I never had. That same teacher invited me to the school's classical guitar ensemble. It was new, vastly different than rock electric music, but I joined Junior year. I have been describing my junior year as the best year of my life, but my current year (senior) might actually be even better. In my junior year I tackled classical music. Classical music in itself might have actually changed my life as well. I learned so much so quick, it was phenomenal. It was also very hard, and a challenge. I learned to sight read, read treble and bass clef, how to play in time, rhythms, how to play in an ensemble, time signatures. But it was all worth it. Classical music is one of my favorite genres to play, it rivaled the hard wired rock and metal music I loved to play. It brought a new level of technical playing, just as impressive in a different way. It was in this class where I met numerous life long friends. I keep in contact with old members of the group, and they all come and support me at my events too. The friends I have in this class are some of my deepest, closest friends, we have social gatherings, and are very close. I am even going to the same college and being roommates with one of the members. My classical music love runs so deep, this year, I even won the classical guitar regionals in first place to go to state for solo and ensemble. And I got third in ensemble with that same friend. Other ways music has expanded my life is meeting college professors like Dr. Paul Grove, who I keep in contact with. Joining other programs at my school like the jazz choir, where I willingly get up to play jazz at 6:30 am in their rhythm section. I play live electric rock still, but also jazz in a house band. Music has given me passion, friends, a career, and a future. I want to know pursue music education like the great instructors I've had. I also want to get a music theory masters, because that has been my favorite fascination. I hope you consider me for this scholarship, as I will use my passion for music in college.

I can think of a lot of high school teachers who influenced and helped me during my four-year career, but the one that sticks out is Charith Bagley, she was an old friend of my mom, so I had a little bit of a connection to her to start. My freshmen year was during COVID, so I didn't have much to share then. But during my sophomore year, I had a guitar lab 2 class. Bagley was recently hired as the new guitar teacher at my school and was the instructor for that class. By this point, I played mainly rock music on the guitar and just wanted to play fast, shred and all that. But in this class, she piqued my interest in classical music. I was taught the basics, but I was still a fairly good player. The term ended and Bagley invited me to join the school's classical guitar ensemble. My math class at the time conflicted with the first-period arrangement, so I declined time and time again. It wasn't until junior year that I joined the class, and it was one of the greatest years of my life. For the first time in a while I was struggling with the material, I was trying to learn to read sheet music as fluently as the people around me. I had to do dynamics and keep time like no other, I had to adapt to the classical style of playing, which had the guitar on the other side of my leg. This all seemed impossible, but Bagley helped throughout the first couple of weeks until I got a hang of it. She was always giving me books on classical, jazz, composers, blues, and scales, she always had some sort of book to help me out in classical, or whatever style I was attempting. She would always let me ask her about chords, draw them out and explain them until I figured out what they meant. If I didn't understand the rhythm she would show me until I could play it on my own. She was very helpful and understanding. And she also wasn't afraid to be goofy or silly. The class was comprised of a lot of Hispanic people, and when she introduced a new piece made in Spain or Latin America, she wasn't afraid of mispronouncing it or saying it wrong even if the Spanish speakers in the class would laugh. She wasn't embarrassed to try and say the names, or care if they made fun of her accent, she always was respectful and tried her hardest. She would also have snacks, and be willing to listen and accommodate students who were tardy or absent, she would do the most to make sure everyone felt comfortable and ready to play. She even went out of her way to pay for most of the trips that year out of pocket, just so we had the chance to go to Ellensburg or Tacoma to play. She always wanted the most for us, and I saw that. That is why she has been the most influential teacher in my life.

