“It’s kinda nice to slow down every once in a while.” - Lightning McQueen While the Disney movie Cars is approaching its 20th anniversary, the message of slowing down and appreciating what and who are around you remain timeless lessons for everyone. Much like Lightning McQueen I was living my life in the fast lane. I was treating high school much like how McQueen treated the “Piston Cup.” I was doing all that I could to get to that finish line of graduation. I was not stopping to realize all of the lessons I learn along the way can be just as important as the finish line. Now that I am half way through my senior year, I have become a bit more reflective and have realized that it is “kinda nice to slow down every once in a while.” These past four years have gone by like a blur, but now that I know graduation is near, I am slowing down to appreciate the smaller things in life. Much like McQueen has Tow Mater, I have Evan. Our friendship started in Kindergarten and we have been inseparable ever since. Evan has stuck by my side, through thick and thin. He can be my voice of reason in stressful times but also knows when to cut loose and be a kid. He is not afraid to keep me humble. While we usually agree on most topics, taking the time to understand his point of view, when it differs from mine, has taught me to slow down, to try and see situations from all the angles. Knowing that I am fortunate enough to have Evan on my side, gives me the confidence to try new things. To branch out and experience new things. Throughout his personal growth journey, McQueen also learns the value of community. I have discovered the value of community through my volunteer work at our local retirement community as well as Blue Jacket, Inc. The residents at the retirement community are my “Doc Hudson.” They have so much life experience and wisdom to share, I just had to slow down enough to truly hear it. Working alongside the clients and staff at Blue Jacket has taught me how showing compassion in a time of need can completely change a person's trajectory in life. It has taught me that everyone deserves a second chance to improve their life and if I can be a part of that helping hand, all the better. Life isn’t all about the big race, it’s about finding your crew and enjoying the journey along the way. Slowing down to look around is just as valuable as speeding across the finish line. Just like Doc Hudson said, “If you're goin' hard enough left, you'll find yourself turnin' right.”

In a day and age where most teenagers choose to follow and be influenced by social media personalities, I decided to look within my community when seeking mentorship. For my entire high school career I have had the pleasure of working alongside my choir director, Mr. Doubblestein. Mr. Doubblestein is a man that daily demonstrates his passion for music and education, leads by example, creates a safe space for every student and who is always pushing us to pursue excellence. While most people would shutter at the thought of spending all day with rowdy high schoolers, our director chooses to also spend his afternoons, evenings, and weekends with his show choir students. He has invited each and everyone of his show choir members into his family, allowing us to celebrate his family milestones (birth of children/birthdays/anniversaries) while also celebrating our milestones. He not only welcomes each student into the crazy family that is the show choir, but he welcomes in the parents and younger siblings as well. Everyone feels welcomed, accepted, and loved by Mr. D. Any opportunity he has to pour into his students, he will take. He is an individual who practices what he preaches and leads by example. His leadership extends beyond the classroom and stage. Watching him interact with his wife and two children over the past four years has taught me the importance of patience, clear communication, dependability, kindness, adaptability, and honesty. He has taught me what it means to be an excellent father to young children while still being a loving husband to his wife. He takes the time to meet with students who are struggling academically but also socially. He is a sounding board, a listening ear, and often a counselor. Just as he had led me by example, he is now allowing me to lead middle school students by example though the peer tutoring program. Under his guidance I am currently working with our local middle school show choir, helping and guiding them. He has cultivated a classroom environment of acceptance, a safe space for any student who steps through the door. Students who may have felt like outcasts in other classrooms, instantly find their "home" in his classroom. Once during a time of a horrific historical event that led to a loss of life, some students spoke opinions of being joyful, dismissing the fact that the situation ended in someone losing their life. This discouraged and upset me. I decided to speak with him about the situation and he encouraged me to tune out the negative comments while also encouraging me to stay focused on remaining calm. He reminded me that the world will always have negativity but that it is my responsibility to find positivity in the world. To not only find positivity, but to spread it. His willingness to be an open book about his emotions has allowed me to better understand my own. Under his guidance, I was able to realize that my love of music and helping others can be transformed into a career of Music Therapy. He has shown me how music can inspire and heal the hurting, how it can bring light to a dark place and how true influencers can inspire those around them, even when outside of the typical classroom walls. His continual encouragement and guidance have influenced me to continually strive for excellence, to always lead by example, speak with honesty and to always have integrity. Most importantly he has inspired me to lead a life that will in turn inspire and influence those around me.

