Music has always been a passion of mine ever since I could remember. From a young age, I was captivated by the emotive power of songs and the way they can convey deeply rooted feelings without having to speak a word. My deep connection to music stems from its incredible ability to heal and connect people, something I personally experienced throughout my journey. My musical journey began early at the age of four, I would sing solos at church, participate in local talent shows, and even perform skits for my family. In fifth grade, I joined choir, and that grew my passion for singing immensely. Throughout high school, I was a member of choir, sang cover songs, wrote original music, and ventured into music production. Every day, I discovered new facets of my passion for music. These experiences taught me the importance of using music to connect with others. Music's role in my life took me on a new path when my family was struck by medical hardships. In August of 2021, my cousin who had just graduated high school was diagnosed with Glioblastoma. I will always remember her comments about how my voice and the covers I post online inspire her to get through her day. In August of 2022, she unfortunately passed away, a devastating experience that left a significant impact on our family. Another key figure in my life was my choir director, Mr. Schult, who tragically passed away in May 2023. My heart shattered after his passing, and so I went onto social media to sing a song that my choir had just performed. Seeing the impact on people through my performance was eye-opening. As an educator and father figure, he played a vital role in my musical development, especially because he believed in my vocal abilities. His encouragement to explore my potential and audition for various shows has been a significant driver to becoming a more authentic and innovative artist. Amid this turmoil, music became my lifeline. It provided an outlet for my grief, a way to process the overwhelming emotions I was experiencing. Writing and performing songs about these experiences allowed me to channel my pain into something beautiful. Music gave me the strength to cope with uncertainty, offering a sense of purpose when everything else seemed to be falling apart. The impact of these experiences has reinforced my commitment to pursuing music as a career. I witnessed firsthand how powerful music can be in healing emotional wounds and bringing people together. My dream is to create music that resonates with others, offering them the same comfort it has given me. Through attending college to study music, I hope to inspire others to find their own strength and resilience in the face of adversity. Furthermore, becoming a musician and vocal coach for those who strive to thrive musically is an aspiration of mine. Music is my calling, and I am eager to use it to bring hope and healing to others.

I am Lindsay Peterson, an inspired individual driven to create a community centered on love, dignity, and self-expression through music. Music has been an intrinsic part of my life since birth. From humming tunes to creating dance choreography at four, music has allowed me to express myself in a way words can’t. As I grew older, music became increasingly more prominent, leading me to share cover songs on social media at twelve. This venture evolved into establishing my music brand, including writing songs, producing songs, attending professional dance and vocal lessons, and performing in multiple shows. My desire to pursue music began in fifth grade when my music teacher suggested I join the school choir. At first, I was reluctant because I was uncomfortable with the idea of singing with others. Although, my teacher would not give up begging me. One day she said, "You know, your voice is something special. I think it would be a great experience for you." Her persistent encouragement led me to attend a choir meeting, which led to many more after. This was the beginning of a journey that deepened my commitment to music. The choir became my home, and I gave a sense of belonging and hope, especially during challenging times. Moving to Florida from Illinois in May 2020 was a difficult transition in my life, but the Oviedo High School choir provided a welcoming and embracing community that felt like home, even during the uncertainties of the COVID-19 time when we couldn’t properly sing together. Throughout my high school years, I have devoted countless hours to writing and producing songs, practicing vocals, participating in hip-hop dance classes, mastering content creation marketing, performing in numerous shows, and, crucially, using music as a medium to share my story with the world. Under the guidance of Mr. Bill Schult, my choir director, I grew not only as a musician but as a person. His belief in my vocal abilities and his encouragement to explore my potential had a profound impact on my musical development. Sadly, Mr. Schult passed away in May 2023, but his influence continues to inspire me to pursue my passion for music with authenticity and innovation. I plan to study Music Performance (Vocal) at Valencia College starting in the Fall of 2024. Following this, I aspire to enroll at Belmont University for a Bachelor of Music in Commercial Music. My ultimate ambition is to establish myself as a music artist, performing and sharing my music with communities worldwide while also becoming a private vocal coach. My journey in music has been full of personal and artistic growth, and I am eager to continue this journey through higher education where I can further develop my skills and contribute to the world of music. Through delivering positive messages and uplifting others through music, I am committed to making a lasting impact on others.

