As a first-generation college student, my journey has been shaped by the circumstances of being raised by a single mother. Growing up in a household with no real opportunity for my mother to save, despite not qualifying for Pell Grants, has presented a significant obstacle on my path to higher education. Our financial situation is such that there is no extra income to set aside for my college education. While my mother works tirelessly to provide for our basic needs, the reality of our situation makes it unrealistic to accumulate any substantial savings. The absence of additional funds has limited my access to resources and opportunities that could have otherwise bolstered my academic and college readiness. Despite these challenges, I remain determined to pursue my dreams and overcome the financial barriers that stand in my way. I plan to pursue a BS in Audio Engineering Technology and Music. My love for music has been a life long passion starting with my wish to play the Tuba at the age of four, teaching myself how to play instruments by ear- it wasn’t until my 8th grade band teacher realized I had been playing for years without being able to read music that I learned, I then went on to join marching band and wind ensembles in high school where I was section leader and first chair, teaching and leading others. I started a band, taught myself how to produce and distribution and now I’m in my first semester of college with like-minded musicians and I hope to join the orchestra or symphony. I have a thirst for learning and teaching and hope that I can continue to grow through education. And one day I can look at my mother and tell her the sacrifice she made for me was worth it. Ill hand her the diploma/degree I earned and tell her “WE did it.” Now, in my freshman year of college, I am thankful for my unconventional musical journey. I think it has shaped me into a better musician due to having to learn skills in alternative ways. Music has taught me how to adapt and be flexible, searching for the best ways to contribute to the whole. I have had to rely on patience and persistence. Repetition and practice are fun, allowing me to participate in a community of people. I am also very appreciative of my ear; the Rosetta Stone I always have with me. I am looking forward to pursuing Audio Engineering Technology and seeing how i can teach and make music that might help others or inspire someone like it inspired me

I remember looking out into the crowd of the auditorium, it was my first chorus concert, and I was just in the 3rd Grade. Families were all seated together, and I scanned the room. Suddenly there she was, my mom, smiling, waving at me, looking for an empty seat. She found a single chair in between two couples. I waved back. This was the same routine throughout the years. She always said she was lucky that it was just her because people hated sitting together so she always got that empty seat in the front that people left as a gap, and she could always see me. No matter what, she was always there. Then came sports, band, and being a room mom. She worked a full-time job but always managed to sneak away to make sure she didn't miss a minute. When I told her my dream was to play the tuba, she somehow managed to find a secondhand tuba and it was delivered via train by the hands of internet Aunts and Uncles she said. A support system she created that often helped me in school or supported my music. In middle school, I told her I was being bullied and to cheer me up she took me to see a Harlem Globetrotters game, afterwards she wrote to them to tell them I was being picked on. That simple letter changed our lives. Next thing you know, the Harlem Globetrotters came to my school and stood up for me! They held an assembly against bullying. Later they would include me in a book, and film a short documentary about me and this past summer my story was featured on NBCs Play It Forward. She just has a way of making the mundane fantastic. From last-minute costumes to parties to even getting a second job at the YMCA so she could bring me along with her and I could play, and she wouldn't feel bad that I was alone. There were times when we couldn't do certain things or afford them, but she would eventually find a way. We didn't always see eye to eye and she doubted her parenting a lot, often saying she had no idea what she was doing. But she would figure it out. One thing about my mom was that she prioritized my education. She always made sure I had everything turned in or would sit and help me read chapter books. She was always excited to hear about what I was learning in class. She loves to learn. There was even a time during the pandemic, I was taking a history class and she would sit at the dining room table to listen because she just wanted to learn. I told my teacher about it and one day she invited her to sit in on the class and my mom was so excited. You see, she never got a chance to graduate college. She had started Art School and then had to drop out because she couldn't afford it and never went back. Her dream for me has always been to be the first to go and graduate from college. So, she's always encouraging me to try new things and grow. That in turn is what makes me want to learn. She lets me immerse myself in any project and supports me wholeheartedly. "Try it!" She says. Now I'm in college and she cries when she thinks about it and is working hard to keep me here. I’m going to do it; this diploma will be as much hers as it is mine.

I'm playing in my first concert as part of an orchestra, setting my Tuba down, I close my eyes and take in the applause of the crowd.

