My father figure is, in fact, my father. However, for most of my life, my father has not only been my father, but my mother as well. My mother passed from cancer treatment complications when I was only eleven, forcing my father to fill the role of both parents. While it was an adjustment for both of us, my father has done an excellent job of single-parenting. When my mom passed, my dad took over her business so he could provide for us while also being able to work from home and make sure he was taking care of me. He learned to do my hair, cooked dinner every night, and soon became a part of the text chains all the moms of my friends were in. When I needed a dress for a school dance he took me shopping. When I wanted to learn how to do makeup he found someone to help. He never let being a father get in the way of the times when I needed a mother. My father has also always provided for me in any way I need. When I took a photography class at school and expressed my interest in it, he bought a used camera to surprise me with. That camera has been with me for about 5 years now, and I still use it all the time. It’s taken photos that have gone on websites, Instagram pages, and my school’s yearbook. None of that would be possible without my dad. Having access to that camera also allowed me to pursue my interest in film and photography. Since then my camera collection has only expanded, as well as my passion. I also had an interest in filmmaking. My dad, who will stop at nothing to help me achieve my dreams, quickly found a weekend course at the University of the Arts where I could learn more about it. He helped me enroll, and I began my studies, playing around with storylines and lighting, and meeting new people who I remain friends with to this day. In addition to this, my dad also found and helped me to apply to UCLA’s summer digital filmmaking course, where I was able to stay on campus and take classes while editing a short film. When I told my dad I wanted to pursue a business degree, following in the footsteps of my mother who formed her own business, he once again jumped to help. He’s helped me tirelessly search for the best programs, scheduled tons of tours, and constantly listened to my feedback about each college we saw. He’s supported me throughout my whole life, and I have no doubt he will continue to do so. He’s taught me to follow my passions, make and learn from mistakes, and that confidence and determination can get you through more than you think. I owe so much to him for the opportunities he has provided me and will be forever grateful to him.

"Thank you mom, you are my guidepost for everything." (Rory Gilmore) My mom introduced me to Gilmore Girls at a young age, perhaps too young. Luckily, most of the adult references went right over my head. The show meant a lot to her, especially because of the heavy emphasis on mother-daughter relationships. When we began watching together, she wasn’t sure how much time she had left to build a lasting connection with me. My mother discovered she had cancer when she was a teenager. She fought through her diagnosis, beat it, completed college, started her own business, got married, and had me. The amount of challenges she overcame with grace and determination is beyond anything I have seen. She always was and always will be my hero. I wish my mom’s story had a better ending. She deserved so much more than the hand she was dealt. While she beat cancer, the side effects from chemo did serious damage to her lungs, and we spent a lot of my childhood traveling to different hospitals for treatment. The most promising one was in Boston, which we frequented, and it became a second home to me. She passed away there, right before my fifth-grade graduation. We never got to finish Gilmore Girls together. We got up to the last few episodes. I vividly remember sitting on the floor in my grandmother’s house after returning home and clicking on “play next episode” without my mother for the first time. I finished the show that night through my tears. Those last few episodes allowed me to connect with her again, but then it was over. The television reset my progress to the first episode. I clicked play and began to rewatch. In eighth grade, I decided to go to the same school as my mom did for high school. It was a catholic all-girls private school, vastly different from my public school, but I was eager to follow in her footsteps. I rewatched all the episodes of Gilmore Girls where Rory transfers to a private school to prepare myself. Unfortunately, Covid hit. I still transferred, but since my first two years were predominantly hybrid, I made little friends. I really wished I had my mom’s advice on how to fit in with girls who had known each other forever. I filled my companionless lunch periods watching Gilmore Girls. I ended up finding a group, but never felt a sense of belonging. Everyone was a copy of each other, and they didn’t take kindly to those who weren’t. Nearing the end of my sophomore year, I realized my old school offered more opportunities and fewer restrictions on who I could be. I transferred my junior year, and am completely confident I made the right decision. I am much happier, and now I spend my lunches with friends instead of Gilmore Girls. I still haven’t stopped watching the show though, and I don’t think I ever will. It has comforted me through so many bad times, like the passing of my grandmother and two of my classmates. Yet it’s guided me through so many good times as well. I don’t have a mother to show me how to be a teenage girl, but I find solace in the fact she left me with something that would help steer me in the right direction. Whenever I watch, I get a glimpse into how she would’ve raised me if she was only given the time. I am forever grateful to this show for allowing me to sustain a connection with my mother that no one can take away.