Empathy is the driving force behind my commitment to helping others, motivating me to take action in meaningful ways. Empathy has always been a core value in my life, shaping my aspirations. Whether it’s lending a hand to a loved one, bringing joy through my music, or contributing to my community, I am dedicated to making a positive impact on those around me. In my everyday life, supporting those around me comes in many forms. With my family, I help out around the house to take the weight off of my mother’s shoulders, take care of our puppy, and work at our family’s coffeehouse every day to contribute my support and responsibilities. Recently, my boyfriend was going through a tough time, and I surprised him with a $5 Walmart gift card as a small gesture to lift his spirits and remind him that he is not alone. Beyond my relationships, I strive to make a positive impact in my community and my job. In my community, I have donated to food banks, participated in local beach cleanups, helped out with school club events, and organized a charity event to raise money for local LGBTQ+ teenagers who became homeless for their sexuality. With my social media assistance job, I pride myself in helping a local realty company expand its online presence and increase community engagement. Additionally, through my music and content creation, I bring joy and a sense of connection to my audience, creating a sense of positivity in their lives. Reflecting on my journey so far, the foundation that connects all my efforts is a deep commitment to supporting and uplifting others, as well as maintaining empathy. As I look to the future, this commitment has led me to pursue a degree in Music Performance at Valencia College. Music has always been a profound way for me to connect with others, and I am eager to improve my artistic craft and share this passion on a larger scale. I have witnessed firsthand how powerful music can heal emotional wounds and bring people together. My dream is to create music that resonates with others, offering them the same comfort and solace it has given me. Through attending college to study music, I hope to inspire others to find their strength and resilience in the face of adversity. I envision a future where I use my voice to entertain, inspire, uplift, and unite communities. Whether performing on stage, recording original music, or collaborating with other artists, my goal is to touch hearts through the universal language of music. This journey is not only about personal achievement but also about using my talents to make a positive impact on the world, carrying forward the support and encouragement I have always valued. In addition to performing, I aspire to become a private vocal coach, guiding others in finding their unique voices and helping them express themselves through music.

Music has always been a passion of mine ever since I could remember. From a young age, I was captivated by the emotive power of songs and the way they can convey deeply rooted feelings without having to speak a word. My deep connection to music stems from its incredible ability to heal and connect people, something I have personally experienced throughout my journey. My musical journey began early at the age of four, I would sing solos at church, participate in local talent shows, and even perform skits for my family. In fifth grade, I joined a choir, which grew my passion for singing immensely. Throughout my singing in my high school choir, I found peers and a director who instilled in me a profound respect for music and tools for emotional expression. Throughout high school, I also sang cover songs, wrote original music, and ventured into music production. Every day, I discovered new facets of my passion for music. These experiences taught me the importance of using music to communicate and connect with others, a lesson I carry with me in my performances and songwriting. Music's role in my life took me on a new path when my family was struck by medical hardships. In August of 2021, my cousin who had just graduated high school was diagnosed with Glioblastoma. Seeing my cousin struggle to stay alive was incredibly difficult to watch. I will always remember her comments about how my voice and the covers I post online inspire her to get through her day. In August of 2022, she unfortunately passed away, a devastating experience that left a significant impact on our family. Just a month later, my brother was diagnosed with Schizophrenia, adding to the emotional and financial strains for my family. Amid this turmoil, music became my lifeline. It provided an outlet for my grief, a way to process the overwhelming emotions I was experiencing. Writing and performing songs about these experiences allowed me to channel my pain into something beautiful. Music gave me the strength to cope with uncertainty and hardship, offering a sense of purpose and direction when everything else seemed to be falling apart. The impact of these experiences has reinforced my commitment to pursuing music as a career. I have witnessed firsthand how powerful music can heal emotional wounds and bring people together. My dream is to create music that resonates with others, offering them the same comfort and solace it has given me. Through attending college to study music, I hope to inspire others to find their own strength and resilience in the face of adversity. Pursuing a scholarship will enable me to develop my musical talents further and share my passion with a broader audience. It will provide the resources and opportunities needed to refine my skills and expand my reach, allowing me to make a meaningful impact through my art. I am determined to use my voice to advocate for mental health awareness and support those who have faced medical hardships, such as my family has. Music is more than just a passion; it is my calling. I am ecstatic to commit to using music to bring hope and healing to others.

