Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, I aim to soar despite abuse from my church youth group leader. I was not defined by this abuse beforehand, and I will not be limited by it afterward. Music is my passion, and it has been the one thing that I can turn to that provides therapy in times of need. It is also the one thing that I take pride in. I love to compose, write, and perform music. Nothing feels better than a musical performance that makes an audience cheer and puts smiles on the faces of people who listen to my songs. Music is also what put me in the path of my abuser, but I will not let him tarnish my desire to dedicate my life to the field of music. Musical talent is something that runs in our family. If you are blessed with the talent, you are likely very blessed, and mastering instruments comes easily. Somehow, the language of music and the ease with which a melody is heard and quickly reproduced or harmonized with others is easy for those in my family with this musical talent. For those in my family who don’t have it, it’s always best to pursue an alternative career. Thankfully, I inherited it and started gravitating to instruments at an early age. By age 7, I was enrolled in music schools that focused on performance and the study of contemporary music. Since that time, I have dedicated extraordinary time to mastering several instruments and learning to compose some original songs. It is this time and dedication that helped me heal a broken heart, grieve the loss of a friend through suicide, and begin to heal from sexual exploitation and abuse from my church’s youth group leader and music director. My talent and love for music is what prompted the attention of my abuser. Thinking back and through work with my therapist, I can now say that this person found a way to befriend several of his victims through various means but for me, all he had to do was compliment my playing and ask me to join the church band and I was blinded to the grooming actions that followed. I had played in bands with peers in my age group, but I was stunned to be asked to play in an adult professional band at the age of 16. He used my talent as a way to falsely portray a mentorship that was nothing more than nefarious intentions in disguise. He is now in jail, awaiting trial for his abuse against me and others. Some of these victims are also musicians and we have decided to use our love of music to cope and heal from the experience. There is a long road ahead in terms of his criminal trial, but I hope that when I am called back to the witness stand, I will be well-established in university life and deep in my academic studies. Experiencing a trauma such as this has been difficult, and at times, I struggled with staying focused on schoolwork and mastering coursework. Thankfully, however, I could always regroup my thoughts and refocus on my life goals through my art. I aim to use my musical composition and songwriting to help others see that adversities can be overcome and that thriving after abuse is possible.

As stated by the famous University of Michigan Football Coach, Bo Schembechler, “Those who stay will be champions.” Growing up in Michigan, everyone hears this statement, but very few understand and experience its meaning. Although spoken directly to Bo Schembechler’s football players, this phrase applies to every wrestler who chooses to commit to training and give it their all. I started wrestling in 6th grade and was completely clueless about the finer details of the sport. Up until that point, the only thing I knew about wrestling was learned from watching the WWE, and I quickly learned how none of that applied to middle school wrestling and competition. In middle school, I was in a district with very few resources, and we only had 5 wrestlers on the team. I won a few matches and learned a little about competition during wrestling meets, but it wasn’t robust training and exposure by any means. When it was time to start high school, my family moved to another district where wrestling was more popular and taken much more seriously. At the same time that I started at this district, so did the new head wrestling coach. I quickly learned from my teammates that this new coach was completely different than the previous one. Many people felt he was too harsh and trained too intensely. By the time the season started, 30% of the team quit because it was too hard. Then the coach delivered his first big speech. It was all about discipline, commitment, and consistency. I thought, "Of course, I want that!". Great wrestlers never skipped a practice, they always did extra. They never slacked off in class, they had good grades. Most importantly, they stayed, never gave up, even after a loss. Great wrestlers just learned from it and kept going. There was something different about those who chose to stay. When freshman year ended, I wanted to take what I observed about successful teammates and apply it to myself. I took the opportunity to wrestle in the off-season, which only 10% of high school wrestlers do. I really wanted to put the whole "discipline, commitment, and consistency" thing to work. I showed up as much as possible to club practice and worked summer jobs to pay for training camps. After committing to off-season training, I went from having only one win in 9th grade to qualifying for the State Championship in both 11th and 12th grades. At this point, I knew what discipline, commitment, and consistency meant, but more importantly, I understood the “why”. I became addicted to the feeling of doing my best. I noticed how it not only separated me from the competition, but from my peers as well. Before getting to this level, I had friends who did the bare minimum. After reaching this mindset and drive to succeed, I now choose my friend group differently. I don't want peers with bad behavior to influence me as a person and jeopardize my future aspirations. My hopes and dreams won't flourish in bad company, but they will if I apply the lessons learned from my years in wrestling. I didn’t make the podium at the state competition due to injuries that have now led to surgical repair of my shoulder and draining fluid from my knee. These injuries prevented me from reaching my ultimate goal in high school wrestling, but I am none the lesser for it. I stayed and learned to view loss as a lesson rather than failure. Wrestling provided the blueprint for managing adversity. It gave me what I needed to manage my life.

Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, I aim to soar despite abuse from my church youth group leader. I was not defined by this abuse beforehand, and I will not be limited by it afterward. Music is my passion, and it has been the one thing that I can turn to that provides therapy in times of need. It is also the one thing that I take pride in. I love to compose, write, and perform music. Nothing feels better than a musical performance that makes an audience cheer and puts smiles on the faces of people who listen to my songs. Music is also what put me in the path of my abuser, but I will not let him tarnish my desire to dedicate my life to the field of music. Musical talent is something that runs in our family. If you are blessed with the talent, you are likely very blessed, and mastering instruments comes easily. Somehow, the language of music and the ease with which a melody is heard and quickly reproduced or harmonized with others is easy for those in my family with this musical talent. For those in my family who don’t have it, it’s always best to pursue an alternative career. Thankfully, I inherited it and started gravitating to instruments at an early age. By age 7, I was enrolled in music schools that focused on performance and the study of contemporary music. Since that time, I have dedicated extraordinary time to mastering several instruments and learning to compose some original songs. It is this time and dedication that helped me heal a broken heart, grieve the loss of a friend through suicide, and begin to heal from sexual exploitation and abuse from my church’s youth group leader and music director. My talent and love for music is what prompted the attention of my abuser. Thinking back and through work with my therapist, I can now say that this person found a way to befriend several of his victims through various means but for me, all he had to do was compliment my playing and ask me to join the church band and I was blinded to the grooming actions that followed. I had played in bands with peers in my age group, but I was stunned to be asked to play in an adult professional band at the age of 16. He used my talent as a way to falsely portray a mentorship that was nothing more than nefarious intentions in disguise. He is now in jail, awaiting trial for his abuse against me and others. Some of these victims are also musicians and we have decided to use our love of music to cope and heal from the experience. There is a long road ahead in terms of his criminal trial, but I hope that when I am called back to the witness stand, I will be well-established in university life and deep in my academic studies. Experiencing a trauma such as this has been difficult, and at times, I struggled with staying focused on schoolwork and mastering coursework. Thankfully, however, I could always regroup my thoughts and refocus on my life goals through my art. I aim to use my musical composition and songwriting to help others see that adversities can be overcome and that thriving after abuse is possible.

