As a musician, I am always looking to expand my horizons when it comes to composition. In 2018, I stumbled upon a YouTube video about 10 songs for the classical guitar. Little did I know that the song at number 7 would have a great impact on my life. The song was called “Mediterranean Sundance,” and after hearing the opening of the song, I became addicted to this style of music. Immediately after, I found a live performance of Mediterranean Sundance which opened the door to improvisation and collaboration. That was the day I discovered my favorite jazz musician, Al Di Meola. Before then, I was not familiar with jazz nor the concept of improvisation. It seemed like a superpower that no ordinary human can obtain. But after watching Al Di Meola perform with his counterpart Paco De Lucia, I began to follow suit. In middle school, I didn’t know anyone else who liked, let alone played jazz fusion. Luckily, I had determination to teach myself how to play, or attempt to play, similar to Di Meola. I would get on YouTube, play the live recording, and play alongside a virtual Di Meola. This helped me develop my own style of improvisation, how to play along with another musician, and helped with my songwriting. Seeing Di Meola play various styles of music, jumping from electric to classical guitar playing instantly made a big impact on my compositions. This motivated me to create music in different styles and even combine genres. From a chill rap beat to an epic choir, Al Di Meola is a key influence on how I discovered my own musical personality. Little did I know that my curiosity on YouTube would lead me down the path I’m on today, all thanks to my favorite jazz musician Al Di Meola.

Coming from a low-income family is my main motivation to pursue college. My mother is struggling to get more work while simultaneously having to deal with incoming bills and payments. My brother is relying on Favor to earn money while dealing with the strenuous task of getting a new car. Seeing my family in this situation with barely any help from others made me determined to pursue a different life. This life involves the pursuit of a college degree as a first-generation student. I chose to pursue a STEM degree due to my time in the CITGO Innovation Academy from Foy H. Moody High School. In the academy, students take classes equivalent to entry-level university engineering courses. Throughout all four years of high school, I learned the basics of engineering design and principles, along with vital life skills like collaboration, communication, and leadership. My time in the CITGO Innovation Academy gave me a brief insight into what goes on in different STEM classes. With this experience, I decided to continue my education and pursue a mining engineering degree. During my sophomore year, I had to complete a research project on an engineering field of my choice. I chose to research mining engineering, which led me to discover the College of Engineering and Mines at University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). After learning about the different roles a mining engineer can take up, I knew that mining engineering would be the perfect STEM field for me. A year and a half later, I was accepted into the University of Alaska Fairbanks to pursue my undergraduate in Mining Engineering. During my first semester at UAF, I took two field trips to different mine sites: the Delta Mine Training Center and Pogo Mine. These two sites really put into perspective what went on in and out of the mine. Different crews perform different tasks with the common goal of extracting rare earth minerals, which are crucial in today’s economy. In addition, a plethora of Pogo Mine employees are UAF graduates, making it easier for me to get a job even before I walk the graduation stage. Putting it all in one picture, I know that pursuing a degree in mining engineering will help my family, as they have given me everything, even when they had nothing. As a first generation student, I know that the story of my family is not the story of my life. I have the power to change the end of my story, and that starts with the pursuit of education.