I remember looking out into the crowd of the auditorium, it was my first chorus concert, and I was just in the 3rd Grade. Families were all seated together, and I scanned the room. Suddenly there she was, my mom, smiling, waving at me, looking for an empty seat. She found a single chair in between two couples. I waved back. This was the same routine throughout the years. She always said she was lucky that it was just her because people hated sitting together so she always got that empty seat in the front that people left as a gap, and she could always see me. No matter what, she was always there. Then came sports, band, and being a room mom. She worked a full-time job but always managed to sneak away to make sure she didn't miss a minute. When I told her my dream was to play the tuba, she somehow managed to find a secondhand tuba and it was delivered via train by the hands of internet Aunts and Uncles she said. A support system she created that often helped me in school or supported my music. In middle school, I told her I was being bullied and to cheer me up she took me to see a Harlem Globetrotters game, afterwards she wrote to them to tell them I was being picked on. That simple letter changed our lives. Next thing you know, the Harlem Globetrotters came to my school and stood up for me! They held an assembly against bullying. Later they would include me in a book, and film a short documentary about me and this past summer my story was featured on NBCs Play It Forward. She just has a way of making the mundane fantastic. From last-minute costumes to parties to even getting a second job at the YMCA so she could bring me along with her and I could play, and she wouldn't feel bad that I was alone. There were times when we couldn't do certain things or afford them, but she would eventually find a way. We didn't always see eye to eye and she doubted her parenting a lot, often saying she had no idea what she was doing. But she would figure it out. One thing about my mom was that she prioritized my education. She always made sure I had everything turned in or would sit and help me read chapter books. She was always excited to hear about what I was learning in class. She loves to learn. There was even a time during the pandemic, I was taking a history class and she would sit at the dining room table to listen because she just wanted to learn. I told my teacher about it and one day she invited her to sit in on the class and my mom was so excited. You see, she never got a chance to graduate college. She had started Art School and then had to drop out because she couldn't afford it and never went back. Her dream for me has always been to be the first to go and graduate from college. So, she's always encouraging me to try new things and grow. That in turn is what makes me want to learn. She lets me immerse myself in any project and supports me wholeheartedly. "Try it!" She says. Now I'm in college and she cries when she thinks about it and is working hard to keep me here. I’m going to do it; this diploma will be as much hers as it is mine.

I remember buzzing my lips into a piece of metal half the size of my body while looking at a piece of paper full of unrecognizable symbols. The teacher kept repeating that I should read these symbols and play the corresponding pitch and sound. The visual cues were meaningless, holding no reference point. Egyptian hieroglyphics had a Rosetta Stone; I had nothing. No matter how hard I tried, I could never seem to read them. Repetition made sense to me, and I knew that with practice, I could recognize certain pitches and correlate them with the valves on the tuba. I focused solely on the sounds and the buttons. After a short time, I could deduce the pitches and valves for Bb and F (a perfect fifth). The progress continued, and I learned music solely with sound, vision, and memory. When the music became more complicated, I asked classmates who could read music to play passages so I could aurally memorize the notes. Although this took time, I trusted my ear and memory to learn the music. As my ear grew keener, I could determine which notes were consonant and which were dissonant. Our band director constantly reminded the musicians, “You don’t want any waves in your sound, individually or as a band.” Whenever I played a note and heard waves, I would close my eyes and listen to everyone else. Hearing the waves helps me determine how to adjust the pitch. From there, I could buzz my lips faster to draw the pitch higher or lower my jaw to focus the pitch lower. Tuba parts are rather repetitive, emphasizing foundational notes used to steady ensemble music. I quickly noticed the trumpets, clarinets, and flutes carried the more melodic and dramatic passages of instrumental music. To challenge myself, I would listen to these melismatic parts, memorizing them and finessing them until they sounded easy on tuba. Soon, I was playing melodies from television and movie scores: Star Wars, Game of Thrones, Halo, and many others. All while relying on my ear and repetition. When I entered high school, my playing improved, and I was ushered into my school's top ensemble. While playing, something odd occurred. The visual images on the score had names. These were the pitch names I had heard, memorized, and repeated for years. Understanding notation underscored the sounds I knew, and my musical knowledge flourished. Other symbolic and theoretical information quickly followed: key signatures, chord types, and basic music theory. I also noticed another phenomenon. I could hear the pitches when not at an instrument. Many of my classmates relied on their instruments to produce the written symbol, and this type of reading always made me feel like I had to catch up. Now, I had a skill most of them did not possess. Now, in my senior year, I am thankful for my unconventional musical journey. I think it has shaped me into a better musician due to having to learn skills in alternative ways. Music has taught me how to adapt and be flexible, searching for the best ways to contribute to the whole. I have had to rely on patience and persistence. Repetition and practice are fun, allowing me to participate in a community of people. I am also very appreciative of my ear; the Rosetta Stone I always have with me.

