As a professional violinist, I want to teach people the power of music and its incredible influence to make you become a compassionate messenger of art.

@sofia24_sanch

My ultimate career aspiration would be to become a professional violinist and teaching artist for a non-profit music organization that provides underrepresented communities with accessible and passionate music education. My past experiences have shaped my journey from when I was a 10-year-old child who first picked up the violin through my small town's 5th-grade orchestra program. From that moment, I fell in love with the instrument, setting the stage for my lifelong musical passion. Throughout my high school years, my dedication to music flourished as I immersed myself in various musical ensembles. I became an integral part of the Philharmonic Orchestra, the Symphony Orchestra, and an after-school string ensemble. My musical journey extended beyond the classroom as I embraced opportunities to perform in the pit orchestra for our musical theater programs. These experiences not only honed my musical skills but also instilled in me the joy of collaboration and the power of music as a unifying force. My commitment to musical excellence led me to embark on educational excursions that expanded my horizons. I participated in the Midwest Clinic in Chicago and qualified for ISSMA State Qualifiers for string ensembles. The pinnacle of my musical growth came when I had the privilege of playing alongside the professional Elkhart County Symphony Orchestra, a profound experience that ignited my desire to share music with others. As well as auditioned in my school's Concerto Aria Competition and earned the chance to perform as a soloist alongside my gifted peers. Among my achievements, winning the prestigious Gilman Scholarship stands as a testament to my dedication. This accomplishment allowed me to participate in an intensive study experience in London, a city rich in artistic heritage. While there, I delved into a comprehensive program encompassing music, art, and theater, broadening my perspectives and refining my artistic sensibilities. I've also had the privilege of performing as a soloist alongside my college's symphony orchestra, a pinnacle moment that showcased the culmination of my musical journey thus far. The experience pushed me beyond my limits and bolstered my confidence in my abilities as a musician. Having already completed the study abroad program in London, I can attest to its transformative impact on my personal and professional growth. The exposure to diverse artistic expressions and the challenge of navigating a new cultural environment fostered my independence and adaptability. As I look ahead into my future, I have attained an internship at the Boys & Girls Club in my hometown. I will embark on the joy and privilege to shape the young minds of these young musicians who are excited to learn to play. The experiences I’ve gained will undoubtedly propel my career forward, enhancing my application to graduate school and solidifying my commitment to making music education accessible to all. In conclusion, my journey from discovering the violin in a small town to performing as a soloist and participating in a transformative study abroad program has uniquely positioned me for my desired career. With every note I play and every lesson I teach, I aim to provide underrepresented students with the same opportunities that have shaped my understanding of music.

My journey as a minority woman started in a time of poverty and racial prejudice from the young age of 5 years old to present day. I first faced discrimination when it came to admitting to my first elementary teacher that I did not know English well. Later on, I was placed in the ESL (English as a second language program) which caused most of my teachers in elementary school to perceive my delayed learning as a hindrance. However, it did not help that English was evidently my first language. I would get distracted and I would sometimes disrupt class. This took a toll on my self esteem since I believed that I was (for a lack of better word) stupid. As I grew older and became more familiarized with the language, I found myself feeling behind my non-Hispanic peers. Fast forward to the present day, I am currently a first-generation college student. I have been impacted by not being able to rely on my family to lend me a helping hand in college. My parents did not have the opportunity to attend high school or even dream about college. They faced an unprecedented amount of years of fighting poverty from a young age. Eventually, my parents were forced by their own families to choose between an education or working more than one low paying job. In addition, my financial need is high because of how the price of tuition continues to rise while the amount of financial aid remains stagnant. This scholarship in particular would ensure that I would not need to work two or more jobs during the semester. I would be able to ensure my time, attention, and energy are solely embedded into what I am studying. I deserve this scholarship because of the fact that I represent a potentially good return on your investment. I am self-motivated, driven, persistent, and intentional with my goals in life. I have volunteered my time to paint murals across the city of Elkhart, to help and organize solo & ensemble events in high school; to assist at the local jazz music festival, to participate in our local pit orchestra, and a number of different musical ensembles. My dream career would be to become a professional violinist who also teaches private lessons and be a impactful mentor for my violin students. I have dreams and aspirations that I’d be able to show my parents that their sacrifices were not meaningless. That they can be proud of their daughter who has worked herself half to death and back in order to afford school. I wholeheartedly wish to make a positive contribution to the betterment of this world as it has been saturated with a variety of negative events. This very scholarship can help me come to that conclusion and expand my dreams. I would be eternally grateful if I could pay my parents back for the life that they left their home country for.

