“Where words fail, music speaks”. These are perhaps some of the truest words ever spoken by Hans Christian Andersen. Anyone can speak, anyone can try and comfort someone they love to the best of their ability. But, oftentimes, well-crafted music paired with thought-out, emotional lyrics will capture a certain emotion with which words simply do not compare, and those words cannot express so deeply what this type of music can. Other well-known figures, such as Oscar Wilde and even Plato have had things to say about the power of music, and what they have said echoes what Anderson stated. However, Anderson’s words have been said so many times that the saying can be seen as mundane, or even cheesy, in our world today. This phrase, which is actually very deep in meaning the more you think about it, has been used so much that we often forget how true it is. Music has shaped the way that many, myself included, view the world in many ways. It allows for a unique form of self-expression, that not many other professions will allow. Personally speaking, music has shaped the way that I view the world by having an arguably incomparable influence over my memories. For as long as I can remember, my grandfather loved to play music, and every time we saw each other he asked if he could teach me how to play a new song on his guitar. These songs would be played for others at things like family holiday events, where good memories are often made simply by being together with those you love. Many of my best memories from my childhood are associated with a certain song, and, upon hearing that song, those memories will always come flooding back into my mind. Now, this may seem like it has nothing to do with the world around me now, but, to the contrary, the association between memory and music continues to be very intriguing to me. I would love to be able to create a music experience that listeners could associate with some fond memory, or a time in their life when they remember being happy. The power that music has over our minds is quite remarkable, and it certainly is true that it speaks when words cannot. This is one of many ways that music shapes our worldview, but perhaps one of the most common and prominent in our everyday lives.

My name is Olivia Jones and I am a homeschooled student in Ashe County, North Carolina. I am currently preparing to graduate high school, and my plan is to attend Boyce College and major in music ministries, starting in the fall semester. I grew up in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, and it was there that I first found my interest in music. My grandfather would always play his guitar and sing songs for me, and after hearing him do so for many years, I decided that I wanted to learn how to play and sing for myself. I began taking guitar lessons when I was seven years old, and continued teaching myself after my instructor moved to a different county. It took me some time to become comfortable singing while I played guitar, I was always very shy and worried that someone would hear me, so, for many years, I would not sing. It was only when my friends would sing along with me that I felt comfortable doing so. However, as I started to spend more time with my friends, I slowly became more and more accustomed to singing on my own. This new development caused me to love music even more, and I went on to perform on stage with friends every once in a while, and then, several years later, finally worked up the courage to join the worship team at my local church, where I helped lead the congregation in worship every Sunday. This was the beginning of my musical journey during my high school years. While in high school, I have worked extensively on my own and with others to expand my musical abilities. I have learned about the technical side to music on my own time, and also discovered the importance of being able to work within groups. The group projects I have been a part of were never extravagant, but they served their purpose well, and became a meaningful part of life for those involved. My education has been focused on completing my work with integrity and perseverance and doing everything to the glory of God. My goal for my college education is to gain a comprehensive view of how the technical side of vocal training works, while having the communication skills to teach these things in a way that is easily deciphered by future students. I am very excited to attend Boyce College this fall, however, my family is under circumstances which make the financial aspect of college more concerning. I live in a one-income household, where my father is a vocational pastor, and my mother stays at home to teach my siblings and me. This scholarship would greatly help to ease some of that burden, and would be put towards paying tuition for my freshman year. After earning my Bachelor of Science degree, my goal is to work with others and give back to my community by opening a performing arts school, where students will have the opportunity to receive vocal and musical training at an affordable cost. I wish to do this because there are currently no such opportunities in or around my county, and I would love to be a part of bringing that to life. I hope to work with students in order to learn with them how to best make use of the talents they already have. I appreciate your consideration. With your help, I can begin my training in music at Boyce College this fall.