Unfortunately, I come from a lower-income family. Currently, my mother is struggling to find work and often relies on Favor to earn extra income. Additionally, she helps take care of my grandma, who is currently in hospice care. My father runs his maintenance service, but he has had a few hiccups which made it difficult for him to work every day, like his hernia injury and his truck being repoed. My older brother is the main breadwinner of the house right now, with his main source of income coming from Favor. Despite my obstacles, I decided to persevere to become the best student I can be. I continued to perform at my best academically as I graduated #8 in my class with a 4.52 GPA and earned dual endorsements in STEM and Arts & Humanities on my diploma. I am an AP National Hispanic Scholar who has completed 9 AP and 4 dual credit classes throughout high school. Additionally, I was also an inductee of multiple honor societies, including the Tri-M Music Honor Society, the National Technical Honor Society, and the RHO Kappa Social Studies Honor Society. I served in numerous clubs including Technology Student Association, FTC & VEX Robotics, Texas Alliance for Minorities in Engineering, Drone Club, and Literary Magazine. Being a member of the CITGO Innovation Academy at Foy H. Moody High School taught me the fundamental basics of what goes on in the engineering world. From perspective drawing to collaborating with a group in a year-long project, the Innovation Academy gave me a first-hand introduction to what engineers across the world are doing today. This coupled with STEM extracurriculars like Robotics made me want to get a degree and job in the STEM field. That’s why I plan on majoring in Mining Engineering at University of Alaska Fairbanks to get a career as a mining engineer. With every challenge I face, my desire to change my life grows. I know if I do nothing, I will be stuck in the same situation I face daily. With every passing day, I am one step closer to getting my bachelor’s and helping my family. Even if it means traveling over 4,000 miles to the hotspot of my career field, I am willing to make that sacrifice. I want to help out my family as they have given me everything they could to mold me into the person, the man, and the son that I am and will be.

In retrospect, I never realized how much music has shaped my worldview - both as a composer and a listener. When I was around 13 years old, I was a huge metal elitist. The only thing that I thought was good was old-school metal bands like Metallica and Iron Maiden. I never realized how annoying and moronic my mindset was at that time. Then during the summer of 2018, I started my journey of discovering new bands, new styles, and new music. It all started when I thought to myself, “I should listen to other bands. Maybe some of the songs I discover will change my life and become my new favorite shower tunes.” The way I would discover new music was to look up other musical projects that my favorite musicians also took part in. It became a sort of “musical multiverse,” as different musicians overlapped and collaborated on albums with other lesser-known acts. After discovering a wide array of music, from cinematic metal acts such as Luca Turilli, to ethnic Turkish music from Aşık Veysel, to the 19th-century aura of Francisco Tarrega, I realized how much I’ve been withholding myself from such beautiful and ingenious compositions. Now that I am taking songwriting and composition more seriously, I have a plethora of inspirational avenues to draw my musical ideas from. This challenges me to push my musical boundaries to express my inner thoughts and feelings in the musical language. Prior, I would have been writing the same type of music for most of my life. While there’s nothing wrong with that, I can’t fathom the idea after being exposed to new kinds of music. I have so many different ideas and ways of expression that sometimes I need a string quartet or a techno groove just to get my thoughts out of me. This also ties in with how music shaped my worldview as a listener. I have stumbled upon some of the most beautiful, breathtaking, and soul-aching songs since my 2018 journey. Sadly, the musicians who wrote these songs are completely overshadowed by more popular artists. I am not belittling pop artists, as I know they have inspired and changed the lives of millions. What I’m saying is that I have become aware of the harsh reality for the majority of musicians. Most of them will never obtain a living salary from their work which has been given every ounce of heart and soul. This made me respect the small-time musicians at the local music bars and appreciate the effort they put in to attempt to live out their dream. In addition, the local musicians have inspired me to keep composing and playing music for the sole purpose of having music play a part in my everyday life. From appreciating different genres to sharing the unknown music of the world, music has made me more humble, more respectful, and more open to new ideas and concepts worldwide. It has shown me the power people can possess when they believe in their abilities, and that makes me excited for the future.

