One weekend a month and two weeks away a year, evening phone calls and many missed events have marked my dad’s time in the United States Navy Reserves. I never minded when he was away, I understood that he was gone because he was doing something important. It was still disappointing when he was away during a special event though, which has happened countless times. My dad was first deployed when I was 5 months old, but I have no memory of that. My mom had a “Flat Daddy” made so he was kind of there for my first birthday and traveled with us when we drove to Florida from Virginia to visit family. It’s fun to look back at pictures and see a giant cut out of my dad in his uniform from the waist up. I may not remember that time, but I do remember the second time he was deployed. I was so upset when I found out the summer before sixth grade that my dad would going away on deployment. It was really scary to think about him going somewhere that wouldn’t be safe and not knowing how often I would be able to talk him. He wouldn’t be home for most of my school year and it felt like our family would be so different without him at home. My younger brother and sister were really sad he was leaving too. My mom tried her best to help fill the void and keep us busy. That year, I was in sixth grade, my brother was in fourth grade and my sister was in kindergarten. Fortunately, for my mom, that meant we were all at one school. I remember our neighborhood friends helping us a lot, especially when we had sports practices to get to on the same days and times. We somehow always made it where we were supposed to be. We also got to talk to our dad more than I thought we would and we were even able to video chat with him. My little sister especially loved using filters when she was on video with him. Playing with the filters was a good way to entertain her when she was on the phone with him. The happiest and most surprising day was the day he returned from deployment. My mom picked me and my brother up early from school and told us we had orthodontist appointments and we needed to go home first to brush our teeth. I thought that was strange since I had been there recently, but as soon as we walked into the house, our dad was there! We were all crying because we were so happy. We spent some time together and then we went back to school to go get my sister. My mom had planned a surprise for her with her teacher. We walked in her class while she was showing her drawing and writing of talking on a video call with our dad. As soon as she saw our dad, she ran to him and cried. It was a special moment. Most recently, my family went to a change of command ceremony for my dad at the National Museum of the United States Navy. He was honored for being the commanding officer of his reserve unit and he was handing the position over to another officer. The ceremony and the speeches honoring my dad and all of his accomplishments filled me with pride for him and our country. Sacrifice and service are staples of being in the military. I am always proud of my dad.

One weekend a month and two weeks away a year, evening phone calls and many missed events have marked my dad’s time in the United States Navy Reserves. I never minded when he was away, I understood that he was gone because he was doing something important. It was still disappointing when he was away during a special event though, which has happened countless times. My dad was first deployed when I was 5 months old, but I have no memory of that. My mom had a “Flat Daddy” made so he was kind of there for my first birthday and traveled with us when we drove to Florida from Virginia to visit family. It’s fun to look back at pictures and see a giant cut out of my dad in his uniform from the waist up. I may not remember that time, but I do remember the second time he was deployed. I was so upset when I found out the summer before sixth grade that my dad would going away on deployment. It was really scary to think about him going somewhere that wouldn’t be safe and not knowing how often I would be able to talk him. He wouldn’t be home for most of my school year and it felt like our family would be so different without him at home. My younger brother and sister were really sad he was leaving too. My mom tried her best to help fill the void and keep us busy. That year, I was in sixth grade, my brother was in fourth grade and my sister was in kindergarten. Fortunately, for my mom, that meant we were all at one school. I remember our neighborhood friends helping us a lot, especially when we had sports practices to get to on the same days and times. We somehow always made it where we were supposed to be. We also got to talk to our dad more than I thought we would and we were even able to video chat with him. My little sister especially loved using filters when she was on video with him. Playing with the filters was a good way to entertain her when she was on the phone with him. The happiest and most surprising day was the day he returned from deployment. My mom picked me and my brother up early from school and told us we had orthodontist appointments and we needed to go home first to brush our teeth. I thought that was strange since I had been there recently, but as soon as we walked into the house, our dad was there! We were all crying because we were so happy. We spent some time together and then we went back to school to go get my sister. My mom had planned a surprise for her with her teacher. We walked in her class while she was showing her drawing and writing of talking on a video call with our dad. As soon as she saw our dad, she ran to him and cried. It was a special moment. Most recently, my family went to a change of command ceremony for my dad at the National Museum of the United States Navy. He was honored for being the commanding officer of his reserve unit and he was handing the position over to another officer. The ceremony and the speeches honoring my dad and all of his accomplishments filled me with pride for him and our country. Sacrifice and service are staples of being in the military. I am always proud of my dad.

I was born with unilateral hearing loss in my left ear. I don’t hesitate to ask people to repeat themselves daily. I have sometimes felt this disability put me at a disadvantage compared to my peers. I’ve had some lows in my life due to feeling different and excluded. Hearing loss is a disability you can’t see, and I don’t always know when I’ve missed hearing something. I have learned to always walk on the left side of people, so I can hear with my right ear. When I sit somewhere, I position myself so that my right ear is facing the majority of the people I’m with. I do this naturally now without even thinking about it. I do have a bone-anchored hearing aid, but honestly, I don’t feel like it helps me that much, and I prefer not to wear it. My hearing loss has only pushed me to persevere and work hard while excelling in pursuing my passion for music. I have experienced bullying and have struggled with anxiety and depression for the last several years. Along with therapy, music has been a lifeline to help me get through these difficult times. For the last several years, I have been taking one-on-one voice lessons with a professional voice coach. These lessons have not only strengthened my voice but also boosted my confidence and my voice is now my primary instrument. I love to sing whenever I can and when my grandmother moved into a memory care home due to Alzheimer’s, I would often play the piano and sing to her and other residents. When I played, I could see her positive reaction, and it made her feel good. She would always smile, which was quite uncommon for her since her decline over the last several years. I was overjoyed to see her foot start tapping when I started playing. Something as simple as smiling and tapping her foot let me know that I was connecting with her in a language we both understood and loved. Last year I started volunteering to teach piano to twin girls in my neighborhood with special needs. Like me, they didn’t let their disability prevent them from learning to play the piano. They weren't thinking about what they couldn’t do, only what they could. People like Abby, Sammy, and my grandmother motivate me every day to keep striving to overcome any obstacles I may encounter and to never give up in the pursuit of my goals. I believe that my struggles with mental health have only motivated me to work harder for what I want. In a way, this gives me an advantage, because I want to prove to myself that I can do it despite my battles. I’m inspired by the power of music and how much it can impact people of all ages, from young to elderly. I intend to major in music therapy and learn how to help people heal through music. I’m excited about combining my passion for music and my love for helping and connecting with people into a career. I want to make a meaningful impact on people of all ages and abilities. The benefits of music therapy are limitless, and I can hardly wait to get started.

As a child, I had a vivid imagination. The first fantasy books I was exposed to were the Harry Potter books. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone introduced me to Harry Potter, an orphaned boy who was bullied by his family. At the time, I was being bullied in school. I understood Harry’s anger and hurt on a personal level. Along with being bullied and emotionally abused in his home, he was harassed at his school. Harry’s big break had come upon him when Hagrid had come to take him away from the Dursleys. When he was with Hagrid, he was the happiest he had ever been in his life up to that point. He was given school supplies that were his own, and was treated like an actual human being for the first time. I related to Harry, because I was bullied and emotionally harassed at school. I never had a miracle happen, like Hagrid coming to take me away from my school to Hogwarts, but I had a different version of that. Around April of 2022, a boy in my choir class asked me to the senior prom. We were friends at the time, so I went with him. My parents asked him and his parents where he was going to college the next year. He said that he was going to Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. He would be studying audio engineering in the Curb College at Belmont. I knew I wanted to do something with music as a career, so I did some research on Belmont. The next spring, I visited Belmont in Nashville for the first time and I loved it. It wasn't my first college tour; I knew I wanted a smaller college. Belmont’s campus was the perfect fit for me after exploring the school. The summer before my senior year, I participated in the Belmont Summer Vocal Arts Intensive. I had the opportunity to stay in a dorm for the first time, and it was definitely a great experience! It wasn’t anything like Hogwarts dorm rooms, but it was a good learning experience. I had one roommate instead of four or five others in the room with me. I had to walk down a hall instead of opening a single door and having my room magically appear. In a way, the Harry Potter movies have gotten me through school, reassuring me that life will be better after high school. Hogwarts is my vision of college life, finding lifelong friends and finding myself. I will be combing my love for music, instead of magic like Harry Potter, and my love for helping people into a music therapy major and career. The best part is that music therapy can help people from infancy to elderly. I can hardly wait to help people heal through music.

One weekend a month and two weeks away a year, evening phone calls and many missed events have marked my dad’s time in the United States Navy Reserves. I never minded when he was away, I understood that he was gone because he was doing something important. It was still disappointing when he was away during a special event though, which has happened countless times. My dad was first deployed when I was 5 months old, but I have no memory of that. My mom had a “Flat Daddy” made so he was kind of there for my first birthday and traveled with us when we drove to Florida from Virginia to visit family. It’s fun to look back at pictures and see a giant cut out of my dad in his uniform from the waist up. I may not remember that time, but I do remember the second time he was deployed. I was so upset when I found out the summer before sixth grade that my dad would going away on deployment. It was really scary to think about him going somewhere that wouldn’t be safe and not knowing how often I would be able to talk him. He wouldn’t be home for most of my school year and it felt like our family would be so different without him at home. My younger brother and sister were really sad he was leaving too. My mom tried her best to help fill the void and keep us busy. That year, I was in sixth grade, my brother was in fourth grade and my sister was in kindergarten. Fortunately, for my mom, that meant we were all at one school. I remember our neighborhood friends helping us a lot, especially when we had sports practices to get to on the same days and times. We somehow always made it where we were supposed to be. We also got to talk to our dad more than I thought we would and we were even able to video chat with him. My little sister especially loved using filters when she was on video with him. Playing with the filters was a good way to entertain her when she was on the phone with him. The happiest and most surprising day was the day he returned from deployment. My mom picked me and my brother up early from school and told us we had orthodontist appointments and we needed to go home first to brush our teeth. I thought that was strange since I had been there recently, but as soon as we walked into the house, our dad was there! We were all crying because we were so happy. We spent some time together and then we went back to school to go get my sister. My mom had planned a surprise for her with her teacher. We walked in her class while she was showing her drawing and writing of talking on a video call with our dad. As soon as she saw our dad, she ran to him and cried. It was a special moment. Most recently, my family went to a change of command ceremony for my dad at the National Museum of the United States Navy. He was honored for being the commanding officer of his reserve unit and he was handing the position over to another officer. The ceremony and the speeches honoring my dad and all of his accomplishments filled me with pride for him and our country. Sacrifice and service are staples of being in the military. I am always proud of my dad.

I was born with unilateral hearing loss in my left ear. I had sometimes felt this disability put me at a disadvantage compared to my peers. I’ve had some lows in my life due to feeling different and excluded. Unfortunately, I don’t know when I haven’t heard something and my hearing loss isn’t something that can be seen by others. I persevered and worked hard, while excelling in pursuing my passion for music. For the last few years, I have been taking one-on-one voice lessons with a professional voice coach. These lessons have strengthened my voice and confidence, making it my primary instrument. When I played the piano and sang for my Grandmother in her nursing home, I saw her smile and start tapping her foot, which was quite uncommon for her since her Alzheimer’s had rapidly progressed. I was connecting with her in a language we both understood and loved. Last year I started volunteering to teach piano to a young girl in my neighborhood with special needs. I saw the same desire in her to overcome a disability that I had in myself at her age. Like me, she didn’t let her disability prevent her from learning to play the piano. She wasn’t thinking about what she couldn’t accomplish, only what she could accomplish. People like her and my Grandmother motivate me every day to keep striving to overcome any obstacles I may encounter in life, and to never give up in the pursuit of my goals. I’m inspired by the power of music and how much it can impact people of all ages, from young to elderly. I intend to major in music therapy and learn how to help people heal through music. I’m excited about combining my passion for music and my love for helping and connecting with people into a career. My plan is to continue my education and earn my masters' degree and then, eventually, my doctorate in music therapy. I wish to make a meaningful impact on people of all ages. Music therapy can not only help people of different ages, but different abilities as well. The benefits of music therapy are limitless, and I can hardly wait to get started.

I was born with unilateral hearing loss in my left ear. I have sometimes felt this disability put me at a disadvantage compared to my peers. I’ve had some lows in my life due to feeling different and excluded. Hearing loss is a disability you can’t see, and I don’t always know when I’ve missed hearing something. I have learned to always walk on the left side of people, so I can hear with my right ear. When I sit somewhere, I position myself so that my right ear is facing the majority of the people I’m with. I do this naturally now without even thinking about it. I do have a bone anchored hearing aid, but honestly, I don’t feel like it helps me that much, and I prefer not to wear it. My hearing loss has only pushed me to persevere and work hard, while excelling in pursuing my passion for music. For my sixth birthday, my parents and grandparents bought me the piano that I still play today. Soon after receiving it, I started taking private lessons with my teacher, Mr. John Ackley. My favorite part of every lesson was ear training. Ironic, right? Although ear training was difficult at times, it is a skill I've used every day since I started taking piano lessons. I eventually stopped taking piano lessons when Mr. Ackley retired, but his passion and knowledge of the musical language he shared with me has made a lasting impression that I will never forget. I’ve been able to use the knowledge to help me learn to play the ukulele and guitar as well. For the last few years, I have been taking one-on-one voice lessons with a professional voice coach. These lessons have not only strengthened my voice, but also boosted my confidence and my voice is now my primary instrument. I love to sing whenever I can and when my grandmother moved into a memory care home due to Alzheimer’s, I would often play the piano and sing to her and other residents. When I played, I could see her positive reaction, and it made her feel good. She would always smile, which was quite uncommon for her since her decline over the last several years. I was overjoyed seeing her foot start tapping when I started playing. Something as simple as smiling and tapping her foot let me know that I was connecting with her in a language we both understood and loved. Last year I started volunteering to teach piano to twin girls in my neighborhood with special needs. I was overjoyed to have the opportunity to spark that same love for music in them that Mr. Ackley sparked in me several years earlier. Over time and our weekly piano lessons, I saw the same desire in each of them to overcome a disability that I had in myself at their age. Like me, they didn’t let their disability prevent them from learning to play the piano. They weren't thinking about what they couldn’t do, only what they could. I was incredibly proud of both of them, each progressing in learning several beginner-level songs during the first month of weekly lessons. Once the student and now the teacher, I felt a sense of pride to be passing on Mr. Ackley’s teachings to students of my own. People like Abby, Sammy and my grandmother motivate me every day to keep striving to overcome any obstacles I may encounter, and to never give up in the pursuit of my goals. I believe that my disability has only motivated me to work harder for what I want. In a way, this gives me an advantage, because I want to prove to myself that I can do it despite my disability. I’m inspired by the power of music and how much it can impact people of all ages, from young to elderly. I intend to major in music therapy and learn how to help people heal through music. I’m excited about combining my passion for music and my love for helping and connecting with people into a career. My plan is to continue my education and earn my masters' degree and then, eventually, my doctorate in music therapy. I wish to make a meaningful impact on people of all ages. Music therapy can not only help people of different ages, but different abilities as well. The benefits of music therapy are limitless, and I can hardly wait to get started.