Obstacles are inevitable in everyone’s life, even when young. All of who I am today and who I will bring with me into my adulthood stems from having to work at eleven years old. In 2016, just a few months after my grandfather’s passing, my parents opened a mom-and-pop coffeehouse in a suburb of Chicago, Illinois. My father had always dreamed of opening his own restaurant, as he had been managing restaurants for over twenty years. I was nine years old at the time of the opening, and as time went on, the weight of responsibilities grew heavier. Life comes with all sorts of unforeseen events, am I right? Well, not even two years later, a couple of employees on a Friday night got into a car accident. I was expected by my parents to get up at five in the morning on Saturday to go to work for seven hours. I was used to bringing out food to customers or cleaning the tables, but I hadn’t ever worked a full shift time. My head was telling me, “It’s only going to be a one-day thing, I’ll be fine!” However, after we cut some employees down, I figured it was going to be a long haul. It went from one Saturday to every weekend, to nearly every day of the week. The more weeks went on of working every day, the more empty I felt. I was told to “push through” and “help out” because I knew that it would be helping my parents’ business. Children working in a family business is not a rare occurrence, nor is it wrongful. However, I did not know how to cope with the situations that would occur while working. An eleven-year-old brain is not as emotionally or cognitively developed as even a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old. Feelings that may be manageable to a working high school student were overwhelming to an elementary school girl trying to have a “normal” childhood. I couldn’t hang out with my best friend after school anymore since I’d go straight from science class to behind a counter taking orders. I couldn’t go to as many birthday parties because my time was occupied from sunrise to sunset on weekends. My grades dropped from straight A’s to B’s and C’s, as I attempted to finish my homework assignments during my lunch breaks or right after dinner before I was knocked asleep from fatigue. In response, I started to shut everything out. The first time I faced a rude customer, my face tensed so hard I could feel the wrinkles forming. I remember the uncomforting feeling of a contentious person walking in the door, or a glass shattering as I wash dishes. One of the worst memories is when three-hundred-degree water spilled onto my hand as I accidentally spilled someone’s hot tea at the crack of dawn. Friends and family always ask how I did it, and how I never gave up. At a young age, I was able to mature much quicker than most kids. I understood that all of these experiences were adversity, and all adversity comes with a commitment to grow as an individual. I knew there was a reason I was facing adversity. I didn’t know what the reason was, but I do know that the voice inside my head told me to keep going. Through it all, my support system played a crucial role in helping me overcome these challenges. My teachers were incredibly understanding and offered extra help whenever I fell behind in class. They noticed when I was stressed and would pull me out of class to show support. My friends, though I couldn’t see them often, remained by my side and comforted me in times when I needed it most. My extended family would occasionally step in to help with the coffeehouse. Most importantly, my parents tried their best to be there for me, despite the pressures of running the business. Their belief in my resilience kept me going during the toughest times. The kindness shown not only by those close to me but even strangers, was remarkable. For every glass broken, there was a coworker to help pick it up. For every order messed up, there was a customer who gave an extra tip. For every time there was visible stress in school after a tough weekend, there was a teacher who noticed and reached out. For every obstacle given, there is always hope. In 2019, my parents closed the family coffeehouse due to financial constraints. The coffeehouse put my family in a vulnerable financial position to the point where we thought we would be kicked out of our home and would have to live in the backroom of the restaurant. Seeing this distress in my family was heartbreaking, and their hours of arguments were even more heartbreaking. My family made the decision to leave everything behind and move to Florida, allowing us to start a new chapter of our lives. During my time in high school, I realized how much the coffeehouse grew me as a person. I was able to apply key lessons to academics and extracurriculars. For example, my skills with time management enabled me to balance schoolwork and activities effectively. Through experiences with co-workers and customers, I learned how to communicate with others, be efficient, and maintain professionalism. Most importantly, I learned to persevere through difficult forks on the road to achieve successful outcomes. At the end of the day, obstacles are what carve the way to success. As I step into the next chapter of my life. I will carry with me that obstacles create resilience, and resilience creates strength.

