There is a youtube video link attached.

Music Production is how I found myself, when even I didn’t know myself. When I was 12 years old, I was trying multiple hobbies, trying to discover what I enjoyed. I went from juggling, to gardening & animation, however I was never satisfied no matter what I tried. I was unhappy with myself, as I grew up desperately trying to find a passion that fit me. It seemed as if I had no hope in finding a passion, until one day, when I had a conversation with my friends David & Jonathan. Jonathan had been making music for about 3 years at the time, and David started around 6 months from that point. I asked how they make music, and they informed me about DAW’s, then told me about FL Studio. The moment I started, I wasn’t that skilled at producing music, but it was enjoyable. Along my journey of learning how to make music, I learned about myself. I learned who I am today, I learned how to express the person I became through music. Throughout my journey, I switched my focus from only music production, to the world of music technology. I started to learn audio engineering, sound designing, live staging and plenty more. With every small compressor, eq and filter I started to learn, it fulfilled me. The quenching urge of finding a passion was finally filled. It felt as if a void in my heart finally closed and filled up. The experiences that I have gained from music technology are invaluable, and I wouldn’t change my career for 1 million dollars. Honestly, I don’t know much about Mr. Cox, but judging from the scholarship description he seems like an amazing creative who happened to be an underrepresented minority in his youth. If that’s the case, then I whole-heartedly relate to him, as I seem to be in the same circumstances. My journey has been up and down so far, but very enjoyable. I’ve gained invaluable experience, and I’m excited to see where this journey takes me. This scholarship would help me very much in my pursuit to gain higher education in music technology. Honestly, when I first saw this scholarship I was surprised that music technology had a scholarship. It’s usually underrepresented, and I have to apply to other arts scholarships instead. I am overly thankful for this scholarship opportunity. Even if I don’t win this scholarship, I thank you for listening to my story, and giving me another outlet to express myself. And last, and anything but least, rest in peace D. Cox.

My career aspirations is to pursue an education in audio/sound engineering and music production. I have gained over 1.5 million views across multiple social medias showcasing my love for music production. If I received this scholarship I would put it towards college, most likely my tuition. As you may know, college is very expensive and it would be a blessing to even be considered for this scholarship. I would apply for it even if it was 50 dollars, let alone 5,000.

I was always told there is no point in doing audio engineering. I've been told that it "makes no money." I've been told that "it's a pointless career." I've been told that I'm better off teaching audio engineering. Ironically, for these reasons, audio engineering means everything to me. Collaboration means everything to me. When you collaborate with someone in this field, it's not just a random person you happen to meet, it's a mutual collaborator who shares the same perspective as you. It's a person who understands you, and you understand them. This experience is very rare, and I believe people are deprived of it in these times. This field is beautiful not only because of the art, not only because of the people or the money, but because of the collaborations. Collaboration is the core principal of the field, and it is imperative that you collaborate, or else everything will crumble apart. If you don't collaborate, the music becomes a jumbled mess, as if your making a puzzle but put the wrong pieces together. However, if you successfully collaborate and communicate, you shall make a beautiful piece of art that can be remembered for years to come. I have personally had some collaborative experiences in audio engineering that have inspired me before. One of these experiences include me working with artists virtually. When I work with artists virtually, I am usually creating beats, and the artists get to input what they like/don't like with the work I'm creating. In return, I get to criticize what I like/don't like with their work. This effect of collaboration/criticization allows for work to get done efficiently. It also allows for us to connect on a deeper level, something bigger than the music. Not only will work get done efficiently, but you will build an overly strong bond with anyone you work with if you simply collaborate. I have an artist by the name of "kzy" that I frequently collaborate with. At first, I would just send him beats without frequently contacting him. However, when we first started calling, I would screenshare me mixing, mastering & creating beats. Him critiquing me and me critiquing him has lead to a bigger bond than the music, similar to brothers. We have been frequently collaborating for about a year now, and what first started as a unthoughtful collaboration, turned into a blooming friendship with multiple opportunities spouting out of it. This is the reason I do audio engineering. Collaboration makes it beautiful, it makes you build a bond. These bonds are worth more than any amount of money.