I was born with unilateral hearing loss in my left ear. I had sometimes felt this disability put me at a disadvantage compared to my peers. I’ve had some lows in my life due to feeling different and excluded. Unfortunately, I don’t know when I haven’t heard something and my hearing loss isn’t something that can be seen by others. I persevered and worked hard, while excelling in pursuing my passion for music. For my sixth birthday, my parents and grandparents bought me a piano that I still play on today. Soon after receiving it, I started taking private lessons with my teacher, Mr. John Ackley. He sat on my right side instead of sitting on my left, like he did with his other students. That small accommodation from Mr. Ackley made me feel normal like the other kids. My favorite part of every lesson was ear training. Ironic, right? Although ear training was difficult at times, it is a skill I've used every day since I started taking piano lessons. His knowledge of the musical language has made a lasting impression that I will never forget. For the last few years, I have been taking one-on-one voice lessons with a professional voice coach. These lessons have strengthened my voice and confidence, making it my primary instrument. When I played the piano and sang for my Grandmother in her nursing home, I saw her smile and start tapping her foot, which was quite uncommon for her since her Alzheimer’s had rapidly progressed. I was connecting with her in a language we both understood and loved. Last year I started volunteering to teach piano to a young girl in my neighborhood with special needs. I was overjoyed to have the opportunity to spark that same love for music in her that Mr. Ackley sparked for me several years earlier. Over time and our weekly piano lessons, I saw the same desire in her to overcome a disability that I had in myself at her age. Like me, she didn’t let her disability prevent her from learning to play the piano. She wasn’t thinking about what she couldn’t accomplish, only what she could accomplish. Once the student and now the teacher, I felt a sense of pride to be passing on Mr. Ackley’s teachings to a student of my own as well as giving her a chance to feel confident. People like her and my Grandmother motivate me every day to keep striving to overcome any obstacles I may encounter in life, and to never give up in the pursuit of my goals. I’m inspired by the power of music and how much it can impact people of all ages, from young to elderly. I intend to major in music therapy and learn how to help people heal through music. I’m excited about combining my passion for music and my love for helping and connecting with people into a career. My plan is to continue my education and earn my masters' degree and then, eventually, my doctorate in music therapy. I wish to make a meaningful impact on people of all ages. Music therapy can not only help people of different ages, but different abilities as well. The benefits of music therapy are limitless, and I can hardly wait to get started.

I was born with unilateral hearing loss in my left ear. I don’t hesitate to ask people to repeat themselves on a daily basis. I have sometimes felt this disability put me at a disadvantage compared to my peers. I’ve had some lows in my life due to feeling different and excluded. Hearing loss is a disability you can’t see, and I don’t always know when I’ve missed hearing something. I have learned to always walk on the left side of people, so I can hear with my right ear. When I sit somewhere, I position myself so that my right ear is facing the majority of the people I’m with. I do this naturally now without even thinking about it. I do have a bone anchored hearing aid, but honestly, I don’t feel like it helps me that much, and I prefer not to wear it. My hearing loss has only pushed me to persevere and work hard, while excelling in pursuing my passion for music. I have experienced bullying and have struggled with anxiety and depression for the last several years. Along with therapy, music has been a lifeline to help me get through these difficult times. For the last several years, I have been taking one-on-one voice lessons with a professional voice coach. These lessons have not only strengthened my voice, but also boosted my confidence and my voice is now my primary instrument. I love to sing whenever I can and when my grandmother moved into a memory care home due to Alzheimer’s, I would often play the piano and sing to her and other residents. When I played, I could see her positive reaction, and it made her feel good. She would always smile, which was quite uncommon for her since her decline over the last several years. I was overjoyed seeing her foot start tapping when I started playing. Something as simple as smiling and tapping her foot let me know that I was connecting with her in a language we both understood and loved. Last year I started volunteering to teach piano to twin girls in my neighborhood with special needs. Like me, they didn’t let their disability prevent them from learning to play the piano. They weren't thinking about what they couldn’t do, only what they could. People like Abby, Sammy and my grandmother motivate me every day to keep striving to overcome any obstacles I may encounter, and to never give up in the pursuit of my goals. I believe that my struggles with mental health have only motivated me to work harder for what I want. In a way, this gives me an advantage, because I want to prove to myself that I can do it despite my battles. I’m inspired by the power of music and how much it can impact people of all ages, from young to elderly. I intend to major in music therapy and learn how to help people heal through music. I’m excited about combining my passion for music and my love for helping and connecting with people into a career. I want to make a meaningful impact on people of all ages and abilities. The benefits of music therapy are limitless, and I can hardly wait to get started.

Alzheimer’s disease took my Grandma from me. Around ten years ago, my Grandma was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. I did not truly understand what that meant at the time, so I gave no thought to it. Years later, after my Grandpa passed, her condition became more apparent when my mom and her brother became her main caregivers. She forgot both big and small things that had happened, and would have to be reminded how to do many things. My Mom told my siblings and I to not let Grandma know she forgot something because it would make her cry. I quickly learned to not say anything if she repeated herself and help guide her if that's what she needed. Since she was not able to live on her own, she moved from South Florida to live with us in Northern Virginia and would also stay with her younger sister who lived a half hour from us. When she stayed with us, she slept in my room because it had the least amount of steps to get there. I didn't mind at first, but it did bother me when my things were moved and went missing or when I found her wearing my clothes. My mom would always try to correct it so that I didn't get annoyed and would tell my grandmother she just needed to do laundry to get her to change clothes. My mom never argued with her, she would just talk to her and get her to go along with what needed to be done. It amazed me how calm she always was with her. I asked her about it once and she said that there was no reason to get upset with Grandma when she didn't even realize she did something wrong. Taking care of my grandmother was a full time job and my mom stopped teaching when she moved in with us. Every day my mom would take her out to walk around the mall or walk outside if the weather was warm. Unfortunately, once the pandemic happened, we couldn't take her anywhere and she really started to decline even more. My Mom and Uncle started researching memory care homes in South Florida, and ended up choosing a facility close to my Uncle. The price was a lot less in Florida compared to Virginia. Once she moved, we couldn’t see my Grandma as often. Our family vacations to Florida were different from then on since we would no longer stay at my Grandma and Grandpa’s house. I wouldn’t see my Grandma every day and I wasn’t able to hold a conversation with her anymore. Her speech started to falter with a stutter, she became less mobile and she became thinner. In the memory care facility in Florida, my family was under the impression that she wasn't swallowing solid food, so my Mom and Uncle made the difficult decision to put her on a puree diet. It was painful seeing her become thinner and thinner. South Florida became such a painful place for my Uncle after the loss of my Grandpa that he and his wife moved to North Georgia. He and my Mom were concerned about my Grandma being left in Florida all alone. They looked at care facilities in North Georgia near my Uncle’s family. After searching for a new home for my Grandma, my Mom and Uncle found Sonshine Manor, a small personal care home located in Blairsville, Georgia. The care facility was located near the town square, and was about a five minute drive from my Uncle’s house. Within a month of my Grandma being moved to Sonshine Manor, her condition started to improve. My Uncle and Mom were shocked, because she seemed to be getting worse and worse at the other nursing home and now she was walking around and communicating so much more. Grandma was taken off of her puree diet and she started to eat solid food again with help being fed. The community at Sonshine Manor was a loving one. She was the only resident with Alzheimer’s Disease out of twenty-four residents. Walking into the home, the staff and residents treated each other like family. The staff treated the residents with the most kindness and love I have ever seen coming from nurses. The residents would support each other and help each other out. In my Grandma’s short time at Sonshine Manor, I had the pleasure of meeting the staff and residents. Being around people from the South was such a culture shock. In Virginia where I’m from, people tend to keep to themselves. In the South, people are welcoming and kind to everyone. My Grandma started smiling again while at Sonshine Manor. The community she was surrounded with positively impacted both her and my family. I would often play the piano and sing to her and other residents. When I played, I could see her positive reaction, and it made her feel good. Something as simple as smiling and tapping her foot let me know that I was connecting with her in a language we both understood and loved. I’m excited about combining my passion for music and my love for helping and connecting with people into a career. My plan is to continue my education and earn my masters' degree and then, eventually, my doctorate in music therapy. I hope to work in a place just like Sonshine Manor that helps people with unconditional love and kindness. Unfortunately, my Grandma went to heaven in October last year, but I know that her mind is free now and she's not trapped anymore. She did so much for so many people as a social worker and worked for hospice to help people in their final stages of life. I'm glad she was able to have such good care as well. My mom never complained about taking care of my mom. During her eulogy, my mom said that caring for her was her honor. It was nice to remember my Grandma when she had her memory. My brother and sister don't remember her like that as well. I'm the oldest grandchild and I was able to spend the most time with her. I've been missing her for a very long time and I feel like I had been saying goodbye way before she left us. I think that people who haven't experienced a loved one having Alzheimer's don't really understand the depth of loss of that person, even when they're sitting right in front of you. They need so much care and their well being is dependent on the caregivers. The impact Alzheimer's has on families is tremendous, from daily care, finances and a spectrum of emotions. It takes a huge toll on everyone involved.

I was born with unilateral hearing loss in my left ear. I had sometimes felt this disability put me at a disadvantage compared to my peers. I’ve had some lows in my life due to feeling different and excluded. Unfortunately, I don’t know when I haven’t heard something and my hearing loss isn’t something that can be seen by others. I persevered and worked hard, while excelling in pursuing my passion for music. For my sixth birthday, my parents and grandparents bought me a piano that I still play on today. Soon after receiving it, I started taking private lessons with my teacher, Mr. John Ackley. My favorite part of every lesson was ear training. Ironic, right? Although ear training was difficult at times, it is a skill I've used every day since I started taking piano lessons. His knowledge of the musical language has made a lasting impression that I will never forget. For the last few years, I have been taking one-on-one voice lessons with a professional voice coach. These lessons have strengthened my voice and confidence, making it my primary instrument. When I played the piano and sang for my Grandmother in her nursing home, I saw her smile and start tapping her foot, which was quite uncommon for her since her Alzheimer’s had rapidly progressed. I was connecting with her in a language we both understood and loved. Last year I started volunteering to teach piano to a young girl in my neighborhood with special needs. I was overjoyed to have the opportunity to spark that same love for music in her that Mr. Ackley sparked for me several years earlier. Over time and our weekly piano lessons, I saw the same desire in her to overcome a disability that I had in myself at her age. Like me, she didn’t let her disability prevent her from learning to play the piano. She wasn’t thinking about what she couldn’t accomplish, only what she could accomplish. Once the student and now the teacher, I felt a sense of pride to be passing on Mr. Ackley’s teachings to a student of my own as well as giving her a chance to feel confident. I’m inspired by the power of music and how much it can impact people of all ages. I intend to major in music therapy and learn how to help people through music. Music therapy can help make a meaningful impact for people of all ages. Having scholarship money would make a tremendous difference in my pursuit of a music therapy degree. Rather than worrying about paying student loans, I could focus on my studies in my music and psychology classes. Graduating debt free or close to it would be amazing. I would love to get one step closer to that goal. By choosing a career path that is so meaningful to me, I will be fulfilling my dream of playing music and helping people.

I was born with unilateral hearing loss in my left ear. I had sometimes felt this disability put me at a disadvantage compared to my peers. I’ve had some lows in my life due to feeling different and excluded. Unfortunately, I don’t know when I haven’t heard something and my hearing loss isn’t something that can be seen by others. I persevered and worked hard, while excelling in pursuing my passion for music. For my sixth birthday, my parents and grandparents bought me a piano that I still play on today. Soon after receiving it, I started taking private lessons with my teacher, Mr. John Ackley. He sat on my right side instead of sitting on my left, like he did with his other students. That small accommodation from Mr. Ackley made me feel normal like the other kids. My favorite part of every lesson was ear training. Ironic, right? Although ear training was difficult at times, it is a skill I've used every day since I started taking piano lessons. His knowledge of the musical language has made a lasting impression that I will never forget. For the last few years, I have been taking one-on-one voice lessons with a professional voice coach. These lessons have strengthened my voice and confidence, making it my primary instrument. When I played the piano and sang for my Grandmother in her nursing home, I saw her smile and start tapping her foot, which was quite uncommon for her since her Alzheimer’s had rapidly progressed. I was connecting with her in a language we both understood and loved. Last year I started volunteering to teach piano to a young girl in my neighborhood with special needs. I was overjoyed to have the opportunity to spark that same love for music in her that Mr. Ackley sparked for me several years earlier. Over time and our weekly piano lessons, I saw the same desire in her to overcome a disability that I had in myself at her age. Like me, she didn’t let her disability prevent her from learning to play the piano. She wasn’t thinking about what she couldn’t accomplish, only what she could accomplish. Once the student and now the teacher, I felt a sense of pride to be passing on Mr. Ackley’s teachings to a student of my own as well as giving her a chance to feel confident. People like her and my Grandmother motivate me every day to keep striving to overcome any obstacles I may encounter in life, and to never give up in the pursuit of my goals. I’m inspired by the power of music and how much it can impact people of all ages. I intend to major in music therapy and learn how to help people through music. Music therapy can help make a meaningful impact for people of all ages. Having scholarship money would make a tremendous difference in my pursuit of a music therapy degree. Rather than worrying about paying student loans, I could focus on my studies in my music and psychology classes. Graduating debt free or close to it would be amazing. I would love to get one step closer to that goal. By choosing a career path that is so meaningful to me, I will be fulfilling my dream of playing music and helping people.

Alzheimer’s disease took my Grandma from me. Around ten years ago, my Grandma was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. I did not truly understand what that meant at the time, so I gave no thought to it. Years later, after my Grandpa passed, her condition became more apparent when my mom and her brother became her main caregivers. She forgot both big and small things that had happened, and would have to be reminded how to do many things. My Mom told my siblings and I to not let Grandma know she forgot something because it would make her cry. I quickly learned to not say anything if she repeated herself and help guide her if that's what she needed. Since she was not able to live on her own, she moved from South Florida to live with us in Northern Virginia and would also stay with her younger sister who lived a half hour from us. When she stayed with us, she slept in my room because it had the least amount of steps to get there. I didn't mind at first, but it did bother me when my things were moved and went missing or when I found her wearing my clothes. My mom would always try to correct it so that I didn't get annoyed and would tell my grandmother she just needed to do laundry to get her to change clothes. My mom never argued with her, she would just talk to her and get her to go along with what needed to be done. It amazed me how calm she always was with her. I asked her about it once and she said that there was no reason to get upset with Grandma when she didn't even realize she did something wrong. Taking care of my grandmother was a full time job and my mom stopped teaching when she moved in with us. Every day my mom would take her out to walk around the mall or walk outside if the weather was warm. Unfortunately, once the pandemic happened, we couldn't take her anywhere and she really started to decline even more. My Mom and Uncle started researching memory care homes in South Florida, and ended up choosing a facility close to my Uncle. The price was a lot less in Florida compared to Virginia. Once she moved, we couldn’t see my Grandma as often. Our family vacations to Florida were different from then on since we would no longer stay at my Grandma and Grandpa’s house. I wouldn’t see my Grandma every day and I wasn’t able to hold a conversation with her anymore. Her speech started to falter with a stutter, she became less mobile and she became thinner. In the memory care facility in Florida, my family was under the impression that she wasn't swallowing solid food, so my Mom and Uncle made the difficult decision to put her on a puree diet. It was painful seeing her become thinner and thinner. South Florida became such a painful place for my Uncle after the loss of my Grandpa that he and his wife moved to North Georgia. He and my Mom were concerned about my Grandma being left in Florida all alone. They looked at care facilities in North Georgia near my Uncle’s family. After searching for a new home for my Grandma, my Mom and Uncle found Sonshine Manor, a small personal care home located in Blairsville, Georgia. The care facility was located near the town square, and was about a five minute drive from my Uncle’s house. Within a month of my Grandma being moved to Sonshine Manor, her condition started to improve. My Uncle and Mom were shocked, because she seemed to be getting worse and worse at the other nursing home and now she was walking around and communicating so much more. Grandma was taken off of her puree diet and she started to eat solid food again with help being fed. The community at Sonshine Manor was a loving one. She was the only resident with Alzheimer’s Disease out of twenty-four residents. Walking into the home, the staff and residents treated each other like family. The staff treated the residents with the most kindness and love I have ever seen coming from nurses. The residents would support each other and help each other out. In my Grandma’s short time at Sonshine Manor, I had the pleasure of meeting the staff and residents. Being around people from the South was such a culture shock. In Virginia where I’m from, people tend to keep to themselves. In the South, people are welcoming and kind to everyone. My Grandma started smiling again while at Sonshine Manor. The community she was surrounded with positively impacted both her and my family. When I grow up, I hope to work in a place just like Sonshine Manor that helps people with unconditional love and kindness. Unfortunately, my Grandma went to heaven in October last year, but I know that her mind is free now and she's not trapped anymore. She did so much for so many people as a social worker and worked for hospice to help people in their final stages of life. I'm glad she was able to have such good care as well. My mom never complained about taking care of my mom. During her eulogy, my mom said that caring for her was her honor. It was nice to remember my Grandma when she had her memory. My brother and sister don't remember her like that as well. I'm the oldest grandchild and I was able to spend the most time with her. I've been missing her for a very long time and I feel like I had been saying goodbye way before she left us. I think that people who haven't experienced a loved one having Alzheimer's don't really understand the depth of loss of that person, even when they're sitting right in front of you. They need so much care and their well being is dependent on the caregivers. The impact Alzheimer's has on families is tremendous, from daily care, finances and a spectrum of emotions. It takes a huge toll on everyone involved.

