The best thing Covid-19 gave me was time. When we first left school, I knew I would miss my friends; however being quarantined, I was able to realize how much I truly needed that break. Trying to write a 20-page research paper and maintain my GPA during junior year was incredibly stressful. That's why being able to go home, spend time with my family, and just take a breath was so helpful to my mental health. Later in the pandemic, me and my good friend/neighbor were able to spend time together outside and learn how to skateboard and play the ukulele: things I never imagined I would be able to even try. Doing these got me to go outside and gave me motivation to get up everyday and work harder to become better at these new skills. If the pandemic had not hit, I never would have been able to just take a step back from everyday life and learn these new skills or spend all that time with my family. The pandemic has taken so much from everyone, but it is nice to be able to look back and be grateful for the good it brought.

My name is Mekenzie Lintemuth. I am a high school senior who plays the french horn and mellophone in my high school band. I also play the ukulele in my own time. If someone had asked me in 6th grade what I thought I would be doing my senior year of high school, the last thing I would have guessed was playing three instruments I had barely heard of. However, I couldn't imagine my life without those instruments today. Band and ukulele have lifted me when I was down and given me something to look forward to for the past 6 years. The friendships, memories, and lessons I have gained from music have molded me into the person I am today. The summer of 2020 was a difficult one. In addition to being quarantined, I was getting out of an extremely toxic relationship while simultaneously dealing with that ex falling in love with my best friend of 11 years. I was losing two of the most important people in my life, so it was a time of healing. This is why the ukulele was so important to me. I remember starting and barely being able to get the fingerings. However, even though I was not an expert, I could see myself improving and it gave me something to look forward to and be proud of. It was around that time I began getting in touch with another friend who lived close to me. We were both learning ukulele, so we began playing with each other from across the street. These little socially distanced ukulele dates helped improve my mental health greatly. One song we enjoyed playing together was Green by Cavetown. A song about the relationship between the narrator and his love. In the song, their relationship is dying and it depicts the thoughts of the narrator who, instead of being spiteful or trying to get back together, shows maturity and explains how he just wants to see his ex happy with or without him. While I originally began listening to this song on my Disney World Trip in 2019, it meant so much more to me in the summer of 2020. Now I was truly experiencing what the narrator was in the song. Trying to let someone be happy because I knew we could not be happy together. Playing this song in a time of healing with an amazing friend who was helping me recover allowed me to mature through the breakup. This song means so much to me, and although it may sound sad, I will always be able to listen to it and remember the way it helped me to survive one of the hardest summers I have been through.

I think the biggest hardship I have had to overcome has been the personal troubles that come with being half black in my primarily white community. I never truly knew my biological father whose genes separate me from my peers. When I was 14 months old, I was adopted by my aunt and moved from Columbia, SC to Reed City, MI where growing up, I was one of the few colored students in my school. About six years later, my mother divorced my adopted father and became a single mother to four children. Being a teenage girl is hard in itself. Dealing with insecurities and constantly comparing myself to other girls is hard. But this was multiplied throughout my childhood because I used to be ashamed of my race. I hated that I did not look like the other girls, and I felt ugly. This made learning to love myself, not in spite of, but because of my skin color, one of the hardest challenges I have faced. I had to push past what felt like society's standard for being beautiful and cherish the fact that being a different color didn't make me ugly, it made me myself. After many years I was able to accept this. I truly believe it played a big part in making me the strong woman I am today. Despite many hardships throughout my high school career, I am proud of the fact that I have been able to keep up an elevated GPA. I am currently sitting at a 3.9 GPA and have remained between 3.8 and 3.9 through four years of high school. I have been in the Advanced Placement track for math and English these four years as well. I have been playing the french horn since 6th grade and, additionally, began playing the mellophone in 9th grade. In 11th grade, I became the section leader of the french horn section. This came with added responsibilities: helping the younger players and keeping extra materials in case someone forgot their own, whether they were in my section or not. In 11th grade, I joined the class council as secretary, student council as a representative, and became a member of the National Honors Society. I took on a lot of responsibilities as a junior in addition to starting my first job and tutoring a student during homeroom. It was difficult, but it was incredibly fulfilling. I am currently the secretary of the national honor society and a student council representative. I am still the section leader of the french horn and mellophone players, and I assist in teaching at the ASL club at my school while learning new things myself. I am also tutoring after school roughly 4 hours a week. I am concurrently working at Mcdonald's roughly 20 hours a week. The work I put into all these different organizations and into helping the community with things like blood drives (donating blood at every one and volunteering to help other donors) and fundraisers like band carnivals, family fun night, and pancake breakfasts gives me more purpose in life and makes me incredibly proud of myself. This year has been especially hard on me because it is so difficult to find chances to volunteer during a pandemic, but filling my time with my part-time job and tutoring has helped a lot in filling the gap I have felt. I have always tried to remain a strong role model for younger students and I believe the work I do is creating a strong picture for any students who look up to me.

