Being a member of the LGBTQ community in America is not easy. We lack access to healthcare, political support, and often, the support of those around us. As a member of the LGBTQ community, I fight for my rights every day. I speak out against injustice against me and my community because I hope that one day, people will not have to face what I have. I call lawmakers, I go to protests, and I educate people on the daily. I do whatever I can to further the cause of LGBTQ rights in America. I want to be able to look back on the work I have done for the cause of LGBTQ rights and know that I made at least some difference in the world. Going to college has only helped me in that way; I have gained access to resources that can help me further my message, and it has also helped me discover my love for education, which I can also use to support LGBTQ youth and educate others on LGBTQ issues. Every day is a fight, because I want to see progress and comfort for those in the future that are in my shoes. I live boldly and bravely each day by being out and proud, and fighting for my rights and the rights of others.

I remember being absolutely terrified when I first came out to my mom as bisexual. I wrote a letter to her and put it on her bed while she was at work. The next day, we had a long talk about how it was my life, and how I could do whatever I wanted. She told me, however, to not tell my dad. We both knew if my dad found out, I would most likely be either shunned by him or outright kicked out of the house. I kept quiet about my sexuality, and so I could not openly embrace myself; my mother and other family members could not openly support me either because of the consequences it would bring on me. I remember thirteen-year-old me learning how to monitor what I did, who I hung out with, how I spoke, and any other behaviors that might accidentally key my dad in on the fact that I was queer. I felt silenced. Later in life, I discovered that I am nonbinary as well. Once again, this fact was kept from my father. It pains me that my dad will probably never know the real me. Because of this, I have wanted to be a person of support to those in the community that lacks support at home, much like myself. I want to help lost, scared kids feel like they have a place in the world no matter what, and that nothing can set them back. That is why I decided to major in education. I want to be that support system, a home away from home, for my students. I remember my teachers being not only my biggest academic supporters but also my biggest social-emotional supporters. They are the reason I am so open with people outside of my home, so I can show others that there is someone like them that can do anything if they try. I want to be that exact support system for my future students. In today's world, people in the LGBTQ+ community are suffering. We are denied healthcare, safety, and sometimes even basic needs to survive. When I learned of Florida governor DeSantis's "Don't Say Gay" bill, I was devastated; not only as a member of the community, but also as a future teacher. I feared that this would be the beginning drop of a terrible ripple effect across the nation that would eventually bar me from not only teaching my LGBTQ students about people like them, but it would also deny me of being the support for my LGBTQ students that they may so desperately need. As a future teacher, I know it is my responsibility to teach things as they are, not as how certain people want them to be. Despite what happens, I will always create diverse learning for my students, and try to show them role models that look just like them, to inspire them to be the kind of people that they want to be.

I’ve had a lot of bad teachers. Those that silence me, punish me for thinking outside the box, and send me to the corner before I can even try and rock the boat. There have been a few however, that were shining beacons of hope and inspiration during my boring school days. These teachers let me speak out, color outside the lines, and most importantly, the pushed me. They pushed me to be better, to help others, to inspire those that come after me. They’re the reason I decided I wanted to be a teacher. I want to inspire students and help them become better versions of themselves and achieve greatness. Among these great teachers, one has stood out to me; Tiffany Wurth, my college band director and one of my music professors. Since meeting Tiffany, she has pushed me to always do better, to strive for greatness. When I came to college, I knew I wanted to be a music teacher, but I had no idea the kind of work it took. After my first year of college, I was tired and discouraged. Then, during the beginning of my second year, Tiff was my professor for several of my classes. I told her my concerns and doubts of continuing in the program. She took me into her office, gave me a sparkling water, and told me I was going to be a music teacher, and a damn good one at that. She saw something in me that I hadn’t been able to see, and she was determined to draw it out of me. From that moment on, she pushed me in all of my classes, not just the ones she taught. If I ever had questions about homework or performance pieces, she was there to help me. She even gave me opportunities that I had not previously considered. Under her direction, I was able to conduct at my spring band concert. I got several rehearsal teaching hours, at the college level no less, under my belt. Tiffany opened doors for me that I had not previously considered. She was my advisor on a research project for another class, and because of her I will be doing international travel for this project and will eventually be using this project as a launching board into graduate school. Without Tiffany’s direction, I would not be going to grad school, and would most certainly not be considering getting my doctorate after that. I reached above and beyond in my education and strove for the best of the best academically because of her advising and help. Without Tiffany, I don’t know where I would be. I cannot envision a life or education without her. Her instruction, presence, and comfort helped push me forward in school. She has inspired me to be that for my future students. I want to help motivate my students to be great, and I want them to pursue their passions. I want to be everything and more that my students might need. I am eternally grateful everyday for Tiffany Wurth and her instruction.