As a child, I had a vivid imagination. The first fantasy movies I was exposed to were the Harry Potter movies. I was never allowed to watch the later movies as a young child, but the first three movies were all I needed. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone introduced me to Harry Potter, an orphaned boy who was bullied by his family. At the time, I was being bullied in school. I understood Harry’s anger and hurt on a personal level. Along with being bullied and emotionally abused in his home, he was harassed at his school. Harry’s big break had come upon him when Hagrid had come to take him away from the Dursleys. When he was with Hagrid, he was the happiest he has ever been in his life up to that point. He was given school supplies that were his own, and was treated like an actual human being for the first time. I relate to Harry, because I was bullied and emotionally harassed at school. I never had a miracle happen, like Hagrid coming to take me away from my school to Hogwarts, but I had a different version of that. Around April of 2022, a boy in my choir class asked me to the senior prom. We were friends at the time, so I went with him. My parents asked him and his parents where he was going to college the next year. He said that he was going to Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. He would be studying audio engineering in the Curb College at Belmont. I knew I wanted to do something with music as a career, so I did some research on Belmont. The next spring, I visited Belmont in Nashville for the first time and I loved it. It wasn't my first college tour; I knew I wanted a smaller college. In the past, I visited larger schools like Florida State University, and I was overwhelmed with the huge size of the campus and number of students attending. Belmont’s campus was the perfect fit for me after exploring the school. The summer before my senior year, I participated in the Belmont Summer Vocal Arts Intensive. I had the opportunity to stay in a dorm for the first time, and it was definitely a great experience! It wasn’t anything like Hogwarts dorm rooms, but it was a good learning experience. I had one roommate instead of four or five others in the room with me. I had to walk down a hall instead of opening a single door and having my room magically appear. In a way, the Harry Potter movies have gotten me through school, reassuring me that life will be better after high school. Hogwarts is my vision of college life, finding lifelong friends and finding myself.

I was born with unilateral hearing loss in my left ear. I had sometimes felt this disability had put me at a disadvantage compared to my peers. Trust me, I’ve had some lows in my life due to feeling different and feeling excluded. I persevered and worked hard, while excelling in pursuing my passion for music. When I was five years old, I asked my parents for a piano because I wanted to learn how to play it. For my sixth birthday, my parents and grandparents bought me the piano that I still play on today. Soon after receiving it, I started taking private lessons with my teacher, Mr. John Ackley. Though I was oblivious to it then, during lessons Mr. Ackley sat on my right side instead of sitting on my left, like he did with his other students. That small accommodation from Mr. Ackley made me feel normal like the other kids. My favorite part of every lesson was ear training. Ironic, right? Although ear training was difficult at times, it is a skill I've used every day since I started taking piano lessons. I eventually stopped taking piano lessons when Mr. Ackley retired, but his knowledge of the musical language he shared with me has made a lasting impression that I will never forget. For the last few years, I have been taking one-on-one voice lessons with a professional voice coach. These lessons have strengthened my voice, which is now my primary instrument. When I played the piano for my Grandmother in her nursing home, I saw her reaction and it made her feel good. I saw her smile, which is quite uncommon for her since her Alzheimer’s had rapidly progressed over the last several years. I was overjoyed seeing her foot start tapping when I started playing. Something as simple as tapping her foot let me know that I was connecting with her in a language we both understood and loved. Last year I started volunteering to teach piano to a young girl in my neighborhood with special needs. I was overjoyed to have the opportunity to spark that same love for music in her that Mr. Ackley sparked for me several years earlier. Over time and our weekly piano lessons, I saw the same desire in her to overcome a disability that I had in myself at her age. Like me, she didn’t let her disability prevent her from learning to play the piano. She wasn’t thinking about what she couldn’t accomplish, only what she could accomplish. I was incredibly proud of her progress in learning several beginner-level songs during the first month of weekly lessons. Once the student and now the teacher, I felt a sense of pride to be passing on Mr. Ackley’s teachings to a student of my own. People like her and my Grandmother motivate me every day to keep striving to overcome any obstacles I may encounter in life, and to never give up in the pursuit of my goals. I’m inspired by the power of music and how much it can impact people of all ages. I intend to major in music therapy and learn how to help people through music. My plan is to continue my education and earn my masters degree and then my doctorate in music therapy. Mental and emotional health are so important and music therapy can help make a meaningful impact for people of all ages.

I was born with unilateral hearing loss in my left ear. I had sometimes felt this disability had put me at a disadvantage compared to my peers. Trust me, I’ve had some lows in my life due to feeling different and excluded. Unfortunately, I don’t know when I haven’t heard something and my hearing loss isn’t something that can be seen by others. I persevered and worked hard, while excelling in pursuing my passion for music. For my sixth birthday, my parents and grandparents bought me a piano that I still play on today. Soon after receiving it, I started taking private lessons with my teacher, Mr. John Ackley. He sat on my right side instead of sitting on my left, like he did with his other students. That small accommodation from Mr. Ackley made me feel normal like the other kids. My favorite part of every lesson was ear training. Ironic, right? Although ear training was difficult at times, it is a skill I've used every day since I started taking piano lessons. His knowledge of the musical language has made a lasting impression that I will never forget. For the last few years, I have been taking one-on-one voice lessons with a professional voice coach. These lessons have strengthened my voice, which is now my primary instrument. When I played the piano and sang for my Grandmother in her nursing home, I saw her smile and start tapping her foot, which was quite uncommon for her since her Alzheimer’s had rapidly progressed. I was connecting with her in a language we both understood and loved. Last year I started volunteering to teach piano to a young girl in my neighborhood with special needs. I was overjoyed to have the opportunity to spark that same love for music in her that Mr. Ackley sparked for me several years earlier. Over time and our weekly piano lessons, I saw the same desire in her to overcome a disability that I had in myself at her age. Like me, she didn’t let her disability prevent her from learning to play the piano. She wasn’t thinking about what she couldn’t accomplish, only what she could accomplish. I was incredibly proud of her progress in learning several beginner-level songs during the first month of weekly lessons. Once the student and now the teacher, I felt a sense of pride to be passing on Mr. Ackley’s teachings to a student of my own as well as giving her a chance to feel confident. People like her and my Grandmother motivate me every day to keep striving to overcome any obstacles I may encounter in life, and to never give up in the pursuit of my goals. I’m inspired by the power of music and how much it can impact people of all ages. I intend to major in music therapy and learn how to help people through music. Mental and emotional health are so important and music therapy can help make a meaningful impact for people of all ages. Having scholarship money would make a tremendous difference in my pursuit of a music therapy degree. Rather than worrying about paying student loans, I could focus on my studies in my music and psychology classes. Graduating debt free or close to it would be amazing. I would love to get one step closer to that goal. By choosing a career path that is so meaningful to me, I know I won’t be making a huge salary, but I will be fulfilling my dream of playing music and helping people.

I was born with unilateral hearing loss in my left ear. I had sometimes felt this disability had put me at a disadvantage compared to my peers. Trust me, I’ve had some lows in my life due to feeling different and feeling excluded. I persevered and worked hard, while excelling in pursuing my passion for music. For my sixth birthday, my parents and grandparents bought me a piano that I still play on today. Soon after receiving it, I started taking private lessons with my teacher, Mr. John Ackley. He sat on my right side instead of sitting on my left, like he did with his other students. That small accommodation from Mr. Ackley made me feel normal like the other kids. My favorite part of every lesson was ear training. Ironic, right? Although ear training was difficult at times, it is a skill I've used every day since I started taking piano lessons. His knowledge of the musical language has made a lasting impression that I will never forget. For the last few years, I have been taking one-on-one voice lessons with a professional voice coach. These lessons have strengthened my voice, which is now my primary instrument. When I played the piano and sang for my Grandmother in her nursing home, I saw her smile and start tapping her foot, which was quite uncommon for her since her Alzheimer’s had rapidly progressed. I was connecting with her in a language we both understood and loved. Last year I started volunteering to teach piano to a young girl in my neighborhood with special needs. I was overjoyed to have the opportunity to spark that same love for music in her that Mr. Ackley sparked for me several years earlier. Over time and our weekly piano lessons, I saw the same desire in her to overcome a disability that I had in myself at her age. Like me, she didn’t let her disability prevent her from learning to play the piano. She wasn’t thinking about what she couldn’t accomplish, only what she could accomplish. I was incredibly proud of her progress in learning several beginner-level songs during the first month of weekly lessons. Once the student and now the teacher, I felt a sense of pride to be passing on Mr. Ackley’s teachings to a student of my own. People like her and my Grandmother motivate me every day to keep striving to overcome any obstacles I may encounter in life, and to never give up in the pursuit of my goals. I’m inspired by the power of music and how much it can impact people of all ages. I intend to major in music therapy and learn how to help people through music. Mental and emotional health are so important and music therapy can help make a meaningful impact for people of all ages.

I was born with unilateral hearing loss in my left ear. I had sometimes felt this disability had put me at a disadvantage compared to my peers. Trust me, I’ve had some lows in my life due to feeling different and feeling excluded. I persevered and worked hard, while excelling in pursuing my passion for music. When I was five years old, I asked my parents for a piano because I wanted to learn how to play it. For my sixth birthday, my parents and grandparents bought me the piano that I still play on today. Soon after receiving it, I started taking private lessons with my teacher, Mr. John Ackley. Though I was oblivious to it then, during lessons Mr. Ackley sat on my right side instead of sitting on my left, like he did with his other students. That small accommodation from Mr. Ackley made me feel normal like the other kids. My favorite part of every lesson was ear training. Ironic, right? Although ear training was difficult at times, it is a skill I've used every day since I started taking piano lessons. I eventually stopped taking piano lessons when Mr. Ackley retired, but his knowledge of the musical language he shared with me has made a lasting impression that I will never forget. For the last few years, I have been taking one-on-one voice lessons with a professional voice coach. These lessons have strengthened my voice, which is now my primary instrument. When I played the piano for my Grandmother in her nursing home, I saw her reaction and it made her feel good. I saw her smile, which is quite uncommon for her since her Alzheimer’s had rapidly progressed over the last several years. I was overjoyed seeing her foot start tapping when I started playing. Something as simple as tapping her foot let me know that I was connecting with her in a language we both understood and loved. Last year I started volunteering to teach piano to a young girl in my neighborhood with special needs. I was overjoyed to have the opportunity to spark that same love for music in her that Mr. Ackley sparked for me several years earlier. Over time and our weekly piano lessons, I saw the same desire in her to overcome a disability that I had in myself at her age. Like me, she didn’t let her disability prevent her from learning to play the piano. She wasn’t thinking about what she couldn’t accomplish, only what she could accomplish. I was incredibly proud of her progress in learning several beginner-level songs during the first month of weekly lessons. Once the student and now the teacher, I felt a sense of pride to be passing on Mr. Ackley’s teachings to a student of my own. People like her and my Grandmother motivate me every day to keep striving to overcome any obstacles I may encounter in life, and to never give up in the pursuit of my goals. I’m inspired by the power of music and how much it can impact people of all ages. I intend to major in music therapy and learn how to help people through music. My plan is to continue my education and earn my masters degree and then my doctorate in music therapy. Mental and emotional health are so important and music therapy can help make a meaningful impact for people of all ages.

I was born with unilateral hearing loss in my left ear. I had sometimes felt this disability had put me at a disadvantage compared to my peers. Trust me, I’ve had some lows in my life due to feeling different and feeling excluded. I persevered and worked hard, while excelling in pursuing my passion for music. When I was five years old, I asked my parents for a piano because I wanted to learn how to play it. For my sixth birthday, my parents and grandparents bought me the piano that I still play on today. Soon after receiving it, I started taking private lessons with my teacher, Mr. John Ackley. Though I was oblivious to it then, during lessons Mr. Ackley sat on my right side instead of sitting on my left, like he did with his other students. That small accommodation from Mr. Ackley made me feel normal like the other kids. My favorite part of every lesson was ear training. Ironic, right? Although ear training was difficult at times, it is a skill I've used every day since I started taking piano lessons. I eventually stopped taking piano lessons when Mr. Ackley retired, but his knowledge of the musical language he shared with me has made a lasting impression that I will never forget. For the last few years, I have been taking one-on-one voice lessons with a professional voice coach. These lessons have strengthened my voice, which is now my primary instrument. When I played the piano for my Grandmother in her nursing home, I saw her reaction and it made her feel good. I saw her smile, which is quite uncommon for her since her Alzheimer’s had rapidly progressed over the last several years. I was overjoyed seeing her foot start tapping when I started playing. Something as simple as tapping her foot let me know that I was connecting with her in a language we both understood and loved. Last year I started volunteering to teach piano to a young girl in my neighborhood with special needs. I was overjoyed to have the opportunity to spark that same love for music in her that Mr. Ackley sparked for me several years earlier. Over time and our weekly piano lessons, I saw the same desire in her to overcome a disability that I had in myself at her age. Like me, she didn’t let her disability prevent her from learning to play the piano. She wasn’t thinking about what she couldn’t accomplish, only what she could accomplish. I was incredibly proud of her progress in learning several beginner-level songs during the first month of weekly lessons. Once the student and now the teacher, I felt a sense of pride to be passing on Mr. Ackley’s teachings to a student of my own. People like her and my Grandmother motivate me every day to keep striving to overcome any obstacles I may encounter in life, and to never give up in the pursuit of my goals. I’m inspired by the power of music and how much it can impact people of all ages. I intend to major in music therapy and learn how to help people through music. My plan is to continue my education and earn my masters degree and then my doctorate in music therapy. Mental and emotional health are so important and music therapy can help make a meaningful impact for people of all ages.

I was born with unilateral hearing loss in my left ear. I had sometimes felt this disability had put me at a disadvantage compared to my peers. Trust me, I’ve had some lows in my life due to feeling different and feeling excluded. I persevered and worked hard, while excelling in pursuing my passion for music. When I was five years old, I asked my parents for a piano because I wanted to learn how to play it. For my sixth birthday, my parents and grandparents bought me the piano that I still play on today. Soon after receiving it, I started taking private lessons with my teacher, Mr. John Ackley. Though I was oblivious to it then, during lessons Mr. Ackley sat on my right side instead of sitting on my left, like he did with his other students. That small accommodation from Mr. Ackley made me feel normal like the other kids. My favorite part of every lesson was ear training. Ironic, right? Although ear training was difficult at times, it is a skill I've used every day since I started taking piano lessons. I eventually stopped taking piano lessons when Mr. Ackley retired, but his knowledge of the musical language he shared with me has made a lasting impression that I will never forget. For the last few years, I have been taking one-on-one voice lessons with a professional voice coach. These lessons have strengthened my voice, which is now my primary instrument. When I played the piano for my Grandmother in her nursing home, I saw her reaction and it made her feel good. I saw her smile, which is quite uncommon for her since her Alzheimer’s had rapidly progressed over the last several years. I was overjoyed seeing her foot start tapping when I started playing. Something as simple as tapping her foot let me know that I was connecting with her in a language we both understood and loved. Last year I started volunteering to teach piano to a young girl in my neighborhood with special needs. I was overjoyed to have the opportunity to spark that same love for music in her that Mr. Ackley sparked for me several years earlier. Over time and our weekly piano lessons, I saw the same desire in her to overcome a disability that I had in myself at her age. Like me, she didn’t let her disability prevent her from learning to play the piano. She wasn’t thinking about what she couldn’t accomplish, only what she could accomplish. I was incredibly proud of her progress in learning several beginner-level songs during the first month of weekly lessons. Once the student and now the teacher, I felt a sense of pride to be passing on Mr. Ackley’s teachings to a student of my own. People like her and my Grandmother motivate me every day to keep striving to overcome any obstacles I may encounter in life, and to never give up in the pursuit of my goals. I’m inspired by the power of music and how much it can impact people of all ages. I intend to major in music therapy and learn how to help people through music. My plan is to continue my education and earn my masters degree and then my doctorate in music therapy. Mental and emotional health are so important and music therapy can help make a meaningful impact for people of all ages.