Empowerment is a huge aspect of a woman’s life. At its core, empowerment is about power, gaining strength, and fostering confidence within us. Empowerment is a mental journey from self-doubt to self-assurance.  For many, empowerment can be a day-to-day feeling that fluctuates. For me, empowerment is a lifestyle. I don't feel accomplished or successful when I don’t feel empowered. There is a fire that sparks within you that drives empowerment. While that is different for every individual, my fire was ignited by the resilience gained from adversity. In my own life, empowerment builds just like fire. The more adversity and experiences that feed into the fire, the bigger it grows. If no purpose or no challenges are occurring, the fire will fade away and all that will be left is ashes. To build that empowerment, people, and especially women, must cultivate resilience. Through my experience, emotional resilience, adaptation, creative expression, passion, and personal growth have all fueled my empowerment. To name a few experiences, I moved across the country during the COVID-19 pandemic in May 2020, right before my freshman year of high school began. My parents formerly owned a coffeehouse that was shut down, putting my family in a vulnerable financial situation. Since then, my father has not been able to secure a job, so my family has been living off my mother’s paycheck for over five years. Witnessing my family struggle so much, I desired change, not just for my family, but for many others in similar situations. This is empowerment – using your adversity and turning it into motivation for positive change. As I carry forward into college, I continually have to fight financial adversity, but I know for a fact that the fire within me will keep growing until I reach success. By success, I do not mean “rich” success; I mean “fulfilling” success—the kind that comes from overcoming obstacles and making a positive impact on others. Fulfillment can be rooted in the resilience developed from challenges faced, such as my former choir director passing away, my cousin being diagnosed with severe brain cancer, and the financial struggles of my family. Although some challenges may make fulfillment seem impossible, it all comes from turning adversity into a driving force that shapes your journey most meaningfully.  The impact created by women who strive to build better futures for communities and use personal growth to inspire and uplift others is those who embody true empowerment.

Mental health has been a significant part of my life that defines my journey and who I am. My family and I have had to tackle countless battles that tested my resilience and shaped my identity. From the young age of three years old, I have confronted various forms of anxiety, panic attacks, self-doubt, depression, and suicide. The perseverance and strength I have gained are now the representation of who I am now. Social anxiety became a significant obstacle as a child, negatively impacting my interactions and memories from childhood. I remember hiding behind my father’s legs attending family gatherings, jittering while reading aloud at school, and sobbing after ordering at a restaurant. The easiest tasks for other people were one more thing I worried about. For a few years of elementary school, I was alone during recess. I would use the jump rope alone, go on the swings alone, or sometimes sit on the pavement witnessing all the other kids in their friend groups. Many times, it got lonely, and I struggled with bullying, harassment, self-harm, and self-destruction from the young age of five. There were several times when my grades would drop stemmed from my struggles with social anxiety. My journey with social anxiety has taught me valuable lessons about self-compassion and being kind to not only each other but yourself. Both my mother and father have a history of mental health issues. The biggest contributor to the family stress we had was our mom-and-pop coffeehouse that opened in 2016. Sadly, the business was shut down in 2019, one of the main reasons being mental health. My father’s business failure created much adversity throughout my entire family, including financial struggles. While challenging, the knowledge and experiences further emphasized the need to prioritize mental health. Shortly after moving to Florida in 2020, my family became aware of my cousin’s diagnosis of Glioblastoma, one of the most severe cases of brain cancer. The mental effects of the diagnosis were difficult to cope with, leading her brother to go down a path of drug abuse. In 2022, my cousin passed away, followed by her brother's diagnosis of Schizophrenia a month later. These events deepened my empathy and reinforced my commitment to advocating for mental health awareness and support. The most taxing event was the sudden passing of my choir director in May of 2023. It was the end of my junior year. I was looking forward to my last year of high school. I have been involved in choir since elementary school and have had a love for music since birth. His sudden death plunged me into a period of intense grief. My loved ones held me close as I started skipping classes and stayed in my room. I couldn’t speak what was on my mind, I could only sing. This period of introspection over the summer was my realization of the importance of actively seeking support and working on my mental health for the benefit of myself and those around me. I am committed to using my experiences to advocate for mental health awareness, inspiring others to embrace their resilience and obstacles and use them for the better. My struggles with mental health have led me to develop a fond relationship with music. As I embark on a new chapter of my life, I plan on attending college for a Commercial Music degree. I aspire to create and perform music that will create a community and a sense of companionship and connectedness. As my choir director once said, “Project more, so you may understand the power of your voice.”