The notes of sound capture my soul. I feel it in my blood, from all corners of the Earth. The notes have changed my life and led me in a direction I would be most content. Music has made me look at life differently, from the beauty of nature to my self-reflection of who I am. The classical guitar has led the charge for the majority of my time as a student musician. The nylon strings have been able to transport me to another dimension of serenity, calming any aches in my soul. I have been studying the classical guitar for 5 years and it has led me on a wonderful journey of competitions and performances. Through my trials during the pandemic and home life, the classical guitar has kept me from falling off my path to higher education. The nerves of performing only fuel my desire to practice and perform more. Whether it’s performing in a state-level competition in front of a single judge or performing in a Christmas concert for over a thousand people, the classical guitar inspired me to go the extra mile to reach my full potential. Additionally, the pursuit of studying has also inspired me to write and compose original music. I taught myself music theory, arranging, mixing and video editing from YouTube and experimentation. I have created music videos for my original songs for the whole world to hear and be inspired by. Similar to classical guitar, the art of creating music has expanded my musical abilities as I have composed rock, electronic, new age, and of course classically-oriented music. This has inspired me to hopefully start a composition club in college, designed to showcase the original works of aspiring musicians. My pursuit of composing and arranging has led me to learn piano as well. The ivory keys have helped me expand my musical capabilities and discover the beautiful sound of the Piano. I was able to compose in keys which would have been difficult to compose for guitar, allowing me to express more of my inner thoughts through musical writing. Furthermore, the piano has helped me perform more musically and artistically on the guitar. Everything I have learned from music has been paying off, as I have been a finalist in a few music-oriented competitions, such as Technology Student Association Music Production competition and the local CCISD Multimedia Fair. I have created original songs solo and with a group, which has helped me become more organized and a more efficient leader. With every project, I improve more as a musician, learning different aspects that make me a better person. Within my music journey, I discovered a piece that I am proud to say is very important to me: Concierto de Aranjuez, written by Joaquin Rodrigo. The three movements of this concerto have become legendary within the classical music fanbase and have shown millions of people what the guitar is capable of. The second movement, Adagio, is the one that makes me tear up every time, with its melancholic motif and masterful guitar solo. Aranjuez is a 20-minute journey through a rollercoaster of emotions which I aspire to perform one day in the future. Concierto de Aranjuez, my guitar mentor Paul Fuentes, and my family have inspired me to continue my classical guitar studies as I’ve been accepted at the University of Alaska Fairbanks to major in Music Performance. I yearn to transcend the barriers in front of me to achieve my dream of performing with other amazing classical musicians and changing lives with music as music has changed mine!

Title: Forever Turned my sails towards the wind Setting forth in a journey for Bliss Sky is crying Left me to myself Longing for the Ages of Peace Realizing that my time Is running out of precious days Breezing nature, hollow-self, Searching for my clarity My life is fading out While I'm still awake With all the tears that fell from my face I'll follow the river... Breezing Nature, Hollow-self, Searching for any Clarity My life is fading out, with my eyes awake With all the tears that flowed from my eyes I felt the pain... the cold, bitter agony Yearning for my passage back I reach out towards the Sky Now we are both crying With all the silent tears I have cried I'll Follow My River... Forever

The basis of all essential knowledge in life; the root, the core, the beginning. Without the concept of mathematics, the entire world as we know it would never operate the way we’re familiar with. In fact, in the absence of Mathematics, society would be dwelling in the depths of caves as troglodytes. It is through Mathematical innovation that human nature prospered and progressed into our current era. Mathematics is crucial to every country’s economy, as it’s used to predict business growth, calculate living expenses, and estimate financial fluctuations. Mathematics is also essential to evaluate disease, virus, and illness contamination and decay. Without calculus, there would be no estimate of how fast an illness can spread within a specific time interval. Mathematics is utilized in the vast fields of engineering. Without algebra and geometry, houses would crumble, buildings would collapse, and roads and bridges would cease to exist. Furthermore, there would be a possibility of a devastating explosion within a nuclear power plant, an offset of balance within chemical labs, and miscalculations among aeronautic vehicles. All of which would create disastrous ramifications for innocent lives. Finally, mathematics helps to strengthen your cognitive abilities to think critically, think creatively, and think rationally. From measuring cups of flour for a cake, measuring the distance needed to build a fence, and calculating how to balance your finances, Mathematics is a pivotal component in our daily lives that is overlooked by many people. In my personal experience, I can give credence to this statement. There is a correlation between my strong ability to solve arduous mathematical equations and the process in which I can quickly give a philosophical answer to a demanding question. Furthermore, I can comprehend complex passages of literature more efficiently compared to most of my classmates. Fortunately, I fall among the people who have an innate ability to solve Mathematical equations effortlessly. Despite the times when Mathematics can appear to be a petrifying foreign language, the foundation of all Mathematics revolves around simple algebra. Considering the fact that algebra is my favorite Mathematical subject, the intricate Pre-Calculus questions become more discernible and easier to solve. This is the reason why Mathematics is not only my strongest subject but my favorite core subject as well. The mental disciplines I obtained through Mathematics has spilled over to other core and elective studies in my education journey. Mathematics has played a vital role in my life that has helped expand my knowledge and horizons. Without Mathematics, our lives would go nowhere; With it, our lives are accelerating.