I was born with unilateral hearing loss in my left ear. I had sometimes felt this disability had put me at a disadvantage compared to my peers. Trust me, I’ve had some lows in my life due to feeling different and feeling excluded. I persevered and worked hard, while excelling in pursuing my passion for music. When I was five years old, I asked my parents for a piano because I wanted to learn how to play it. For my sixth birthday, my parents and grandparents bought me the piano that I still play on today. Soon after receiving it, I started taking private lessons with my teacher, Mr. John Ackley. Though I was oblivious to it then, during lessons Mr. Ackley sat on my right side instead of sitting on my left, like he did with his other students. That small accommodation from Mr. Ackley made me feel normal like the other kids. My favorite part of every lesson was ear training. Ironic, right? Although ear training was difficult at times, it is a skill I've used every day since I started taking piano lessons. I eventually stopped taking piano lessons when Mr. Ackley retired, but his knowledge of the musical language he shared with me has made a lasting impression that I will never forget. For the last few years, I have been taking one-on-one voice lessons with a professional voice coach. These lessons have strengthened my voice, which is now my primary instrument. When I played the piano for my Grandmother in her nursing home, I saw her reaction and it made her feel good. I saw her smile, which is quite uncommon for her since her Alzheimer’s had rapidly progressed over the last several years. I was overjoyed seeing her foot start tapping when I started playing. Something as simple as tapping her foot let me know that I was connecting with her in a language we both understood and loved. Last year I started volunteering to teach piano to a young girl in my neighborhood with special needs. I was overjoyed to have the opportunity to spark that same love for music in her that Mr. Ackley sparked for me several years earlier. Over time and our weekly piano lessons, I saw the same desire in her to overcome a disability that I had in myself at her age. Like me, she didn’t let her disability prevent her from learning to play the piano. She wasn’t thinking about what she couldn’t accomplish, only what she could accomplish. I was incredibly proud of her progress in learning several beginner-level songs during the first month of weekly lessons. Once the student and now the teacher, I felt a sense of pride to be passing on Mr. Ackley’s teachings to a student of my own. People like her and my Grandmother motivate me every day to keep striving to overcome any obstacles I may encounter in life, and to never give up in the pursuit of my goals. I’m inspired by the power of music and how much it can impact people of all ages. I intend to major in music therapy and learn how to help people through music. My plan is to continue my education and earn my masters degree and then my doctorate in music therapy. Mental and emotional health are so important and music therapy can help make a meaningful impact for people of all ages.

I was born with unilateral hearing loss in my left ear. I had sometimes felt this disability had put me at a disadvantage compared to my peers. Trust me, I’ve had some lows in my life due to feeling different and feeling excluded. I persevered and worked hard, while excelling in pursuing my passion for music. When I was five years old, I asked my parents for a piano because I wanted to learn how to play it. For my sixth birthday, my parents and grandparents bought me the piano that I still play on today. Soon after receiving it, I started taking private lessons with my teacher, Mr. John Ackley. Though I was oblivious to it then, during lessons Mr. Ackley sat on my right side instead of sitting on my left, like he did with his other students. That small accommodation from Mr. Ackley made me feel normal like the other kids. My favorite part of every lesson was ear training. Ironic, right? Although ear training was difficult at times, it is a skill I've used every day since I started taking piano lessons. I eventually stopped taking piano lessons when Mr. Ackley retired, but his knowledge of the musical language he shared with me has made a lasting impression that I will never forget. For the last few years, I have been taking one-on-one voice lessons with a professional voice coach. These lessons have strengthened my voice, which is now my primary instrument. When I played the piano for my Grandmother in her nursing home, I saw her reaction and it made her feel good. I saw her smile, which is quite uncommon for her since her Alzheimer’s had rapidly progressed over the last several years. I was overjoyed seeing her foot start tapping when I started playing. Something as simple as tapping her foot let me know that I was connecting with her in a language we both understood and loved. Last year I started volunteering to teach piano to a young girl in my neighborhood with special needs. I was overjoyed to have the opportunity to spark that same love for music in her that Mr. Ackley sparked for me several years earlier. Over time and our weekly piano lessons, I saw the same desire in her to overcome a disability that I had in myself at her age. Like me, she didn’t let her disability prevent her from learning to play the piano. She wasn’t thinking about what she couldn’t accomplish, only what she could accomplish. I was incredibly proud of her progress in learning several beginner-level songs during the first month of weekly lessons. Once the student and now the teacher, I felt a sense of pride to be passing on Mr. Ackley’s teachings to a student of my own. People like her and my Grandmother motivate me every day to keep striving to overcome any obstacles I may encounter in life, and to never give up in the pursuit of my goals. I’m inspired by the power of music and how much it can impact people of all ages. I intend to major in music therapy and learn how to help people through music. My plan is to continue my education and earn my masters degree and then my doctorate in music therapy. Mental and emotional health are so important and music therapy can help make a meaningful impact for people of all ages.

I was born with unilateral hearing loss in my left ear. I had sometimes felt this disability had put me at a disadvantage compared to my peers. I persevered and worked hard, while excelling in pursuing my passion for music. I started taking private piano lessons when I was six years old. My favorite part of every lesson was ear training. Ironic, right? Although ear training was difficult at times, it is a skill I've used every day since I started taking piano lessons. For the last few years, I have been taking one-on-one voice lessons with a professional voice coach. These lessons have strengthened my voice, which is now my primary instrument. When I played the piano for my Grandmother in her nursing home, I brought joy to her and other residents. I saw her smiles and foot tapping throughout the room. Since her decline in health due to Alzheimer’s, Last year I started volunteering to teach piano to a young girl in my neighborhood with special needs. I was overjoyed to have the opportunity to spark that same love for music in her that my piano teacher sparked for me several years earlier. Over time and our weekly piano lessons, I saw the same desire in her to overcome a disability that I had in myself at her age. Like me, she didn’t let her disability prevent her from pursuing a skill. She wasn’t thinking about what she couldn’t accomplish, only what she could accomplish. I was incredibly proud of her progress in learning several beginner-level songs during the first month of weekly lessons. Once the student and now the teacher, I felt a sense of pride to be passing my knowledge to a student of my own. People like her and my Grandmother motivate me every day to keep striving to overcome any obstacles I may encounter in life, and to never give up in the pursuit of my goals. I’m inspired by the power of music and how much it can impact people of all ages. I intend to major in music therapy and learn how to help people of all ages through music. My plan is to continue my education and earn my masters degree and then my doctorate in music therapy. Mental and emotional health is so important and music therapy can help make a meaningful impact for people of all ages.

I was born with unilateral hearing loss in my left ear. I had sometimes felt this disability had put me at a disadvantage compared to my peers. Trust me, I’ve had some lows in my life due to feeling different and feeling excluded. I persevered and worked hard, while excelling in pursuing my passion for music. When I was five years old, I asked my parents for a piano because I wanted to learn how to play it. For my sixth birthday, my parents and grandparents bought me the piano that I still play on today. Soon after receiving it, I started taking private lessons with my teacher, Mr. John Ackley. Though I was oblivious to it then, during lessons Mr. Ackley sat on my right side instead of sitting on my left, like he did with his other students. That small accommodation from Mr. Ackley made me feel normal like the other kids. My favorite part of every lesson was ear training. Ironic, right? Although ear training was difficult at times, it is a skill I've used every day since I started taking piano lessons. I eventually stopped taking piano lessons when Mr. Ackley retired, but his knowledge of the musical language he shared with me has made a lasting impression that I will never forget. For the last few years, I have been taking one-on-one voice lessons with a professional voice coach. These lessons have strengthened my voice, which is now my primary instrument. When I played the piano for my Grandmother in her nursing home, I saw her reaction and it made her feel good. I saw her smile, which is quite uncommon for her since her Alzheimer’s has rapidly progressed over the last several years. I was overjoyed seeing her foot start tapping when I started playing. Something as simple as tapping her foot let me know that I was connecting with her in a language we both understood and loved. At that moment, my Grandmother showed me that the best part of music for me was helping others, making any given moment that much better. Last year I started volunteering to teach piano to a young girl in my neighborhood with special needs. I was overjoyed to have the opportunity to spark that same love for music in her that Mr. Ackley sparked for me several years earlier. Over time and our weekly piano lessons, I saw the same desire in her to overcome a disability that I had in myself at her age. Like me, she didn’t let her disability prevent her from learning to play the piano. She wasn’t thinking about what she couldn’t accomplish, only what she could accomplish. I was incredibly proud of her progress in learning several beginner-level songs during the first month of weekly lessons. Once the student and now the teacher, I felt a sense of pride to be passing on Mr. Ackley’s teachings to a student of my own. People like her and my Grandmother motivate me every day to keep striving to overcome any obstacles I may encounter in life, and to never give up in the pursuit of my goals. I’m inspired by the power of music and how much it can impact people of all ages. I intend to major in music therapy and learn how to help people of all ages through music. My plan is to continue my education and earn my masters degree and then my doctorate in music therapy. Mental and emotional health is so important and music therapy can help make a meaningful impact for people of all ages.

I was born with unilateral hearing loss in my left ear. I had sometimes felt this disability had put me at a disadvantage compared to my peers. Trust me, I’ve had some lows in my life due to feeling different and feeling excluded. I persevered and worked hard, while excelling in pursuing my passion for music. When I was five years old, I asked my parents for a piano because I wanted to learn how to play it. For my sixth birthday, my parents and grandparents bought me the piano that I still play on today. Soon after receiving it, I started taking private lessons with my teacher, Mr. John Ackley. Though I was oblivious to it then, during lessons Mr. Ackley sat on my right side instead of sitting on my left, like he did with his other students. That small accommodation from Mr. Ackley made me feel normal like the other kids. My favorite part of every lesson was ear training. Ironic, right? Although ear training was difficult at times, it is a skill I've used every day since I started taking piano lessons. I eventually stopped taking piano lessons when Mr. Ackley retired, but his knowledge of the musical language he shared with me has made a lasting impression that I will never forget. For the last few years, I have been taking one-on-one voice lessons with a professional voice coach. These lessons have strengthened my voice, which is now my primary instrument. When I played the piano for my Grandmother in her nursing home, I saw her reaction and it made her feel good. I saw her smile, which is quite uncommon for her since her Alzheimer’s has rapidly progressed over the last several years. I was overjoyed seeing her foot start tapping when I started playing. Something as simple as tapping her foot let me know that I was connecting with her in a language we both understood and loved. At that moment, my Grandmother showed me that the best part of music for me was helping others, making any given moment that much better. Last year I started volunteering to teach piano to a young girl in my neighborhood with special needs. I was overjoyed to have the opportunity to spark that same love for music in her that Mr. Ackley sparked for me several years earlier. Over time and our weekly piano lessons, I saw the same desire in her to overcome a disability that I had in myself at her age. Like me, she didn’t let her disability prevent her from learning to play the piano. She wasn’t thinking about what she couldn’t accomplish, only what she could accomplish. I was incredibly proud of her progress in learning several beginner-level songs during the first month of weekly lessons. Once the student and now the teacher, I felt a sense of pride to be passing on Mr. Ackley’s teachings to a student of my own. People like her and my Grandmother motivate me every day to keep striving to overcome any obstacles I may encounter in life, and to never give up in the pursuit of my goals. I’m inspired by the power of music and how much it can impact people of all ages. I intend to major in music therapy and learn how to help people of all ages through music. My plan is to continue my education and earn my masters degree and then my doctorate in music therapy. Mental and emotional health is so important and music therapy can help make a meaningful impact for people of all ages.

I was born with unilateral hearing loss in my left ear. I had sometimes felt this disability had put me at a disadvantage compared to my peers. Trust me, I’ve had some lows in my life due to feeling different and feeling excluded. I persevered and worked hard, while excelling in pursuing my passion for music. When I was five years old, I asked my parents for a piano because I wanted to learn how to play it. For my sixth birthday, my parents and grandparents bought me the piano that I still play on today. Soon after receiving it, I started taking private lessons with my teacher, Mr. John Ackley. Though I was oblivious to it then, during lessons Mr. Ackley sat on my right side instead of sitting on my left, like he did with his other students. That small accommodation from Mr. Ackley made me feel normal like the other kids. My favorite part of every lesson was ear training. Ironic, right? Although ear training was difficult at times, it is a skill I've used every day since I started taking piano lessons. I eventually stopped taking piano lessons when Mr. Ackley retired, but his knowledge of the musical language he shared with me has made a lasting impression that I will never forget. For the last few years, I have been taking one-on-one voice lessons with a professional voice coach. These lessons have strengthened my voice, which is now my primary instrument. When I played the piano for my Grandmother in her nursing home, I saw her reaction and it made her feel good. I saw her smile, which is quite uncommon for her since her Alzheimer’s has rapidly progressed over the last several years. I was overjoyed seeing her foot start tapping when I started playing. Something as simple as tapping her foot let me know that I was connecting with her in a language we both understood and loved. At that moment, my Grandmother showed me that the best part of music for me was helping others, making any given moment that much better. Last year I started volunteering to teach piano to a young girl in my neighborhood with special needs. I was overjoyed to have the opportunity to spark that same love for music in her that Mr. Ackley sparked for me several years earlier. Over time and our weekly piano lessons, I saw the same desire in her to overcome a disability that I had in myself at her age. Like me, she didn’t let her disability prevent her from learning to play the piano. She wasn’t thinking about what she couldn’t accomplish, only what she could accomplish. I was incredibly proud of her progress in learning several beginner-level songs during the first month of weekly lessons. Once the student and now the teacher, I felt a sense of pride to be passing on Mr. Ackley’s teachings to a student of my own. People like her and my Grandmother motivate me every day to keep striving to overcome any obstacles I may encounter in life, and to never give up in the pursuit of my goals. I’m inspired by the power of music and how much it can impact people of all ages. I intend to major in music therapy and learn how to help people of all ages through music. My plan is to continue my education and earn my masters degree and then my doctorate in music therapy. Mental and emotional health is so important and music therapy can help make a meaningful impact for people of all ages.

I was born with unilateral hearing loss in my left ear. I had sometimes felt this disability had put me at a disadvantage compared to my peers. Trust me, I’ve had some lows in my life due to feeling different and feeling excluded. I persevered and worked hard, while excelling in pursuing my passion for music. When I was five years old, I asked my parents for a piano because I wanted to learn how to play it. For my sixth birthday, my parents and grandparents bought me the piano that I still play on today. Soon after receiving it, I started taking private lessons with my teacher, Mr. John Ackley. Though I was oblivious to it then, during lessons Mr. Ackley sat on my right side instead of sitting on my left, like he did with his other students. That small accommodation from Mr. Ackley made me feel normal like the other kids. My favorite part of every lesson was ear training. Ironic, right? Although ear training was difficult at times, it is a skill I've used every day since I started taking piano lessons. I eventually stopped taking piano lessons when Mr. Ackley retired, but his knowledge of the musical language he shared with me has made a lasting impression that I will never forget. For the last few years, I have been taking one-on-one voice lessons with a professional voice coach. These lessons have strengthened my voice, which is now my primary instrument. When I played the piano for my Grandmother in her nursing home, I saw her reaction and it made her feel good. I saw her smile, which is quite uncommon for her since her Alzheimer’s has rapidly progressed over the last several years. I was overjoyed seeing her foot start tapping when I started playing. Something as simple as tapping her foot let me know that I was connecting with her in a language we both understood and loved. At that moment, my Grandmother showed me that the best part of music for me was helping others, making any given moment that much better. Last year I started volunteering to teach piano to a young girl in my neighborhood with special needs. I was overjoyed to have the opportunity to spark that same love for music in her that Mr. Ackley sparked for me several years earlier. Over time and our weekly piano lessons, I saw the same desire in her to overcome a disability that I had in myself at her age. Like me, she didn’t let her disability prevent her from learning to play the piano. She wasn’t thinking about what she couldn’t accomplish, only what she could accomplish. I was incredibly proud of her progress in learning several beginner-level songs during the first month of weekly lessons. Once the student and now the teacher, I felt a sense of pride to be passing on Mr. Ackley’s teachings to a student of my own. People like her and my Grandmother motivate me every day to keep striving to overcome any obstacles I may encounter in life, and to never give up in the pursuit of my goals. I’m inspired by the power of music and how much it can impact people of all ages. I intend to major in music therapy and learn how to help people of all ages through music. My plan is to continue my education and earn my masters degree and then my doctorate in music therapy. Mental and emotional health is so important and music therapy can help make a meaningful impact for people of all ages.