Mental health has been a significant part of my life that defines my journey and who I am. My family and I have had to tackle countless battles that tested my resilience and shaped my identity. From the young age of three years old, I have confronted various forms of anxiety, panic attacks, self-doubt, depression, and suicide. The perseverance and strength I have gained are now the representation of who I am now. Social anxiety became a significant obstacle as a child, negatively impacting my interactions and memories from childhood. I remember hiding behind my father’s legs attending family gatherings, jittering while reading aloud at school, and sobbing after ordering at a restaurant. The easiest tasks for other people were one more thing I worried about. For a few years of elementary school, I was alone during recess. I would use the jump rope alone, go on the swings alone, or sometimes sit on the pavement witnessing all the other kids in their friend groups. Many times, it got lonely, and I struggled with bullying, harassment, self-harm, and self-destruction from the young age of five. The older I got never got easier until my senior year of high school. Thanks to being involved in choir, I naturally started getting out of my shell. My journey with social anxiety has taught me valuable lessons about self-compassion and being kind to not only each other but yourself. Both my mother and father have a history of mental health issues. My mother endured bullying throughout all of her years in school, including college. Her courage and boldness have taught me how to stand up for myself. My father’s silent struggle with mental health stemmed from his mother’s sudden passing during his Christmas break of senior year. When I was two years old, his father tragically passed away. Additionally, our mom-and-pop coffeehouse that opened in 2016 sadly shut down in 2019, one of the many reasons being mental health. My father’s business failure created much adversity throughout my entire family. While challenging, the knowledge and experiences further emphasized the need to prioritize mental health. Shortly after moving to Florida in 2020, my family became aware of my cousin’s diagnosis of Glioblastoma, one of the most severe cases of brain cancer. The mental effects of the diagnoses were difficult to cope with. Her brother ended up hanging out with the wrong people, leading him down the path of drug abuse. In 2022, my cousin passed away, followed by her brother's diagnosis of Schizophrenia a month later. These events deepened my empathy and reinforced my commitment to advocating for mental health awareness and support. The most taxing event was the sudden passing of my choir director in May of 2023. It was the end of my junior year. I was looking forward to my last year of high school. I have been involved in choir since elementary school and have had a love for music since birth. His sudden death plunged me into a period of intense grief. My loved ones held me close as I started skipping classes and stayed in my room. I couldn’t speak what was on my mind, I could only sing. This period of introspection over the summer was my realization of the importance of actively seeking support and working on my mental health for the benefit of myself and those around me. I am committed to using my experiences to advocate for mental health awareness and support, inspiring others to embrace their resilience and obstacles and use them for the better. My struggles with mental health have led me to develop a fond relationship with music. As I embark on a new chapter of my life, I plan on attending college for a Commercial Music degree. I aspire to create and perform music that will create a community and a sense of companionship and connectedness. As my choir director once said, “Project more, so you may understand the power of your voice.”