Imagine being a grad student trying to uncover the mysterious disappearance of a famous scientist who got abducted on a live broadcast. Suddenly, you and the famous scientist are now on the run from a secret organization trying to kidnap and coerce both of you into telling the truth about his disappearance. This is what happens in “The Return,” by Joseph Helmreich, a stupendous story for sci-fi and action lovers out there. Out of all of the books I’ve read in my 17 years of existence, no book has made me excited to turn the page besides “The Return.” Even though the events lived through the protagonists are purely fictional, there is a sizable character growth between Shawn Ferris, the Ph.D. student, and Dr. Andrew Leland, the abducted scientist. It is through this evolution that we see a human connection between these two characters. At first, Dr. Leland didn’t want Shawn by his side when they, literally, bumped into each other. While trying to remain hidden, there were brewing tensions between the two characters. Shawn needed the truth about extraterrestrial life; Leland was determined to keep his experience hidden. After running through several states and ultimately evading the secret organization, Leland confesses the truth about the conspiracy regarding his disappearance to Shawn. Although they were never close friends, the growth of human development between Shawn and Leland shows us that two incompatible people can still work together to obtain a common goal. This subtlety teaches us that we can still be mature towards the aspects of life we reject. There were many fantastic books by awesome authors that I have had the pleasure of reading. However, “The Return” captivated every inch of my attention, and I will never forget the epic journey of my favorite book!

Discovering the late, great Andre Matos: the Brazilian singer, pianist, composer, and musician. Seeing what Mr. Matos has done with the music he wrote throughout his career has completely altered my perception of how music can be written and music in general. Matos has taught me how to transform myself from an ordinary guitarist into a distinctive musician. From the storytelling in his metaphors to his song’s organization, Andre Matos has changed the way I perceived lyric writing and song structure. Previously, I was very strict with my lyrics and note choices in my songs. Now, I am looser with the music that I create. Additionally, Matos made me realize just how alluring the piano truly is. From his emotional compositions like “Fairy Tale,” and “Innocence,” Mr. Matos made me fall in love with a beautiful instrument that I previously viewed as spiritless. Now, I view the piano as a vessel for which I have endless possibilities to express myself in a way words and other instruments can not accomplish. Finally, Andre Matos changed my outlook on the reason why I want to become a musician. Previously, I wanted to be a famous rockstar who sold-out stadiums across the globe. After discovering the music of Andre Matos, I no longer cared for popularity, wealth, or recognition. Andre has taught me that it doesn’t matter what the status of your career is, as long as I am happy with what I am doing, that’s all that’s needed in life. Although it’s a pain to discover him on the day of his death, Andre’s music and soul live on through the engaging and magnificent songs he has left behind. His voice and the musicianship he exhibits from his heart have inspired me to reach beyond the horizons as a musician.

The small components of offering assistance to a person faces is generosity. Whether it is giving your last $5 to a homeless person, or giving your shoulder to someone to cry on, generosity is the act of becoming selfless and helpful to someone for any reason. Prior to 2019, my Mom was a housewife, hustling to make sure I was fed and educated. Once we were faced with an eviction notice, my Mom needed to start working and revive her independence. She had a friend who has always had a nanny job for her in private care. My Mom’s friend chose to support us by giving my Mom insight on available jobs, even though she did not need to. For that, we are forever grateful. Since I returned to in-person school, my mindset towards other people has changed. Although I am still introverted, I will open up and give compliments to my classmates. I never expect anything in return; I just want them to be aware that I admire their earrings, their t-shirt, their hair, or their baseball cap. With this, I have seen their faces and mood brighten up, all from a single compliment. This selfless act is something that is taught, and throughout my life, I have seen countless generous acts. Generosity, offering yourself as a vessel of support for no reason other than your will to help.