It brings me joy in the best moments and offers comfort in the toughest times. It fuels my inspiration, sharpens my focus, and provides an escape when needed. Music, for as long as I can remember, always made me soar. I can trace my love for It back to second grade when, after school, I would head to my babysitter’s house and spend hours playing Guitar Hero III on the Nintendo Wii. Despite my dedication to mastering that plastic guitar, there was no place on my report card for my skill at clicking buttons. So when my mother confronted me about my low math grades, I simply responded, “Why should I spend time on something I don’t see a future in?” Soon after, she enrolled me in guitar lessons at our local School of Rock, a decision that changed my life. As I grew, I was fortunate to be part of a program that not only taught me music but also gave me the chance to perform at events, fairs, and bars at a young age. The thrill of finishing a song on stage, hearing the cheers, and seeing the smiles (or even tears) of the audience made me feel truly at home. More than just playing music, I built lifelong friendships with those who stayed up late alongside me, perfecting every last note. Performing was never about being in the spotlight—it was about creating something meaningful that others could connect with. Beyond performance, music shaped other areas of my life in surprising ways. Despite my ADHD, my ability to focus and succeed in both academics and athletics improved significantly through my musical training. Keeping time, playing in sync with others, and practicing discipline in music translated to better concentration in school and even enhanced my skills in wrestling through stimulating my competitive mentality. But I want to state clearly that music is more than a personal passion—it is a universal language that connects people across cultures, backgrounds, and beliefs. It communicates emotions in ways that words cannot, allowing people to understand and relate to one another without barriers. A single song can unite an entire stadium of strangers, evoke deep emotions, or serve as an anthem for change. It is a tool of expression, a means of storytelling, and a force that has shaped societies throughout history. In times of hardship, music provides hope and healing. It has been used to inspire movements, bring awareness to important issues, and offer comfort in moments of loss. From national anthems that instill pride to protest songs that challenge injustice, music has the power to shape the world. Even in everyday life, it brings people together—whether through concerts, celebrations, or even a simple shared playlist among friends. Music is not a luxury; it is a necessity. It enriches education, fosters creativity, and strengthens communities. Without it, the world would be a much lonelier place. I have experienced firsthand how music can change a person’s life, and I am committed to sharing its benefits with others. As I continue my musical journey at Belmont University, I hope to not only refine my craft but also advocate for the importance of music education and its impact beyond the stage. Without music, I wouldn’t be the confident, accomplished person I am today. I want to connect with those who share my passion and emphasize how music is more than entertainment—it is a force that unites, heals, and inspires. No matter who you are or where you come from, music speaks to you. It is the one language we all understand.

Music was first introduced to me from my mother’s lullabies. Music is my passion in life. My love and proclivity for music wasn’t unnoticed by my parents, and it didn't take long for them to sign me up for music lessons at our local School of Rock. After years of study, learning several instruments and playing year-round in their performance band, I decided to take a leap and start my own band. Branching out on our own, led to a new audience for me and my bandmates. Instead of an audience made up of mostly family and friends, I was now playing for people who were hearing my music for the first time. It was then that I started to notice expressions that were different from the smiling, happy faces I was used to seeing. Instead, I saw people feeling something while listening to my music. Initially, these looks were confusing. I was concerned that some people in the audience didn’t like what they were hearing. However, after talking to people following the shows, I realized that the music I was playing was helping people forget about their troubles, recall a fond memory, or remember someone they once knew and loved. These conversations fostered a whole new level of self-awareness; an understanding of a musician’s ability to connect with an audience. This connection fueled my desire to continue performing and to try new genres and settings. I pulled my band together when I was in 9th grade of high school. It was made up of friends from School of Rock. As we all progressed through school, we performed shows all over Michigan at private parties and festivals. Occasionally, one of the band members and I would play more intimate shows as an acoustic duo. At the start of my junior year in high school, I was invited to play in my church’s musical ministry, which allowed me to witness how music could inspire spiritual experiences. Most recently, I have started producing electronic original scores through FL Studios. My wrestling teammates and coaches enjoy these songs, and we use them for warmups and at the start of tournaments hosted at my school. Late last year, the owner of the School of Rock that I attended for so many years, lost her battle with cancer. She was an amazing person who dedicated her life to music. She was always happy and ready to cheer you up if she sensed you were struggling. I attended her funeral and one of the instructors shared a eulogy about his experience with her, detailing how she helped him through some dark times. He recounted a conversation he had with her on one particularly lonely day. During that conversation, she told him that music is the cure to all loneliness. She advised him to find a song that matched what he was feeling, listen to it and know that someone, at one time, felt exactly the same way when they wrote that song. To me, those were the truest words I’ve ever heard, and that is what I see in the expressions of people in the audience when I perform. All these experiences have confirmed one thing that I know with the utmost certainty: I want to perform and produce music for the rest of my life. I truly believe music is a gift to everyone, and I feel blessed to have the talent to contribute to that gift. I have committed to attend Belmont University in Nashville this fall, where I aim to study music and build a career doing the one thing I love most.

