I was born and raised in a small town in Pennsylvania that offered few artistic and academic opportunities. Despite the limitations presented by such an environent, I was determined to hone my skills by any means possible: I read constantly, sometimes finishing entire books within one day; I practiced piano for several hours each week and used my skills to teach myself a variety of other instruments; and, to fulfill my desire to perform, I began attending CaPAA, a youth performing arts program in a neighboring town. After performing for several years, I was asked to assist on the crew for a production during my freshman year of high school; I loved working backstage so much that I soon opted to work on the production team instead of performing for several shows. Recognizing my commitment and love for technical theatre, the technical director of CaPAA offered me a full-time internship that would provide the opportunities and instruction found in the curricula of dedicated performing arts schools. After accepting the internship, I began online schooling, which allowed me to take larger course loads and more advanced classes than my former school offered. I excelled in my role, which solidified my ambition to pursue technical theatre in college, and during my senior year, I began working with younger teens who were also interested in pursuing technical theatre professionally. However, this work was interrupted when the performing arts center that housed CaPAA was purchased by a capital investment firm, which evicted the program with little notice. Soon after, CaPAA shuttered entirely, leaving many students without opportunities to participate in the arts. Many of the teens I worked with during my senior year were unable to continue in technical theatre, and several have ended their involvement in the arts altogether. The aspect of CaPAA’s closure that hurt the most was knowing that future students with a passion for the arts would never have the same opportunities I was lucky enough to receive. Losing a fundamental aspect of my life and community made me even more passionate about community involvement, especially with creating educational opportunities for youth outside of their schools. At USC, I plan to earn my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Stage Management with a Minor in Web Development. I also intend to begin a Master of Legal Studies with a Certificate in Media and Entertainment Law through the Progressive Degree Program, completing my bachelor’s and master’s degrees concurrently. After finishing my studies, I hope to work in arts administration, particularly with the LA Phil’s Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA) program, which provides free music education to underserved communities, much like my hometown. My ultimate dream is to develop an internship program that allows local high school and college students to play an active role in the production and administrative side of the performing arts, and create the same opportunities that allowed me to succeed and discover my greatest aspirations.

I have played piano for as long as I can remember. Nothing comes as naturally or feels as fulfilling as sitting down at a bench to start working on a new piece. I have read music for nearly as long as I have read English. Music is intertwined throughout my life in ways words cannot describe. It is not shocking, then, when I explain that a Bluetooth page turner pedal most inspires me about how technology can make the world a better place. Though simplistic and unassuming, these page turners exemplify how technology can accommodate anyone, anywhere, for whatever they need. Technology plays a key role in allowing people with disabilities to live to their full potential, from screen readers and closed captions to physical devices that interact with phones, tablets, and computers. Assistive technology benefits everyone, whether someone requires assistance with daily tasks or just needs a bit of extra help to make their life easier. Page turners are the epitome of such an idea: something as mundane as turning a page on digital sheet music can be a life-changing accommodation to a person with a physical disability that prevents them from using a touchscreen. A Bluetooth page turner allows musicians to devote their entire focus to the piece they are playing, removing the need to worry about finding an acquaintance to turn pages for them or figure out when there are breaks in the music that will allow the performer to use a free hand. Thanks to the Bluetooth page turner, the musician has less to worry about, which improves the quality of their performance and increases the enjoyment of the audience. When life is easier for one person, the quality of life improves for everyone.

For many, college is incredibly stressful, but it doesn't have to be. The first step of maintaining physical and mental health as a student is to know your limits and take time for yourself, but this is easier said than done. Throughout my life, I have struggled to prioritize my health and wellness amidst academic and extracurricular commitments. Worried about letting others down, I would internalize my struggles and sacrifice my mental and physical health to maintain a packed schedule comprised of many activities, volunteer hours, and rigorous classes. My lifestyle was unsustainable, but I didn't stop overwhelming myself in every area of my life until my junior year of high school, when my mind could no longer withstand the pressure I had placed upon myself. During the fall of my junior year, I became involved in numerous activities and programs reflective of my passions and goals for the future, including a full-time internship, participation in my local school district's marching band, a part-time job, and rigorous preparation for a classical piano recital at Carnegie Hall. The commitments made towards these endeavors, combined with the high-volume academic workload I had assumed, eventually stretched me to my limit. I was unable to handle the time commitments of my activities and academics. Unwilling to disappoint any of those to whom I had promised my time, I chose to sacrifice my academic success over my other responsibilities. However, as I gained leadership roles in my extracurriculars, I soon began to struggle with balancing my activities, even as academics took a back seat. In my quest to avoid disappointing anyone, I let down everyone who depended on me, including myself. My academics suffered the most, and in my attempts to regain my footing and raise my grades before the end of the school year, I had to drop many activities. Although I assumed those I had let down would be upset with me for the impact it had on them, my teachers and friends were more concerned about the fact that I had prioritized everyone's needs but my own. My experience during my junior year had a lasting impact, both positive and negative; though my grades suffered, I learned a fundamental lesson about how to say "no" when I cannot handle additional commitments, whether they be academic or extracurricular. My knowledge of personal boundaries was invaluable during my transition to college, and whilst I saw my friends struggle to balance college-level coursework and the enhanced requirements of college clubs and activities, I was able to understand my limits. Today, I am highly involved on campus at the University of Southern California. I actively participate in and contribute to campus life as a member of the USC Trojan Marching Band, an Admitted Student Outreach Volunteer for the School of Dramatic Arts, a Research Assistant for the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, and the Social Media Chair for the Sack of Troy, USC's parody newspaper. Still, I always make sure to take time for myself; I build at least one day with as few classes as possible into my academic schedule so I can focus on recharging and catching up on assignments for classes and clubs. I leave myself an hour before bed to unwind, read a book, and relax, creating a consistent sleep schedule that leaves me feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day when I wake up in the morning. Although my road to self-care was lengthy, I am grateful for the experiences that led to my appreciation of my mental and physical health. I hope other high-achieving students can do the same.