My mother passed away when I was eleven from complications of cancer treatment. This left my father alone to raise me. My father traveled a lot for work, so before my mom got sick she was mostly in charge of my life because she worked from home. When she passed, my dad had to quickly adapt to becoming both father and mother. While it took some time to adjust, my father has always made my goals his main priority. When I was in eighth grade, I decided that I wanted to transfer to a private school for high school. My dad made sure to not simply brush off this idea, but to sit down with me and help me research, weigh my options, and apply. I did get into the school I wanted and completed my freshman and sophomore years there. While I was at this school, I soon realized it was not the place for me. I repeatedly brought this up to my father, and while he was hesitant at first, he did hear me out. He was not thrilled about me transferring schools again, however he saw how unsatisfied I was there and we went to work yet again researching and making pro-con lists. I was confident that I would have better educational opportunities at a public school, and my dad valued my opinion. He reviewed the facts we had come up with and let me transfer, which I am forever grateful for as my personal and academic life has much improved since. I also was very interested in film and my dad tirelessly went searching for a program where I could explore this. He supported me in applying and getting into UCLA’s summer program where I was able to spend three weeks on campus taking classes and editing my own short film. It was such an amazing educational experience I would not have had without my dad. My dad has also guided me through the college search. We’ve flown out to visit schools I’m interested in, taken hours of tours, and spent a lot of time figuring out which programs would be a good fit for me. Throughout the years he has always listened to me and kept me involved in decisions concerning my education, which is a privilege that has taught me so much. My educational journey has not been straightforward, but my dad allowing me the flexibility to find what works for me and letting me make mistakes and learn from them has really allowed me to be more confident in making decisions for myself and preparing me for living on my own. He’s given me a guiding hand, but has always listened to my opinions and valued them. I could not ask for anyone better to help me achieve any goals I dream of.

"Thank you mom, you are my guidepost for everything." (Rory Gilmore) My mom introduced me to Gilmore Girls at a young age, perhaps too young. Luckily, most of the adult references went right over my head. The show meant a lot to her, especially because of the heavy emphasis on mother-daughter relationships. When we began watching together, she wasn’t sure how much time she had left to build a lasting connection with me. My mother discovered she had cancer when she was a teenager. She fought through her diagnosis, beat it, completed college, started her own business, got married, and had me. The amount of challenges she overcame with grace and determination is beyond anything I have seen. She always was and always will be my hero. I wish my mom’s story had a better ending. She deserved so much more than the hand she was dealt. While she beat cancer, the side effects from chemo did serious damage to her lungs, and we spent a lot of my childhood traveling to different hospitals for treatment. The most promising one was in Boston, which we frequented, and it became a second home to me. She passed away there, right before my fifth-grade graduation. We never got to finish Gilmore Girls together. We got up to the last few episodes. I vividly remember sitting on the floor in my grandmother’s house after returning home and clicking on “play next episode” without my mother for the first time. I finished the show that night through my tears. Those last few episodes allowed me to connect with her again, but then it was over. The television reset my progress to the first episode. I clicked play and began to rewatch. In eighth grade, I decided to go to the same school as my mom did for high school. It was a catholic all-girls private school, vastly different from my public school, but I was eager to follow in her footsteps. I rewatched all the episodes of Gilmore Girls where Rory transfers to a private school to prepare myself. Unfortunately, Covid hit. I still transferred, but since my first two years were predominantly hybrid, I made little friends. I really wished I had my mom’s advice on how to fit in with girls who had known each other forever. I filled my companionless lunch periods watching Gilmore Girls. I ended up finding a group, but never felt a sense of belonging. Everyone was a copy of each other, and they didn’t take kindly to those who weren’t. Nearing the end of my sophomore year, I realized my old school offered more opportunities and fewer restrictions on who I could be. I transferred my junior year, and am completely confident I made the right decision. I am much happier, and now I spend my lunches with friends instead of Gilmore Girls. I still haven’t stopped watching the show though, and I don’t think I ever will. It has comforted me through so many bad times, like the passing of my grandmother and two of my classmates. Yet it’s guided me through so many good times as well. I don’t have a mother to show me how to be a teenage girl, but I find solace in the fact she left me with something that would help steer me in the right direction. Whenever I watch, I get a glimpse into how she would’ve raised me if she was only given the time. I am forever grateful to this show for allowing me to sustain a connection with my mother that no one can take away.

