My relationship with Jesus has shaped who I am and how I see the world. Growing up in a Christian home and attending a Christian school helped me learn about God, but my faith became more personal as I got older. I realized that following Jesus is not just about going to church or knowing Bible verses. It is about having a real relationship with Him and allowing Him to guide my decisions, my goals, and the way I treat others. One experience that really strengthened my faith happened during my audition at the University of South Carolina. Even though I have sung in many places before, auditions can still feel intimidating. As I walked in, I felt nervous and could feel the pressure of the moment. I quietly prayed and reminded myself that God had given me my voice and my love for music. I thought about Proverbs 3:5–6 which says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” Remembering that verse helped calm my mind and reminded me that I did not have to rely only on my own strength. I could trust God with the outcome. As I began to sing, my nerves slowly settled and I felt a sense of peace and confidence that I know came from Him. That moment reminded me that when I trust Jesus, He gives me the courage to step forward even when I feel afraid. It showed me that faith is not about never feeling nervous, but about trusting Christ to help you through those moments. One of the biggest ways my faith has grown is through music. Singing has always been important to me, but as I deepened my relationship with Jesus, music became more than just something I enjoyed. It became a way to worship and share my faith with others. I wrote my original copyrighted song “Whose I Am” as a reminder that my identity is found in Christ. I also arranged and recorded the song “Worship You Endlessly.” Through these experiences, I learned that God can use the gifts He gives us to encourage and inspire other people. As I continue my education, I want to use both my faith and my experiences in music to help others. I hope to study music education and vocal performance so that I can teach students and help them grow in their confidence in Christ and in the gifts God has given them. Many young performers struggle with nervousness, just like I did during my audition, but I want to help them learn how to overcome those fears by trusting in Christ. Through my own experiences, I hope to encourage students and show them that true confidence comes from relying on the Lord and recognizing the gifts He has placed within them. Colossians 3:23 reminds me how I want to approach my education and my future career. It says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” Whether I am studying, performing, or teaching, I want to do my best and honor God through my work. My relationship with Jesus is the foundation of my life, and it will continue to guide me throughout my educational journey and beyond.

Music has shaped my life in ways I never expected when I first began singing. What started as something I loved doing at church slowly became the place where I learned confidence, discipline, and purpose during my high school years. Growing up in a Christian home, music was always part of my life. I began singing when I was young, often in church, where I first learned how powerful music could be. As I entered high school, music became more than just something I enjoyed. It became the way I expressed my faith, my emotions, and my growth as a person. Throughout my high school years, I have had the opportunity to perform in many different settings. I have sung at churches, weddings, community events, and local programs in my city. I even had the opportunity to perform at a city event for the mayor of Columbia. I also performed as the lead role in a stage production and appeared on a local television program, which gave me valuable experience sharing music with a wider audience. Each performance helped me grow not only as a singer but also as a person. Standing in front of an audience can be intimidating, especially for someone who is naturally quiet like me. However, each time I performed, I became more confident in my voice and in myself. During high school, I also began competing in vocal competitions, which challenged me to grow technically and artistically. I was honored to win awards through the National Association of Teachers of Singing multiple times, and I recently received first place in the Guthrie Darr Young Artist Scholarship Competition with the Columbia Choral Society. These experiences pushed me to work harder, refine my technique, and take my musical training seriously. Studying classical and spiritual music has taught me discipline, patience, and perseverance. Preparing music requires consistent practice, attention to detail, and the willingness to keep improving even when something feels difficult. Through this process, I learned that growth often happens outside of my comfort zone. Music has also given me opportunities to connect with people and encourage others. Many of the songs I perform are centered on faith, hope, and encouragement. When I sing, my goal is not simply to perform well but to move people and help them feel something meaningful. Before high school, I even began exploring songwriting and recording. I wrote the song “Whose I Am” and arranged and recorded “Worship You Endlessly.” Those early experiences helped me understand the creative side of music and inspired me to continue developing my voice as both a performer and a musician. Looking back on my high school years, music has been the foundation that helped me grow in confidence, faith, and purpose. It has taught me discipline, opened doors for opportunities, and helped me find my voice in ways I never imagined. Because of these experiences, I plan to pursue a degree in music education in college. I hope to become a teacher who helps young students discover their own voices and confidence through music. Just as music shaped my life during high school, I hope one day to help students discover the same joy, growth, and purpose that music has given me.