I am Lindsay Peterson, an inspired individual driven to create a community centered on love and self-expression through music. Music has been an intrinsic part of my life since birth. From humming tunes to creating dance choreography at four, music has allowed me to express myself in a way words can’t. As I grew older, pop music became prominent in my life, leading me to share cover songs on social media at twelve. This venture manifested into my music brand, including writing songs, producing songs, attending professional dance and vocal lessons, and performing in multiple shows. My desire to pursue music began in fifth grade when my music teacher suggested I join the school choir. Initially, I was reluctant because I was uncomfortable with the idea of singing with other people. Although, over and over again my teacher begged me. One day she said, “You know, your voice is something special. I think it would be a great experience for you." Her persistent encouragement led me to attend a choir meeting. It came out to be one of the best experiences of my life. I am beyond grateful for my music teacher pushing me into a community I never would have expected to be so welcoming and memorable. I continued choir throughout middle school and high school. All of the challenges I went through, I knew I would have a safe place to go and sing my heart out. Alongside choir, I was posting videos of me singing on Instagram and YouTube to build a following of people who loved music as much as I did. I was very consistent for a few years up until momentum slowed down. In August 2022, I learned that my 18-year-old cousin, Megan, had been diagnosed with Glioblastoma, starting a period of emotional and unpredictable battles. Megan found solace in my singing videos during her battle with cancer as she shared with me that my voice helped her navigate the difficulties of her diagnosis. In August 2023, my family received the news of her passing while she was in hospice care. Singing through the pain was the only way I could cope with the pain. That was the moment I realized performing is not about the music itself, but the way it makes an emotional connection and impact on others. Someone who pushed me to believe in myself was my choir director, Mr. Bill Schult, who tragically passed away in May 2023. My heart shattered after his passing, and so I went onto social media to sing a song that my choir had just performed. Seeing the impact on people through my performance was eye-opening. As an educator and father figure, he played a vital role in my musical development, especially because he believed in my vocal abilities. His encouragement to explore my potential and audition for various shows has been a significant driver to becoming a more authentic and innovative artist. I aspire to establish a community of people who love music just as much as I do and commit to helping each other grow. Drawing from past experiences, including donating to homeless LGBTQ+ teenagers, organizing food drives, and raising money for choir, I aim to reach my fullest potential through higher education. My sole purpose is to contribute my soul to music by delivering positive messages to those who are in the most need of encouragement. In many aspects, college embodies qualities that resemble music—open-mindedness, sensibility, and independence. In the end, I wholeheartedly want to be the best I can be, not only for myself but for the communities around me.

I have been an artistic individual ever since I came out of the womb. I would hum, bop along to music, and make choreography when I was only four years old to pop music I heard my parents play around the house. Music has allowed me to express myself in a way that words could never. Times when I have nothing to say, music speaks. As I grew older, pop music became prominent in my life. I started to post cover songs on social media at twelve years old, which then turned into creating my brand just a couple of years after. Throughout high school, I have written songs, produced songs, sang for hours on the daily, attended hip-hop dance classes, learned about content creation marketing, performed in multiple shows, and most importantly, gained an understanding of how to build a community. After high school, I am most excited to create music and develop a brand that signifies leadership, love, respect, and dignity to other individuals. My dream is to create a large community full of people who love music just as I do and want to help each other grow. Using past experiences with donating to homeless LGBTQ+ teenagers, putting together food drives, and raising money for my high school choir, I aim to reach the fullest potential within myself and my community to bring the most love to the world possible through art. My sole purpose is to contribute my heart and soul to music by delivering positive messages to a community of people who are in the most need of support. The opportunities college will give me will embody my attributes that can contribute to society. I wholeheartedly want to be the best I can be, not just for myself, but those around me. In the end, I care much more about giving to those who need love the most. Along with building a community throughout my college years, I plan on creating a lifestyle business that empowers young woman to reach their aspiring dreams. By creating a business, building a music community, and maintaining a high level of quality education academically, I expect to go through many obstacles financially, socially, academically, and personally, that may affect my plan. What I remind myself is that there is a power much greater than me that knows me better than myself. If I tune out my negative worries that create anxiety, I can listen intuitively to what my purpose is for each obstacle. One obstacle I know I will face is financial struggles. My family does not currently have the money for college and will most likely be taking on debt if I do not receive a scholarship. The stress of knowing what my family will have to go through just to further my education is distressful. After all, I know that I work very hard for what I want with my leadership abilities. I cannot wait to continue my education at Valencia College in the Fall of 2024 for Music Performance!