The notes of sound captivate my soul. The tongue of foreign minds holds essential perspectives in life. For me, there is an innate connection to music and a strong urge to speak and comprehend foreign languages. This is why I will be studying Music Composition as my major and Foreign Languages as my minor in college. Whether I'm listening, analyzing, writing, playing, recording, or transcribing music, there is this invisible dimension my mind travels to that enraptures my livelihood. Through music, I am able to express the thoughts that words can not accomplish. Additionally, I have found my safe haven through Piano and Guitar. Using music as a tool of expression has allowed me to take any predicament I'm facing, translate it into the language of music, and publish it for the world to have a connection with. With my studies in Music Composition, I hope to enhance my songwriting abilities to not only compose better songs but also to become a distinct musician. I hope to change lives through my music as my favorite musicians have changed mine. Regarding languages, I find it upsetting that English has become one of the dominant languages in the world. In a bittersweet way, there is this precious value in learning another language, specifically in the United States. Since the majority of the people are monolingual, this gives excellent opportunities if someone decides to learn a foreign language. Additionally, there is a plethora of information in other languages that haven’t been translated yet. For example, the vast majority of books, studies, and poems have been written in Latin and have not been translated into other languages. There lays a mountain of undiscovered history and philosophy of Ancient Rome, waiting to be understood. Finally, foreign languages give insight into the minds of other people around the world. Even though their ideas can still be said in English, there is a humble connection when speaking to someone in their native tongue. This is seen multiple times through Youtubers like Xiaomanyc and Ryan Hale, multilinguists who are constantly surprising people by speaking their native language. The concept of languages has opened up my mind to the world, making me see different cultures from a new viewpoint. Although I only know basic level Portuguese and Japanese, I aspire to learn more about those languages, as well as other languages like Latin, Italian, Turkish, and Korean. Together, languages affect the music people create. Observing how people from different countries compose music can be an alienating, yet familiar experience. The words and musicality from the Turkish folk song “Kara Toprak” by Aşık Veysel is an example of this experience. As an aspiring musician, listening to folk songs from Turkey and other countries like Japan, the Balkans, and South America have, once again, expanded my horizons on the world. My inner attachment to music and the knowledge written in a foreign script are the reasons for my path of study and the reason for their everlasting influence on my life.

The notes of sound captivate my soul. With me, there’s an innate connection to music. Whether I'm listening, analyzing, writing, playing, recording, or transcribing music, there's this invisible dimension my mind travels to that enraptures my livelihood. This hobby started around 5th grade, where one day, I decided to pick up my untouched guitar in the corner of the living room. Fast forward to 7th grade, I've acquired some aces up my sleeves and I was playing the songs that I loved to listen to daily, slowly progressing each day. Then, in my 9th-grade year, is when this interest skyrocketed due to a Brazilian-metal band called Angra. Hearing their debut album "Angels Cry" opened my eyes and made me realize I was restricting myself in how I write music. With this realization, it became more inspiring to start writing new music. Not to mention, the mesmerizing voice of the late, great Andre Matos, made me realize how beautiful the piano truly is. Slowly, I started to fall in love with piano more than guitar. I wouldn't be the aspiring musician I am right now if it wasn't for Andre Matos. He showed me how to look at music from a different point of view. Being able to write music from that perspective has made music production more exhilarating with the endless possibilities that are now tangible. Being able to use music as a tool of expression has allowed me to take any predicament I'm facing, translate it into the language of music, and publish it for the world to have a connection with. Even if I changed one person's life, as Maestro Matos changed mine, I'd die happy. The ability to change lives...that's the best part about music.