My name is Mekenzie Lintemuth. I am a proud bisexual who plays the french horn, mellophone in my high school band. I also play the ukulele in my own time. If someone had asked me in 6th grade what I thought I would be doing my senior year of high school, the last thing I would have guessed was playing instruments I had never heard of. However, I couldn't imagine my life without those instruments today. Band and ukulele have lifted me up when I was down and given me something to look forward to for the past 6 years. The friendships, memories, and lessons I have gained from music have molded me into the person I am today. I began playing the ukulele around the same time quarantine started in 2020. During that time, I was getting out of an extremely toxic relationship while simultaneously dealing with that ex falling in love with another ex of mine who was my best friend of 11 years. I was losing two of the most important people in my life, so it was a time of healing. This is why the ukulele was so important to me. I remember starting of and barely being able to get the fingering. Even though I wasn’t great, I could see myself improving and it gave me something to look forward to and be proud of. It was around that time I began getting in touch with another friend who lived close to me. We were both learning ukulele, so we began playing with each other from across the street. These little socially distanced ukulele dates really helped improve my mental health. I am so grateful for them. When I look back on this summer, it was one of the best of my life. The friends I have made because of music are so supportive and kind. I recall one day, my freshman year, I had to eat lunch with the juniors and seniors. I was horrified. I had no idea where I was going to sit; I was wracked with anxiety. A scared fourteen-year-old girl eating with the big kids? No, thank you. Close to tears, I walked into the lunchroom and grabbed my food. When walking away, I spotted my senior section leader waving me over. She offered me a seat at her table full of kind band girls and I gratefully accepted. Although it may seem like such a small thing, I’m still grateful for that to this day. They gave me safety in what felt like a hopeless situation. Band gives me a strong sense of pride. Seeing how far I have come in playing the french horn in the past six years is unbelievable. I can still remember today my first day of middle school band. I sat with four other sixth graders, utterly confused. Nearly halfway through the class, the girl to my right tapped me on my shoulder, “Hey, you're holding your instrument backwards.” I quickly turned the large hunk of metal around, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment. Comparing that jumbled little girl to the strong french horn player I am today makes me laugh. I am so proud of the confidence in myself the band has installed in me over the years. I have learned so much as a result of music. I’m not talking about how long a half note is or how to play an F. I have learned how to work well with others and how to teach. As a section leader, I have to use my knowledge to help other students when needed, while making them feel comfortable. I’ve learned to not be frustrated when someone is having trouble learning because I was once in the same spot. I’ve also learned how to take criticism. I used to be offended when told I was doing something wrong. But being in a band has shown me when someone points out a mistake of mine, instead of being upset, I can use that knowledge to adjust and grow. The lessons I have learned and memories I have received from music will stay with me for years to come. Yes, there have been bad days in the band. No one loves standing in bleachers at cold football games or falling on a muddy football field, and some days self-teaching yourself a new instrument can be frustrating. But having people there who understand and make those days better is what makes music so special.

It has been my dream to become a sign language interpreter for 5 years. In order to become an interpreter, I am required to receive a bachelor's degree. I have been accepted to Central Michigan University where I will major in Communications, a study which will prepare me for life in front of crowds and media. I plan to minor in American sign language to further learn the language. This course of study will help me to become the best interpreter I can which is my ultimate goal. I have always wanted to help people throughout my life and becoming a sign language interpretation will allow me to do just that.

My house is pretty full of pets. In addition to the six people, we have five dogs and a cat. Our cat's name is HG Wells, and our dogs are named Evie, Moose, Gwen, Hemingway, and Spartacus (in the order of the pictures). All of our dogs are from the pound except for Moose, who was a gift from my mother, and Evie who we took from a family member who didn't want her anymore. Living with six pets isn't all sunshine and roses, but I love them all like family and wouldn't change them for the world.

In getting involved in your community, you become a role model for younger peers. You show students like you what they can do to help others while also showing the community how much you care. Helping others has always been important to me. One of my greatest passions is blood drives. Within a week of turning 16, I was donating at my first one. I have now done five since then and will be at six in about a week. Knowing that I am saving lives has always pushed me to give up that pint I don't need. I always try to convince others to donate as well; during each blood drive my school has, I also volunteer to make sure donors are well fed, hydrated, and return to their classes safely. I also volunteer my time at family nights for elementary students, pancake breakfasts, and the annual band carnival. I also assist in teaching at the ASL club at my school while learning new things myself. Currently. I am tutoring after school roughly 4 hours a week while concurrently working at Mcdonald's roughly 20 hours a week. The work I put into these different organizations and into helping the community with blood drives and fundraisers gives me more purpose in life and makes me incredibly proud of myself. This year has been especially hard on me because it is so difficult to find chances to volunteer during a pandemic, but filling my time with my part-time job and tutoring has helped a lot in filling the gap I have felt. I have always tried to remain a strong role model for younger students and I believe the work I do is creating a strong picture for any students who look up to me. After college, working as a sign language interpreter would allow me to use a beautiful language while simultaneously helping members of the deaf community with daily tasks many people take for granted. Being able to help people like this is a dream come true.