My name is Lindsay Peterson, a seventeen-year-old from Oviedo, Florida. I am an inspired individual with the drive to create a community of love, grace, and self-expression. My artistic influences throughout my life, including being in choir and dance classes, have led me down a musical pathway. I have been an artistic individual ever since I came out of the womb. I would hum, bop along to music, and make choreography when I was only four years old to pop music I heard my parents play around the house. Music has allowed me to express myself in a way that words could never. Times when I have nothing to say, music speaks. As I grew older, pop music became prominent in my life. I started to post cover songs of Ariana Grande on social media at twelve years old, which then turned into creating my brand just a couple of years later. Throughout high school, I have written songs, produced songs, sang for hours daily, attended hip-hop dance classes, learned about content creation marketing, performed in multiple shows, and most importantly, gained an understanding of how to build a community. The arts have positively influenced my life simply because I can positively influence other people’s lives. I make music and cover songs to allow people to escape into a world that maybe isn’t so stressful, or from another viewpoint, to give people an outlet to express how they feel. I strive every day to make others feel worthy, less alone, and more empowered within themselves, and to endlessly love each other no matter the circumstance. Someone who pushed me to believe in myself was my choir director, Mr. Bill Schult, who unfortunately passed away suddenly in May 2023 at the end of my junior year of high school. My heart shattered because not only was he a father figure to many, but he was one of the main people who believed in me and my voice throughout my high school years. He pushed me to audition for shows and sing notes I never knew I had in me. Mr. Schult was someone who pushed me throughout all of high school. He helped me grow in various ways that wouldn’t have been possible without him. Leaders like him inspire me to become a better version of myself and a passionate leader for other people, creating a path of hope, love, and dignity. With my music performance degree, I am most excited to create music and perform shows that signify leadership, devotion, and embracement for other individuals. I dream of creating a large community full of people who love music just as much as I do and want to help each other grow. Using past experiences with donating to homeless LGBTQ+ teenagers, putting together food drives, and raising money for my high school choir, I aim to reach the fullest potential within myself and my community to bring the most love to the world possible through performing. My sole purpose is to contribute my heart and soul to music by delivering positive messages to a community of people who are in the most need of support. The opportunities college will give me will embody my attributes that can contribute to society. I wholeheartedly want to be the best I can be, not just for myself, but for those around me. I wish for everyone to feel the power that music has, as it is an experience that can save you from life's greatest obstacles.

I have been an artistic individual ever since I came out of the womb. I would hum, bop along to music, and create choreography when I was only four years old to pop music I heard my parents play around the house. Music has allowed me to express myself like words could never. Times when I have nothing to say, music speaks. Throughout high school, I have written songs, produced songs, sang for hours daily, attended hip-hop dance classes, learned about content creation marketing, performed in multiple shows, and most importantly, gained an understanding of how to build a community. Music has positively influenced my life simply because I can positively influence other people’s lives. I create music and cover songs to allow people to escape into a world that maybe isn’t so stressful, gives another viewpoint, or provides an outlet to express how someone feels. I strive every day to make others feel worthy, less alone, and more empowered because that is the role music has provided for me. There are multiple activities and groups I have been involved in that have guided me closer to music. I have been taking choir since fifth grade. For the past two years, I have been involved in the top honors choir at my high school, as well as performing in Disney World's Honors Candlelight Processional Choir at EPCOT. I have taken professional vocal lessons for the past three years, dance classes for the past eleven years, and perform in shows multiple times a year, including choir, dance, and solo performances. I have also had the honor of raising money for my high school's choir program by performing Singing Valentine telegrams to students, teachers, and faculty members for two years. Someone who pushed me to believe in myself was my choir director, Mr. Bill Schult, who unfortunately passed away suddenly in May 2023, at the end of my junior year of high school. My heart shattered because he was a father figure to many and one of the main people who believed in me and my voice throughout my high school years. He pushed me to audition for shows and sing notes I never knew I had in me. Leaders like him inspire me to become a more authentic, innovative, and enthusiastic artist every day, driving others to create a path of hope, love, and dignity. I aspire to create a huge community full of people who love music to help others achieve their aspirations. Implementing past experiences with working in a team, organizing donations and food drives, and raising money for my high school choir, I aim to reach the fullest potential within myself and my community to bring the most love to the world possible through music. My future goal is to be a music artist who resembles emotions that make people feel less alone and more united. The opportunities college will give me will embody the attributes I have gained throughout my musical experiences that contribute to society. As one of my favorite quotes states, "Music speaks what cannot be expressed. It soothes the mind and gives it rest. It heals the heart and makes it whole. It flows from heaven to heal the soul." K.C. Lynn.