Finally, my chance is here! My name is Raymond Tamez, also known as AreEnTee. I have lived this precious life for 17 years, I attend Foy H. Moody High School, and I know for a fact that music is my destiny. When I was 7 years old, I stumbled upon a Spongebob parody of “The Final Countdown,” originally written by Europe. It was the catchy synth motif that lured into the world of rock and metal. Eventually, I got an interest in learning the guitar and started to learn a plethora of 80s metal songs from bands like Metallica and Iron Maiden. With every song I learned, my ability and skills with guitar improved. Throughout my middle school years, I developed my own style of playing guitar and writing heavy riffs. Being a metal guitarist helped me to develop the musicianship necessary to amaze audiences, but little did I know that everything would be changed. It wasn’t until my 9th-grade year that music completely altered my path in life. I discovered a Brazilian power metal band by the name of Angra. Their first album, Angels Cry, opened my eyes as to how music can be written and created. That album showed me how to be more free in expressing myself with the notes of sound. Additionally, Angels Cry provided a glimpse of how to transition from a guitarist to a musician. The voice and soul of the late, great Andre Matos influenced me to look at the piano differently: to view it as a magical instrument capable of expressing my feelings unable to be fulfilled by guitar. The discovery of Angra led me to other power metal bands like Rhapsody, Avantasia, Stratovarius, and so many more! With every band and every album I listen to, I not only discover marvelous musicians that go under the radar, but I gain a new perspective of composing music. In retrospect, I was deeply restrained in how I perceived music, to the point where my songs can be considered extremely banal. Now, I learned it’s not just about the heavy guitar and double bass drums. Learning to incorporate different styles and different instruments into our music is a vital component in writing creative, original music. With the new music I’m currently listening to (literally and figuratively), I have also listened to songs that changed my perspective in Life. For me as a person, this is a vital component with regard to society. The vibration, the timbre, the melody, the presence of music can help form bonds and create new perspectives. Without music, the world would be immensely mundane. From my personal experience and from comments all over social media, music can act as a coping mechanism for a plethora of unfortunate circumstances. The lyrics of a musician can form an emotional connection to the listener as if the musician wrote the song specifically for the listener. I know the majority of us had experienced, to a certain extent, an emotional bond with certain songs. Sometimes, all it takes is 180 seconds to change someone’s life. To guide them towards the right path of life. To make their life fill with elation, suspense, dreams, and triumph. Even if I was to help at least one soul with the music I created, I’d die happy! Music is art, and art is a language in which we express ourselves when words are insatiable. And it is that language that connects us together in harmony and melody. I hope music can help everyone else in life, as it helped with mine!

Appreciating the flowers in the garden. Appreciating the singing of the birds up high. Appreciating the company of your friends and buddies. Once I learned to appreciate the aspects of the world around me, I was able to find joy in my life. Joy, in the simplest terms, is happiness. To attain joy, you must refrain from focusing on yourself and begin to notice the details around you. In my experience, once I adopted the selfless routine of looking at the life around me and garnering their value in my life, I was able to feel a sense of joy. Additionally, seeking joy causes an inner revolution inside of us. Once I’ve changed my actions and perspective, the world around me changed as well. I was able to see the preciousness and value of life. I learned not to live with hidden anger but instead embrace the imperfect qualities of life. It’s important to know that joy does not mean or lead to perfection. Instead, joy teaches us how to live with ease in an imperfect world. In my experience, finding joy is finding comfort in life. Changing the components of your mind and shifting your focus to the world will lead to a joyous sensation in life. Embrace it, and find joy!

Laughter is the key medicine in our world. The formula for making the people you care about feel loved and wanted is to make them laugh. Albeit you are not telling them directly, you are showing them that you are going out of your way to brighten their day. Making people laugh is a great way to establish a connection with them. Subtly, you are telling people, “I hope you are doing good. If not, here’s something to brighten your day. If you were, I hope you enjoy the laugh.” With this, you are establishing a stronger bond between you and a loved one. A small gesture like this can create a long path filled with flourished life. Even if you’re not the quickest at making a joke, just acting like a goofball around the right people is enough to make their day better. Being a clown is not all that bad. Seeing people smile lets me know that I’m doing a good job. Making people laugh is how I make sure people around me feel loved.