I believe it is important to nurture healthy eating habits because if we're trying to make wholesome food choices, we need to welcome a healthy relationship with food and not simply restrict ourselves from it. You can in fact have an abundant diet full of delicious foods that are sustainable and satisfying. In my experience, making wholesome choices more accessible and convenient has worked wonders rather than explicitly hiding less nutrient-rich foods. By having wholesome foods out in the open, we'll likely find that our bodies crave these foods more rather than less nutritious options. I used to believe that less food would equal a much healthier life style, so I restricted myself from eating more three 500 calorie meals a day with no snacks involved. I could feel myself feeling worn out after exercising for about 15 minutes. This continued for about 3 months and I had lost over 40 pounds, but I knew something wasn’t right. My body felt deprived of nutrients and I felt light headed most of the time. However, that has changed since becoming a more active learning and moving college student. The difference that I notice in my mental health is that I have come to not have so much brain fog or mental fatigue in the morning. It has been easier to retain information, participate, and simply be in a better mood. As well as, I found myself not cutting out food, but instead swapping out a slice of cake for fresh fruit, dark chocolate, or trail mix from time to time. Other times, I will enjoy a dessert because I simply want to enjoy it. I prioritize my health by fueling my body with nutrient rich foods. But once in a while, I treat myself to those baked goods, chips, or less nutrient dense options.

My name is Sofia Andrea Sanchez, a passionate violinist, artist, performer, and 20 year old based in Goshen, IN. My life story begins with uprising from poverty and adversity through the fortitude of participating in musical ensembles while juggling two different worlds: growing up Mexican and learning to adjust to American life. Being a latina who was born on American soil, it wasn’t a simple journey to adjust to as I became acutely aware of how different my life might be compared to others. I come from a Spanish speaking home who are proud to be Mexican. We carry our name with pride: The Sanchez family. My family had left their home country in order to give their children the land of opportunity. Growing up, I was pushed to the side as I was often met with being a hassle to work with since I did not speak English fluently. As I grew older, I have been met with racism, denigration, and constant judgment if I were to be good enough in academics in comparison to my white peers. Now, let’s move into the present day reality as a latina woman in a primarily white private college. As a first generation college student, I have been impacted by not being able to rely on family to introduce me about how hard college can be. I had to be very intentional with my actions and learn to advocate for what information I needed to find. In my first year, I lacked the awareness of how not being surrounded by people who looked like me made me feel vulnerable. I need to work two part-time jobs in order to pay for my own books, personal expenses, and tuition. This impacted me because I had less time to study or practice my instrument; and I just had to make it work because otherwise I’d see myself as ungrateful, lazy, or just a huevona. After graduating from college, my career goals and dream future are to become a professional violinist and private lessons teacher. I want to serve as a beacon of hope for young people of color who have faced the same struggles. As well as be an asset to other latino families to be able to come for private violin lessons. I have seen the impact music can make through performing, various music conventions, and how it can bring people together from all walks of life. My academic achievements, personal interests, hobbies, and life experiences have assisted in propelling myself forward academically through pursuing my higher education. With this scholarship, this will help cover some tuition at my current institution. It will also allow my parents to not worry as much about me constantly working 8-10 hours shifts while being a full time student who is involved in two different ensembles and a professional orchestra. This scholarship would grant me some extra time to study or practice more. I will be able to fully maximize my own college experience through having financial peace of mind. Furthermore, my current motivation is that I know this: I am not alone and there are other latinos from similar backgrounds who have faced these challenges. We are persistent to see our education through until the very end because that is how we were raised. My strong ethnic identity will assist me in shaping my career that will improve the lives of my family and represent those in low income Latino communities. That college can be done and that latinos deserve to have the chance to pursue a higher education. Yes, it is possible. Si se puede.

