I used to want to be an author. I wrote many stories, but could never finish them. I liked them, but it just stopped feeling personal the longer I wrote them. They started to go in their own directions, so different from the story I'd set out to create. Then I shifted into poetry, as a way to express my feelings. Just free verse writing, turning my emotions into art. But still, something felt missing. So I gave one of my poems a tune. And that’s what started it all. For the past two years I’ve been collecting pieces of songs from my mind, jotting it down in a notes app and recording myself when I can. I’ve even started learning guitar through online videos, so I can play my own songs. It took me a long time to figure out this isn’t just something I like to do, but a dream I wanted to build. That realization didn’t happen overnight, but nighttime writing sessions certainly helped. Something about being unable to fall asleep creates the perfect time for creativity to spark. I have a whiteboard on the wall next to my bed, waiting for moments when inspiration strikes. Many a night I’ve jolted up straight in bed to hastily scribble down a line or two in the dark, humming to myself. When I wake up the next morning, my handwriting is almost unrecognizable. But seeing my writing sparks my memory, and I’m able to hum back what I’d thought of the night before, like a game of telephone. I want to be a singer-songwriter. Not a mainstream artist in sold out stadiums, always surrounded by flashing cameras. I don’t even think I would use my own name. I want to make music just for the love of it. I want to create something personal, something to help people get through a tough day. When people feel alone and misunderstood, I want them to be able to listen to my music and hear themselves in it. My dream may not be red carpets or my name in flashing lights, but it’s still big. It challenges me to become a better musician. Because it can be so difficult when a chord buzzes and doesn’t sound the way I imagined. When you can’t get a lyric to fit right, or think of one to go after it. But I won’t give up until I publish a song. Not for recognition or fame, but for the proof that I finished something that once only existed in my head. That’s really what I want. To be in a recording studio, playing the guitar and singing my song. For it to be out there for other people to discover and relate to. My dream is vulnerability, something I’m still learning. I haven’t told anyone this dream exists, never mind sing them part of a song. What I want is also what I fear: for my music to be released to the world. For someone to hear lyrics that started out as scribbled on my whiteboard. But that doesn’t stop me from dreaming it. In fact, it encourages me, helping me keep going even when my fingers hurt and I hate everything I’ve written. It gives me the courage to believe in myself and in this dream. Because every illegible lyric and wobbly chord is proof that I’m trying to get better. That I’m choosing to believe that this dream matters. And maybe one day those lines on my whiteboard won’t just belong to the dark. They’ll belong to someone who needs them.

I’ve always wanted to make a difference. Ever since I was in elementary school, I was always the one helping people with homework, holding the door for someone running late, or giving a toy to a friend who really wanted it. So, years later, when it came time to decide what I wanted to do with my life, I knew I wanted to help people. But for a while, I struggled to determine how I wanted to do it. Then one day in choir, I helped two friends who were struggling with a duet. The teacher suggested cutting the harmonies because they didn’t sound right. They went out to the hallway to practice, and I could tell they were really disappointed. And I could also see they weren’t sure how to fix the song. So I went over and offered to help them. They accepted, but they lacked the confidence in themselves to believe we could fix the harmonies. I broke down the song with them, practicing so they both got their part just right. Their excitement was evident with each harmony, and our teacher praised their progress, allowing them to keep the improved harmonies for the performance. That moment stayed with me. Not for my recognition, but because I was really able to help them. I made a difference to them. That’s when I realized I could turn my passion for music into a career of assisting people to grow in their musical journey. I want to be a music teacher. I’ve always loved music. Whether it was listening or performing, music has always been an integral part of my life. I can’t imagine my life without it. Music helps give your feelings words and notes, even when you aren’t sure yourself how you feel. You really feel that someone understands you, even if it’s someone you don’t even know. Music has always helped me get through a bad day. But music is more than a personal experience. Music connects people. Melodies transcend language, allowing people to communicate on a level deeper than words. It can be therapeutic and healing, as it often has been in my experience. Music changes lives. And I want to share this joy and passion with kids who might otherwise not give music much thought. If I can make a difference to even one child, I’ll know I did something right. I’ve had too many teachers who made me dread class. As a student, I know that’s the worst feeling in the world. I know what it’s like for a subject to go from a favorite to least favorite because of the teacher. But I’ve also had teachers who understood me, and that made all the difference. I want to be that kind of teacher. I want to be the kind of teacher who supports not only learning, but emotional well-being as well. I want kids to smile when they make mistakes, unafraid to try something new. I want them to forget about a bad day and lose themselves in the music. I want them to walk into class excited. Anyone can be a musician. All it takes is a love of music and a teacher who believes in you. And that starts in classrooms. Through my college education journey, I hope to strengthen my understanding of music and learn what children need to be successful and feel supported. I want to learn how to create a classroom where every student knows their voice matters and feels heard. I strive to become the teacher who helps students find their voice, and themselves, through music.

I’ve always wanted to make a difference. Ever since I was in elementary school, I was always the one helping people with homework, holding the door for someone running late, or giving a toy to a friend who really wanted it. So, years later, when it came time to decide what I wanted to do with my life, I knew I wanted to help people. But for a while, I struggled to determine how I wanted to do it. Then one day in choir, I helped two friends who were struggling with a duet. The teacher suggested cutting the harmonies because they didn’t sound right. They went out to the hallway to practice, and I could tell they were really disappointed. And I could also see they weren’t sure how to fix the song. So I went over and offered to help them. They accepted, but they lacked the confidence in themselves to believe we could fix the harmonies. I broke down the song with them, practicing so they both got their part just right. Their excitement was evident with each harmony, and our teacher praised their progress, allowing them to keep the improved harmonies for the performance. That moment stayed with me. Not for my recognition, but because I was really able to help them. I made a difference to them. That’s when I realized I could turn my passion for music into a career of assisting people to grow in their musical journey. I want to be a music teacher. I’ve always loved music. Whether it was listening or performing, music has always been an integral part of my life. I can’t imagine my life without it. Music helps give your feelings words and notes, even when you aren’t sure yourself how you feel. You really feel that someone understands you, even if it’s someone you don’t even know. Music has always helped me get through a bad day. But music is more than a personal experience. Music connects people. Melodies transcend language, allowing people to communicate on a level deeper than words. It can be therapeutic and healing, as it often has been in my experience. Music changes lives. And I want to share this joy and passion with kids who might otherwise not give music much thought. If I can make a difference to even one child, I’ll know I did something right. I’ve had too many teachers who made me dread class. As a student, I know that’s the worst feeling in the world. I know what it’s like for a subject to go from a favorite to least favorite because of the teacher. But I’ve also had teachers who understood me, and that made all the difference. I want to be that kind of teacher. I want to be the kind of teacher who supports not only learning, but emotional well-being as well. I want kids to smile when they make mistakes, unafraid to try something new. I want them to forget about a bad day and lose themselves in the music. I want them to walk into class excited. Anyone can be a musician. All it takes is a love of music and a teacher who believes in you. And that starts in classrooms. Through my college education journey, I hope to strengthen my understanding of music and learn what children need to be successful and feel supported. I want to learn how to create a classroom where every student knows their voice matters and feels heard. I strive to become the teacher who helps students find their voice, and themselves, through music.