I was born with unilateral hearing loss in my left ear. I had sometimes felt this disability had put me at a disadvantage compared to my peers. Trust me, I’ve had some lows in my life due to feeling different and feeling excluded. I persevered and worked hard, while excelling in pursuing my passion for music. When I was five years old, I asked my parents for a piano because I wanted to learn how to play it. For my sixth birthday, my parents and grandparents bought me the piano that I still play on today. Soon after receiving it, I started taking private lessons with my teacher, Mr. John Ackley. Though I was oblivious to it then, during lessons Mr. Ackley sat on my right side instead of sitting on my left, like he did with his other students. That small accommodation from Mr. Ackley made me feel normal like the other kids. My favorite part of every lesson was ear training. Ironic, right? Although ear training was difficult at times, it is a skill I've used every day since I started taking piano lessons. I eventually stopped taking piano lessons when Mr. Ackley retired, but his knowledge of the musical language he shared with me has made a lasting impression that I will never forget. For the last few years, I have been taking one-on-one voice lessons with a professional voice coach. These lessons have strengthened my voice, which is now my primary instrument. When I played the piano for my Grandmother in her nursing home, I saw her reaction and it made her feel good. I saw her smile, which is quite uncommon for her since her Alzheimer’s has rapidly progressed over the last several years. I was overjoyed seeing her foot start tapping when I started playing. Something as simple as tapping her foot let me know that I was connecting with her in a language we both understood and loved. At that moment, my Grandmother showed me that the best part of music for me was helping others, making any given moment that much better. Last year I started volunteering to teach piano to a young girl in my neighborhood with special needs. I was overjoyed to have the opportunity to spark that same love for music in her that Mr. Ackley sparked for me several years earlier. Over time and our weekly piano lessons, I saw the same desire in her to overcome a disability that I had in myself at her age. Like me, she didn’t let her disability prevent her from learning to play the piano. She wasn’t thinking about what she couldn’t accomplish, only what she could accomplish. I was incredibly proud of her progress in learning several beginner-level songs during the first month of weekly lessons. Once the student and now the teacher, I felt a sense of pride to be passing on Mr. Ackley’s teachings to a student of my own. People like her and my Grandmother motivate me every day to keep striving to overcome any obstacles I may encounter in life, and to never give up in the pursuit of my goals. I’m inspired by the power of music and how much it can impact people of all ages. I intend to major in music therapy and learn how to help people of all ages through music. My plan is to continue my education and earn my masters degree and then my doctorate in music therapy. Mental and emotional health is so important and music therapy can help make a meaningful impact for people of all ages.

I was born with unilateral hearing loss, but despite my disability I have excelled at music. I’ve learned to play the piano, guitar and ukulele. My favorite instrument of all is my voice. Music has empowered me and helped me through some tough times. Over the last year, I have enjoyed volunteering to teach two special needs girls in my neighborhood to play the piano. Although they each have obstacles, they are just as eager to learn and they are thrilled with their accomplishments. It’s incredibly motivating for me to see their progress and their confidence grow each week. I will be pursuing a degree in music therapy on a commercial track that will include classical music as well as music you normally hear playing on the radio. It’s the perfect opportunity for me to combine my love of music and helping people. I saw the difference of what music therapy did for my grandmother with Alzheimer’s and that is what initially sparked my interest. Music impacted her in a way that I hadn’t seen since her disease had progressed. In a matter of minutes I could see her go from being unresponsive to start tapping her foot and show emotions that we hadn’t seen in a long time. The part of the brain that remembers music is one of the last parts to lose its neurological connections. It’s amazing that music therapy not only helps elderly, but can help people of all ages. Music therapy has even been used to help infants in the NICU. There are countless ways music therapy can be beneficial, from helping keep the rhythm of a heartbeat, to learning to walk again with the beat of a song, to bringing out emotions and memories that were buried. Music therapy can truly make a difference in so many lives. I feel fortunate to be able to learn to use my gifts to help others heal through music. I am looking forward to learning everything I can about music therapy and discovering what it’s like to work with people of different age groups and different settings like schools, hospitals, mental healthcare facilities and nursing homes. Due to the music therapy course load being so intense, having this scholarship would help me with school expenses. I can hardly wait to witness the power of music!

I was born with unilateral hearing loss in my left ear. I had sometimes felt this disability had put me at a disadvantage compared to my peers. Trust me, I’ve had some lows in my life due to feeling different and feeling excluded. I persevered and worked hard, while excelling in pursuing my passion for music. When I was five years old, I asked my parents for a piano because I wanted to learn how to play it. For my sixth birthday, my parents and grandparents bought me the piano that I still play on today. Soon after receiving it, I started taking private lessons with my teacher, Mr. John Ackley. Though I was oblivious to it then, during lessons Mr. Ackley sat on my right side instead of sitting on my left, like he did with his other students. That small accommodation from Mr. Ackley made me feel normal like the other kids. My favorite part of every lesson was ear training. Ironic, right? Although ear training was difficult at times, it is a skill I've used every day since I started taking piano lessons. I eventually stopped taking piano lessons when Mr. Ackley retired, but his knowledge of the musical language he shared with me has made a lasting impression that I will never forget. For the last few years, I have been taking one-on-one voice lessons with a professional voice coach. These lessons have strengthened my voice, which is now my primary instrument. When I played the piano for my Grandmother in her nursing home, I saw her reaction and it made her feel good. I saw her smile, which is quite uncommon for her since her Alzheimer’s has rapidly progressed over the last several years. I was overjoyed seeing her foot start tapping when I started playing. Something as simple as tapping her foot let me know that I was connecting with her in a language we both understood and loved. At that moment, my Grandmother showed me that the best part of music for me was helping others, making any given moment that much better. Last year I started volunteering to teach piano to a young girl in my neighborhood with special needs. I was overjoyed to have the opportunity to spark that same love for music in her that Mr. Ackley sparked for me several years earlier. Over time and our weekly piano lessons, I saw the same desire in her to overcome a disability that I had in myself at her age. Like me, she didn’t let her disability prevent her from learning to play the piano. She wasn’t thinking about what she couldn’t accomplish, only what she could accomplish. I was incredibly proud of her progress in learning several beginner-level songs during the first month of weekly lessons. Once the student and now the teacher, I felt a sense of pride to be passing on Mr. Ackley’s teachings to a student of my own. People like her and my Grandmother motivate me every day to keep striving to overcome any obstacles I may encounter in life, and to never give up in the pursuit of my goals. I’m inspired by the power of music and how much it can impact people of all ages. I intend to major in music therapy and learn how to help people of all ages through music. My plan is to continue my education and earn my masters degree and then my doctorate in music therapy. Mental and emotional health is so important and music therapy can help make a meaningful impact for people of all ages.

I was born with unilateral hearing loss, but despite my disability I have excelled at music. I’ve learned to play the piano, guitar and ukulele. My favorite instrument of all is my voice. I received a cochlear bone anchored hearing aide when I was in third grade, Since I had already started studying piano, and I was so comfortable playing without it, I always took my hearing aide off while playing. To this day, I still prefer not to wear my hearing aide while singing or playing an instrument. Over the last year, I have enjoyed volunteering to teach two special needs girls in my neighborhood to play the piano. Although they each have obstacles, they are just as eager to learn and they are thrilled with their accomplishments. It’s incredibly motivating for me to see their progress and their confidence grow each week. I will be pursuing a degree in music therapy on a commercial track that will include classical music as well as music you normally hear playing on the radio. It’s the perfect opportunity for me to combine my love of music and helping people. I saw the difference of what music therapy did for my grandmother with Alzheimer’s and that is what initially sparked my interest. Music impacted her in a way that I hadn’t seen since her disease had progressed. In a matter of minutes I could see her go from being unresponsive to start tapping her foot and show emotions that we hadn’t seen in a long time. The part of the brain that remembers music is one of the last parts to lose its neurological connections. It’s amazing that music therapy not only helps elderly, but can help people of all ages. Music therapy has even been used to help infants in the NICU. There are countless ways music therapy can be beneficial, from helping keep the rhythm of a heartbeat, to learning to walk again with the beat of a song, to bringing out emotions and memories that were buried. Music therapy can truly make a difference in so many lives. I feel fortunate to be able to learn to use my gifts to help others heal through music. I am looking forward to learning everything I can about music therapy and discovering what it’s like to work with people of different age groups and different settings like schools, hospitals, mental healthcare facilities and nursing homes. Due to the music therapy course load being so intense, having this scholarship would help me with extra expenses while in school. I can hardly wait to witness the power of music!

I feel like my life has embodied the definition of empowerment; the process of becoming stronger and more confident. I was born with unilateral hearing loss, but despite my disability I have excelled at music. I’ve learned to play the piano, guitar and ukulele. My favorite instrument of all is my voice. I received a cochlear bone anchored hearing aide when I was in third grade. Although, because I had already started studying piano, and I was so comfortable playing without it, I always took my hearing aide off while playing. To this day, I still prefer not to wear my hearing aide while singing or playing an instrument. Over the last year, I have enjoyed volunteering to teach two special needs girls in my neighborhood to play the piano. Although they each have obstacles, they are just as eager to learn and they are thrilled with their accomplishments. It’s incredibly motivating for me to see their progress and their confidence grow each week. I will be pursuing a degree in music therapy on a commercial track that will include classical music as well as music you normally hear playing on the radio. It’s the perfect opportunity for me to combine my love of music and helping people. I saw the difference of what music therapy did for my grandmother with Alzheimer’s and that is what initially sparked my interest. Music impacted her in a way that I hadn’t seen since her disease had progressed. In a matter of minutes I could see her go from being unresponsive to start tapping her foot and show emotions that we hadn’t seen in a long time. The part of the brain that remembers music is one of the last parts to lose its neurological connections. It’s amazing that music therapy not only helps elderly, but can help people of all ages. Music therapy has even been used to help infants in the NICU. There are countless ways music therapy can be beneficial, from helping keep the rhythm of a heartbeat, to learning to walk again with the beat of a song, to bringing out emotions and memories that were buried. Music therapy can truly make a difference in so many lives. I feel fortunate to be able to learn to use my gifts to help others heal through music. I am looking forward to learning everything I can about music therapy and discovering what it’s like to work with people of different age groups and different settings like schools, hospitals, mental healthcare facilities and nursing homes. Due to the music therapy course load being so intense, having this scholarship would help me with school expenses. I can hardly wait to witness the power of music and help others become stronger and more confident!

I was born with unilateral hearing loss, but despite my disability I have excelled at music. I’ve learned to play the piano, guitar and ukulele. My favorite instrument of all is my voice. I received a cochlear bone anchored hearing aide when I was in third grade, Since I had already started studying piano, and I was so comfortable playing without it, I always took my hearing aide off while playing. To this day, I still prefer not to wear my hearing aide while singing or playing an instrument. Over the last year, I have enjoyed volunteering to teach two special needs girls in my neighborhood to play the piano. Although they each have obstacles, they are just as eager to learn and they are thrilled with their accomplishments. It’s incredibly motivating for me to see their progress and their confidence grow each week. I will be pursuing a degree in music therapy on a commercial track that will include classical music as well as music you normally hear playing on the radio. It’s the perfect opportunity for me to combine my love of music and helping people. I saw the difference of what music therapy did for my grandmother with Alzheimer’s and that is what initially sparked my interest. Music impacted her in a way that I hadn’t seen since her disease had progressed. In a matter of minutes I could see her go from being unresponsive to start tapping her foot and show emotions that we hadn’t seen in a long time. The part of the brain that remembers music is one of the last parts to lose its neurological connections. It’s amazing that music therapy not only helps elderly, but can help people of all ages. Music therapy has even been used to help infants in the NICU. There are countless ways music therapy can be beneficial, from helping keep the rhythm of a heartbeat, to learning to walk again with the beat of a song, to bringing out emotions and memories that were buried. Music therapy can truly make a difference in so many lives. I feel fortunate to be able to learn to use my gifts to help others heal through music. I am looking forward to learning everything I can about music therapy and discovering what it’s like to work with people of different age groups and different settings like schools, hospitals, mental healthcare facilities and nursing homes. Due to the music therapy course load being so intense, having this scholarship would help me with extra expenses while in school. I can hardly wait to witness the power of music!

I was born with unilateral hearing loss in my left ear. I had sometimes felt this disability had put me at a disadvantage compared to my peers. Trust me, I’ve had some lows in my life due to feeling different and feeling excluded. I persevered and worked hard, while excelling in pursuing my passion for music. When I was five years old, I asked my parents for a piano because I wanted to learn how to play it. For my sixth birthday, my parents and grandparents bought me the piano that I still play on today. Soon after receiving it, I started taking private lessons with my teacher, Mr. John Ackley. Though I was oblivious to it then, during lessons Mr. Ackley sat on my right side instead of sitting on my left, like he did with his other students. That small accommodation from Mr. Ackley made me feel normal like the other kids. My favorite part of every lesson was ear training. Ironic, right? Although ear training was difficult at times, it is a skill I've used every day since I started taking piano lessons. I eventually stopped taking piano lessons when Mr. Ackley retired, but his knowledge of the musical language he shared with me has made a lasting impression that I will never forget. For the last few years, I have been taking one-on-one voice lessons with a professional voice coach. These lessons have strengthened my voice, which is now my primary instrument. When I played the piano for my Grandmother in her nursing home, I saw her reaction and it made her feel good. I saw her smile, which is quite uncommon for her since her Alzheimer’s has rapidly progressed over the last several years. I was overjoyed seeing her foot start tapping when I started playing. Something as simple as tapping her foot let me know that I was connecting with her in a language we both understood and loved. At that moment, my Grandmother showed me that the best part of music for me was helping others, making any given moment that much better. Last year I started volunteering to teach piano to a young girl in my neighborhood with special needs. I was overjoyed to have the opportunity to spark that same love for music in her that Mr. Ackley sparked for me several years earlier. Over time and our weekly piano lessons, I saw the same desire in her to overcome a disability that I had in myself at her age. Like me, she didn’t let her disability prevent her from learning to play the piano. She wasn’t thinking about what she couldn’t accomplish, only what she could accomplish. I was incredibly proud of her progress in learning several beginner-level songs during the first month of weekly lessons. Once the student and now the teacher, I felt a sense of pride to be passing on Mr. Ackley’s teachings to a student of my own. People like her and my Grandmother motivate me every day to keep striving to overcome any obstacles I may encounter in life, and to never give up in the pursuit of my goals. I’m inspired by the power of music and how much it can impact people of all ages. I intend to major in music therapy and learn how to help people of all ages through music. My plan is to continue my education and earn my masters degree and then my doctorate in music therapy. Mental and emotional health is so important and music therapy can help make a meaningful impact for people of all ages.

I was born with unilateral hearing loss, but despite my disability I have excelled at music. I’ve learned to play the piano, guitar and ukulele. My favorite instrument of all is my voice. I received a cochlear bone anchored hearing aide when I was in third grade, Since I had already started studying piano, and I was so comfortable playing without it, I always took my hearing aide off while playing. To this day, I still prefer not to wear my hearing aide while singing or playing an instrument. Over the last year, I have enjoyed volunteering to two special needs girls in my neighborhood learn to play the piano. Although they each have obstacles, they are just as eager to learn and they are thrilled with their accomplishments. It’s incredibly motivating for me to see their progress and their confidence grow each week. I will be pursuing a degree in music therapy on a commercial track that will include classical music as well as music you normally hear playing on the radio. It’s the perfect opportunity for me to combine my love of music and helping people. I saw the difference of what music therapy did for my grandmother with Alzheimer’s and that is what initially sparked my interest. Music impacted her in a way that I hadn’t seen since her disease had progressed. In a matter of minutes I could see her go from being unresponsive to start tapping her foot and show emotions that we hadn’t seen in a long time. The part of the brain that remembers music is one of the last parts to lose its neurological connections. It’s amazing that music therapy not only helps elderly, but can help people of all ages. Music therapy has even been used to help infants in the NICU. There are countless ways music therapy can be beneficial, from helping keep the rhythm of a heartbeat, to learning to walk again with the beat of a song, to bringing out emotions and memories that were buried. Music therapy can truly make a difference in so many lives. I feel fortunate to be able to learn to use my gifts to help others heal through music. I am looking forward to learning everything I can about music therapy and discovering what it’s like to work with people of different age groups and different settings like schools, hospitals, mental healthcare facilities and nursing homes. Due to the music therapy course load being so intense, having this scholarship would help me with extra expenses while in school. I can hardly wait to witness the power of music!