It was back in my middle school gym class, we were all playing a soccer game in the gymnasium. I wasn’t the most athletic student, but I knew how to pass a ball and score a goal when needed. However, there came multiple times where others were bullied for not being able to do that. It happened as soon as the game ended and the gym teacher went into their office. A group of girls gathered around a shorter Spanish girl who was not fluent in English. We’ll call her Teresa. I heard them berating her, shouting at her, and I felt a sudden jolt in my body. I rushed over to help and I pulled Teresa away from the group of girls. They continued to try to mock her for not speaking English, but I immediately stepped in and spoke sternly, “Leave her alone. If you are too immature to accept a loss in gym class, then you won’t ever experience what a true victory feels like in your real life. Don’t take it out on someone else.” I called out to Teresa to see if she was ok and she simply nodded as if she were afraid to speak. The two of us walked back to the locker room. We noticed a crowd at the small entrance of the door since they heard the commotion in the gym. I asked her in Spanish if she wanted to wait for everyone to leave so we could to talk the teacher. In the end, the girls weren’t allowed to be in the same team together and the teacher apologized to Teresa for having experienced that. This situation highlights the characteristics that I value which are being considerate, kind, and having courage. At that age, I could have simply walked into the locker room and pretended that nothing had happened. It would not have been dealt with because those arrogant girls were being bullies to others who they saw as vulnerable. I realize now that it takes immense courage to step in and do the next right thing. I wanted to kind and considerate to Teresa because I knew what it felt like to be made fun of for not speaking English. Let alone not being good at a sport that everyone else gets the hang of so effortlessly. This memory comes and goes from my mind from time to time, but it always lingers since we need to be more kind and considerate to other peoples’ lives; and what their current situation is. As well as having the courage to step up for others. These characteristics will help with my life journey thinking of others before thinking of myself. I strongly believe that the qualities that I have carried with me through my 20 years of life helped me on my life path and others’ lives. Whether it is teaching someone a new technique on an instrument, exchanging our opinions on a tough subject, or even experiencing a challenging task, etc. I learn to grow as a kinder, stronger, and considerate human being. Being this kind way towards others makes me motivated to make connections with others that’ll last for years to come. Thank you for reading.

Higher education is important because it helps to connect with other people and expose you to other parts of the world that are outside of the classroom setting. As a first generation college student, I am placed with the highest expectation that my education is of the utmost importance because my family believes that the knowledge and experience that comes from it leads to further progress in life. However, I believe that higher education is for a young person to be able to benefit off a degree that is both meaningful and contributes something positive to the world, no matter how small or big the contribution is. Higher education also is centered around self discovery, personal growth, and cultural enrichment of other countries when studying abroad. Since I attend a liberal arts school, this notion of liberal comes from the Renaissance idea of Humanities education. In short, liberal studies were intended to educate a professional class and one who can critically think for themselves, and not to just be about career training. As a latina woman of former immigrant parents, I believe that it was my parents who influenced my belief that college was incredibly important. My parents ultimatum for me was to go to school or work at a RV company. I chose higher education due to how my education has been expanding the ways in which I perceive the world, current political issues, and what the purpose of life is. I truly believe that if I had not enrolled in college, I would not have learned to be bold, how to not be timid, and how to project my personal voice into a crowd of young people that do not look like me. I push forward and continue with my journey in earning my bachelor’s degree in music performance. All in all, I reiterate that higher education is crucial to enable access to meaningful experiences, self growth, to build a sense of liberal thinking, and the chance to make their own contribution to this world. After all, training in a job makes a worker, but education can create a person.