My high school years have been dominated by two things: music and wrestling. I am a state championship qualifier in wrestling and dedicate extensive hours to practice and competition. However, the one thing that overshadows my time spent on wrestling, is music. I love studying music, composing music, listening to music, and creating music with my friends and bandmates. I started music lessons at a young age and by the time I started high school, I already knew it was where I wanted to focus my career. I started guitar lessons at the age of 7 at School of Rock in Ann Arbor, Michigan. After the first year of lessons, I added percussion and vocals. Throughout grade school and middle school, I played with School of Rock’s performance band and that experience helped me to refine my performance skills and prepared me to start my own band. In 9th grade, my friends and I created our band, called “Site 78.” We took our band all around Michigan to perform at private shows, festivals, and bars. Making a little money doing something that I loved, was the most amazing feeling. Being in my own band while in high school also increased the “cool factor” with my peers. I chose to take Concert Band as an elective class in 9th and 10th grade. I enjoyed this class for three reasons: it provided me with an opportunity to perfect my ability to read music, it deepened my understanding of musical scores, and it was awesome to be the only other “professional” musician in the class, aside from the music teacher. In 11th grade, I decided to take different electives aimed at writing and personal organizational skills, but those classes also weaved their way into my thoughts about a career in music. It was through these classes that I had an epiphany about another powerful gift of music. As I grew as a musician, my ability to succeed in school and athletics, despite having ADHD, improved as well. Studying music, keeping time, and performing with others also helped me to improve my grades and ability to learn wrestling and succeed in competition. During exams and while working on assignments, teachers would allow me to listen to music to help retain my focus and concentrate. It seems odd but music helped to block out all the distractions that diverted my attention and thoughts from where it was needed. Music and wrestling, while very different had some common threads in my case. Both required intense practice, muscle memory, and weaving together movements to produce beautiful arrangements. I also draw similarities to the discipline and commitment that is needed to do well and become proficient and artful in both. Studying music not only results in learning to play an instrument but it helps you to learn how to learn as well. Music is the core element to every success that I have achieved in high school and beyond. After graduation, I will continue my music training at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. I fell in love with this institution after my first visit and feel it is truly the best place for me to continue to refine my performance and music career.

Music is the constant and core element in all that I do. I am at my happiest when music is involved, and it is also present at my worst. Music inspires me, refreshes me, guides me to focus and provides an escape from my thoughts. It was second grade, the last hour of the day ended, and I hopped on the bus to be dropped off at my babysitter’s house. There were many things to do at her house, but for some reason I always gravitated downstairs to play Guitar Hero III on the Nintendo Wii. Unfortunately, there was no part on the report card that graded my skills at pressing buttons on a plastic guitar. When my mother brought up my low scores in math, I replied, “Why would I spend time doing something I don’t see a future in?”. It wasn’t too long after that moment, that my mother signed me up for guitar lessons at our local School of Rock. As I grew through the years, I was blessed tremendously to take part in a program which gave me the opportunity to not only learn music with other great musicians, but also to perform at gigs, events, fairs, and bars all at a young age. It was something so magical and amusing to me. Ending a well-loved song on the stage, hearing joyful voices, and seeing smiles (and sometimes tears), made me feel at home. I came out of it having lifelong relationships with the people I stayed up late redoing the second chorus over and over again, until it was right. As a musician, being the center of attention on a stage was not the motive. For me, the primary mission was to encourage everyone to relate to something. In addition to mastering instruments and learning to perform, I also noticed another powerful gift of music. As I grew as a musician, my ability to succeed in school and athletics, despite having ADHD, improved as well. Studying music, keeping time, and performing with others also helped me to improve my grades and ability to learn wrestling and succeed in competition. During exams and while working on assignments, teachers would allow me to listen to music to help retain my focus and concentrate. It seems odd but music helped to block out all the distractions that diverted my attention and thoughts from where it was needed. Music and wrestling, while very different had some common threads in my case. Both required intense practice, muscle memory, and weaving together movements to produce beautiful arrangements. I also draw similarities to the discipline and commitment that is needed to do well and become proficient and artful in both. Studying music not only results in learning to play an instrument but it helps you to learn how to learn as well. After high school, I will continue my music training at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. I fell in love with this institution after my first visit and feel it is truly the best place for me to continue to refine my performance and music career. However, just as I have shared with my friends, teachers and teammates, I am committed to sharing how the benefits of music education can transcend to every aspect of one’s life. Without music, I wouldn’t have achieved the success, confidence and positive self-esteem that I have today. My hope is to connect with others who feel this same way and publicize the success in all fields and professions that can be attributed to music study.