"Thank you mom, you are my guidepost for everything." (Rory Gilmore) My mom introduced me to Gilmore Girls at a young age, perhaps too young. Luckily, most of the adult references went right over my head. The show meant a lot to her, especially because of the heavy emphasis on mother-daughter relationships. When we began watching together, she wasn’t sure how much time she had left to build a lasting connection with me. My mother discovered she had cancer when she was a teenager. She fought through her diagnosis, beat it, completed college, started her own business, got married, and had me. The amount of challenges she overcame with grace and determination is beyond anything I have seen. She always was and always will be my hero. I wish my mom’s story had a better ending. She deserved so much more than the hand she was dealt. While she beat cancer, the side effects from chemo did serious damage to her lungs, and we spent a lot of my childhood traveling to different hospitals for treatment. The most promising one was in Boston, which we frequented, and it became a second home to me. She passed away there, right before my fifth-grade graduation. We never got to finish Gilmore Girls together. We got up to the last few episodes. I vividly remember sitting on the floor in my grandmother’s house after returning home and clicking on “play next episode” without my mother for the first time. I finished the show that night through my tears. Those last few episodes allowed me to connect with her again, but then it was over. The television reset my progress to the first episode. I clicked play and began to rewatch. In eighth grade, I decided to go to the same school as my mom did for high school. It was a catholic all-girls private school, vastly different from my public school, but I was eager to follow in her footsteps. I rewatched all the episodes of Gilmore Girls where Rory transfers to a private school to prepare myself. Unfortunately, Covid hit. I still transferred, but since my first two years were predominantly hybrid, I made little friends. I really wished I had my mom’s advice on how to fit in with girls who had known each other forever. I filled my companionless lunch periods watching Gilmore Girls. I ended up finding a group, but never felt a sense of belonging. Everyone was a copy of each other, and they didn’t take kindly to those who weren’t. Nearing the end of my sophomore year, I realized my old school offered more opportunities and fewer restrictions on who I could be. I transferred my junior year, and am completely confident I made the right decision. I am much happier, and now I spend my lunches with friends instead of Gilmore Girls. I still haven’t stopped watching the show though, and I don’t think I ever will. It has comforted me through so many bad times, like the passing of my grandmother and two of my classmates. Yet it’s guided me through so many good times as well. I don’t have a mother to show me how to be a teenage girl, but I find solace in the fact she left me with something that would help steer me in the right direction. Whenever I watch, I get a glimpse into how she would’ve raised me if she was only given the time. I am forever grateful to this show for allowing me to sustain a connection with my mother that no one can take away.