Since I was in elementary school, I have had lofty aspirations for myself. In second grade, when the teacher asked me what I wanted to do when I grew up, I told her I wanted to attend college for aerospace engineering and then apply to work at NASA and become an astronaut. I was obsessed with the idea of going to college and changing the world for the better (and also seeing space). Over the years, my aspirations and plans may have changed, but I still hold the core idea of changing the world for the better in my mind. While I was in high school, I fell in love with teaching others and sharing knowledge. I knew that I wanted to attend college for education. I decided to combine this with my lifelong passion for music and major in music education. I could not have made a better decision, because as soon as I started college, I was in love. Once I graduate, I want to be a choral or band director for middle school and high school. On the side, I want to pursue getting my master's degree, and eventually my doctorate as well, in music education or ethnomusicology. Both these fields focus on using music to share stories and ideas. I am a firm believer in the power of music-- it is the one universal language that we all share that unites us as a people. People are able to see beyond their differences and borders when there is music. I want to contribute to that-- I want to use my music and teaching of music to unite students, parents, teachers, and others together. While studying and thinking of this, I am constantly reminded of a story I heard. During World War One, soldiers from opposing sides came together on Christmas Eve to sing and play a game of soccer. They put aside their fighting to come together and since Christmas carols and enjoy the holiday. I think that is a perfect example of the power of music uniting people no matter how different they are. I want to teach music and create music that causes two completely different sides, cultures, or people to come together and celebrate the things that they have in common. Music is an amazing vehicle for social change. Music has the amazing ability to change people's ideas, thoughts, and values. I want to use my teaching of music to help enact that social change and help create more socially concious students that are ready to tackle and solve the problems of the world. Being a teacher is helping prepare students for the real world and make sure they are ready to stand on their own two feet. I want to go above and beyond that and equip students to create the change they want to see in the world.

Growing up as gay and neurodiverse, I seldom had role models in media. I often felt isolated and different from my peers; I had no one. When I was in middle school, I discovered the world of Marvel comics, and most importantly, the X-Men. I was instantly drawn to their story: a group of outsiders that came together to better the world. The X-Men were always looked down upon for being mutants, and they were seen as less than, but they still helped the world despite what it said about them. Many of the mutants in the comics would face discrimination, but they accepted and loved themselves and others. All of this really impacted me, and it helped change and shape how I viewed myself and the world. I realized that I can love myself, and stare out with a brave face into a world that might not accept me.

Many people believe that large scholarships will cover a majority of college, and the rest can be covered by working a summer job. Colleges do not encompass other fees in tuition, however, which will come from out of pocket no matter what. I was given financial aid for tuition when I began to attend college, but I soon learned that there were several costs that added up exponentially. I found myself paying hundreds of dollars a semester for textbooks, school supplies, private lessons, and gas for transportation. This is money that I then could not put towards paying for tuition for the next semester, and I had to pay the same costs the next semester. Additionally, I am a music education major, which comes with costs that a typical student may not have to pay. I have to pay for private music lessons in voice and every instrument that I learn. I also have to buy many instruments and materials for my music classes. On the education side, I have to transport myself to student teaching and observations in other school districts, so I must pay for gas and car maintenance. Soon, I will have to student teach to receive my degree, which I must also pay for in order to graduate. These hidden and additional fees add up fast. With the help of this scholarship, I could pay for the necessities for school year, which would help me use my own money to cover the rest of my tuition. It would take a great stress off my shoulders and keep me from worrying about how I will pay for the next semester without having to take out loans.

My journey to self-love and acceptance has been a long and ongoing one. I first started questioning my sexuality in middle school, and I soon realized that I was bisexual. I faced homophobia from many, including myself for many years until I learned it was okay for me to love who I wanted. In high school I fully accepted and embraced myself and my sexuality. Ironically enough, not long after I accepted my sexuality, I began to question my gender. I think I had had a sneaking suspicion for awhile that I was not cisgender, but spending time at college with new people helped me realize that. Having the freedom of not knowing anyone and being able to reinvent myself allowed me to express myself however I wanted. This, along with my previous coming out helped me come to terms with the fact that I am nonbinary. Coming out is a long road, but it is one where I am always relearning and learning how to accept and better myself. This process of coming out not only once, but twice, has given me a new perspective on coming out and everyone's journey to accepting themselves. No two coming out stories are alike, and it is important to recognize and acknowledge that to help others in their own coming out. As a community, we can empathize for each other and learn from each others' narratives in order to create a stronger community in which we can build and lift each other up to love and accept ourselves.

I compose music to let people know that there is someone out there listening to them. As a gay and trans person that grew up in a small town, I often felt alone and that I had no one to turn to when was down. When I discovered that I could make my own music, I found a community of people that supported me wholeheartedly. I want to do that for others with my music. With this scholarship, I could buy equipment to help create a recording studio to help me compose and produce my own music with no hindrance. I could also use the scholarship to help promote my own music instead of having to sign to a label that might try and suppress some of my ideas that I share in my music. This scholarship will give me a chance to create and share something that could make someone else feel a little bit less alone in the world, and that's my goal.