Uehudi Menuhin once said, “Music is a therapy. It is a communication far more powerful than words, far more immediate, far more efficient.” Ever since I was a kid, I have loved music. It did not matter if I was listening to it, singing along with it, or attempting to create it, music was clearly going to be an influential thing in my life. I was always singing and dancing along to every tune that was played, often making up silly verses and even sillier dance moves. Middle school show choir allowed me to combine my showmanship personality with my love of music. Performing music allowed me to escape the daily chaos of the world and experience peace and joy. Music quickly became my therapy and my escape from reality. Surviving high school is tough. I knew I wanted to not only survive high school but thrive. I decided to audition for my school's extra curricular competitive show choir. For the next 4 years I spent every Tuesday and Wednesday evening on stage, singing and dancing. Joining the show choir allowed me to join an amazing family of peers and parents who have encouraged and supported me every step of the way. Joining the show choir gave me confidence. If I can perform a solo in a crowded auditorium when all eyes are on me, I can do just about anything. My passion for performing music also led me to becoming a member of my school's theater department, allowing me to follow in my great great grandfather's footsteps. He was a vaudeville performer who later opened a record shop and soda fountain. Listening to my grandfather recount his memories of sitting at the counter, sipping a rootbeer float, as his grandfather played the latest records is one of my favorite ways to engage in conversation with my grandfather while also keeping the past alive. Knowing that music has served as a form of therapy for several generations of my family only reassures me that choosing a career path involving music is the correct path. Music led me to my future career, Music Therapy. This job combines the two things I love most, music and helping others. I began to research the idea of a career in Music Therapy my sophomore year of high school and learned that according to Science, music helps with several mental disorders and improves the quality of life as well. This resonated with me as my grandmother had been diagnosed with dementia and while I had seen some aspects of her mental abilities start to decline, her love for music never did. I began to help my mother care for my grandmother and quickly discovered that when grandma is having a particularly difficult day, I simply need to play a recording of her brother playing the piano. The classical tunes drifting from the speakers instantly calms her down and clears her mind. I should not be shocked by this as music does the same thing for me. High school can be overwhelming; new friends and experiences along with academic challenges. The one thing that never changed for me was music. It has been my therapy, my coping strategy and even my way of making the world make sense. It has allowed me to make new friends through my participation in show choir and musical theater. It has even led me to my future career in Music Therapy.

Uehudi Menuhin once said, “Music is a therapy. It is a communication far more powerful than words, far more immediate, far more efficient.” Ever since I was a kid, I have loved music. It did not matter if I was listening to it, singing along with it, or attempting to create it, music was clearly going to be an influential thing in my life. I was always singing and dancing along to every tune that was played, often making up silly verses and even sillier dance moves. Middle school show choir allowed me to combine my showmanship personality with my love of music. Performing music allowed me to escape the daily chaos of the world and experience peace and joy. Music quickly became my therapy and my escape from reality. Surviving high school is tough. I knew I wanted to not only survive high school but thrive. I decided to audition for my school's extra curricular competitive show choir. For the next 4 years I spent every Tuesday and Wednesday evening on stage, singing and dancing. Joining the show choir allowed me to join an amazing family of peers and parents who have encouraged and supported me every step of the way. Joining the show choir gave me confidence. If I can perform a solo in a crowded auditorium when all eyes are on me, I can do just about anything. My passion for performing music also led me to becoming a member of my school's theater department, allowing me to follow in my great great grandfather's footsteps. He was a vaudeville performer who later opened a record shop and soda fountain. Listening to my grandfather recount his memories of sitting at the counter, sipping a rootbeer float, as his grandfather played the latest records is one of my favorite ways to engage in conversation with my grandfather while also keeping the past alive. Knowing that music has served as a form of therapy for several generations of my family only reassures me that choosing a career path involving music is the correct path. Music led me to my future career, Music Therapy. This job combines the two things I love most, music and helping others. I began to research the idea of a career in Music Therapy my sophomore year of high school and learned that according to Science, music helps with several mental disorders and improves the quality of life as well. This resonated with me as my grandmother had been diagnosed with dementia and while I had seen some aspects of her mental abilities start to decline, her love for music never did. I began to help my mother care for my grandmother and quickly discovered that when grandma is having a particularly difficult day, I simply need to play a recording of her brother playing the piano. The classical tunes drifting from the speakers instantly calms her down and clears her mind. I should not be shocked by this as music does the same thing for me. High school can be overwhelming; new friends and experiences along with academic challenges. The one thing that never changed for me was music. It has been my therapy, my coping strategy and even my way of making the world make sense. It has allowed me to make new friends through my participation in show choir and musical theater. It has even led me to my future career in Music Therapy.