To this day, my relentless and persistent dad has personally impacted my life. From a very young age, my father has worn numerous hats in order for my family to be able to live a better life. My father comes from the town of Techuan, Puebla in the most beautiful country of Mexico. At first, my father lived a normal life of going to school and he grew up with 9 siblings. However, my father’s family were met with extreme poverty and their only way out with each having to make a sacrifice for the family. For some, they sacrificed living with family and to move out to make something of themselves. The reason being because their own parents did not have well paying jobs to afford the school uniforms, supplies, and the tuition that the school demanded. My dad was forced to sacrifice his education and work in my grandfather’s taller de carrocería or in English, a body shop where they’d repair old cars. Years later, my father and mother met; and they’d have a family of two in Mexico. Then, my dad had decided to come to the United States for work and live with one of my uncle’s who’d immigrated safely. Unfortunately, to get what he wanted for the sake of my family, my father had to sacrifice raising a family together with my mother. He would end up taking a welding job in a place where the language was completely different, the way of living was incredibly individualized; and he was not able to be with my brother, my sister, and my mother. Life went on and my family soon reunited with my father in the US. Within a few years of their arrival, I was born unexpectedly. I can recall my father always keeping his family in mind when it came to providing for us to have a better childhood that was filled with both fun and opportunity, but that those things came through hard work. My father worked tirelessly to put food on the table, to be there for his kids, but never bat an eye for himself because we came first in his eyes. However, there was a gift that my parents explicitly told me that I had: the capability to be vulnerable and open-minded in understanding other people’s perspectives of the world. It came to me full circle once I realized that I wanted to pursue a career in music making and perhaps even one in the visual arts. Graduating class of 2020, I held my ground during the most tumultuous time of our lives as the COVID-19 pandemic completely shifted our lives. I had created a collection of works for my AP Art course to represent human vulnerability. The idea of humans being vulnerable to their deep and uncomfortable experiences that involve emotional exposure, uncertainty, and connection. As well as how vulnerability relates in the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued: and when they derive sustenance and strength from other people. In simpler terms, I wanted a connection between the audience and the art work to be made. It allows a space for people to gradually get comfortable and adapt as they see, learn, and hear more from others. In the end, I plan to use my artistic gift to innovate messages that provide people with a richer understanding on how and why it is important to be vulnerable; and accept that it is natural to feel certain emotions and share them with others who might express that they feel the same or different way.

It all started when I asked my mom if she could take me to the band & orchestra sign ups. My dad immediately said no because it was too expensive. Yet, my mom saw that spark of curiosity in my eyes and the three of us drove over to the sign ups. It was unusual for a 10 year old to be so excited. I tried out all the different string instruments. The moment I heard the shimmering sound of the violin, I knew I just had to learn how to play this instrument. At first, my parents didn’t pay much attention to my musical involvement since none of their family members in Mexico had ever been involved in music. My parents grew up with an education that lasted until about their freshman year of high school, so they never had the opportunity to pursue a visual or performing arts activity. My journey as a violinist began in the summer of 2009. I would come to travel through a process of growth, enjoyment, and musical expression that I never thought could possibly happen. Before I knew it, I was involving myself in different ensembles that I could play in. I was driven to continue performing and growing my passion for this instrument. I didn’t quite comprehend the importance that music would have on others until I began to make friends and connections with other musicians. Throughout the rest of my teenage years, I’d involve myself in my high school’s pit orchestra, symphony orchestra, philharmonic orchestra, and our solo and ensemble state competitions. Granted, my school’s music program wasn’t the most well funded, but it offered musical opportunities that allowed me to further experience different trials of life. Along the way, I found people beginning to doubt my dreams of pursuing music as a career in college. Some people were teachers who would see it as an illegitimate career. That this field wasn’t meant for people who looked like me. I felt my heart sink at those moments. I even began to see favoritism to some of my peers who had access to funds yet they lacked a hunger for music. Rather, they just saw music making as something to pass the time. It was a frustrating part of high school because this happened constantly. However, I was not going to allow these obstacles to get in the way of my aspirations in life. As I grew older, I decided to be resilient and silence those doubts of my success in this specific mindset: Music is an art of passion, so it may look slightly temperamental in a way that it is too chaotic in the naked eye. All in all, I feel my own journey through music is synonymous with my journey through life: in its early days and very hard to view in any sort of objective sense. I merely hope to follow my instincts sincerely and courageously and will have to trust that the struggle is worth it. The details thus far seem too numerous and unintelligible for me to write here and manage to make useful or interesting. They are profoundly personal and the same must go for every musician and artist. I believe that I make a good candidate for this scholarship because I am even in the face of adversity, I have challenged the expectations others have placed upon me and asserted my own fiery dedication. It can be overwhelming to be pushed with peoples’ differing opinions about your dreams. Regardless of how big or small they are, there will always be people who are wanting you to “play it safe”. However, I challenge that notion and instead strive to pour my adoration for music performance. It would be an honor to receive this scholarship to reduce the financial burden that I have been faced with.

