My name is Maria De Jesus Benavides Cortes, a Senior at Indian River High School in Dagsboro, Delaware. I am 17 years old and proudly Mexican American. After I graduate from Indian River High School in the following months I will be at the University of Delaware majoring in Music Education and have a Disability Studies minor. I play the flute as well as a few other instruments moderately. This essay is responding to the 1st and 3rd Option. During my freshman year, I wanted to quit music and pursue a different pathway, meaning my parents would be happy, and I thought I would be happy also. I thought that leaving what I am meant to do in my life was the best choice. As I talked to Miss Zecchin in tears about quitting, she would say “No” or nod no. We sat down and talked about how my future would look if I completely quit and moved on to something that is supposed to be better for me. The conversation lasted hours, but I didn’t understand at that time why she wouldn’t let me go. Zecchin made sure that I understood she wasn’t going to let me go that easily. She was putting an immense amount of effort into ensuring that I would stay under her guidance. Miss Zecchin saw something in me that I didn’t know yet, and she convinced me to stay. Sophomore year of high school, I was inducted into Tri-M Music Honor Society. Being in this society is a special privilege as a music student. While I was a freshman, I demonstrated that I am dedicated, talented, and skilled. Many students get nominated by other students, but only a few are selected by Miss Carey (Choir Director) and Miss Zecchin (Band Director). This gave me the ability to tutor and be within classrooms as young as Kindergarten to even my own peers at school. It has been an adventure doing this type of volunteer work, but it gave me the literal understanding of what it means to not leave any students behind, even when it comes to music. I’m able to do all sorts of musical opportunities while giving back to the community. Doing community service while performing gives you a breathtaking feeling that’s indescribable. This type of volunteer work gave me the understanding of empathy towards everyone, regardless of who they are and how they look. Additionally, I was named flute section leader during my junior and senior year, which is an amazing privilege. I am in charge, responsible, and the representative of the section as a whole; all final say with the section comes from me. Being in this unique leadership position gave me an idea of what being a future music teacher will be like. All of these opportunities led me to realize I am meant for music education without a doubt. I do not think twice about my choice even when others may doubt me. It is insane that four years ago, I was going to quit music, but now I will become a music educator. Even with the struggles and issues I have faced since the beginning, my future didn’t let me go down a different path; I chose music. I grew to learn that I belong within music with Miss Zecchin's help. Those years made me realize who I am today; it doesn't matter how bad or good the times were, I have grown. Teaching others and music are my passions; I just didn’t realize it as soon as Miss Zecchin did. Music education is the way that I will repay those teachers that have guided me and inspired me. I am enthusiastic and eager to start my career as a music teacher to help shape the future students within the classroom limits. Miss Zecchin put faith and trust in me and my musical abilities; that's all I needed to flourish into the person I am today. I have the privilege of being the first in my family to head to higher education. I am the trailblazer, the foundation and the blueprint for my siblings and family. With this scholarship, I can achieve these goals, I know I can and will.

My name is Maria De Jesus Benavides Cortes. I am a Senior at Indian River High School, currently 17 years old, and proudly Mexican American. I will major in Music Education and with a minor in Disability Studies at the University of Delaware in the following months after I finish my high school education. I have had a background in music since around the young age of 4 years old. I play the flute sense 5th grade and piccolo sense 9th grade, those are my main instruments. My middle school and high school music teachers are the reason why I will become a music teacher. They have left me as a student excited that I can aid in shaping the next generations, regardless of what they may do. I know that I am not the only person struggling with obtaining higher education. Once I finish my studies at the University of Delaware I would like to start a community outreach organization or club for first generation students like me or for people that want their education. Due to being the first in my family to achieve education, I had issues and struggles with how to apply to scholarships and how to apply to colleges. I have become a bit better with these things but I know there is much more information out there. I will help others going through the same struggles and misinformation I went and currently going through. To do this, I want to set up a community organization that is dedicated to aiding and informing people that are trying to go to college that don’t understand the process. By doing this I will help the community understand that everyone deserves an education and everyone has the right to achieve high education regardless of their background. This organization would be volunteer based because getting information and help should not come with another cost. The cost of getting education is already high enough it wouldn't be right to charge money. Another way I could still make this possible is to make a club in-school for seniors in high school. I would go in and help them with whatever they would need to be successful to head to higher education the following fall. An example would be that I would help them fill out FAFSA to ensure that they get a start with some type of aid or help them understand their financial situation.