"Thank you mom, you are my guidepost for everything." (Rory Gilmore) My mom introduced me to Gilmore Girls at a young age, perhaps too young. Luckily, most of the adult references went right over my head. The show meant a lot to her, especially because of the heavy emphasis on mother-daughter relationships. When we began watching together, she wasn’t sure how much time she had left to build a lasting connection with me. My mother discovered she had cancer when she was a teenager. She fought through her diagnosis, beat it, completed college, started her own business, got married, and had me. The amount of challenges she overcame with grace and determination is beyond anything I have seen. She always was and always will be my hero. I wish my mom’s story had a better ending. She deserved so much more than the hand she was dealt. While she beat cancer, the side effects from chemo did serious damage to her lungs, and we spent a lot of my childhood traveling to different hospitals for treatment. The most promising one was in Boston, which we frequented, and it became a second home to me. She passed away there, right before my fifth-grade graduation. We never got to finish Gilmore Girls together. We got up to the last few episodes. I vividly remember sitting on the floor in my grandmother’s house after returning home and clicking on “play next episode” without my mother for the first time. I finished the show that night through my tears. Those last few episodes allowed me to connect with her again, but then it was over. The television reset my progress to the first episode. I clicked play and began to rewatch. In eighth grade, I decided to go to the same school as my mom did for high school. It was a catholic all-girls private school, vastly different from my public school, but I was eager to follow in her footsteps. I rewatched all the episodes of Gilmore Girls where Rory transfers to a private school to prepare myself. Unfortunately, Covid hit. I still transferred, but since my first two years were predominantly hybrid, I made little friends. I really wished I had my mom’s advice on how to fit in with girls who had known each other forever. I filled my companionless lunch periods watching Gilmore Girls. I ended up finding a group, but never felt a sense of belonging. Everyone was a copy of each other, and they didn’t take kindly to those who weren’t. Nearing the end of my sophomore year, I realized my old school offered more opportunities and fewer restrictions on who I could be. I transferred my junior year, and am completely confident I made the right decision. I am much happier, and now I spend my lunches with friends instead of Gilmore Girls. I still haven’t stopped watching the show though, and I don’t think I ever will. It has comforted me through so many bad times, like the passing of my grandmother and two of my classmates. Yet it’s guided me through so many good times as well. I don’t have a mother to show me how to be a teenage girl, but I find solace in the fact she left me with something that would help steer me in the right direction. Whenever I watch, I get a glimpse into how she would’ve raised me if she was only given the time. I am forever grateful to this show for allowing me to sustain a connection with my mother that no one can take away.

"Thank you mom, you are my guidepost for everything." (Rory Gilmore) My mom introduced me to Gilmore Girls at a young age, perhaps too young. Luckily, most of the adult references went right over my head. The show meant a lot to her, especially because of the heavy emphasis on mother-daughter relationships. When we began watching together, she wasn’t sure how much time she had left to build a lasting connection with me. My mother discovered she had cancer when she was a teenager. She fought through her diagnosis, beat it, completed college, started her own business, got married, and had me. The amount of challenges she overcame with grace and determination is beyond anything I have seen. She always was and always will be my hero. I wish my mom’s story had a better ending. She deserved so much more than the hand she was dealt. While she beat cancer, the side effects from chemo did serious damage to her lungs, and we spent a lot of my childhood traveling to different hospitals for treatment. The most promising one was in Boston, which we frequented, and it became a second home to me. She passed away there, right before my fifth-grade graduation. We never got to finish Gilmore Girls together. We got up to the last few episodes. I vividly remember sitting on the floor in my grandmother’s house after returning home and clicking on “play next episode” without my mother for the first time. I finished the show that night through my tears. Those last few episodes allowed me to connect with her again, but then it was over. The television reset my progress to the first episode. I clicked play and began to rewatch. In eighth grade, I decided to go to the same school as my mom did for high school. It was a catholic all-girls private school, vastly different from my public school, but I was eager to follow in her footsteps. I rewatched all the episodes of Gilmore Girls where Rory transfers to a private school to prepare myself. Unfortunately, Covid hit. I still transferred, but since my first two years were predominantly hybrid, I made little friends. I really wished I had my mom’s advice on how to fit in with girls who had known each other forever. I filled my companionless lunch periods watching Gilmore Girls. I ended up finding a group, but never felt a sense of belonging. Everyone was a copy of each other, and they didn’t take kindly to those who weren’t. Nearing the end of my sophomore year, I realized my old school offered more opportunities and fewer restrictions on who I could be. I transferred my junior year, and am completely confident I made the right decision. I am much happier, and now I spend my lunches with friends instead of Gilmore Girls. I still haven’t stopped watching the show though, and I don’t think I ever will. It has comforted me through so many bad times, like the passing of my grandmother and two of my classmates. Yet it’s guided me through so many good times as well. I don’t have a mother to show me how to be a teenage girl, but I find solace in the fact she left me with something that would help steer me in the right direction. Whenever I watch, I get a glimpse into how she would’ve raised me if she was only given the time. I am forever grateful to this show for allowing me to sustain a connection with my mother that no one can take away.

