"What are going to school for?" is a question I've been asked many times. When I reply "Music," I'm usually met with "Oh wow really?" "What do you do in music?" and sometimes an intrigued but confused face. Growing up I was always in an after-school activity. I've taken lessons in dance, tennis, art, ice skating, and acting, among others, because my mom wanted me to explore my options and discovered what I enjoyed. At the age of 10, I started taking piano lessons. I still remember the feeling when I first heard the piano, it was unreal, almost like it was calling to me, and in that moment, I knew that was the instrument I wanted to play. I continued to play the piano for many years, but during my senior year of high school, I decided to take a break from playing. I later got accepted into "Columbia College Chicago" as a music major with a focus in voice. This was a major change for me, but I enjoyed singing. I enjoy artists with distinctive voices like Ella Fitzgerald, Kali Uchis, and Nina Simone, and growing up in Detroit, the Motown sound is a part of me. Music is where I find comfort, joy, and community, and I can't imagine myself not being involved in it. The creative expression and meaningful connections you make along the way are the reasons I chose to pursue this field. I am currently still majoring with a focus in voice and hope to be a future singer and songwriter. Through my professors, my singing abilities have improved significantly, and I am continuing to learn how to better express myself both on stage and through my music. After my studies, I hope to be involved in the music industry in any capacity. I mainly want to continue singing and tell my story and where I came while hopefully uplifting or relating to others. Another big thing I want to do is give back to my community. I want to be remembered for my voice and contributions that I made to my hometown. My experiences growing up and attending my current school have greatly influenced the decisions I've made, and I hope that I can continue representing my city and school while sharing my story with the world. Whether through my music, collaborations, or highlighting local events, I want to create opportunities for talented young people like me who need a platform. I aspire to be the person who can give them that opportunity.

I am a very determined person, especially when it comes to something I am deeply enthusiastic about, which for me is primarily music. My musical journey began at the age of ten, when I learned to play the piano. I played till high school, and as time passed, I felt drawn to explore new ways of expressing myself. Singing has become my release, allowing me to express myself verbally and emotionally. I've always been quiet and reserved, so most people assume I'm shy, and I've always wanted to show them wrong. I adored the sound of music and admired people who exuded confidence and freely displayed their talents to the world. That's how I decided I wanted to be an artist or simply be involved in projects. I was accepted into Columbia College for music, and I've met a lot of very talented people, which makes me question my own abilities and 'why,' but it also pushes me to improve and work on my skills, because I recognize that we never start at the same level or are instantly advanced. My main goal is to learn more about myself and gain the confidence to freely express what I want to say or do because I often limit the opportunities that have been given to me, and I know that openly putting myself out there, as well as becoming comfortable sharing the art that I work so hard to create, will help me. I want to share my passion for music while also becoming another artist in the world who raises awareness and gives a voice to themes that are underrepresented. Each step teaches me more about myself and helps me to connect with others, making the journey both tough and gratifying. As technology advances, including AI, my goal is to keep creating work that connects with people on a personal level. Technology can do a lot of things, but it still struggles to capture the individuality and emotion found in personal music, writing, and art. I want to speak and write about my personal experiences in the hopes that they may resonate with and inspire others. I intend to tell genuine, meaningful stories inspired by my own experiences and the world around me. Although AI can be a useful tool in certain areas, I feel that keeping the spirit of human narrative is an important component in many art forms, including music, art, theater, television, and others, as it comes from human passion, effort, and emotion, which no technology can completely replicate.