The dictionary defines music as “vocal or instrumental sounds (or both) combined in such a way as to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion.” As a student, I have taken this definition with me as I pursue this beautiful art. Music has been a part of me throughout my schooling. Ever since I entered fourth grade, I knew that my life goal was to pursue this beautiful thing with all the opportunities it offered. Even as a young child, in my life, I realized my world was about to get a whole lot wider with music opportunities. My school offered choir as an extra class to take along with normal music classes. From that moment on, I knew my life would never be the same. We always met and it made me look forward to coming to school. I continued to do choir as I entered fifth grade, joining the band as well. My mother was an alto saxophone player and it inspired me to follow in her footsteps and play the instrument myself. Since then, I have not stopped singing or playing in a music group. For some people, music is a hobby that cannot become a paid, lifelong career. I completely disagree with that. Music teachers have been a few of the most influential people in my life. Even now, they push me further and further toward my goal, and it becomes clear to me that this is the correct life path. Music has also helped me to find some of the best friends I've ever had. In a way, it saved my life and changed me for the better, and I have music to thank for that. I want to share this love with the world as much as possible. The idea of becoming a music educator like those I have looked up to is exhilarating. In our world today, music programs are being cut either to save money or because schools aren’t seeing enough interest. My goal is to inspire others to take music lessons and embrace this beautiful art with me. The world is living through lots of changes with its ups and downs. Even through all that, music keeps not only me but the world turning, and all I want to do is share it with others. Throughout my life, my passion has made me happy and well, and I believe that it can do the same for others.

I have grown up in a single mother household all 19 years of my life. She had me when she was a few days over turning 18, and had just finished high school. Throughout all those years, I have seen her fight through taking care of me, working 3 sometimes 4 jobs, and battles with her own mental health. My mother has inspired me in every decision I make in life, and most of my ultimate goals in life go towards supporting her. My mother always worked to provide me with everything I needed and more in life. What inspires me most about my mom is the ability to never take any rude or snarky comments get to her. She always will have a smile on her face and show me that I can take on the world. She has always been able to get back up on her feet. My mother gave birth to me right out of high school, and wasn't given much of a choice if she wanted to go to college. I want to work hard in college, and pursue my career in music education. With this, I can support my amazing mother as a thank you for all she did for me and my younger sister through the years.

The dictionary defines music as “vocal or instrumental sounds (or both) combined in such a way as to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion.” As a student, I have taken this definition with me as I pursue this beautiful art. Music has been a part of me throughout my schooling. Ever since I entered the fourth grade, I knew that my life goal was to pursue this beautiful and wonderful thing with all the opportunities it offered. Even as a young child, my life, I knew my world was going to get a whole lot wider with chances in the music field.. My school offered choir as an extra class to take along with normal music classes. From that moment on, I knew my life would never be the same. We always met and it made me look forward to going to school. I continued to do choir as I went into the fifth grade, joining the band as well. My mother was an alto saxophone player and it inspired me to follow after her and play the instrument myself. Since then, I have not stopped singing or playing in a music group. For some people, music is a hobby that cannot become a paying, lifelong career. I very strongly disagree with that. Music teachers have been a few of the most influential people in my life. Even now, they push me further and further to my goal, and it becomes clear to me that this is the correct life path. Music has also helped me to find some of the best friends I’d ever have. In a way saved my life and changed me for the better , and I have music to thank for that. My main goal out of this profound love is to share it with the world. The idea of becoming a music educator like those I have looked up to is exhilarating. In our world today, music programs are being cut to either save money or because schools aren’t seeing enough interest. I want to be a person to inspire others to join music classes and embrace this beautiful art alongside me. The world is going through lots of changes with its ups and downs. Even through all that, music kept not only me but the world going and all I want to do is share it with others. I believe my passion can make others happy and well, just as it has done for me in my life.

Since 2016, I have been figuring out who I am and what my mental health truly was. The beginning of high school had lots of downwards spirals as my depression began to truly affect my life. My grades were going down, I never talked to my friends and I refused to leave my room. The thoughts of not being a burden on everyone I knew kept getting stronger and stronger as more things happened in my life. I was in a mentally abusive relationship, I discovered my father was in prison, and learning my sexuality were just some of the things that continued to trigger the dark spiral I was traveling down. As I got through those years, I went into therapy and it helped me better understand what mental health was and how to use different coping mechanism to handle my depression and anxiety. I was able to get on medication, which has helped me through all of this to the present. This journey of mental health has helped me figure who I truly am and who truly supports me through all of it. It almost stopped me from doing all the things I love, but I wouldn't let it stop me then. I still won't let it stop me now.

Throughout my life, my mother has been supporting my sister and I as a single mother. She has worked two, even three jobs at time to pay all the bills and still keep us entertained. With no support from either of our birth fathers, it is difficult to pay for college and think of affording it without emasculate amounts of debt. We also cannot qualify for many loans due to our credit troubles. I also have been working to help pay for college by working two jobs; along with balancing school life, social life, and paying my own bills such as car and phone. This scholarship would help take lots of stress off our shoulders and make us more relaxed with the idea of affording college. All my life I've wanted to be a music educator, spreading the beautiful art to the younger generations. I chose to attend the University of Rhode Island and even with financial aid, the cost is more than what my family makes in a single year. All I wish is to be able to pursue my dream in music education and leave my mother and I with a little less stress with paying for college