My junior year, I had the opportunity to play my first solo in our marching band. When my band director suggested I sit on top of two other students' shoulders while I played that solo for crowds to hear, I was rightfully nervous. But I was also intrigued and excited, so I decided to do it. Today, I am so glad I did because it was one of the most exciting things I have ever done. It gave me a better sense of trust in the people around me. I gained more confidence and pride in myself after this.

My name is Mekenzie Lintemuth, I am a senior at Reed City High School. In the fall of 2021, I will be attending Central Michigan University. I have known my dream job for the last 5 years. In middle school, I had never thought about the logistics of how members of the deaf community who use American sign language communicate with hearing persons who speak English; however, in 8th grade, I was introduced to the career of a sign language interpreter. The idea of learning and using a beautiful language while simultaneously helping members of the deaf community was a dream come true.. I picked Central Michigan University as my college because of their great communications and ASL programs and the proximity to my family during these hard times. I am ready to put in the hard work needed to get through my next four years of college. I think the biggest hardship I have had to overcome has been the personal troubles that come with being half black in this primarily white community. I never truly knew my biological father whose genes separate me from my peers. When I was 14 months old, I was adopted by my aunt and moved from Columbia, SC to Reed City, MI where growing up, I was one of the few colored students in my school. I would never want to sound ungrateful for the life I have today. I am so grateful for the opportunities I have been given where I live. I love my family and am so grateful for having been adopted by my mother. However, I am not going to lie and pretend it has not been hard. Being a teenage girl is hard in itself. Dealing with insecurities and constantly comparing myself to other girls is hard. But this was multiplied throughout my childhood because I used to be ashamed of my race. I hated that I did not look like the other girls, and I felt ugly. This made learning to love myself, not in spite of, but because of my skin color, one of the hardest challenges I have faced in my life. I had to push past what felt like society's standard for being beautiful and cherish the fact that being a different color didn't make me ugly, it made me myself. After many years I was able to accept this. I truly believe it played a big part in making me the strong woman I am today. I am a hard worker who takes pride in everything I do. Despite many hardships throughout my high school career, I am proud of the fact that I have been able to keep up an elevated GPA. I am currently sitting at a 3.9 GPA and have remained between 3.8 and 3.9 through four years of high school. I have been in the Advanced Placement track for math and English these four years as well. I have been playing the french horn since 6th grade and, additionally, began playing the mellophone in 9th grade. In 11th grade, I became the section leader of the french horn section. This came with added responsibilities: helping the younger players and keeping extra materials in case someone forgot their own, whether they were in my section or not. In 11th grade, I joined the class council as secretary, student council as a representative, and became a member of the National Honors Society. I took on a lot of responsibilities as a junior in addition to starting my first job and tutoring a student during homeroom. It was difficult, but it was incredibly fulfilling. I am currently the secretary of the national honor society and a student council representative. I am still the section leader of the french horn and mellophone players, and I assist in teaching at the ASL club at my school while learning new things myself. I am also tutoring after school roughly 4 hours a week. I am concurrently working at Mcdonald's roughly 20 hours a week. The work I put into all these different organizations and into helping the community with things like blood drives (donating blood and volunteering to help other donors) and fundraisers gives me more purpose in life and makes me incredibly proud of myself. This year has been especially hard on me because it is so difficult to find chances to volunteer during a pandemic, but filling my time with my part-time job and tutoring has helped a lot in filling the gap I have felt. I have always tried to remain a strong role model for younger students and I believe the work I do is creating a strong picture for any students who look up to me. Due to my grades and hard work through school, I have received a scholarship from CMU for half my tuition. Although that takes care of roughly $26,000 of my education, I still have $26,000 left of tuition plus room and board which will be roughly 20,000 just for the first two years. This is not taking into account the books I will need. Although it seems like a small amount compared to $46,000, I recognize the importance of this amount and the stress it can take away. Scholarships will make a huge difference in helping me progress through school with less debt than I would have otherwise. This money would go towards books I require for my first year of college classes, and any leftover money would go towards my tuition. My hard work and perseverance throughout the years have made me a strong candidate for this scholarship because it is proof that I can push through tough obstacles and continue to do my best and will do the same in college. This money will be well spent if it is invested in my education. Thank you for considering me.