The devastating situation that Ukraine is facing as Russian soldiers continue to invade their country. I could see it through the media coverage, people talking on various social media apps, and even in my own school. People were distraught by the news because innocent people were being killed. I would see this devastation first hand one of my professors was distraught by the news of her home country being bombed. Her family is suffering and thousands of Ukrainian citizens, families, children, women and men are being killed. At that point in time, I had never felt so helpless in saying something that could possibly comfort her. I couldn’t say the words, “Everything will be fine. You’ll see” or “I know what that is like, so I’m sorry”. I decided to not speak. I just listened to what she had to say. The act of speaking such ignorant words made me reflect on what I could possibly do to even uplift this mentor of mine. She is someone who has lifted me up and always kept me on my toes; so I must do the same even with the smallest of gestures. I decided to dedicate my upcoming violin recital to counteract this act of violence against Ukraine. Even if it was just myself playing, in the words of Leonard Bernstein, “This will be our reply to violence: to make music more intensely, more beautifully, more devotedly than ever before." In those 20 minutes of performing on stage, I desired to bring clarity and ease for the audience who were distressed by the updates and breaking news of Ukraine’s current state. Music is a powerful and universal expression of hope. I could not simply play this music for myself and my own pleasure. I felt compelled to offer hope and clarity for others who have found themselves frustrated with the suffering of the Ukrainian nation. By the end of the recital, I found that several of my classmates, family members, and other professors were moved by my performance. Hearing their comments of this experience made me feel extremely emotional. I couldn’t help but hold back tears while I smiled in admiration. In this celebratory moment, it was not about me, but about the people’s hearts that had been uplifted and brought to a slightly better state of happiness.

A career in the arts is important to me because I do not see myself doing anything else that is remotely as energizing, worth-while, and is an imperative source of life. It began at an early age where I was attracted to expressing myself through art. I would draw awkward looking faces, characters, and figures that seemed to move to some sort of beat or music. As a young child, I just did it for fun, but over the years, I began to realize my interest in wanting more of that freedom to express myself. I searched for it. I yearned to do more than simply draw. At age 11, I gravitated towards the playing a stringed instrument and I fell in love instantaneously with its resonant voice. It was an extension of my own voice that could never possibly reach such a high range. That is when I knew that I wanted to invest my time and energy into an instrument that branched out to different forms of expression. I believe a career in the arts can provide a creative outlet that is both invigorating and gives the human mind a sense of clarity when performing. In the arts, when musicians and artists are doing that particular act that allows for the individual to channel their self-expression, it influences a sort out of body experience. One that other professions cannot provide as you are the one giving the instrument or art form life; you become the speaker so the audience can understand what we as artists are doing.

Life has prepared for my success through the various trials of despair and defeat that have pushed me to pursue a brighter, positive, and impactful opportunity. As a person of color in a predominately white male industry of music, I have come face to face with some individuals who perceived my dreams, my aspirations, and my hopes in life to be “too much for someone of your background”. I counter that with my personal definition of success: To be successful is to be able to rise above denigrating statements, individuals, and in order to be persistent in chasing my ambitious goals in life. If someone tries to attempt to take my passion for my goals, I will simply counter that with my mindset of continuing to move forward. 20 years from now, in all honesty, I am not sure where I see myself at the age of 40. The idea of looking that far into the future is intimidating. I am hoping to have moved out, performed a few violin concertos, made a name for myself in the classical music spectrum, and ultimately become a professional violinist with her own studio in Mexico or the United States. I want to use make use of my Spanish and English in different parts of the world, so it would be amazing to teach in both languages. Above all else, I want to look back at my early 20s at the age and tell myself that all the dedicated work, the hard nights, and the days where I felt absolutely dejected yet I never gave up…they were absolutely worth it. It is important to know that you do not need to know how to come to first to success, but you have to know how to get there.