"Thank you mom, you are my guidepost for everything." (Rory Gilmore) My mom introduced me to Gilmore Girls at a young age, perhaps too young. Luckily, most of the adult references went right over my head. The show meant a lot to her, especially because of the heavy emphasis on mother-daughter relationships. When we began watching together, she wasn’t sure how much time she had left to build a lasting connection with me. My mother discovered she had cancer when she was a teenager. She fought through her diagnosis, beat it, completed college, started her own business, got married, and had me. The amount of challenges she overcame with grace and determination is beyond anything I have seen. She always was and always will be my hero. I wish my mom’s story had a better ending. She deserved so much more than the hand she was dealt. While she beat cancer, the side effects from chemo did serious damage to her lungs, and we spent a lot of my childhood traveling to different hospitals for treatment. The most promising one was in Boston, which we frequented, and it became a second home to me. She passed away there, right before my fifth-grade graduation. We never got to finish Gilmore Girls together. We got up to the last few episodes. I vividly remember sitting on the floor in my grandmother’s house after returning home and clicking on “play next episode” without my mother for the first time. I finished the show that night through my tears. Those last few episodes allowed me to connect with her again, but then it was over. The television reset my progress to the first episode. I clicked play and began to rewatch. In eighth grade, I decided to go to the same school as my mom did for high school. It was a catholic all-girls private school, vastly different from my public school, but I was eager to follow in her footsteps. I rewatched all the episodes of Gilmore Girls where Rory transfers to a private school to prepare myself. Unfortunately, Covid hit. I still transferred, but since my first two years were predominantly hybrid, I made little friends. I really wished I had my mom’s advice on how to fit in with girls who had known each other forever. I filled my companionless lunch periods watching Gilmore Girls. I ended up finding a group, but never felt a sense of belonging. Everyone was a copy of each other, and they didn’t take kindly to those who weren’t. Nearing the end of my sophomore year, I realized my old school offered more opportunities and fewer restrictions on who I could be. I transferred my junior year, and am completely confident I made the right decision. I am much happier, and now I spend my lunches with friends instead of Gilmore Girls. I still haven’t stopped watching the show though, and I don’t think I ever will. It has comforted me through so many bad times, like the passing of my grandmother and two of my classmates. Yet it’s guided me through so many good times as well. I don’t have a mother to show me how to be a teenage girl, but I find solace in the fact she left me with something that would help steer me in the right direction. Whenever I watch, I get a glimpse into how she would’ve raised me if she was only given the time. I am forever grateful to this show for allowing me to sustain a connection with my mother that no one can take away.

"Thank you mom, you are my guidepost for everything." (Rory Gilmore) My mom introduced me to Gilmore Girls at a young age, perhaps too young. Luckily, most of the adult references went right over my head. The show meant a lot to her, especially because of the heavy emphasis on mother-daughter relationships. When we began watching together, she wasn’t sure how much time she had left to build a lasting connection with me. My mother discovered she had cancer when she was a teenager. She fought through her diagnosis, beat it, completed college, started her own business, got married, and had me. The amount of challenges she overcame with grace and determination is beyond anything I have seen. She always was and always will be my hero. I wish my mom’s story had a better ending. She deserved so much more than the hand she was dealt. While she beat cancer, the side effects from chemo did serious damage to her lungs, and we spent a lot of my childhood traveling to different hospitals for treatment. The most promising one was in Boston, which we frequented, and it became a second home to me. She passed away there, right before my fifth-grade graduation. We never got to finish Gilmore Girls together. We got so close, right up to the last few episodes. I vividly remember sitting on the floor in my grandmother’s house after returning home and clicking on “play next episode” without my mother for the first time. I finished the show that night through my tears. It was bittersweet. Those last few episodes allowed me to connect with her again, but then it was over. The television had reset my progress to the first episode. I clicked play and began to rewatch. In eighth grade, I decided to go to the same school as my mom did for high school. It