Jason Becker. One of, if not, the most skillful and awesome guitar players in music history. From his Cacophony days with Marty Friedman to his solo albums such as “Perpetual Burn,” Jason Becker was a fantastic guitar player. Unfortunately, at the young age of 20 years, Becker was diagnosed with ALS. With this, Becker lost all movement of his body and has been confined to a wheelchair. The greatest aspect of this is that despite the unsurmountable diagnosis, Jason Becker still found a way to compose music using the movement of his eyes and a device developed by his father. His most recent album, Triumphant Hearts, has shown me that as long as you have the music in your head, you can still be able to write fantastic songs. With his virtuosity at a young age and his heart to climb a mountain to fulfill his ambition, Jason Becker motivates me every day whether it comes to songwriting or life in general. Mr. Becker has inspired me with his astonishing music to always move forward and to always work towards my destiny.

A state enriched with history. A driving force that has solidified itself in achieving great accolades. Deep in the heart of Texas, are millions of people who are proud to be Texans. A Texan describes not only our place of origin but also our attitude and mind. There is this Texan touch we have that makes us stand out from the rest of the United States. It’s not just the stereotypes of cowboys and BBQ, but it exemplifies the mixed culture of the vast majority of people residing in Texas. To be a Texan means to have an attitude that’s bigger than others. To have virtue bigger than others. To have compassion and a heart that’s stronger than others. To be a Texan is to be an individual standing firm with integrity about the soil under their feet, the community they live in, and the people they care about. That is what being a Texan means to me.

“Follow your steps and you will find, the unknown ways are on your mind. Need nothing else than just your pride to get there!” This lyric is from the song “Carry On” by the Brazilian metal band Angra. This lyric, sung by the late, great Andre Matos, has connected with me on a deep, emotional level. Anytime I feel hopeless in a dark void, “Carry On” has helped to shine a guiding light for me to keep pushing to my destiny. Even more than the lyrics, the musicality of the song has had a great influence on me. It has helped expand my horizons on how to write music. It showed me that my lyrics don’t have to rhyme and that it’s possible to be more flexible regarding the structure of my songs. Additionally, this song has led me to discover a plethora of other bands, such as Rhapsody and Avantasia, who also have shown me different ways to express and perceive the music I’m writing. All in all, “Carry On” has inspired me in a way that transcends emotional connection. It taught me how to stand out as a musician and it showed me the type of music I truly want to create. We can all be inspired by the songs and lyrics of Andre Matos. If you are in a desperate situation for change in your life, I hope the words of Andre Matos can help inspire you, as it has inspired me: “So, carry on, there's a meaning to life. Which someday we may find. Carry on, it's time to forget, the remains from the past to Carry On!”

1. Why do you deserve this scholarship? - I deserve this scholarship because my Hawaiian pickles in the oven coincide with the astral convergence of the Millennium Sun, also known as the “Morning Star” of our Milkshake Galaxy. Sacramentum et arcanum. 2. What are your academic and/or career goals? - For academics, my goal is the assert dominance over all of my peers. I yearn to juxtapose my huge, wrinkly brain with their smooth walnut brains. As for my career, my main goal is to become a doorknob. I have always been fascinated with the life of a doorknob, specifically with the Heimler’s 7XQC-Dry Stub Sus-Innit model. 3. Tell me about a time you’ve overcome an obstacle - No. The FitnessGram™ Pacer Test is a multistage aerobic capacity test that progressively gets more difficult as it continues. Geico can save you 15% or more on Car Insurance. This is big brain time. Subscribe to my YouTube channel! Ego sum alpha et omega in nomine dei. Bye.