I was born with unilateral hearing loss, but despite my disability I have excelled at music. I’ve learned to play the piano, guitar and ukulele. My favorite instrument of all is my voice. I received a cochlear bone anchored hearing aide when I was in third grade, Since I had already started studying piano, and I was so comfortable playing without it, I always took my hearing aide off while playing. To this day, I still prefer not to wear my hearing aide while singing or playing an instrument. Over the last year, I have enjoyed volunteering to teach two special needs girls in my neighborhood learn to play the piano. Although they each have obstacles, they are just as eager to learn and they are thrilled with their accomplishments. It’s incredibly motivating for me to see their progress and their confidence grow each week. I will be pursuing a degree in music therapy on a commercial track that will include classical music as well as music you normally hear playing on the radio. It’s the perfect opportunity for me to combine my love of music and helping people. I saw the difference of what music therapy did for my grandmother with Alzheimer’s and that is what initially sparked my interest. Music impacted her in a way that I hadn’t seen since her disease had progressed. In a matter of minutes I could see her go from being unresponsive to start tapping her foot and show emotions that we hadn’t seen in a long time. The part of the brain that remembers music is one of the last parts to lose its neurological connections. It’s amazing that music therapy not only helps elderly, but can help people of all ages. Music therapy has even been used to help infants in the NICU. There are countless ways music therapy can be beneficial, from helping keep the rhythm of a heartbeat, to learning to walk again with the beat of a song, to bringing out emotions and memories that were buried. Music therapy can truly make a difference in so many lives. I feel fortunate to be able to learn to use my gifts to help others heal through music. I am looking forward to learning everything I can about music therapy and discovering what it’s like to work with people of different age groups and different settings like schools, hospitals, mental healthcare facilities and nursing homes. Due to the music therapy course load being so intense, having this scholarship would help me with extra expenses while in school. I can hardly wait to witness the power of music!

I was born with unilateral hearing loss, but despite my disability I have excelled at music. I’ve learned to play the piano, guitar and ukulele. My favorite instrument of all is my voice. I received a cochlear bone anchored hearing aide when I was in third grade, Since I had already started studying piano, and I was so comfortable playing without it, I always took my hearing aide off while playing. To this day, I still prefer not to wear my hearing aide while singing or playing an instrument. Over the last year, I have enjoyed volunteering to teach two special needs girls in my neighborhood learn to play the piano. Although they each have obstacles, they are just as eager to learn and they are thrilled with their accomplishments. It’s incredibly motivating for me to see their progress and their confidence grow each week. I will be pursuing a degree in music therapy on a commercial track that will include classical music as well as music you normally hear playing on the radio. It’s the perfect opportunity for me to combine my love of music and helping people. I saw the difference of what music therapy did for my grandmother with Alzheimer’s and that is what initially sparked my interest. Music impacted her in a way that I hadn’t seen since her disease had progressed. In a matter of minutes I could see her go from being unresponsive to start tapping her foot and show emotions that we hadn’t seen in a long time. The part of the brain that remembers music is one of the last parts to lose its neurological connections. It’s amazing that music therapy not only helps elderly, but can help people of all ages. Music therapy has even been used to help infants in the NICU. There are countless ways music therapy can be beneficial, from helping keep the rhythm of a heartbeat, to learning to walk again with the beat of a song, to bringing out emotions and memories that were buried. Music therapy can truly make a difference in so many lives. I feel fortunate to be able to learn to use my gifts to help others heal through music. I am looking forward to learning everything I can about music therapy and discovering what it’s like to work with people of different age groups and different settings like schools, hospitals, mental healthcare facilities and nursing homes. Due to the music therapy course load being so intense, having this scholarship would help me with extra expenses while in school. I can hardly wait to witness the power of music!

I was born with unilateral hearing loss, but despite my disability I have excelled at music. I’ve learned to play the piano, guitar and ukulele. My favorite instrument of all is my voice. I received a cochlear bone anchored hearing aide when I was in third grade, Since I had already started studying piano, and I was so comfortable playing without it, I always took my hearing aide off while playing. To this day, I still prefer not to wear my hearing aide while singing or playing an instrument. Over the last year, I have enjoyed teaching two special needs girls in my neighborhood learn to play the piano. Although they each have obstacles, they are just as eager to learn and they are thrilled with their accomplishments. It’s incredibly motivating for me to see their progress and their confidence grow each week. I will be pursuing a degree in music therapy on a commercial track that will include classical music as well as music you normally hear playing on the radio. It’s the perfect opportunity for me to combine my love of music and helping people. I saw the difference of what music therapy did for my grandmother with Alzheimer’s and that is what initially sparked my interest. Music impacted her in a way that I hadn’t seen since her disease had progressed. In a matter of minutes I could see her go from being unresponsive to start tapping her foot and show emotions that we hadn’t seen in a long time. The part of the brain that remembers music is one of the last parts to lose its neurological connections. It’s amazing that music therapy not only helps elderly, but can help people of all ages. Music therapy has even been used to help infants in the NICU. There are countless ways music therapy can be beneficial, from helping keep the rhythm of a heartbeat, to learning to walk again with the beat of a song, to bringing out emotions and memories that were buried. Music therapy can truly make a difference in so many lives. I feel fortunate to be able to learn to use my gifts to help others heal through music. I am looking forward to learning everything I can about music therapy and discovering what it’s like to work with people of different age groups and different settings like schools, hospitals, mental healthcare facilities and nursing homes. Due to the music therapy course load being so intense, having this scholarship would help me with extra expenses while in school. I can hardly wait to witness the power of music!

I was born with unilateral hearing loss, but despite my disability I have excelled at music. I’ve learned to play the piano, guitar and ukulele. My favorite instrument of all is my voice. I received a cochlear bone anchored hearing aide when I was in third grade, Since I had already started studying piano, and I was so comfortable playing without it, I always took my hearing aide off while playing. To this day, I still prefer not to wear my hearing aide while singing or playing an instrument. Over the last year, I have enjoyed teaching two special needs girls in my neighborhood learn to play the piano. Although they each have obstacles, they are just as eager to learn and they are thrilled with their accomplishments. It’s incredibly motivating for me to see their progress and their confidence grow each week. I will be pursuing a degree in music therapy on a commercial track that will include classical music as well as music you normally hear playing on the radio. It’s the perfect opportunity for me to combine my love of music and helping people. I saw the difference of what music therapy did for my grandmother with Alzheimer’s and that is what initially sparked my interest. Music impacted her in a way that I hadn’t seen since her disease had progressed. In a matter of minutes I could see her go from being unresponsive to start tapping her foot and show emotions that we hadn’t seen in a long time. The part of the brain that remembers music is one of the last parts to lose its neurological connections. It’s amazing that music therapy not only helps elderly, but can help people of all ages. Music therapy has even been used to help infants in the NICU. There are countless ways music therapy can be beneficial, from helping keep the rhythm of a heartbeat, to learning to walk again with the beat of a song, to bringing out emotions and memories that were buried. Music therapy can truly make a difference in so many lives. I feel fortunate to be able to learn to use my gifts to help others heal through music. I am looking forward to learning everything I can about music therapy and discovering what it’s like to work with people of different age groups and different settings like schools, hospitals, mental healthcare facilities and nursing homes. Due to the music therapy course load being so intense, having this scholarship would help me with extra expenses while in school. I can hardly wait to witness the power of music!

I was born with unilateral hearing loss, but despite my disability I have excelled at music. I’ve learned to play the piano, guitar and ukulele. My favorite instrument of all is my voice. I received a cochlear bone anchored hearing aide when I was in third grade, Since I had already started studying piano, and I was so comfortable playing without it, I always took my hearing aide off while playing. To this day, I still prefer not to wear my hearing aide while singing or playing an instrument. Over the last year, I have enjoyed teaching two special needs girls in my neighborhood learn to play the piano. Although they each have obstacles, they are just as eager to learn and they are thrilled with their accomplishments. It’s incredibly motivating for me to see their progress and their confidence grow each week. I will be pursuing a degree in music therapy on a commercial track that will include classical music as well as music you normally hear playing on the radio. It’s the perfect opportunity for me to combine my love of music and helping people. I saw the difference of what music therapy did for my grandmother with Alzheimer’s and that is what initially sparked my interest. Music impacted her in a way that I hadn’t seen since her disease had progressed. In a matter of minutes I could see her go from being unresponsive to start tapping her foot and show emotions that we hadn’t seen in a long time. The part of the brain that remembers music is one of the last parts to lose its neurological connections. It’s amazing that music therapy not only helps elderly, but can help people of all ages. Music therapy has even been used to help infants in the NICU. There are countless ways music therapy can be beneficial, from helping keep the rhythm of a heartbeat, to learning to walk again with the beat of a song, to bringing out emotions and memories that were buried. Music therapy can truly make a difference in so many lives. I feel fortunate to be able to learn to use my gifts to help others heal through music. I am looking forward to learning everything I can about music therapy and discovering what it’s like to work with people of different age groups and different settings like schools, hospitals, mental healthcare facilities and nursing homes. Due to the music therapy course load being so intense, having this scholarship would help me with extra expenses while in school. I can hardly wait to witness the power of music!

I was born with unilateral hearing loss in my left ear. I had sometimes felt this disability had put me at a disadvantage compared to my peers. Trust me, I’ve had some lows in my life due to feeling different and excluded. I persevered and worked hard, while excelling in pursuing my passion for music. When I was five years old, I asked my parents for a piano because I wanted to learn how to play it. For my sixth birthday, my parents and grandparents bought me the piano that I still play on today. Soon after receiving it, I started taking private lessons with my teacher, Mr. John Ackley. Though I was oblivious to it then, during lessons Mr. Ackley sat on my right side instead of sitting on my left, like he did with his other students. That small accommodation from Mr. Ackley made me feel normal like the other kids. My favorite part of every lesson was ear training. Ironic, right? Although ear training was difficult at times, it is a skill I've used every day since I started taking piano lessons. I eventually stopped taking piano lessons when Mr. Ackley retired, but his knowledge of the musical language he shared with me has made a lasting impression that I will never forget. For the last few years, I have been taking one-on-one voice lessons with a professional voice coach. These lessons have strengthened my voice, which is now my primary instrument. When I played the piano for my Grandmother in her nursing home, I saw her reaction and it made her feel good. I saw her smile, which is quite uncommon for her since her Alzheimer’s has rapidly progressed over the last several years. I was overjoyed seeing her foot start tapping when I started playing. Something as simple as tapping her foot let me know that I was connecting with her in a language we both understood and loved. At that moment, my Grandmother showed me that the best part of music for me was helping others, making any given moment that much better. Last year I started volunteering to teach piano to a young girl in my neighborhood with special needs. I was overjoyed to have the opportunity to spark that same love for music in her that Mr. Ackley sparked for me several years earlier. Over time and our weekly piano lessons, I saw the same desire in her to overcome a disability that I had in myself at her age. Like me, she didn’t let her disability prevent her from learning to play the piano. She wasn’t thinking about what she couldn’t accomplish, only what she could accomplish. I was incredibly proud of her progress in learning several beginner-level songs during the first month of weekly lessons. Once the student and now the teacher, I felt a sense of pride to be passing on Mr. Ackley’s teachings to a student of my own. People like her and my Grandmother motivate me every day to keep striving to overcome any obstacles I may encounter in life, and to never give up in the pursuit of my goals. I’m inspired by the power of music and how much it can impact people of all ages. I intend to major in music therapy and learn how to help people of all ages through music. My plan is to continue my education and earn my masters degree and then my doctorate in music therapy. Mental and emotional health is so important and music therapy can help make a meaningful impact for people of all ages.

My great grandfather was born in Sicily and immigrated to Watertown NY when he was thirteen years old. His family lived in a community with other Italians, but he still felt the hardships of being a minority and he knew he was looked at differently, This only made him work harder to became an attorney and then a judge. I have always admired the perseverance it took for him to accomplish his dreams. I was born with unilateral hearing loss, but despite my disability I have excelled at music. I’ve learned to play the piano, guitar and ukulele. My favorite instrument of all is my voice. I received a cochlear bone anchored hearing aide when I was in third grade. I still prefer not to wear my hearing aide while singing or playing an instrument. Over the last year, I have enjoyed teaching two special needs girls in my neighborhood learn to play the piano. Although they each have obstacles, they are just as eager to learn and they are thrilled with their accomplishments. It’s incredibly motivating for me to see their progress and their confidence grow each week. I will be pursuing a degree in music therapy on a commercial track that will include classical music as well as music you normally hear playing on the radio. It’s the perfect opportunity for me to combine my love of music and helping people. I saw the difference of what music therapy did for my grandmother with Alzheimer’s and that is what initially sparked my interest. Music impacted her in a way that I hadn’t seen since her disease had progressed. In a matter of minutes I could see her go from being unresponsive to start tapping her foot and show emotions that we hadn’t seen in a long time. The part of the brain that remembers music is one of the last parts to lose its neurological connections. It’s amazing that music therapy not only helps elderly, but can help people of all ages. Music therapy has even been used to help infants in the NICU. There are countless ways music therapy can be beneficial, from helping keep the rhythm of a heartbeat, to learning to walk again with the beat of a song, to bringing out emotions and memories that were buried. Music therapy can truly make a difference in so many lives. I feel fortunate to be able to learn to use my gifts to help others heal through music. I am looking forward to learning everything I can about music therapy and discovering what it’s like to work with people of different age groups and different settings like schools, hospitals, mental healthcare facilities and nursing homes. Due to the music therapy course load being so intense, having this scholarship would help me with extra expenses while in school. I can hardly wait to witness the power of music!

I was born with unilateral hearing loss in my left ear. I had sometimes felt this disability had put me at a disadvantage compared to my peers. I persevered, worked hard and overcame this disability, all while excelling in pursuing my passion for music. When I was five years old, I asked my parents for a piano because I wanted to learn how to play it. For my sixth birthday, my parents and grandparents bought me the piano that I still play on today. Soon after receiving it, I started taking private lessons with my teacher, Mr. John Ackley. Though I was oblivious to it then, during lessons Mr. Ackley sat on my right side instead of sitting on my left, like he did with his other students. That small accommodation from Mr. Ackley made me feel normal like the other kids. My favorite part of every lesson was ear training. Ironic, right? Although ear training was difficult at times, it is a skill I've used every day since I started taking piano lessons. I eventually stopped taking piano lessons when Mr. Ackley retired, but his knowledge of the musical language he shared with me has made a lasting impression that I will never forget. For the last few years, I have been taking one-on-one voice lessons with a professional voice coach. These lessons have strengthened my voice, which is now my primary instrument. When I played the piano for my Grandmother in her nursing home, I saw her reaction and it made her feel good. I saw her smile, which is quite uncommon for her since her Alzheimer’s has rapidly progressed over the last several years. I was overjoyed seeing her foot start tapping when I started playing. Something as simple as tapping her foot let me know that I was connecting with her in a language we both understood and loved. At that moment, my Grandmother showed me that the best part of music for me was helping others, making any given moment that much better. Last year I started volunteering to teach piano to a young girl in my neighborhood with special needs. I was overjoyed to have the opportunity to spark that same love for music in her that Mr. Ackley sparked for me several years earlier. Over time and our weekly piano lessons, I saw the same desire in her to overcome a disability that I had in myself at her age. Like me, she didn’t let her disability prevent her from learning to play the piano. She wasn’t thinking about what she couldn’t accomplish, only what she could accomplish. I was incredibly proud of her progress in learning several beginner-level songs during the first month of weekly lessons. Once the student and now the teacher, I felt a sense of pride to be passing on Mr. Ackley’s teachings to a student of my own. People like her and my Grandmother motivate me every day to keep striving to overcome any obstacles I may encounter in life, and to never give up in the pursuit of my goals. I’m inspired by the power of music and how much it can impact people of all ages. I intend to major in music therapy and learn how to help people of all ages through music. My plan is to continue my education and earn my masters degree and then my doctorate in music therapy. Mental and emotional health is so important and music therapy can help make a meaningful impact for people of all ages.