was a catholic all-girls private school, vastly different from my public school, but I was eager to follow in her footsteps. I rewatched all the episodes of Gilmore Girls where Rory transfers to a private school to prepare myself. Unfortunately, Covid hit at the end of my eighth-grade year. I still transferred, but since my first two years were predominantly hybrid, I made little friends. I really wished I had my mom’s advice on how to fit in with girls who had known each other forever. I filled my companionless lunch periods watching Gilmore Girls because Rory had the same issue. Unfortunately, television isn’t real life and I couldn’t magically make friends like she did. I ended up finding a group, but never felt a sense of belonging. Everyone was a copy of each other, and they didn’t take kindly to those who weren’t. Nearing the end of my sophomore year, I realized my old school offered more opportunities and fewer restrictions on who I could be. I transferred my junior year, and am completely confident I made the right decision. I am so much happier, and now I spend my lunches with friends instead of Gilmore Girls. I still haven’t stopped watching the show though, and I don’t think I ever will. It has comforted me through so many bad times, like the passing of my grandmother and two of my classmates. Yet it’s guided me through so many good times as well. I don’t have a mother to show me how to be a teenage girl, but I find solace in the fact she left me with something that would help steer me in the right direction. Whenever I watch, I get a glimpse into how she would’ve raised me if she was only given the time. I am forever grateful to this show for allowing me to sustain a connection with my mother that no one can take away.

"Thank you mom, you are my guidepost for everything." (Rory Gilmore) My mom introduced me to Gilmore Girls at a young age, perhaps too young. Luckily, most of the adult references went right over my head. The show meant a lot to her, especially because of the heavy emphasis on mother-daughter relationships. When we began watching together, she wasn’t sure how much time she had left to build a lasting connection with me. My mother discovered she had cancer when she was a teenager. She fought through her diagnosis, beat it, completed college, started her own business, got married, and had me. The amount of challenges she overcame with grace and determination is beyond anything I have seen. She always was and always will be my hero. I wish my mom’s story had a better ending. She deserved so much more than the hand she was dealt. While she beat cancer, the side effects from chemo did serious damage to her lungs, and we spent a lot of my childhood traveling to different hospitals for treatment. The most promising one was in Boston, which we frequented, and it became a second home to me. She passed away there, right before my fifth-grade graduation. We never got to finish Gilmore Girls together. We got so close, right up to the last few episodes. I vividly remember sitting on the floor in my grandmother’s house after returning home and clicking on “play next episode” without my mother for the first time. I finished the show that night through my tears. Those last few episodes allowed me to connect with her again, but then it was over. The television reset my progress to the first episode. I clicked play and began to rewatch. In eighth grade, I decided to go to the same school as my mom did for high school. It was a catholic all-girls private school, vastly different from my public school, but I was eager to follow in her footsteps. I rewatched all the episodes of Gilmore Girls where Rory transfers to a private school to prepare myself. Unfortunately, Covid hit. I still transferred, but since my first two years were predominantly hybrid, I made little friends. I wished I had my mom’s advice on how to fit in with girls who had known each other forever. I filled my lunch periods watching Gilmore Girls. I ended up finding a group, but never felt a sense of belonging. Everyone was a copy of each other, and they didn’t take kindly to those who weren’t. Nearing the end of my sophomore year, I realized my old school offered more opportunities and fewer restrictions on who I could be. I transferred my junior year, and am completely confident I made the right decision. I am much happier, and now spend my lunches with friends instead of Gilmore Girls. I still haven’t stopped watching the show though, and I don’t think I ever will. It has comforted me through so many bad times, like the passing of my grandmother and two of my classmates. Yet it’s guided me through so many good times as well. I don’t have a mother to show me how to be a teenage girl, but I find solace in the fact she left me with something that would help steer me in the right direction. Whenever I watch, I get a glimpse into how she would’ve raised me if she was only given the time. I am forever grateful to this show for allowing me to sustain a connection with my mother that no one can take away.