Uehudi Menuhin once said, “Music is a therapy. It is a communication far more powerful than words, far more immediate, far more efficient.” Ever since I was a kid, I have loved music. It did not matter if I was listening to it, singing along with it, or attempting to create it, music was clearly going to be an influential thing in my life. I was always singing and dancing along to every tune that was played, often making up silly verses and even sillier dance moves. Middle school show choir allowed me to combine my showmanship personality with my love of music. Performing music allowed me to escape the daily chaos of the world and experience peace and joy. Music quickly became my therapy and my escape from reality. Surviving high school is tough. I knew I wanted to not only survive high school but thrive. I decided to audition for my school's extra curricular competitive show choir. For the next 4 years I spent every Tuesday and Wednesday evening on stage, singing and dancing. Joining the show choir allowed me to join an amazing family of peers and parents who have encouraged and supported me every step of the way. Joining the show choir gave me confidence. If I can perform a solo in a crowded auditorium when all eyes are on me, I can do just about anything. My passion for performing music also led me to becoming a member of my school's theater department, allowing me to follow in my great great grandfather's footsteps. He was a vaudeville performer who later opened a record shop and soda fountain. Listening to my grandfather recount his memories of sitting at the counter, sipping a rootbeer float, as his grandfather played the latest records is one of my favorite ways to engage in conversation with my grandfather while also keeping the past alive. Knowing that music has served as a form of therapy for several generations of my family only reassures me that choosing a career path involving music is the correct path. Music led me to my future career, Music Therapy. This job combines the two things I love most, music and helping others. I began to research the idea of a career in Music Therapy my sophomore year of high school and learned that according to Science, music helps with several mental disorders and improves the quality of life as well. This resonated with me as my grandmother had been diagnosed with dementia and while I had seen some aspects of her mental abilities start to decline, her love for music never did. I began to help my mother care for my grandmother and quickly discovered that when grandma is having a particularly difficult day, I simply need to play a recording of her brother playing the piano. The classical tunes drifting from the speakers instantly calms her down and clears her mind. I should not be shocked by this as music does the same thing for me. High school can be overwhelming; new friends and experiences along with academic challenges. The one thing that never changed for me was music. It has been my therapy, my coping strategy and even my way of making the world make sense. It has allowed me to make new friends through my participation in show choir and musical theater. It has even led me to my future career in Music Therapy.

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve worked with music. I was always singing and dancing along to every tune that was played. I was also very willing and always loved helping people. As I grew, my love for music only grew more and more. Middle School provided me with the opporutnity to join the school band and choir. My passion for music continued to grow, along with my newfound interest in volunteering. Whether it was lifting heavy objects or simply doing the laundry for my mother, I still wanted to help. I still carry these feelings of compassion for music and helping others today. My love for music continued into my high school career. I became active in both show choir and theater. If there was an opportunity to sing, I was there. Around my sophomore year of high school, I began to research a way to combine my love of music and helping others into a career and discovered Music Therapy. Music Therapy combines my love of music with my passion for helping others. The idea of Music Therapy resonated with me as my grandmother had been diagnosed with dementia and while I had seen some aspects of her mental abilities start to decline, her love for music never did. Ever since then, I have had that motivation and idea of majoring in music therapy. This Idea of doing something I love and helping others in the process fills my heart with joy. My love for helping others goes beyond home and school. I volunteer once a month at a senior center where my closest friends and I help with special events (ie: BINGO, holiday celebrations, community events). I enjoy spending time with my bonus grandmas and grandpas and soaking up all the wisdom they love to share. I also volunteer my time at church, aiding in the setting up and tearing down for special events, children's ministry, and as a member of the Guest Services team. Volunteering has opened my eyes to numerous career paths while also teaching me the skills I will need to be successful in college as well as in my chosen career of Music Therapy. After earning my degree and certification in Music Therapy, my goal is to find a way to use my degree that will allow me to inspire, encourage and even entertain others through music. I will consider myself successful when I am able to use my love of music daily to help others. Music Therapy is used in a wide variety of environments, so my degree could take me anywhere from a corporate setting, to an Applied Behavioral Analysis setting, or even into senior communities and hospice care. If I can use my love of music to inspire, encourage, and brighten the day for people, even during difficult times, then I will view myself as successful. Music Therapy is the perfect fit for an extrovert like myself. I will be able to meet a wide variety of individuals and use my knowledge and love of music to inspire them. It will allow me to combine my passion for helping others and volunteering with music. Helping others has always been a passion of mine and finding a career that will allow me to combine that with my love of music is amazing. This career will allow me to help others and be a positive and caring citizen in my community. Following this dream will allow me to make the world just a little bit brighter for those around me.