Wake up, practice singing, go to one of my choirs or orchestra, work hard at school, come home, rush to voice and violin lessons, do homework on the car ride there and back, practice my Carnatic music (South Indian Vocal Music), join my skype class with my Carnatic Music teacher, finish homework, study, practice some more, and finally, my day is over…. Then it starts all over again tomorrow. My love for music started with Carnatic singing, first taught by my mother at three years old, and it has made me feel very close to my Indian heritage. I later grew fond of the violin and quickly broadened into Western Vocal as well. Soon I was enthralled by all the choirs and orchestras our school had to offer. Though hectic, I would never give any of this up. However, balancing my Music with the rest of my life is often difficult. This led me to wonder what if there was a school focused on kids passionate about pursuing the arts–a place that gave them time to practice their instrument(s), explore genres and cultures, cultivate and nurture their artistic hearts, and give them opportunities to perform, while still doing academics. Although there are a few schools like this, the common student cannot afford it. Therefore, I decided that I want to start this school. Everything could be tailored to fit students’ needs, and they could love music without the stress. In addition, I want to start a nonprofit organization like my Music teacher and my mother started that hosts concerts, supports struggling artists, helps rising talents reach a broader audience, and provides new opportunities for performers. Often, when I tell someone about these ideas, they say that only one in a million could successfully do this, and I am doomed to fail because of my gender or race. These words leave scars yet they also fuel me. Now, my goal in life is to motivate and inspire young artists and reassure them that they can do anything they want to. In addition, writing this essay has inspired me to start a scholarship similar to this to give students hope that they can achieve anything they put their minds to. This Scholarship has changed my perspective on who I want to be, and moreover, how I want to help those around me grow. Thank you for considering me for this Scholarship.