Growing up, I was surrounded by strong women in business. My mother started her own graphic design business in her childhood bedroom. She handled all the work, clients, marketing, and finances herself. It flourished, and she had design contracts with almost all of the major hospitals surrounding Philadelphia by the time she passed. My aunt started her own business as well. She and her business partner established a successful branding firm, which now deals with many high profile clients and employs over a dozen workers. My grandmother worked incredibly hard to climb the ladder in pharmaceutical sales at a time where women often didn’t work jobs such as that. All three of these women have been endlessly supportive of me and their success stories have created a desire within me to work in business. However, I don’t plan on following any of their career paths. My dream is to find a job on the business side of the music industry. While the performers are what most people think of when talking about the music industry, those who work in the background (the managers, producers, marketers) are truly the backbone of the field and I hope to one day be among them. I believe music is such a great tool for connection. I myself have become closer with people in my life after finding out we like a similar artist. This is why I want to join the music industry. Being on the business side of it and being able to spread songs that an artist put their heart and soul into will be incredibly rewarding. I might not be the one actually creating the music that people connect with, but I will be more than happy being the one who pushes it out to the audience. Artists work so hard, and as a music lover, I want to be able to help make that work successful. I plan to take all the business skills I’ve learned from my family over the years, as well as what I learn at university, to help make artists’ dreams come true. While I once dreamed of being in the spotlight, I know realize that is not where I'm meant to be. I'm so excited to begin this career because I know that I will be able to change the music industry for the better and help artists dream bigger. I will be a driving force for change within the industry.

Growing up, I was surrounded by strong women in business. My mother started her own graphic design business in her childhood bedroom. She handled all the work, clients, marketing, and finances herself. It flourished, and she had design contracts with almost all of the major hospitals surrounding Philadelphia by the time she passed. My aunt started her own business as well. She and her business partner established a successful branding firm, which now deals with many high profile clients and employs over a dozen workers. My grandmother worked incredibly hard to climb the ladder in pharmaceutical sales at a time where women often didn’t work jobs such as that. All three of these women have been endlessly supportive of me and their success stories have created a desire within me to work in business. However, I don’t plan on following any of their career paths. My dream is to find a job on the business side of the music industry. While the performers are what most people think of when talking about the music industry, those who work in the background (the managers, producers, marketers) are truly the backbone of the field and I hope to one day be among them. I believe music is such a great tool for connection. I myself have become closer with people in my life after finding out we like a similar artist. This is why I want to join the music industry. Being on the business side of it and being able to spread songs that an artist put their heart and soul into will be incredibly rewarding. I might not be the one actually creating the music that people connect with, but I will be more than happy being the one who pushes it out to the audience. Artists work so hard, and as a music lover, I want to be able to help make that work successful. I plan to take all the business skills I’ve learned from my family over the years, as well as what I learn at university, to help make artists’ dreams come true. While I once dreamed of being in the spotlight, I know realize that is not where I'm meant to be. I'm so excited to begin this career because I know that I will be able to change the music industry for the better and help artists dream bigger. I will be a driving force for change within the industry.

Growing up, I was surrounded by strong women in business. My mother started her own graphic design business in her childhood bedroom. She handled all the work, clients, marketing, and finances herself. It flourished, and she had design contracts with almost all of the major hospitals surrounding Philadelphia by the time she passed. My aunt started her own business as well. She and her business partner established a successful branding firm, which now deals with many high profile clients and employs over a dozen workers. My grandmother worked incredibly hard to climb the ladder in pharmaceutical sales at a time where women often didn’t work jobs such as that. All three of these women have been endlessly supportive of me and their success stories have created a desire within me to work in business. However, I don’t plan on following any of their career paths. My dream is to find a job on the business side of the music industry. While the performers are what most people think of when talking about the music industry, those who work in the background (the managers, producers, marketers) are truly the backbone of the field and I hope to one day be among them. I believe music is such a great tool for connection. I myself have become closer with people in my life after finding out we like a similar artist. This is why I want to join the music industry. Being on the business side of it and being able to spread songs that an artist put their heart and soul into will be incredibly rewarding. I might not be the one actually creating the music that people connect with, but I will be more than happy being the one who pushes it out to the audience. Artists work so hard, and as a music lover, I want to be able to help make that work successful. I plan to take all the business skills I’ve learned from my family over the years, as well as what I learn at university, to help make artists’ dreams come true. While I once dreamed of being in the spotlight, I know realize that is not where I'm meant to be. I'm so excited to begin this career because I know that I will be able to change the music industry for the better and help artists dream bigger. I will be a driving force for change within the industry.