As a first-generation college student, my journey has been shaped by the circumstances of being raised by a single mother. Growing up in a household with no real opportunity for my mother to save, despite not qualifying for Pell Grants, has presented a significant obstacle on my path to higher education. Our financial situation is such that there is no extra income to set aside for my college education. While my mother works tirelessly to provide for our basic needs, the reality of our situation makes it unrealistic to accumulate any substantial savings. The absence of additional funds has limited my access to resources and opportunities that could have otherwise bolstered my academic and college readiness. Despite these challenges, I remain determined to pursue my dreams and overcome the financial barriers that stand in my way. I plan to pursue a BS in Audio Engineering Technology and Music. My love for music has been a life long passion starting with my wish to play the Tuba at the age of four, teaching myself how to play instruments by ear- it wasn’t until my 8th grade band teacher realized I had been playing for years without being able to read music that I learned, I then went on to join marching band and wind ensembles in high school where I was section leader and first chair, teaching and leading others. I started a band, taught myself how to produce and distribution and now I’m in my first semester of college with like-minded musicians and I hope to join the orchestra or symphony. I have a thirst for learning and teaching and hope that I can continue to grow through education. And one day I can look at my mother and tell her the sacrifice she made for me was worth it. Ill hand her the diploma/degree I earned and tell her “WE did it.” Now, in my freshman year of college, I am thankful for my unconventional musical journey. I think it has shaped me into a better musician due to having to learn skills in alternative ways. Music has taught me how to adapt and be flexible, searching for the best ways to contribute to the whole. I have had to rely on patience and persistence. Repetition and practice are fun, allowing me to participate in a community of people. I am also very appreciative of my ear; the Rosetta Stone I always have with me. I am looking forward to pursuing Audio Engineering Technology and seeing how i can teach and make music that might help others or inspire someone like it inspired me

As a first-generation college student, my journey has been shaped by the circumstances of being raised by a single mother. Growing up in a household with no real opportunity for my mother to save, despite not qualifying for Pell Grants, has presented a significant obstacle on my path to higher education. While my mother works tirelessly to provide for our basic needs, the reality of our situation makes it unrealistic to accumulate any substantial savings. The absence of additional funds has limited my access to resources and opportunities that could have otherwise bolstered my academic and college readiness. Despite these challenges, I remain determined to pursue my dreams and overcome the financial barriers that stand in my way. I plan to pursue a BS in Audio Engineering Technology and Music. My love for music has been a life long passion starting with my wish to play the Tuba at the age of four, teaching myself how to play instruments by ear- it wasn’t until my 8th grade band teacher realized I had been playing for years without being able to read music that I learned, I then went on to join marching band and wind ensembles in high school where I was section leader and first chair, teaching and leading others. I started a band, taught myself how to produce and now I’m in my first semester with like-minded musicians hoping to join the orchestra or symphony. I have a thirst for learning and teaching and hope that I can continue to grow through education. And one day I can look at my mother and tell her the sacrifice she made for me was worth it. Ill hand her the diploma/degree I earned and tell her “WE did it.” Now, in my freshman year of college, I am thankful for my unconventional musical journey. I think it has shaped me into a better musician due to having to learn skills in alternative ways. Music has taught me how to adapt and be flexible, searching for the best ways to contribute to the whole. I have had to rely on patience and persistence. Repetition and practice are fun, allowing me to participate in a community of people.- I am looking forward to pursuing Audio Engineering Technology and seeing how i can teach and make music that might help others or inspire someone like it inspired me