Throughout my 17 years of life, the pinnacle skill I have developed is creating music. Right now, I currently write exclusively for guitar in the New Age genre. Although my songs are not technically challenging, they do bring a wave of melodic aura while simultaneously telling a story or journey. With my songs, I tend to let the music write itself. I don’t force myself to write and overthink a section of a song. All of the music I create naturally transpires from the notes in my mind to the guitar. While the guitar offers endless melodic ideas, it can be very limiting at times. I aspire to improve my skills on the piano to not only expand my horizons but to also bridge the gap between other instruments. A mystical aspect of the piano is that you can write for other instruments on it. For example, you can write an orchestral quartet piece on the piano starting with a violin melody. Then fill in the gaps for the remaining instruments. This practice, albeit possible, is very difficult to accomplish on guitar. Additionally, despite being a beginner pianist myself, I have already composed a few samples that would have never been facilitated into existence had I not tickled the ivories. With guitar, piano, and my knowledge of music theory, I’ll be able to create songs that can make a connection with whoever listens. Whether it's a mellow melody on the guitar or a zestful journey on the piano, creating notes of sound is my best skill that can inspire a new generation of people.

The notes of sound captivate our souls. With me, there is an innate connection to music. Whether I'm listening, analyzing, writing, playing, recording, or transcribing music, there's this invisible dimension my mind travels to that enraptures my livelihood. This hobby started around 5th grade, where one ordinary day, I decided to pick up my guitar that has been untouched. Fast forward to 7th grade, I've acquired some aces up my sleeves and I was playing the songs that I loved to listen to daily. The ability to play my favorite songs from Metallica and Iron Maiden's repertoire took me to a joyous paradise. At that point, I was like a regular teen from the 80s who was obsessed with shred guitar and heavy metal. Then, in my 9th-grade year, is when this interest skyrocketed due to a Brazilian-metal band called Angra. Hearing their first two albums "Angels Cry" and "Holy Land" really opened my eyes and made me realize I was restricting myself in what I was hearing, playing, and writing. Until then, I was only focused on the heavy and thunderous sound of the distorted guitar as well as being very strict with the structure of my original songs. With the introduction of Angra and a plethora of other power metal bands, I discovered how to perceive the entire band: the singer, the guitarist(s), the bassist, the drummer, and any arranged orchestral arrangements. With this realization, it became more inspiring to start writing new music. Not to mention, the mesmerizing voice of the late, great Andre Matos, who made me realize how beautiful the piano truly is. Slowly, I started to fall in love with piano more than guitar. In addition, the discovery of Angra has led me down a rabbit hole of different musical genres and different music from around the world. I quickly got into the jazzy-cool vibe of Bossa Nova, the dark and adventurous sound of Arabian music, the energetic energy from Japanese Rock and Pop, and a plethora of folk songs across Afro-EuroAsia. This has led me to a current project of composing a song that takes the listener "across the world" with original music inspired from different countries. I wouldn't be the aspiring musician I am right now if it wasn't for Andre Matos. He showed me how to look at music from a different point of view. Being able to write music from that perspective has made music production more exhilarating with the endless possibilities that are now tangible. Being able to use music as a tool of expression has allowed me to take any predicament I'm facing, translate it into the language of music, and publish it for the world to have a connection with. Even if I changed one person's life, as Maestro Matos changed mine, I'd die happy. The ability to change lives through your heart's expression is the best part about music and my hobby!

In order for me to have a growth mindset, I have to be resilient to all of the obstacles I encounter. I remind myself it is okay to express the current emotion I'm feeling, but in order to walk out of any of life's predicaments, I have to get up and walk. One step forward is one closer to the light and away from the darkness trying to hinder my life. In addition, rests are okay as well. You can't walk when you have a thousand-pound burden on your mind. The most important reminder I have for myself is to not be so hard on myself. Failure is inevitable, but I know my progress will bring me to my destiny. A key factor in this is that I can hopefully connect with someone on an emotional level and share with them my advice. From personal experience, seeing someone's life become more jovial from the advice you gave them is priceless! At the end of every day, no matter how good or how bad a day I had, I sing to myself this lyric: "Follow your steps and you will find, the unknown ways are on your mind. Need nothing else than just your pride to get there." Even if it seems the world has let me down, I must take a step to reach higher ground. Our hearts and minds will never die!