Success in wrestling is a steep hill to climb but an underdog can do it with the right dedication and commitment. From a very early age, roughly around six or seven, I discovered the WWE and its many characters. I started mimicking the stunts I saw on the TV with my toddler sized Captain America doll. Weeks went by and I was certain that I mastered John Cena's "Finishing Move" the "Attitude Adjustment". Middle school came around and I had retired from having wrestling matches with my Captain America. After school one day, I heard that wrestling season "started soon". I had to go! I had to let myself go and spread my wings in the wrestling room! However, when I got there, it was much different than expected. It was a pre-season practice full of high school students that looked like the guys I saw on TV. They were being screamed at by the coach to "shoot!" and "sprawl!" and "down-block, run the corner!" These were many things my sixth-grade brain couldn't understand. At the end of this first practice, I wasn’t sure about wrestling. Fast forward to freshman year of high school. There was a new coach. It seemed like everyone despised him and wanted to combat whatever he suggested. Many parents and wrestlers felt he was too harsh and trained too intense. By the time the actual season started, 30% of the team quit because it was too hard. Then coach delivered his first big speech. It was all about discipline, commitment, and consistency. I thought to myself, "of course, I want that!". When I saw great wrestlers, they never skipped a practice, they always did extra. They never slacked off in class, they had good grades. Most importantly, they never gave up, even after a loss. Great wrestlers just learned from it and kept going. There was something different about those people and I had to know what it was, the deeper meaning to what fuels their drive. When freshman year ended, I wanted to take what I observed about successful teammates and apply it to myself. I took the opportunity to wrestle in the off season, which only 10% of high school athletes even think of doing. I really wanted to put the whole "discipline, commitment and consistency" thing to work. I showed up as much as possible to club practice. Coach took notice that I wanted to succeed and was willing to push myself to achieve it. After committing to off-season training, I went from having only one win in 9th grade to qualifying for the State Championship in 11th grade. At this point I knew what discipline, commitment, and consistency meant, but more importantly, I understood the “why”. I became addicted to the feeling of doing my best. I noticed how it not only separated me from the competition, but from my peers as well. Prior to getting to this level, I had friends who did the bare minimum, with almost everything. After reaching this mindset and drive to succeed, I now take into consideration, that I don't want peers with bad behavior to influence me as a person and jeopardize my future aspirations. My hopes and dreams won't flourish in bad company, but they will if I apply the lessons learned from my years in wrestling. As a senior now, I lead the team with a dedicated and joyful attitude. I learned that it is paramount to lead by example. I want my teammates to learn to cope with a loss and see failure as a lesson, not a curse.