I've tried starting this essay a couple different times. I've led with goofy stories, anecdotes, and a kind of pathos approach about how lame I was in middle school, but simply put, if it wasn't for music in my high school career, I would not be the man I am today. Starting high school during the COVID lockdown was tough, my musical agenda was at a plateau. I had an online guitar class that didn't yield much. It wasn't until that winter when I got my first electric guitar that things started to kick into gear. Having this electric guitar, this instrument, this thing I've seen only heroes and gods like Eddie Van Halen and George Lynch play. I had one too, I was playing the same thing. It gave me a sense of identity, a sense of self-worth, no one around me was playing an electric guitar. It made me feel good for the first time, I had found what I was looking for. I would play for hours a day, playing away my fingertips until it hurt, I was never satisfied and always wanted to be better. Later on in my sophomore year, I had another guitar class, it was offered by an old family friend, Charith Bagley. I enjoyed the class and did very well, but in the end, Charith asked me to join the school's classical guitar ensemble. I was unsure at first, but she invited me to play my electric at one of their events at a restaurant. After playing live for the first time I was HOOKED. The following year I joined and it was the best year of my life. Of course, this class for for classical guitar, so there was a massive learning experience. I would sight-read for hours after class just to play simple songs, I would study progressions, chords, classical composers and history. And it all fascinated me, I was simply compelled, more fascinated than I had ever been, I was borderline obsessed with becoming a better classical player. Now, discovering guitar gave me a feeling of self-identity, but this group gave me a feeling of self-belonging. The people in the group are the most brilliant people I've ever met, they have made me a better person, I'm still in contact with old members and love meeting new ones. It was like this group had been missing. I had never felt so at home, heard, acknowledged and prideful than when I was playing in the group. Sharing a common interest and performing as one, is a truly spectacular thing. In this group, we also played all over Washington State (where I'm from). We played at colleges like PLU and CWU, festivals and concerts, and just played as much as we could. When we went up to CWU, I fell in love, I want to pursue my love for music, music theory specifically, and I want to do it at CWU. My love and passion would never have been possible if it weren't for my high school's classical guitar ensemble. Thank you for considering me.

My name is James Camp, and for the last four years, I have been playing guitar. I want to continue my education after high school and go to Central Washington University for my music theory degree. And then I'll see where it takes me. But my story started when my Uncle was moving away, and in his wake, he gifted me an acoustic Caraya guitar from Japan. I remember this time very distinctly, it was a monumental turning point in my life. With this, I was also in a beginner guitar class at my middle school, taught by Mike Edmondson, who would have a bigger impact than I had thought. I would play this guitar until my thumb was bloody and raw from strumming, I would have to wrap it up just to keep playing. I would practice day and night just to show Mr. Edmondson I could play. This didn't deter me, however, and I am still here playing to this day. Along the road, playing the guitar opened my eyes to a whole new world of people. High school started rough, I had to do online classes. I had an online guitar class there, taught by Mr. Edmondsons wife, Laura. But when I returned in person in February, she did not remember me. That same year I got an electric guitar, my truest passion, and my favorite style of guitar. The following year in February, I got another class with my current teacher, Charith Bagley. She was a major influence on my drive for music and my pivot into classical music. She got me interested in playing classical and invited me to join Chiawana's guitar ensemble. I was indecisive at first, but she invited me to come play with us at a local restaurant at the end of the year, I played live there for the first time. So, the next year, I joined the ensemble, and it was the best year of my life. There were so many people I met, that I am still in contact with today, we traveled all over Washington State playing at festivals and colleges. The vast amount of knowledge I learned was outstanding, I was becoming a very good classical player and was making myself known. I would play concerts and festivals at the school and was an influence on my peers. Laura Edmondson finally remembered me, and I still wave good morning to her every day. Mike Edmondson was the judge for the Solo and ensemble contest and remembered me and was impressed at where I was now. But throughout all of this, it taught me that I couldn't let music go. Practicing Jazz, classical, rock, and metal for 3 hours a day for years and then just giving it up? I simply can't just put it on the back burner and pick something else. I do not care if I'm poor, or broke as long as I'm doing what I love, and what I love is music. There are several things I could attribute my passion to, but I can't place it. Playing that old guitar was my getaway, my first chance at doing something and not caring about anybody else, and I was determined to, I wanted to be good. It led to my electric playing, and it all segued from there. And pursuing Music theory is something that truly just fascinates me. Understanding various intricate parts of music, and learning the history behind it, piecing together just how music works is very interesting to me. And that is why I want to pursue music beyond high school.