Hello, my name is Lindsay Peterson, a musically inspired seventeen-year-old from Oviedo, Florida, originally born in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. I have been an artistic individual ever since I came out of the womb. I would hum, bop along to music, and create choreography when I was only four years old to music I heard my parents play around the house. As I grew older, pop music became prominent in my life. I started to post cover songs on social media at twelve years old, which then turned into creating a brand a couple of years later. Throughout high school, I have written and produced songs, sang for hours daily, performed in multiple shows, and most importantly, gained an understanding of how to build a community. Music has positively influenced my life simply because I can positively influence other people’s lives. I create music and cover songs to allow people to escape into a world that maybe isn’t so stressful, gives another viewpoint, or provides an outlet to express how someone feels. I strive every day to make others feel worthy, less alone, and more empowered. Someone who pushed me to believe in myself was my choir director, Mr. Bill Schult, who unfortunately passed away suddenly in May 2023, at the end of my junior year of high school. My heart shattered because not only was he a father figure to many, but he was one of the main people who believed in me and my voice throughout my high school years. He was someone who pushed me to take risks, no matter the size or amount of fear I had. I auditioned for shows and events I never would have if he hadn’t pushed me. He helped me grow in various ways that wouldn’t have been possible without him. He was a father figure to many, including myself. Leaders like Mr. Schult inspire me to become a better version of myself and to be a passionate leader for other people, creating a path of love, hope, and dignity. Additionally, the amount of stress that can come along with being a teenager can be very challenging, both mentally and physically. From all-nighters to completing a project to failing an important test studied long for, music is what is needed to get through the struggles high school can bring. Producing music, songwriting, belting my heart out, and performing have all been outlets for me to express any emotion that I am feeling. Music allowed me to become a version of myself that my younger self would be so proud of. I aspire to create a huge community full of people who love music, just as Mr. Lindblad and Mr. Schult did, to help others achieve their aspirations. Implementing past experiences with working in a team, organizing donations and food drives, and raising money for my high school choir, I aim to reach the fullest potential within myself and my community to bring the most love to the world possible through music. The opportunities college will give me will embody the attributes I have gained throughout my musical experiences in high school that contribute to society. My dream college to attend is Belmont University, although my family cannot afford the funding for my first two years of college at that institution. I plan on attending Valencia College with an Associate of Arts in Music Performance to allow more time for financial opportunities to transfer to Belmont University for a Bachelor of Music in Commercial Music. I am beyond grateful for every experience, and I cannot wait to further develop a musical-filled community!

“Thank you” my cousin once messaged me on one of my singing posts on social media. My name is Lindsay Peterson, a musically inspired seventeen-year-old who wants to create a community through her music. I currently live in Oviedo, Florida, though I lived in Hoffman Estates, Illinois before high school. I have been involved in music ever since I was out of the womb. My mother has influenced many of her musical traits in my life as she was a professional performer and did musical theatre for much of her life. Music has influenced my entire world, as it has for everyone. Music has always been ingrained in my soul. I used to hum when I was an infant and create dance choreography for songs on the radio when I was only four years old. My elementary school music teacher begged me to join the school choir in fifth grade, which further expanded my capabilities in the depths I could pursue music. For me, there is no purpose in life without music. There is no drive to me other than music. I have always had this drive in me throughout my life, but two particular instances that occurred shortly after one another completely changed my perspective on life itself. My cousin, who I mentioned earlier had graduated from high school in 2021 when she found out she had a severe brain cancer called Glioblastoma. She had always been a fan of my singing videos and positive social media posts. When diagnosed, she replied to one of my Snapchat stories, “You sound amazing to this song. [I am] Obsessed to listening to your voice.” A couple weeks before she passed in August of 2022, she encouraged me in the comments of one of my posts to never stop singing. I am so blessed to have known her and given her a light through such a dark situation. Just nine months after my cousin passed, I got an email from my high school principal on the night of Mother’s Day that my choir director had suddenly passed away. My choir director was a father figure to not only me but thousands of students. He gave me a voice in the classroom though I was very introverted. He pushed me to my limits to audition for events and shows I never would have if I didn’t have his encouragement. I was planning for him to write my letter of recommendation for my dream colleges. However, I had to learn that you must carry on and take what you can from each person. Every note that comes out of my mouth is dedicated to my cousin and my choir director, as I find they both exemplify what it means to be an empathetic, optimistic human. Music has influenced my beliefs in having value in peace, honesty, love, and light. Music expresses something inside that words cannot simply say. Music creates a community of safety, a net of wonder, sacrifice, honesty, and openness to those who might not have it in their world. My sole purpose is to contribute my heart and soul to music by delivering positive messages to a community of people to better the world. The opportunities college will give me will embody my opportunities for giving much-needed love to the world through music.