I am passionate about pursuing music performance because music has always been a big part of my life. As a musician, I take inspiration from the craft of being a musical artist. I listen to music all the time. It is one of the things I enjoy doing most as much as I love playing music. I remember when I was 4 years old, going to the music studio was far from my idea of a good time, but the day my mom took me, I would unknowingly make a decision that would shape the rest of my life. We followed the school director into a room where strange instruments garnished the wall. He played a piece of music on the cello, piano, viola, and violin. Each sounded beautiful in its way, but as he played the violin, each stroke of the bow mesmerized me. The violin made sounds that transported me away from the studio from hints of deep sadness to overjoyed pleasure. It was then that I decided to learn how to play the violin. When I brought the violin home, the results were far from the melodic sounds I heard at the studio. When my bow hit the strings, an ear-piercing screech filled the room. I even looked up videos to see if that would help improve my current state. I put my violin down, doubting myself. I kept watching videos and listening to CDs of simple songs, and the more I heard, the harder it seemed to play anything like them. I was impatient, but I soon realized that the violinists that I listened to also started where I was. I began to understand how to interact with my violin correctly. The violin is different from other instruments. We had to understand and practice making bow strokes with a certain gentleness, and learning how to position and play finally opened doors to the vast world of violin and subsequently to more challenges. I was only able to learn so much from instructors—I had to teach myself techniques and tricks that would ultimately help create my playing style. Each door opened more challenges to overcome, but I remained patient and determined as I followed the notes in my journey. The violin has proven to be more than just an object to me, it has become a part of musical life. When I decided to use the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts High School, I considered what the school had to offer me as a violinist and what I would bring to enhance the school. Frank Sinatra School of the Arts attracted me because of my love for music. Music has always been a big part of my life, and I admire how they aspire to inspire a world of making music and being an artist. I was surrounded by more musicians who all shared a passion for making music along with other artists. I was eager to stand out above everyone. Whenever I would play with the school orchestra, I would demand the attention of the conductors. My violin has been with me from the day I was taken to that music studio. It was a truly life-changing decision. It’s helped me learn how to be diligent, persevere through challenges, and relax. It’s shaped my identity—from the school, I attended, the friends I made, and the music I made my own. The sound of a violin will always be a part of who I am and will continue to resonate in my life.

Music has always been a big part of my life. As a musician, I take inspiration from the craft of being a musical artist. I listen to music all the time. It is one of the things I enjoy doing most as much as I love playing music. I listen to a wide variety of music genres and a wide variety of artists. Many songs are special to me. One of these songs I hold dearest to myself is "Way Less Sad" by my favorite band, AJR. "Way Less Sad" is a perfect song that matches the times the world is going through currently. 2020 may have been one rollercoaster of a year, but it was not all bad. Although 2020 provided us with plenty of things we wish we can forget, there were also some things that made 2020 worthwhile. As we entered 2021, we went in hoping we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. The lyrics in this song let the listener know that even though life is not back to normal yet and we may want to forget the monstrosities and terrors 2020 had to offer, we should still remember the good moments, small or big. We should cherish those good times and keep them in our memory. We wish we can skip to the good part, but we must continue to push through the following days to come of this year, and no matter what, we will go out with a bang. From the bummer land that was 2020 to this new chapter that is 2021, I may not be completely happy yet, but I am definitely way less sad.