The dictionary defines music as “vocal or instrumental sounds (or both) combined in such a way as to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion.” As a student, I have taken this definition with me as I pursue this beautiful art. Music has been a part of me throughout my schooling. Ever since I entered the fourth grade, I knew that my life goal was to pursue this beautiful and wonderful thing with all the opportunities it offered. Even as a young child, my life, I knew my world was going to get a whole lot wider with chances in the music field.. My school offered choir as an extra class to take along with normal music classes. From that moment on, I knew my life would never be the same. We always met and it made me look forward to going to school. I continued to do choir as I went into the fifth grade, joining the band as well. My mother was an alto saxophone player and it inspired me to follow after her and play the instrument myself. Since then, I have not stopped singing or playing in a music group. For some people, music is a hobby that cannot become a paying, lifelong career. I very strongly disagree with that. Music teachers have been a few of the most influential people in my life. Even now, they push me further and further to my goal, and it becomes clear to me that this is the correct life path. Music has also helped me to find some of the best friends I’d ever have. In a way saved my life and changed me for the better , and I have music to thank for that. My main goal out of this profound love is to share it with the world. The idea of becoming a music educator like those I have looked up to is exhilarating. In our world today, music programs are being cut to either save money or because schools aren’t seeing enough interest. I want to be a person to inspire others to join music classes and embrace this beautiful art alongside me. The world is going through lots of changes with its ups and downs. Even through all that, music kept not only me but the world going and all I want to do is share it with others. I believe my passion can make others happy and well, just as it has done for me in my life.

The dictionary defines music as “vocal or instrumental sounds (or both) combined in such a way as to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion.” As a student, I have taken this definition with me as I pursue this beautiful art. Music has been a part of me throughout my schooling. Ever since I entered the fourth grade, I knew that my life goal was to pursue this beautiful and wonderful thing with all the opportunities it offered. Even as a young child, my life, I knew my world was going to get a whole lot wider with chances in the music field.. My school offered choir as an extra class to take along with normal music classes. From that moment on, I knew my life would never be the same. We always met and it made me look forward to going to school. I continued to do choir as I went into the fifth grade, joining the band as well. My mother was an alto saxophone player and it inspired me to follow after her and play the instrument myself. Since then, I have not stopped singing or playing in a music group. For some people, music is a hobby that cannot become a paying, lifelong career. I very strongly disagree with that. Music teachers have been a few of the most influential people in my life. Even now, they push me further and further to my goal, and it becomes clear to me that this is the correct life path. Music has also helped me to find some of the best friends I’d ever have. In a way saved my life and changed me for the better , and I have music to thank for that. My main goal out of this profound love is to share it with the world. The idea of becoming a music educator like those I have looked up to is exhilarating. In our world today, music programs are being cut to either save money or because schools aren’t seeing enough interest. I want to be a person to inspire others to join music classes and embrace this beautiful art alongside me. The world is going through lots of changes with its ups and downs. Even through all that, music kept not only me but the world going and all I want to do is share it with others. I believe my passion can make others happy and well, just as it has done for me in my life.

The dictionary defines music as “vocal or instrumental sounds (or both) combined in such a way as to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion.” As a student, I have taken this definition with me as I pursue this beautiful art. Music has been a part of me throughout my schooling. Ever since I entered the fourth grade, I knew that my life goal was to pursue this beautiful and wonderful thing with all the opportunities it offered. Even as a young child, my life, I knew my world was going to get a whole lot wider with chances in the music field.. My school offered choir as an extra class to take along with normal music classes. From that moment on, I knew my life would never be the same. We always met and it made me look forward to going to school. I continued to do choir as I went into the fifth grade, joining the band as well. My mother was an alto saxophone player and it inspired me to follow after her and play the instrument myself. Since then, I have not stopped singing or playing in a music group. For some people, music is a hobby that cannot become a paying, lifelong career. I very strongly disagree with that. Music teachers have been a few of the most influential people in my life. Even now, they push me further and further to my goal, and it becomes clear to me that this is the correct life path. Music has also helped me to find some of the best friends I’d ever have. In a way saved my life and changed me for the better , and I have music to thank for that. My main goal out of this profound love is to share it with the world. The idea of becoming a music educator like those I have looked up to is exhilarating. In our world today, music programs are being cut to either save money or because schools aren’t seeing enough interest. I want to be a person to inspire others to join music classes and embrace this beautiful art alongside me. The world is going through lots of changes with its ups and downs. Even through all that, music kept not only me but the world going and all I want to do is share it with others. I believe my passion can make others happy and well, just as it has done for me in my life.

The dictionary defines music as “vocal or instrumental sounds (or both) combined in such a way as to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion.” As a student, I have taken this definition with me as I pursue this beautiful art. Music has been a part of me throughout my schooling. Ever since I entered the fourth grade, I knew that my life goal was to pursue this beautiful and wonderful thing with all the opportunities it offered. Even as a young child, my life, I knew my world was going to get a whole lot wider with chances in the music field.. My school offered choir as an extra class to take along with normal music classes. From that moment on, I knew my life would never be the same. We always met and it made me look forward to going to school. I continued to do choir as I went into the fifth grade, joining the band as well. My mother was an alto saxophone player and it inspired me to follow after her and play the instrument myself. Since then, I have not stopped singing or playing in a music group. For some people, music is a hobby that cannot become a paying, lifelong career. I very strongly disagree with that. Music teachers have been a few of the most influential people in my life. Even now, they push me further and further to my goal, and it becomes clear to me that this is the correct life path. Music has also helped me to find some of the best friends I’d ever have. In a way saved my life and changed me for the better , and I have music to thank for that. My main goal out of this profound love is to share it with the world. The idea of becoming a music educator like those I have looked up to is exhilarating. In our world today, music programs are being cut to either save money or because schools aren’t seeing enough interest. I want to be a person to inspire others to join music classes and embrace this beautiful art alongside me. The world is going through lots of changes with its ups and downs. Even through all that, music kept not only me but the world going and all I want to do is share it with others. I believe my passion can make others happy and well, just as it has done for me in my life.