I was born with unilateral hearing loss in my left ear. I had sometimes felt this disability had put me at a disadvantage compared to my peers. I persevered, worked hard and overcame this disability, all while excelling in pursuing my passion for music. When I was five years old, I asked my parents for a piano because I wanted to learn how to play it. For my sixth birthday, my parents and grandparents bought me the piano that I still play on today. Soon after receiving it, I started taking private lessons with my teacher, Mr. John Ackley. Though I was oblivious to it then, during lessons Mr. Ackley sat on my right side instead of sitting on my left, like he did with his other students. That small accommodation from Mr. Ackley made me feel normal like the other kids. My favorite part of every lesson was ear training. Ironic, right? Although ear training was difficult at times, it is a skill I've used every day since I started taking piano lessons. I eventually stopped taking piano lessons when Mr. Ackley retired, but his knowledge of the musical language he shared with me has made a lasting impression that I will never forget. For the last few years, I have been taking one-on-one voice lessons with a professional voice coach. These lessons have strengthened my voice, which is now my primary instrument. When I played the piano for my Grandmother in her nursing home, I saw her reaction and it made her feel good. I saw her smile, which is quite uncommon for her since her Alzheimer’s has rapidly progressed over the last several years. I was overjoyed seeing her foot start tapping when I started playing. Something as simple as tapping her foot let me know that I was connecting with her in a language we both understood and loved. At that moment, my Grandmother showed me that the best part of music for me was helping others, making any given moment that much better. Last year I started volunteering to teach piano to a young girl in my neighborhood with special needs. I was overjoyed to have the opportunity to spark that same love for music in her that Mr. Ackley sparked for me several years earlier. Over time and our weekly piano lessons, I saw the same desire in her to overcome a disability that I had in myself at her age. Like me, she didn’t let her disability prevent her from learning to play the piano. She wasn’t thinking about what she couldn’t accomplish, only what she could accomplish. I was incredibly proud of her progress in learning several beginner-level songs during the first month of weekly lessons. Once the student and now the teacher, I felt a sense of pride to be passing on Mr. Ackley’s teachings to a student of my own. People like her and my Grandmother motivate me every day to keep striving to overcome any obstacles I may encounter in life, and to never give up in the pursuit of my goals. I’m inspired by the power of music and how much it can impact people of all ages. I intend to major in music therapy and learn how to help people of all ages through music. My plan is to continue my education and earn my masters degree and then my doctorate in music therapy. Mental and emotional health is so important and music therapy can help make a meaningful impact for people of all ages.

I was born with unilateral hearing loss in my left ear. I had sometimes felt this disability had put me at a disadvantage compared to my peers. I persevered, worked hard and overcame this disability, all while excelling in pursuing my passion for music. When I was five years old, I asked my parents for a piano because I wanted to learn how to play it. For my sixth birthday, my parents and grandparents bought me the piano that I still play on today. Soon after receiving it, I started taking private lessons with my teacher, Mr. John Ackley. Though I was oblivious to it then, during lessons Mr. Ackley sat on my right side instead of sitting on my left, like he did with his other students. That small accommodation from Mr. Ackley made me feel normal like the other kids. My favorite part of every lesson was ear training. Ironic, right? Although ear training was difficult at times, it is a skill I've used every day since I started taking piano lessons. I eventually stopped taking piano lessons when Mr. Ackley retired, but his knowledge of the musical language he shared with me has made a lasting impression that I will never forget. For the last few years, I have been taking one-on-one voice lessons with a professional voice coach. These lessons have strengthened my voice, which is now my primary instrument. When I played the piano for my Grandmother in her nursing home, I saw her reaction and it made her feel good. I saw her smile, which is quite uncommon for her since her Alzheimer’s has rapidly progressed over the last several years. I was overjoyed seeing her foot start tapping when I started playing. Something as simple as tapping her foot let me know that I was connecting with her in a language we both understood and loved. At that moment, my Grandmother showed me that the best part of music for me was helping others, making any given moment that much better. Last year I started volunteering to teach piano to a young girl in my neighborhood with special needs. I was overjoyed to have the opportunity to spark that same love for music in her that Mr. Ackley sparked for me several years earlier. Over time and our weekly piano lessons, I saw the same desire in her to overcome a disability that I had in myself at her age. Like me, she didn’t let her disability prevent her from learning to play the piano. She wasn’t thinking about what she couldn’t accomplish, only what she could accomplish. I was incredibly proud of her progress in learning several beginner-level songs during the first month of weekly lessons. Once the student and now the teacher, I felt a sense of pride to be passing on Mr. Ackley’s teachings to a student of my own. People like her and my Grandmother motivate me every day to keep striving to overcome any obstacles I may encounter in life, and to never give up in the pursuit of my goals. I’m inspired by the power of music and how much it can impact people of all ages. I intend to major in music therapy and learn how to help people of all ages through music. My plan is to continue my education and earn my masters degree and then my doctorate in music therapy. Mental and emotional health is so important and music therapy can help make a meaningful impact for people of all ages.

I was born with unilateral hearing loss in my left ear. I had sometimes felt this disability had put me at a disadvantage compared to my peers. I persevered, worked hard and overcame this disability, all while excelling in pursuing my passion for music. When I was five years old, I asked my parents for a piano because I wanted to learn how to play it. For my sixth birthday, my parents and grandparents bought me the piano that I still play on today. Soon after receiving it, I started taking private lessons with my teacher, Mr. John Ackley. Though I was oblivious to it then, during lessons Mr. Ackley sat on my right side instead of sitting on my left, like he did with his other students. That small accommodation from Mr. Ackley made me feel normal like the other kids. My favorite part of every lesson was ear training. Ironic, right? Although ear training was difficult at times, it is a skill I've used every day since I started taking piano lessons. I eventually stopped taking piano lessons when Mr. Ackley retired, but his knowledge of the musical language he shared with me has made a lasting impression that I will never forget. For the last few years, I have been taking one-on-one voice lessons with a professional voice coach. These lessons have strengthened my voice, which is now my primary instrument. When I played the piano for my Grandmother in her nursing home, I saw her reaction and it made her feel good. I saw her smile, which is quite uncommon for her since her Alzheimer’s has rapidly progressed over the last several years. I was overjoyed seeing her foot start tapping when I started playing. Something as simple as tapping her foot let me know that I was connecting with her in a language we both understood and loved. At that moment, my Grandmother showed me that the best part of music for me was helping others, making any given moment that much better. Last year I started volunteering to teach piano to a young girl in my neighborhood with special needs. I was overjoyed to have the opportunity to spark that same love for music in her that Mr. Ackley sparked for me several years earlier. Over time and our weekly piano lessons, I saw the same desire in her to overcome a disability that I had in myself at her age. Like me, she didn’t let her disability prevent her from learning to play the piano. She wasn’t thinking about what she couldn’t accomplish, only what she could accomplish. I was incredibly proud of her progress in learning several beginner-level songs during the first month of weekly lessons. Once the student and now the teacher, I felt a sense of pride to be passing on Mr. Ackley’s teachings to a student of my own. People like her and my Grandmother motivate me every day to keep striving to overcome any obstacles I may encounter in life, and to never give up in the pursuit of my goals. I’m inspired by the power of music and how much it can impact people of all ages. I intend to major in music therapy and learn how to help people of all ages through music. My plan is to continue my education and earn my masters degree and then my doctorate in music therapy. Mental and emotional health is so important and music therapy can help make a meaningful impact for people of all ages.

I was born with unilateral hearing loss in my left ear. I had sometimes felt this disability had put me at a disadvantage compared to my peers. Trust me, I’ve had some lows in my life due to feeling different and excluded. I persevered and worked hard, while excelling in pursuing my passion for music. When I was five years old, I asked my parents for a piano because I wanted to learn how to play it. For my sixth birthday, my parents and grandparents bought me the piano that I still play on today. Soon after receiving it, I started taking private lessons with my teacher, Mr. John Ackley. Though I was oblivious to it then, during lessons Mr. Ackley sat on my right side instead of sitting on my left, like he did with his other students. That small accommodation from Mr. Ackley made me feel normal like the other kids. My favorite part of every lesson was ear training. Ironic, right? Although ear training was difficult at times, it is a skill I've used every day since I started taking piano lessons. I eventually stopped taking piano lessons when Mr. Ackley retired, but his knowledge of the musical language he shared with me has made a lasting impression that I will never forget. For the last few years, I have been taking one-on-one voice lessons with a professional voice coach. These lessons have strengthened my voice, which is now my primary instrument. When I played the piano for my Grandmother in her nursing home, I saw her reaction and it made her feel good. I saw her smile, which is quite uncommon for her since her Alzheimer’s has rapidly progressed over the last several years. I was overjoyed seeing her foot start tapping when I started playing. Something as simple as tapping her foot let me know that I was connecting with her in a language we both understood and loved. At that moment, my Grandmother showed me that the best part of music for me was helping others, making any given moment that much better. Last year I started volunteering to teach piano to a young girl in my neighborhood with special needs. I was overjoyed to have the opportunity to spark that same love for music in her that Mr. Ackley sparked for me several years earlier. Over time and our weekly piano lessons, I saw the same desire in her to overcome a disability that I had in myself at her age. Like me, she didn’t let her disability prevent her from learning to play the piano. She wasn’t thinking about what she couldn’t accomplish, only what she could accomplish. I was incredibly proud of her progress in learning several beginner-level songs during the first month of weekly lessons. Once the student and now the teacher, I felt a sense of pride to be passing on Mr. Ackley’s teachings to a student of my own. People like her and my Grandmother motivate me every day to keep striving to overcome any obstacles I may encounter in life, and to never give up in the pursuit of my goals. I’m inspired by the power of music and how much it can impact people of all ages. I intend to major in music therapy and learn how to help people of all ages through music. My plan is to continue my education and earn my masters degree and then my doctorate in music therapy. Mental and emotional health is so important and music therapy can help make a meaningful impact for people of all ages.

I was born with unilateral hearing loss, but despite my disability I have excelled at music. I’ve learned to play the piano, guitar and ukulele. My favorite instrument of all is my voice. I received a cochlear bone anchored hearing aide when I was in third grade, Since I had already started studying piano, and I was so comfortable playing without it, I always took my hearing aide off while playing. To this day, I still prefer not to wear my hearing aide while singing or playing an instrument. Over the last year, I have enjoyed teaching two special needs girls in my neighborhood learn to play the piano. Although they each have obstacles, they are just as eager to learn and they are thrilled with their accomplishments. It’s incredibly motivating for me to see their progress and their confidence grow each week. I will be pursuing a degree in music therapy on a commercial track that will include classical music as well as music you normally hear playing on the radio. It’s the perfect opportunity for me to combine my love of music and helping people. I saw the difference of what music therapy did for my grandmother with Alzheimer’s and that is what initially sparked my interest. Music impacted her in a way that I hadn’t seen since her disease had progressed. In a matter of minutes I could see her go from being unresponsive to start tapping her foot and show emotions that we hadn’t seen in a long time. The part of the brain that remembers music is one of the last parts to lose its neurological connections. It’s amazing that music therapy not only helps elderly, but can help people of all ages. Music therapy has even been used to help infants in the NICU. There are countless ways music therapy can be beneficial, from helping keep the rhythm of a heartbeat, to learning to walk again with the beat of a song, to bringing out emotions and memories that were buried. Music therapy can truly make a difference in so many lives. I feel fortunate to be able to learn to use my gifts to help others heal through music. I am looking forward to learning everything I can about music therapy and discovering what it’s like to work with people of different age groups and different settings like schools, hospitals, mental healthcare facilities and nursing homes. Due to the music therapy course load being so intense, having this scholarship would help me with extra expenses while in school. I can hardly wait to witness the power of music!

I was born with unilateral hearing loss, but despite my disability I have excelled at music. I’ve learned to play the piano, guitar and ukulele. My favorite instrument of all is my voice. I received a cochlear bone anchored hearing aide when I was in third grade, Since I had already started studying piano, and I was so comfortable playing without it, I always took my hearing aide off while playing. To this day, I still prefer not to wear my hearing aide while singing or playing an instrument. Over the last year, I have enjoyed teaching two special needs girls in my neighborhood learn to play the piano. Although they each have obstacles, they are just as eager to learn and they are thrilled with their accomplishments. It’s incredibly motivating for me to see their progress and their confidence grow each week. I will be pursuing a degree in music therapy on a commercial track that will include classical music as well as music you normally hear playing on the radio. It’s the perfect opportunity for me to combine my love of music and helping people. I saw the difference of what music therapy did for my grandmother with Alzheimer’s and that is what initially sparked my interest. Music impacted her in a way that I hadn’t seen since her disease had progressed. In a matter of minutes I could see her go from being unresponsive to start tapping her foot and show emotions that we hadn’t seen in a long time. The part of the brain that remembers music is one of the last parts to lose its neurological connections. It’s amazing that music therapy not only helps elderly, but can help people of all ages. Music therapy has even been used to help infants in the NICU. There are countless ways music therapy can be beneficial, from helping keep the rhythm of a heartbeat, to learning to walk again with the beat of a song, to bringing out emotions and memories that were buried. Music therapy can truly make a difference in so many lives. I feel fortunate to be able to learn to use my gifts to help others heal through music. I am looking forward to learning everything I can about music therapy and discovering what it’s like to work with people of different age groups and different settings like schools, hospitals, mental healthcare facilities and nursing homes. Due to the music therapy course load being so intense, having this scholarship would help me with extra expenses while in school. I can hardly wait to witness the power of music!

I was born with unilateral hearing loss, but despite my disability I have excelled at music. I’ve learned to play the piano, guitar and ukulele. My favorite instrument of all is my voice. I received a cochlear bone anchored hearing aide when I was in third grade, Since I had already started studying piano, and I was so comfortable playing without it, I always took my hearing aide off while playing. To this day, I still prefer not to wear my hearing aide while singing or playing an instrument. Over the last year, I have enjoyed teaching two special needs girls in my neighborhood learn to play the piano. Although they each have obstacles, they are just as eager to learn and they are thrilled with their accomplishments. It’s incredibly motivating for me to see their progress and their confidence grow each week. I will be pursuing a degree in music therapy on a commercial track that will include classical music as well as music you normally hear playing on the radio. It’s the perfect opportunity for me to combine my love of music and helping people. I saw the difference of what music therapy did for my grandmother with Alzheimer’s and that is what initially sparked my interest. Music impacted her in a way that I hadn’t seen since her disease had progressed. In a matter of minutes I could see her go from being unresponsive to start tapping her foot and show emotions that we hadn’t seen in a long time. The part of the brain that remembers music is one of the last parts to lose its neurological connections. It’s amazing that music therapy not only helps elderly, but can help people of all ages. Music therapy has even been used to help infants in the NICU. There are countless ways music therapy can be beneficial, from helping keep the rhythm of a heartbeat, to learning to walk again with the beat of a song, to bringing out emotions and memories that were buried. Music therapy can truly make a difference in so many lives. I feel fortunate to be able to learn to use my gifts to help others heal through music. I am looking forward to learning everything I can about music therapy and discovering what it’s like to work with people of different age groups and different settings like schools, hospitals, mental healthcare facilities and nursing homes. This scholarship would help ease my worries about paying for college tuition. My family will not be able to pay my full tuition, so I will need to take out loans to pay the majority of my college fees. I will be attending a private university that offers the option for a degree in music therapy on a commercial track, compared to other schools that only include classical music. It is important for me to learn all types of music so that I’m able to connect with people from all walks of life. I enjoy music from many genres, from musical theatre to heavy metal. When I listen to heavy metal music I feel less stressed and more relaxed. It makes me feel confident and free! I can hardly wait to witness the power of music through music therapy.