As a first-generation college student, my journey has been shaped by the circumstances of being raised by a single mother. Growing up in a household with no real opportunity for my mother to save, despite not qualifying for Pell Grants, has presented a significant obstacle on my path to higher education. Our financial situation is such that there is no extra income to set aside for my college education. While my mother works tirelessly to provide for our basic needs, the reality of our situation makes it unrealistic to accumulate any substantial savings. The absence of additional funds has limited my access to resources and opportunities that could have otherwise bolstered my academic and college readiness. Despite these challenges, I remain determined to pursue my dreams and overcome the financial barriers that stand in my way. I plan to pursue a BS in Audio Engineering Technology and Music. My love for music has been a life long passion starting with my wish to play the Tuba at the age of four, teaching myself how to play instruments by ear- it wasn’t until my 8th grade band teacher realized I had been playing for years without being able to read music that I learned, I then went on to join marching band and wind ensembles in high school where I was section leader and first chair, teaching and leading others. I started a band, taught myself how to produce and distribution and now I’m in my first semester of college with like-minded musicians and I hope to join the orchestra or symphony. I have a thirst for learning and teaching and hope that I can continue to grow through education. And one day I can look at my mother and tell her the sacrifice she made for me was worth it. Ill hand her the diploma/degree I earned and tell her “WE did it.” Now, in my freshman year of college, I am thankful for my unconventional musical journey. I think it has shaped me into a better musician due to having to learn skills in alternative ways. Music has taught me how to adapt and be flexible, searching for the best ways to contribute to the whole. I have had to rely on patience and persistence. Repetition and practice are fun, allowing me to participate in a community of people. I am also very appreciative of my ear; the Rosetta Stone I always have with me. I am looking forward to pursuing Audio Engineering Technology and seeing how i can teach and make music that might help others or inspire someone like it inspired me

As a first-generation college student, my journey has been shaped by the circumstances of being raised by a single mother. Growing up in a household with no real opportunity for my mother to save, despite not qualifying for Pell Grants, has presented a significant obstacle on my path to higher education. Our financial situation is such that there is no extra income to set aside for my college education. While my mother works tirelessly to provide for our basic needs, the reality of our situation makes it unrealistic to accumulate any substantial savings. The absence of additional funds has limited my access to resources and opportunities that could have otherwise bolstered my academic and college readiness. Despite these challenges, I remain determined to pursue my dreams and overcome the financial barriers that stand in my way. I plan to pursue a BS in Audio Engineering Technology and Music. My love for music has been a life long passion starting with my wish to play the Tuba at the age of four, teaching myself how to play instruments by ear- it wasn’t until my 8th grade band teacher realized I had been playing for years without being able to read music that I learned, I then went on to join marching band and wind ensembles in high school where I was section leader and first chair, teaching and leading others. I started a band, taught myself how to produce and distribution and now I’m in my first semester of college with like-minded musicians and I hope to join the orchestra or symphony. I have a thirst for learning and teaching and hope that I can continue to grow through education. And one day I can look at my mother and tell her the sacrifice she made for me was worth it. Ill hand her the diploma/degree I earned and tell her “WE did it.” Now, in my freshman year of college, I am thankful for my unconventional musical journey. I think it has shaped me into a better musician due to having to learn skills in alternative ways. Music has taught me how to adapt and be flexible, searching for the best ways to contribute to the whole. I have had to rely on patience and persistence. Repetition and practice are fun, allowing me to participate in a community of people. I am also very appreciative of my ear; the Rosetta Stone I always have with me. I am looking forward to pursuing Audio Engineering Technology and seeing how i can teach and make music that might help others or inspire someone like it inspired me

As a first-generation college student, my journey has been shaped by the circumstances of being raised by a single mother. Growing up in a household with no real opportunity for my mother to save, despite not qualifying for Pell Grants, has presented a significant obstacle on my path to higher education. Our financial situation is such that there is no extra income to set aside for my college education. While my mother works tirelessly to provide for our basic needs, the reality of our situation makes it unrealistic to accumulate any substantial savings. The absence of additional funds has limited my access to resources and opportunities that could have otherwise bolstered my academic and college readiness. Despite these challenges, I remain determined to pursue my dreams and overcome the financial barriers that stand in my way. I plan to pursue a BS in Audio Engineering Technology and Music. My love for music has been a life long passion starting with my wish to play the Tuba at the age of four, teaching myself how to play instruments by ear- it wasn’t until my 8th grade band teacher realized I had been playing for years without being able to read music that I learned, I then went on to join marching band and wind ensembles in high school where I was section leader and first chair, teaching and leading others. I started a band, taught myself how to produce and distribution and now I’m in my first semester of college with like-minded musicians and I hope to join the orchestra or symphony. I have a thirst for learning and teaching and hope that I can continue to grow through education. And one day I can look at my mother and tell her the sacrifice she made for me was worth it. Ill hand her the diploma/degree I earned and tell her “WE did it.” Now, in my freshman year of college, I am thankful for my unconventional musical journey. I think it has shaped me into a better musician due to having to learn skills in alternative ways. Music has taught me how to adapt and be flexible, searching for the best ways to contribute to the whole. I have had to rely on patience and persistence. Repetition and practice are fun, allowing me to participate in a community of people. I am also very appreciative of my ear; the Rosetta Stone I always have with me. I am looking forward to pursuing Audio Engineering Technology and seeing how i can teach and make music that might help others or inspire someone like it inspired me