My name is Olivia Jones and I am a homeschooled student in Ashe County, North Carolina. I am currently preparing to graduate high school, and my plan is to attend Boyce College and major in music ministries, starting in the fall semester. I grew up in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, and it was there that I first found my interest in music. My grandfather would always play his guitar and sing songs for me, and after hearing him do so for many years, I decided that I wanted to learn how to play and sing for myself. I began taking guitar lessons when I was seven years old, and continued teaching myself after my instructor moved to a different county. It took me some time to become comfortable singing while I played guitar, I was always very shy and worried that someone would hear me, so, for many years, I would not sing. It was only when my friends would sing along with me that I felt comfortable doing so. However, as I started to spend more time with my friends, I slowly became more and more accustomed to singing on my own. This new development caused me to love music even more, and I went on to perform on stage with friends every once in a while, and then, several years later, finally worked up the courage to join the worship team at my local church, where I helped lead the congregation in worship every Sunday. This was the beginning of my musical journey during my high school years. While in high school, I have worked extensively on my own and with others to expand my musical abilities. I have learned about the technical side to music on my own time, and also discovered the importance of being able to work within groups. The group projects I have been a part of were never extravagant, but they served their purpose well, and became a meaningful part of life for those involved. My education has been focused on completing my work with integrity and perseverance and doing everything to the glory of God. My goal for my college education is to gain a comprehensive view of how the technical side of vocal training works, while having the communication skills to teach these things in a way that is easily deciphered by future students. I am very excited to attend Boyce College this fall, however, my family is under circumstances which make the financial aspect of college more concerning. I live in a one-income household, where my father is a vocational pastor, and my mother stays at home to teach my siblings and me. This scholarship would greatly help to ease some of that burden, and would be put towards paying tuition for my freshman year. After earning my Bachelor of Science degree, my goal is to work with others and give back to my community by opening a performing arts school, where students will have the opportunity to receive vocal and musical training at an affordable cost. I wish to do this because there are currently no such oppurtunities in or around my county, and I would love to be a part of bringing that to life. I hope to work with students in order to learn with them how to best make use of the talents they already have. I appreciate your consideration. With your help, I can begin my training in music at Boyce College this fall.

My name is Olivia Jones and I am a homeschooled student in Ashe County, North Carolina. I am currently preparing to graduate high school, and my plan is to attend Boyce College and major in music ministries, starting in the fall semester. I grew up in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, and it was there that I first found my interest in music. My grandfather would always play his guitar and sing songs for me, and after hearing him do so for many years, I decided that I wanted to learn how to play and sing for myself. I began taking guitar lessons when I was seven years old, and continued teaching myself after my instructor moved to a different county. It took me some time to become comfortable singing while I played guitar, I was always very shy and worried that someone would hear me, so, for many years, I would not sing. It was only when my friends would sing along with me that I felt comfortable doing so. However, as I started to spend more time with my friends, I slowly became more and more accustomed to singing on my own. This new development caused me to love music even more, and I went on to perform on stage with friends every once in a while, and then, several years later, finally worked up the courage to join the worship team at my local church, where I helped lead the congregation in worship every Sunday. This was the beginning of my musical journey during my high school years. While in high school, I have worked extensively on my own and with others to expand my musical abilities. I have learned about the technical side to music on my own time, and also discovered the importance of being able to work within groups. The group projects I have been a part of were never extravagant, but they served their purpose well, and became a meaningful part of life for those involved. My education has been focused on completing my work with integrity and perseverance and doing everything to the glory of God. My goal for my college education is to gain a comprehensive view of how the technical side of vocal training works, while having the communication skills to teach these things in a way that is easily deciphered by future students. I am very excited to attend Boyce College this fall, however, my family is under circumstances which make the financial aspect of college more concerning. I live in a one-income household, where my father is a vocational pastor, and my mother stays at home to teach my siblings and me. This scholarship would greatly help to ease some of that burden, and would be put towards paying tuition for my freshman year. After earning my Bachelor of Science degree, my goal is to work with others and give back to my community by opening a performing arts school, where students will have the opportunity to receive vocal and musical training at an affordable cost. I wish to do this because there are currently no such oppurtunities in or around my county, and I would love to be a part of helping that come to life. I hope to work with students in order to learn with them how to best make use of the talents they already have. I appreciate your consideration. With your help, I can begin my training in music at Boyce College this fall.