My father figure is, in fact, my father. However, for most of my life, my father has not only been my father, but my mother as well. My mother passed from cancer treatment complications when I was only eleven, forcing my father to fill the role of both parents. While it was an adjustment for both of us, my father has done an excellent job of single-parenting. When my mom passed, my dad took over her business so he could provide for us while also being able to work from home and make sure he was taking care of me. He learned to do my hair, cooked dinner every night, and soon became a part of the text chains all the moms of my friends were in. When I needed a dress for a school dance he took me shopping. When I wanted to learn how to do makeup he found someone to help. He never let being a father get in the way of the times when I needed a mother. My father has also always provided for me in any way I need. When I took a photography class at school and expressed my interest in it, he bought a used camera to surprise me with. That camera has been with me for about 5 years now, and I still use it all the time. It’s taken photos that have gone on websites, Instagram pages, and my school’s yearbook. None of that would be possible without my dad. Having access to that camera also allowed me to pursue my interest in film and photography. Since then my camera collection has only expanded, as well as my passion. I also had an interest in filmmaking. My dad, who will stop at nothing to help me achieve my dreams, quickly found a weekend course at the University of the Arts where I could learn more about it. He helped me enroll, and I began my studies, playing around with storylines and lighting, and meeting new people who I remain friends with to this day. In addition to this, my dad also found and helped me to apply to UCLA’s summer digital filmmaking course, where I was able to stay on campus and take classes while editing a short film. When I told my dad I wanted to pursue a business degree, following in the footsteps of my mother who formed her own business, he once again jumped to help. He’s helped me tirelessly search for the best programs, scheduled tons of tours, and constantly listened to my feedback about each college we saw. He’s supported me throughout my whole life, and I have no doubt he will continue to do so. He’s taught me to follow my passions, make and learn from mistakes, and that confidence and determination can get you through more than you think. I owe so much to him for the opportunities he has provided me and will be forever grateful to him.

My mother passed away when I was eleven from complications of cancer treatment. This left my father alone to raise me. My father traveled a lot for work, so before my mom got sick she was mostly in charge of my life because she worked from home. When she passed, my dad had to quickly adapt to becoming both father and mother. While it took some time to adjust, my father has always made my goals his main priority. When I was in eighth grade, I decided that I wanted to transfer to a private school for high school. My dad made sure to not simply brush off this idea, but to sit down with me and help me research, weigh my options, and apply. I did get into the school I wanted and completed my freshman and sophomore years there. While I was at this school, I soon realized it was not the place for me. I repeatedly brought this up to my father, and while he was hesitant at first, he did hear me out. He was not thrilled about me transferring schools again, however, he saw how unsatisfied I was there and we went to work yet again researching and making pro-con lists. I was confident that I would have better educational opportunities at a public school, and my dad valued my opinion. He reviewed the facts we had come up with and let me transfer, which I am forever grateful for as my personal and academic life has much improved since. I also was very interested in film and my dad tirelessly went searching for a program where I could explore this. He supported me in applying and getting into UCLA’s summer program where I was able to spend three weeks on campus taking classes and editing my own short film. It was such an amazing educational experience I would not have had without my dad. My dad has also guided me through the college search. We’ve flown out to visit schools I’m interested in, taken hours of tours, and spent a lot of time figuring out which programs would be a good fit for me. Throughout the years he has always listened to me and kept me involved in decisions concerning my education, which is a privilege that has taught me so much. My educational journey has not been straightforward, but my dad allowing me the flexibility to find what works for me and letting me make mistakes and learn from them has really allowed me to be more confident in making decisions for myself and preparing me for living on my own. He’s given me a guiding hand but has always listened to my opinions and valued them. I could not ask for anyone better to help me achieve any goals I dream of.