As a first-generation college student, my journey has been shaped by the circumstances of being raised by a single mother. Growing up in a household with no real opportunity for my mother to save, despite not qualifying for Pell Grants, has presented a significant obstacle on my path to higher education. Our financial situation is such that there is no extra income to set aside for my college education. While my mother works tirelessly to provide for our basic needs, the reality of our situation makes it unrealistic to accumulate any substantial savings. The absence of additional funds has limited my access to resources and opportunities that could have otherwise bolstered my academic and college readiness. Despite these challenges, I remain determined to pursue my dreams and overcome the financial barriers that stand in my way. I plan to pursue a BS in Audio Engineering Technology and Music. My love for music has been a life long passion starting with my wish to play the Tuba at the age of four, teaching myself how to play instruments by ear- it wasn’t until my 8th grade band teacher realized I had been playing for years without being able to read music that I learned, I then went on to join marching band and wind ensembles in high school where I was section leader and first chair, teaching and leading others. I started a band, taught myself how to produce and distribution and now I’m in my first semester of college with like-minded musicians and I hope to join the orchestra or symphony. I have a thirst for learning and teaching and hope that I can continue to grow through education. And one day I can look at my mother and tell her the sacrifice she made for me was worth it. Ill hand her the diploma/degree I earned and tell her “WE did it.” I am thankful for my unconventional musical journey. I think it has shaped me into a better musician due to having to learn skills in alternative ways. Music has taught me how to adapt and be flexible, searching for the best ways to contribute to the whole. I have had to rely on patience and persistence. Repetition and practice are fun, allowing me to participate in a community of people. I am also very appreciative of my ear; the Rosetta Stone I always have with me. I am looking forward to pursuing Audio Engineering Technology and seeing how i can teach and make music that might help others or inspire someone like it inspired me

As a first-generation college student, my journey has been shaped by the circumstances of being raised by a single mother. Growing up in a household with no real opportunity for my mother to save, despite not qualifying for Pell Grants, has presented a significant obstacle on my path to higher education. Our financial situation is such that there is no extra income to set aside for my college education. While my mother works tirelessly to provide for our basic needs, the reality of our situation makes it unrealistic to accumulate any substantial savings. The absence of additional funds has limited my access to resources and opportunities that could have otherwise bolstered my academic and college readiness. Despite these challenges, I remain determined to pursue my dreams and overcome the financial barriers that stand in my way. I plan to pursue a BS in Audio Engineering Technology and Music. My love for music has been a life long passion starting with my wish to play the Tuba at the age of four, teaching myself how to play instruments by ear- it wasn’t until my 8th grade band teacher realized I had been playing for years without being able to read music that I learned, I then went on to join marching band and wind ensembles in high school where I was section leader and first chair, teaching and leading others. I started a band, taught myself how to produce and distribution and now I’m in my first semester of college with like-minded musicians and I hope to join the orchestra or symphony. I have a thirst for learning and teaching and hope that I can continue to grow through education. And one day I can look at my mother and tell her the sacrifice she made for me was worth it. Ill hand her the diploma/degree I earned and tell her “WE did it.”