Obsessions; with noise, creation, and a recipe to deeply enhance one or more person’s mood through a language anyone in the world can comprehend. It is a color we cannot see, and a feeling we cannot touch. It is absolutely, one thousand percent, literally, the backing track to our emotions.  I am at my happiest when music is involved; that being said, it is also present at my worst. Though no matter what, it keeps the spirit inside of us humans to keep seeking an image or setting we admire and chase for.  It was second grade, the last hour of the day ended, and I hopped on the bus to be dropped off at my babysitter's house. There were many things to do at her house, but for some reason, I always gravitated downstairs to play Guitar Hero III on the Nintendo Wii. Unfortunately, there was no part on the report card that graded my skills at pressing buttons on a plastic guitar. When my mother brought up my low scores in math, I replied, “Why would I spend time doing something I don’t see a future in?”. It wasn’t too long after that moment my mother signed me up for guitar lessons. As I grew through the years, I was blessed tremendously to take part in such a fabulous program to allow me to not only learn music with other great musicians, but also to perform at gigs, events, fairs, and bars all at a young age. It was something so magical and amusing to me. Ending a well-loved song on the stage seeing smiles and hearing joyful voices made me at home. I came out of it having lifelong relationships with the people I stayed up late redoing the second chorus over and over again until it was right. However, being the center of attention on a stage was not the motive. The primary mission was to congregate everyone to relate to something. Music was instrumental in my educational journey in a nontypical way. While having a late-night study session for pre-calculus, I would get sidetracked into hours upon hours producing music through FL Studios. In a sense, it has always been an escape for me, though, after a realization, music was much more; it was the outlet for my future. Junior year had ended, and I obtained a clear vision to pursue my passion. Having several options for college, I had to think deeply. I received many offers to wrestle at numerous schools with Music Industry / Music Business Major programs. They were all great, yes, but I then visited Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. I was fascinated by the music in the air and the endless opportunity there was to offer. On the ride back home, I thought long about it and went on to make the hard decision of hanging up the wrestling shoes and headgear. I understand it is rare to make it, but if I could take one thing out of what wrestling has taught me, it is to go full swing ahead without hesitation.  Now, I am reaching towards my dreams and aspirations of becoming a music publisher / producer. However, it does not end there. I am not waiting until I get there to start flourishing. With the privilege to have guitars, music software, and parents who support my dreams, I will make sure I keep doing everything I can to stand out. With my sound and my charisma, I hope it correlates to this essay.

Music has been a major part of my life since I can first remember my mother singing to me. I enjoyed it, she noticed, and it didn't take long for her to sign me up for music lessons at our local School of Rock. After several years of study, learning several instruments and playing year-round in performance band, I decided to take a leap and start my own band. Branching out on our own, led to a new audience for me and my bandmates. Instead of an audience made up of mostly family and friends, I was now playing for people who were hearing my music for the first time. It was then that I started to notice expressions that were different from the smiling, happy faces I was used to seeing. Instead, I saw people feeling something while listening to my music. Initially, these looks were confusing. I was concerned that some people in the audience didn’t like what they were hearing. However, after talking to people following the shows, I realized that the music I was playing was helping people forget about their troubles, recall a fond memory, or remember someone they once knew and loved. These conversations fostered a whole new level of self-awareness; an understanding of a musician’s ability to connect with an audience. This connection fueled my desire to continue performing and to try new genres and settings. I pulled my band together was when I was in 9th grade of high school. It was made up of friends from School of Rock. As we all progressed through school, we performed shows all over Michigan at private parties and festivals. Occasionally, one of the band members and I would play more intimate shows as an acoustic duo. At the start of my junior year in high school, I was invited to play in my church’s musical ministry, which allowed me to witness how music could inspire spiritual experiences. Most recently, I have started producing electronic original scores through FL Studios. My wrestling teammates and coaches enjoy these songs, and we use them for warmups and at the start of tournaments hosted at my school. Late last year, the owner of the School of Rock that I attended for so many years, lost her battle with cancer. She was an amazing person who dedicated her life to music. She was always happy and ready to cheer you up if she sensed you were struggling. I attended her funeral and one of the instructors shared a eulogy about his experience with her, detailing how she helped him through some dark times. He recounted a conversation he had with her on one particularly lonely day. During that conversation, she told him that music is the cure to all loneliness. She advised him to find a song that matched what he was feeling, listen to it and know that someone, at one time, felt exactly the same way when they wrote that song. To me, those were the truest words I’ve ever heard, and that is what I see in the expressions of people in the audience when I perform. All these experiences have confirmed one thing that I know with the utmost certainty: I want to perform and produce music for the rest of my life. I truly believe music is a gift to everyone, and I feel blessed to have the talent to contribute to that gift. I have committed to attend Belmont University in Nashville this fall, where I aim to study music and build a career doing the one thing I love most.