The first time I truly understood the power of music, I was standing in front of an audience, singing words that came from my heart. In that moment, I realized that music is more than just sound. It has the ability to connect with people, encourage them, and express emotions that are sometimes difficult to put into words. That experience helped me understand that music was something I wanted to pursue more seriously. I grew up in Columbia, South Carolina in a Christian home where faith and music were always part of my life. Much of my childhood was spent at my grandmother’s house, where she helped guide me in building a personal relationship with God. It was during those years that I began singing regularly. By the age of seven, I had already discovered that music gave me a special way to express what was in my heart. As a child, I was naturally quiet and sometimes nervous speaking in front of people. However, music helped me find confidence. When I sing, I feel comfortable sharing my voice and connecting with others through the message of the song. Over time, performing helped me grow from being a shy child into someone who can stand in front of an audience and sing with confidence. As I continued developing my voice, I had the opportunity to perform in many different settings including churches, weddings, community events, and city programs. I have even had the opportunity to perform at events for leaders in my city, including the mayor of Columbia. Each performance helped me grow as both a singer and a person. Seeing how music could inspire and encourage people made me realize how powerful it can be. I have also had the opportunity to explore songwriting and recording. I wrote the original song “Whose I Am,” produced by Royal Vagrant, and I arranged and recorded the song “Worship You Endlessly,” originally written by Michael Del Brown. Working on these projects helped me understand the creativity behind music and gave me the confidence to share my own ideas. Writing and recording music allows me to express my faith and personal experiences in a way that can encourage others. Throughout high school, I have continued developing my vocal skills through training and competitions. I have been honored to receive recognition in the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) competitions, and I recently tied for first place in the Guthrie Darr Young Artist Scholarship Competition with the Columbia Choral Society. These experiences have encouraged me to keep growing and working hard toward my goals. Although I enjoy performing, my ultimate goal is to become a music educator. I believe music teachers have the ability to shape students’ confidence, creativity, and love for learning. Many students discover their voice and sense of belonging through music, and I hope to help create that experience for future students. After completing my degree in Music Education with a focus on vocal performance, I hope to teach choir and mentor young singers who want to develop their talents. Music has helped shape who I am today, and I want to use my education to help other students discover the same joy and confidence that music has given me. My hope is that one day the students I teach will experience the same moment I did, when music first made them realize their voice truly matters.

Several times in my life, I have been met with the question, “Why are you so quiet?” It is something that has made me doubt the beauty of my personality. You may be wondering how this relates to my future goals, college, my degree, or my major. It means a lot, especially in the world of musical performance. My reserved nature has often felt like a huge obstacle whenever I am about to perform in front of an audience. But first, let me start at the beginning and explain how music became the passion of my innermost being. I was born in Columbia, South Carolina, and I was raised in a Christian household. I do not remember a time when I did not know Jesus. My parents wanted me to be a young woman after God’s own heart, so they made the decision to homeschool me using a Christian program. I spent most of my days at my grandmother’s house, the woman who is responsible for showing me how to build a true and genuine relationship with Jesus. It was during that time that I uttered my first musical notes at seven years old. Since then, I have performed for weddings, churches, funerals, the mayor of my city, and even for an event featuring Kamala Harris during her 2019 presidential campaign. Music has taken me to places I never imagined. Even so, I have grown to be self conscious at times. I realized that without God, I have no foundation to lean on. He has often been my only source that motivates me to keep trying. I promised God that my life would be a reflection of Him, surrendering to any plan He has for me. I feel led to pursue Music Education in college. I have always loved the idea of teaching. The concept of understanding hard or complex things and making them more accessible to younger people is surreal to me. I know what it feels like to shy away from asking a question in fear of judgment, and I want to be a patient teacher who creates a space where students feel comfortable learning and growing. Most importantly, I will be able to teach a subject I truly love. I am willing to dedicate four years of study to voice lessons, piano lessons, performing with a choir, and meeting other people who love music just as much as I do. A Music Education degree will allow me to teach students in the classroom, give private voice lessons, and continue performing. I hope to one day direct a school choir and develop arts programs that create opportunities for students to discover their confidence and creativity through music. I truthfully do not know the big picture of my future. It is something that I choose to trust God with. I believe that when my life is surrendered to Him, I can truly do anything with Christ, and nothing can stop a person who has submitted their life to Him, not even being shy.