I remember buzzing my lips into a piece of metal half the size of my body while looking at a piece of paper full of unrecognizable symbols. The teacher kept repeating that I should read these symbols and play the corresponding pitch and sound. The visual cues were meaningless, holding no reference point. Egyptian hieroglyphics had a Rosetta Stone; I had nothing. No matter how hard I tried, I could never seem to read them. Repetition made sense to me, and I knew that with practice, I could recognize certain pitches and correlate them with the valves on the tuba. I focused solely on the sounds and the buttons. After a short time, I could deduce the pitches and valves for Bb and F (a perfect fifth). The progress continued, and I learned music solely with sound, vision, and memory. When the music became more complicated, I asked classmates who could read music to play passages so I could aurally memorize the notes. Although this took time, I trusted my ear and memory to learn the music. As my ear grew keener, I could determine which notes were consonant and which were dissonant. Our band director constantly reminded the musicians, “You don’t want any waves in your sound, individually or as a band.” Whenever I played a note and heard waves, I would close my eyes and listen to everyone else. Hearing the waves helps me determine how to adjust the pitch. From there, I could buzz my lips faster to draw the pitch higher or lower my jaw to focus the pitch lower. Tuba parts are rather repetitive, emphasizing foundational notes used to steady ensemble music. I quickly noticed the trumpets, clarinets, and flutes carried the more melodic and dramatic passages of instrumental music. To challenge myself, I would listen to these melismatic parts, memorizing them and finessing them until they sounded easy on tuba. Soon, I was playing melodies from television and movie scores: Star Wars, Game of Thrones, Halo, and many others. All while relying on my ear and repetition. When I entered high school, my playing improved, and I was ushered into my school's top ensemble. While playing, something odd occurred. The visual images on the score had names. These were the pitch names I had heard, memorized, and repeated for years. Understanding notation underscored the sounds I knew, and my musical knowledge flourished. Other symbolic and theoretical information quickly followed: key signatures, chord types, and basic music theory. I also noticed another phenomenon. I could hear the pitches when not at an instrument. Many of my classmates relied on their instruments to produce the written symbol, and this type of reading always made me feel like I had to catch up. Now, I had a skill most of them did not possess. Now, in my freshman year of college, I am thankful for my unconventional musical journey. I think it has shaped me into a better musician due to having to learn skills in alternative ways. Music has taught me how to adapt and be flexible, searching for the best ways to contribute to the whole. I have had to rely on patience and persistence. Repetition and practice are fun, allowing me to participate in a community of people. I am also very appreciative of my ear; the Rosetta Stone I always have with me. I am looking forward to pursuing Audio Engineering Technology and seeing how i can teach and make music that might help others or inspire someone like it inspired me.

I remember buzzing my lips into a piece of metal half the size of my body while looking at a piece of paper full of unrecognizable symbols. The teacher kept repeating that I should read these symbols and play the corresponding pitch and sound. The visual cues were meaningless, holding no reference point. Egyptian hieroglyphics had a Rosetta Stone; I had nothing. No matter how hard I tried, I could never seem to read them. Repetition made sense to me, and I knew that with practice, I could recognize certain pitches and correlate them with the valves on the tuba. I focused solely on the sounds and the buttons. After a short time, I could deduce the pitches and valves for Bb and F (a perfect fifth). The progress continued, and I learned music solely with sound, vision, and memory. When the music became more complicated, I asked classmates who could read music to play passages so I could aurally memorize the notes. Although this took time, I trusted my ear and memory to learn the music. As my ear grew keener, I could determine which notes were consonant and which were dissonant. Our band director constantly reminded the musicians, “You don’t want any waves in your sound, individually or as a band.” Whenever I played a note and heard waves, I would close my eyes and listen to everyone else. Hearing the waves helps me determine how to adjust the pitch. From there, I could buzz my lips faster to draw the pitch higher or lower my jaw to focus the pitch lower. Tuba parts are rather repetitive, emphasizing foundational notes used to steady ensemble music. I quickly noticed the trumpets, clarinets, and flutes carried the more melodic and dramatic passages of instrumental music. To challenge myself, I would listen to these melismatic parts, memorizing them and finessing them until they sounded easy on tuba. Soon, I was playing melodies from television and movie scores: Star Wars, Game of Thrones, Halo, and many others. All while relying on my ear and repetition. When I entered high school, my playing improved, and I was ushered into my school's top ensemble. While playing, something odd occurred. The visual images on the score had names. These were the pitch names I had heard, memorized, and repeated for years. Understanding notation underscored the sounds I knew, and my musical knowledge flourished. Other symbolic and theoretical information quickly followed: key signatures, chord types, and basic music theory. I also noticed another phenomenon. I could hear the pitches when not at an instrument. Many of my classmates relied on their instruments to produce the written symbol, and this type of reading always made me feel like I had to catch up. Now, I had a skill most of them did not possess. Now, in my freshman year of college, I am thankful for my unconventional musical journey. I think it has shaped me into a better musician due to having to learn skills in alternative ways. Music has taught me how to adapt and be flexible, searching for the best ways to contribute to the whole. I have had to rely on patience and persistence. Repetition and practice are fun, allowing me to participate in a community of people. I am also very appreciative of my ear; the Rosetta Stone I always have with me. I am looking forward to pursuing Audio Engineering Technology and seeing how i can teach and make music that might help others or inspire someone like it inspired me.