I was born with unilateral hearing loss in my left ear. I had sometimes felt this disability had put me at a disadvantage compared to my peers. Trust me, I’ve had some lows in my life due to feeling different and feeling excluded. I persevered and worked hard, while excelling in pursuing my passion for music. When I was five years old, I asked my parents for a piano because I wanted to learn how to play it. For my sixth birthday, my parents and grandparents bought me the piano that I still play on today. Soon after receiving it, I started taking private lessons with my teacher, Mr. John Ackley. Though I was oblivious to it then, during lessons Mr. Ackley sat on my right side instead of sitting on my left, like he did with his other students. That small accommodation from Mr. Ackley made me feel normal like the other kids. My favorite part of every lesson was ear training. Ironic, right? Although ear training was difficult at times, it is a skill I've used every day since I started taking piano lessons. I eventually stopped taking piano lessons when Mr. Ackley retired, but his knowledge of the musical language he shared with me has made a lasting impression that I will never forget. For the last few years, I have been taking one-on-one voice lessons with a professional voice coach. These lessons have strengthened my voice, which is now my primary instrument. When I played the piano for my Grandmother in her nursing home, I saw her reaction and it made her feel good. I saw her smile, which is quite uncommon for her since her Alzheimer’s has rapidly progressed over the last several years. I was overjoyed seeing her foot start tapping when I started playing. Something as simple as tapping her foot let me know that I was connecting with her in a language we both understood and loved. At that moment, my Grandmother showed me that the best part of music for me was helping others, making any given moment that much better. Last year I started volunteering to teach piano to a young girl in my neighborhood with special needs. I was overjoyed to have the opportunity to spark that same love for music in her that Mr. Ackley sparked for me several years earlier. Over time and our weekly piano lessons, I saw the same desire in her to overcome a disability that I had in myself at her age. Like me, she didn’t let her disability prevent her from learning to play the piano. She wasn’t thinking about what she couldn’t accomplish, only what she could accomplish. I was incredibly proud of her progress in learning several beginner-level songs during the first month of weekly lessons. Once the student and now the teacher, I felt a sense of pride to be passing on Mr. Ackley’s teachings to a student of my own. People like her and my Grandmother motivate me every day to keep striving to overcome any obstacles I may encounter in life, and to never give up in the pursuit of my goals. I’m inspired by the power of music and how much it can impact people of all ages. I intend to major in music therapy and learn how to help people of all ages through music. My plan is to continue my education and earn my masters degree and then my doctorate in music therapy. Mental and emotional health is so important and music therapy can help make a meaningful impact for people of all ages.

I was born with unilateral hearing loss in my left ear. I had sometimes felt this disability had put me at a disadvantage compared to my peers. Trust me, I’ve had some lows in my life due to feeling different and feeling excluded. I persevered and worked hard, while excelling in pursuing my passion for music. When I was five years old, I asked my parents for a piano because I wanted to learn how to play it. For my sixth birthday, my parents and grandparents bought me the piano that I still play on today. Soon after receiving it, I started taking private lessons with my teacher, Mr. John Ackley. Though I was oblivious to it then, during lessons Mr. Ackley sat on my right side instead of sitting on my left, like he did with his other students. That small accommodation from Mr. Ackley made me feel normal like the other kids. My favorite part of every lesson was ear training. Ironic, right? Although ear training was difficult at times, it is a skill I've used every day since I started taking piano lessons. I eventually stopped taking piano lessons when Mr. Ackley retired, but his knowledge of the musical language he shared with me has made a lasting impression that I will never forget. For the last few years, I have been taking one-on-one voice lessons with a professional voice coach. These lessons have strengthened my voice, which is now my primary instrument. When I played the piano for my Grandmother in her nursing home, I saw her reaction and it made her feel good. I saw her smile, which is quite uncommon for her since her Alzheimer’s has rapidly progressed over the last several years. I was overjoyed seeing her foot start tapping when I started playing. Something as simple as tapping her foot let me know that I was connecting with her in a language we both understood and loved. At that moment, my Grandmother showed me that the best part of music for me was helping others, making any given moment that much better. Last year I started volunteering to teach piano to a young girl in my neighborhood with special needs. I was overjoyed to have the opportunity to spark that same love for music in her that Mr. Ackley sparked for me several years earlier. Over time and our weekly piano lessons, I saw the same desire in her to overcome a disability that I had in myself at her age. Like me, she didn’t let her disability prevent her from learning to play the piano. She wasn’t thinking about what she couldn’t accomplish, only what she could accomplish. I was incredibly proud of her progress in learning several beginner-level songs during the first month of weekly lessons. Once the student and now the teacher, I felt a sense of pride to be passing on Mr. Ackley’s teachings to a student of my own. People like her and my Grandmother motivate me every day to keep striving to overcome any obstacles I may encounter in life, and to never give up in the pursuit of my goals. I’m inspired by the power of music and how much it can impact people of all ages. I intend to major in music therapy and learn how to help people of all ages through music. My plan is to continue my education and earn my masters degree and then my doctorate in music therapy. Mental and emotional health is so important and music therapy can help make a meaningful impact for people of all ages.

I was born with unilateral hearing loss, but despite my disability I have excelled at music. I’ve learned to play the piano, guitar and ukulele. My favorite instrument of all is my voice. I received a cochlear bone anchored hearing aide when I was in third grade, Since I had already started studying piano, and I was so comfortable playing without it, I always took my hearing aide off while playing. To this day, I still prefer not to wear my hearing aide while singing or playing an instrument. Over the last year, I have enjoyed teaching two special needs girls in my neighborhood learn to play the piano. Although they each have obstacles, they are just as eager to learn and they are thrilled with their accomplishments. It’s incredibly motivating for me to see their progress and their confidence grow each week. I will be pursuing a degree in music therapy on a commercial track that will include classical music as well as music you normally hear playing on the radio. It’s the perfect opportunity for me to combine my love of music and helping people. I saw the difference of what music therapy did for my grandmother with Alzheimer’s and that is what initially sparked my interest. Music impacted her in a way that I hadn’t seen since her disease had progressed. In a matter of minutes I could see her go from being unresponsive to start tapping her foot and show emotions that we hadn’t seen in a long time. The part of the brain that remembers music is one of the last parts to lose its neurological connections. It’s amazing that music therapy not only helps elderly, but can help people of all ages. Music therapy has even been used to help infants in the NICU. There are countless ways music therapy can be beneficial, from helping keep the rhythm of a heartbeat, to learning to walk again with the beat of a song, to bringing out emotions and memories that were buried. Music therapy can truly make a difference in so many lives. I feel fortunate to be able to learn to use my gifts to help others heal through music. I am looking forward to learning everything I can about music therapy and discovering what it’s like to work with people of different age groups and different settings like schools, hospitals, mental healthcare facilities and nursing homes. I can hardly wait to witness the power of music!

Alzheimer’s Disease is the cruelest, most ruthless disease. I lost my grandmother this past October, but it feels like she’s been gone for much longer. It was heartbreaking to watch her lose her memory and forget me. I was her first grandchild and we had a very special relationship. I feel lucky to have been able to know her and remember her before she lost her memory completely. I have always loved music and I love to play the piano and guitar and my favorite instrument is my voice. Music had been a way for me to connect with my grandmother. Even though she had trouble communicating and interacting in her final year, she reacted to music when I sang or played an instrument for her. She was still in there somewhere and I felt better seeing her have such a positive reaction with music. I will be pursuing a degree in Music Therapy in honor of my grandmother. This is a career that will not only make a difference in the lives of elderly, but it can impact people of all ages, even infants. Music has been such a huge part of my life and I can’t think of a better way to use my musical gifts than to help others heal through music.

I was born with unilateral hearing loss, but despite my disability I have excelled at music. I’ve learned to play the piano, guitar and ukulele. My favorite instrument of all is my voice. I received a cochlear bone anchored hearing aide when I was in third grade, Since I had already started studying piano, and I was so comfortable playing without it, I always took my hearing aide off while playing. To this day, I still prefer not to wear my hearing aide while singing or playing an instrument. Over the last year, I have enjoyed teaching two special needs girls in my neighborhood learn to play the piano. Although they each have obstacles, they are just as eager to learn and they are thrilled with their accomplishments. It’s incredibly motivating for me to see their progress and their confidence grow each week. I will be pursuing a degree in music therapy on a commercial track that will include classical music as well as music you normally hear playing on the radio. It’s the perfect opportunity for me to combine my love of music and helping people. I saw the difference of what music therapy did for my grandmother with Alzheimer’s and that is what initially sparked my interest. Music impacted her in a way that I hadn’t seen since her disease had progressed. In a matter of minutes I could see her go from being unresponsive to start tapping her foot and show emotions that we hadn’t seen in a long time. The part of the brain that remembers music is one of the last parts to lose its neurological connections. It’s amazing that music therapy not only helps elderly, but can help people of all ages. Music therapy has even been used to help infants in the NICU. There are countless ways music therapy can be beneficial, from helping keep the rhythm of a heartbeat, to learning to walk again with the beat of a song, to bringing out emotions and memories that were buried. Music therapy can truly make a difference in so many lives. I feel fortunate to be able to learn to use my gifts to help others heal through music. I am looking forward to learning everything I can about music therapy and discovering what it’s like to work with people of different age groups and different settings like schools, hospitals, mental healthcare facilities and nursing homes. Due to the music therapy course load being so intense, having this scholarship would help me with extra expenses while in school. I can hardly wait to witness the power of music!

I was born with unilateral hearing loss, but despite my disability I have excelled at music. I’ve learned to play the piano, guitar and ukulele. My favorite instrument of all is my voice. I received a cochlear bone anchored hearing aide when I was in third grade, Since I had already started studying piano, and I was so comfortable playing without it, I always took my hearing aide off while playing. To this day, I still prefer not to wear my hearing aide while singing or playing an instrument. Over the last year, I have enjoyed teaching two special needs girls in my neighborhood learn to play the piano. Although they each have obstacles, they are just as eager to learn and they are thrilled with their accomplishments. It’s incredibly motivating for me to see their progress and their confidence grow each week. I will be pursuing a degree in music therapy on a commercial track that will include classical music as well as music you normally hear playing on the radio. It’s the perfect opportunity for me to combine my love of music and helping people. I saw the difference of what music therapy did for my grandmother with Alzheimer’s and that is what initially sparked my interest. Music impacted her in a way that I hadn’t seen since her disease had progressed. In a matter of minutes I could see her go from being unresponsive to start tapping her foot and show emotions that we hadn’t seen in a long time. The part of the brain that remembers music is one of the last parts to lose its neurological connections. It’s amazing that music therapy not only helps elderly, but can help people of all ages. Music therapy has even been used to help infants in the NICU. There are countless ways music therapy can be beneficial, from helping keep the rhythm of a heartbeat, to learning to walk again with the beat of a song, to bringing out emotions and memories that were buried. Music therapy can truly make a difference in so many lives. I feel fortunate to be able to learn to use my gifts to help others heal through music. I am looking forward to learning everything I can about music therapy and discovering what it’s like to work with people of different age groups and different settings like schools, hospitals, mental healthcare facilities and nursing homes. I can hardly wait to witness the power of music!

I was born with unilateral hearing loss in my left ear. I had sometimes felt this disability had put me at a disadvantage compared to my peers. I persevered, worked hard and overcame this disability, all while excelling in pursuing my passion for music. When I was five years old, I asked my parents for a piano because I wanted to learn how to play it. For my sixth birthday, my parents and grandparents bought me the piano that I still play on today. Soon after receiving it, I started taking private lessons with my teacher, Mr. John Ackley. Though I was oblivious to it then, during lessons Mr. Ackley sat on my right side instead of sitting on my left, like he did with his other students. That small accommodation from Mr. Ackley made me feel normal like the other kids. My favorite part of every lesson was ear training. Ironic, right? Although ear training was difficult at times, it is a skill I've used every day since I started taking piano lessons. I eventually stopped taking piano lessons when Mr. Ackley retired, but his knowledge of the musical language he shared with me has made a lasting impression that I will never forget. For the last few years, I have been taking one-on-one voice lessons with a professional voice coach. These lessons have strengthened my voice, which is now my primary instrument. When I played the piano for my Grandmother in her nursing home, I saw her reaction and it made her feel good. I saw her smile, which is quite uncommon for her since her Alzheimer’s has rapidly progressed over the last several years. I was overjoyed seeing her foot start tapping when I started playing. Something as simple as tapping her foot let me know that I was connecting with her in a language we both understood and loved. At that moment, my Grandmother showed me that the best part of music for me was helping others, making any given moment that much better. Last year I started volunteering to teach piano to a young girl in my neighborhood with special needs. I was overjoyed to have the opportunity to spark that same love for music in her that Mr. Ackley sparked for me several years earlier. Over time and our weekly piano lessons, I saw the same desire in her to overcome a disability that I had in myself at her age. Like me, she didn’t let her disability prevent her from learning to play the piano. She wasn’t thinking about what she couldn’t accomplish, only what she could accomplish. I was incredibly proud of her progress in learning several beginner-level songs during the first month of weekly lessons. Once the student and now the teacher, I felt a sense of pride to be passing on Mr. Ackley’s teachings to a student of my own. People like her and my Grandmother motivate me every day to keep striving to overcome any obstacles I may encounter in life, and to never give up in the pursuit of my goals. I’m inspired by the power of music and how much it can impact people of all ages. I intend to major in music therapy and learn how to help people of all ages through music. My plan is to continue my education and earn my masters degree and then my doctorate in music therapy. Mental and emotional health is so important and music therapy can help make a meaningful impact for people of all ages.

I was born with unilateral hearing loss in my left ear. I had sometimes felt this disability had put me at a disadvantage compared to my peers. I persevered, worked hard and overcame this disability, all while excelling in pursuing my passion for music. When I was five years old, I asked my parents for a piano because I wanted to learn how to play it. For my sixth birthday, my parents and grandparents bought me the piano that I still play on today. Soon after receiving it, I started taking private lessons with my teacher, Mr. John Ackley. Though I was oblivious to it then, during lessons Mr. Ackley sat on my right side instead of sitting on my left, like he did with his other students. That small accommodation from Mr. Ackley made me feel normal like the other kids. My favorite part of every lesson was ear training. Ironic, right? Although ear training was difficult at times, it is a skill I've used every day since I started taking piano lessons. I eventually stopped taking piano lessons when Mr. Ackley retired, but his knowledge of the musical language he shared with me has made a lasting impression that I will never forget. For the last few years, I have been taking one-on-one voice lessons with a professional voice coach. These lessons have strengthened my voice, which is now my primary instrument. When I played the piano for my Grandmother in her nursing home, I saw her reaction and it made her feel good. I saw her smile, which is quite uncommon for her since her Alzheimer’s has rapidly progressed over the last several years. I was overjoyed seeing her foot start tapping when I started playing. Something as simple as tapping her foot let me know that I was connecting with her in a language we both understood and loved. At that moment, my Grandmother showed me that the best part of music for me was helping others, making any given moment that much better. Last year I started volunteering to teach piano to a young girl in my neighborhood with special needs. I was overjoyed to have the opportunity to spark that same love for music in her that Mr. Ackley sparked for me several years earlier. Over time and our weekly piano lessons, I saw the same desire in her to overcome a disability that I had in myself at her age. Like me, she didn’t let her disability prevent her from learning to play the piano. She wasn’t thinking about what she couldn’t accomplish, only what she could accomplish. I was incredibly proud of her progress in learning several beginner-level songs during the first month of weekly lessons. Once the student and now the teacher, I felt a sense of pride to be passing on Mr. Ackley’s teachings to a student of my own. People like her and my Grandmother motivate me every day to keep striving to overcome any obstacles I may encounter in life, and to never give up in the pursuit of my goals. I’m inspired by the power of music and how much it can impact people of all ages. I intend to major in music therapy and learn how to help people of all ages through music. My plan is to continue my education and earn my masters degree and then my doctorate in music therapy. Mental and emotional health is so important and music therapy can help make a meaningful impact for people of all ages.