My name is Olivia Jones and I am a homeschooled student in Ashe County, North Carolina. I am currently preparing to graduate high school, and my plan is to attend Boyce College and major in music ministries, starting in the fall semester. I grew up in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, and it was there that I first found my interest in music. My grandfather would always play his guitar and sing songs for me, and after hearing him do so for many years, I decided that I wanted to learn how to play and sing for myself. I began taking guitar lessons when I was seven years old, and continued teaching myself after my instructor moved to a different county. It took me some time to become comfortable singing while I played guitar, I was always very shy and worried that someone would hear me, so, for many years, I would not sing. It was only when my friends would sing along with me that I felt comfortable doing so. However, as I started to spend more time with my friends, I slowly became more and more accustomed to singing on my own. This new development caused me to love music even more, and I went on to perform on stage with friends every once in a while, and then, several years later, finally worked up the courage to join the worship team at my local church, where I helped lead the congregation in worship every Sunday. This was the beginning of my musical journey during my high school years. While in high school, I have worked extensively on my own and with others to expand my musical abilities. I have learned about the technical side to music on my own time, and also discovered the importance of being able to work within groups. The group projects I have been a part of were never extravagant, but they served their purpose well, and became a meaningful part of life for those involved. My education has been focused on completing my work with integrity and perseverance and doing everything to the glory of God. My goal for my college education is to gain a comprehensive view of how the technical side of vocal training works, while having the communication skills to teach these things in a way that is easily deciphered by future students. I am very excited to attend Boyce College this fall, however, my family is under circumstances which make the financial aspect of college more concerning. I live in a one-income household, where my father is a vocational pastor, and my mother stays at home to teach my siblings and me. This scholarship would greatly help to ease some of that burden, and would be put towards paying tuition for my freshman year. After earning my Bachelor of Science degree, my goal is to work with others to give back to my community by opening a performing arts school, where students will have the opportunity to receive vocal and musical training at an affordable cost. I wish to do this because there are currently no such oppurtunities in or around our county, and I would love to be a part of seeing such a work come to life. I hope to work with students in order to learn with them how to best make use of the talents they already have. I appreciate your consideration. With your help, I can begin my training in music at Boyce College this fall.

My name is Olivia Jones and I am a homeschooled student in Ashe County, North Carolina. I am currently preparing to graduate high school, and my plan is to attend Boyce College and major in music ministries, starting in the fall semester. I grew up in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, and it was there that I first found my interest in music. My grandfather would always play his guitar and sing songs for me, and after hearing him do so for many years, I decided that I wanted to learn how to play and sing for myself. I began taking guitar lessons when I was seven years old, and continued teaching myself after my instructor moved to a different county. It took me some time to become comfortable singing while I played guitar, I was always very shy and worried that someone would hear me, so, for many years, I would not sing. It was only when my friends would sing along with me that I felt comfortable doing so. However, as I started to spend more time with my friends, I slowly became more and more accustomed to singing on my own. This new development caused me to love music even more, and I went on to perform on stage with friends every once in a while, and then, several years later, finally worked up the courage to join the worship team at my local church, where I helped lead the congregation in worship every Sunday. This was the beginning of my musical journey during my high school years. While in high school, I have worked extensively on my own and with others to expand my musical abilities. I have learned about the technical side to music on my own time, and also discovered the importance of being able to work within groups. The group projects I have been a part of were never extravagant, but they served their purpose well, and became a meaningful part of life for those involved. My high school education has been focused on completing my work with integrity and perseverance and doing everything to the glory of God. My goal for my upcoming college education is to gain a comprehensive view of how the technical side of vocal training works, while having the communication skills to teach these things in a way that is easily deciphered by future students. After earning my Bachelors degree in music, my goal is to work with others to open a performing arts school, where students will have the opportunity to receive vocal and musical training, as well as performing in theatre or dance productions. I would love to work with students in order to learn with them how to best make use of the talents they already have. I hope to make a positive impact on these students and their families by giving many people an outlet for their talents at an affordable cost. Too often in today's world I see families not being able to allow their child to perform in any way because of the cost, and I hope to change that as much as I can by preparing myself to teach others.