My name is Maria De Jesus Benavides Cortes. I am a Senior at Indian River High School, currently 17 years old, and proudly Mexican American. I will major in Music Education at the University of Delaware in the following months after I finish my high school education. I have a background in music since around the young age of 4 years old. I started the flute in 5th grade, that is when I worked with an in-school ensemble officially. Music is my passion, as well as being a teacher, so that leads to music education. I am apart of Educators Rising, National Honor Society, Tri-M Music Honor Society, RISE Club, Debate Club, and Marching Band. But I would like to continue to stay involved on campus by being in the similar clubs I am in right now. As well as staying active in volunteering is something I will continue to do throughout my life. I love to give back to the community, doing volunteer work is something I won’t stop doing. I get this passion for volunteering from my family. When we can, we always try to keep the kindness going and the passion for volunteering alive. Additionally, being fluently bilingual aids me when there is a language barrier. I could start my own charity I would make the mission to aid and protect the immigrant families who are in need of it. The service would be provided mainly to immigrant families with the exception of those who are in desire as well. I would make the exception because I understand that it is not just immigrant families who are currently struggling right now, it is everyone. I believe that the charity should focus on community impact wherever it may be located. Once the charity can expand the impact that it should slowly start expanding wherever the charity is severely needed. By doing this I can make sure that the operations are going smoothly and make sure that every family or person is getting the correct attention and service. The charity would take any volunteers that can handle situations with empathy and compassion. Volunteering at this charity as well means that you can direct them to government services (example; Food stamps or Medicaid). Another addition would be aid for legal services for immigrants that would like to fix their papers or towards whatever they may need those services for. Safety is apart of the mission, the volunteers would help the person or family by ensuring their safety and directing them to safety programs if needed. I know through this charity would help prevent many situations and make the people it is helping understand they have a tomorrow that everyone has a right to.

The Eras Tour. The whole tour itself is such a pro-founding and amazing performance. Each of her albums are a fraction of a time in her life that left her with songs. She put them all together into one big stage to demonstrate to everyone that you can make light of any situation. Additionally, the people that worked behind the scenes to make sure that every show was immaculate. The reason why I mention these things are because she pulled off multiple 3 hour shows on the daily seamlessly, she stayed humble regardless of the revenue made, and she still is continuing her career. Taylor Swift preaches self care, she makes sure that rest is nonnegotiable. She believes that no matter how busy you are, you have to take time for yourself. I like to be and stay busy, but our human bodies don't function like that. She showed me despite how busy you are, yourself comes first. Next, she gave all her staff generous bonuses for being on The Eras Tour. Even with giving bonuses to her employees that worked so hard, she would give money away to amazing organizations or causes at the cities she would perform in. Taylor Swift kept on giving through the whole tour, and as well as giving those cities an economic boost. Lastly, any other artist would end their career with a tour and performance like that. But she just continues to work hard and to release even more music.

My name is Maria De Jesus Benavides Cortes, a Senior at Indian River High School in Dagsboro, Delaware. I am 17 years old and proudly Mexican American. After I graduate from Indian River High School, I plan to pursue Music Education at the University of Delaware. I play the flute as well as a few other instruments moderately. Music has always been a major part of my life because of my grandfather. My grandfather, even though I never had the chance to meet him, was my original introduction to music. What inspired the teaching aspect of my major are my middle school band director and my current choir and band director. I plan to make a positive impact on the world by becoming a music teacher. The reason why becoming a music teacher matters to me is because my former directors left such a profound impact on myself. I will inspire my future students to continue the performing arts the same way my former directors did to me. Continuing the performing arts is crucial, especially now. I am a product of having music teachers who are passionate about their jobs, which I will continue to do as well. Having these types of teachers and mentors in your life will ensure that you will not turn to the darkness, but rather lead you to the bright good of the world. As a current music student myself, I see the impact within myself and others, I will do the same to others in the future. But teaching is not a walk in the park, it is a walk through the wild and crazy jungle. I understand that I will face issues or problems as a teacher, but it will be worth it knowing that I have left a positive impact at least on a single student. Being a Hispanic music teacher is something I will pride myself in because through my music journey I only had a few other teachers that were a different race or ethnicity. I hope to showcase to my future students that it does not matter who you are, you can become whatever you set yourself to be. My heritage will be known to my future students so they understand a part of me that I deeply pride myself in. In doing that I can possibly inspire a student to understand that they can be a music teacher too.