"Music is the true language of the soul". Greek philosopher, Plato During my years in high school, I discovered my love for music, and playing different instruments has been wonderful in my growing. Would you like to be in a performance or art class? My counselor asked. Yes! I want to learn music! Wonderful! The chorus class is available, if you are interested I can put you in that class. But how about instrumental? I want to learn how to play the piano. I looked for available classes and unfortunately, the school doesn't offer piano but we have string assemble. She said. String assemble? I ask. I had doubts but said yes because I wanted to try something different. When I started my lesson at school I was so scared. I had to learn the violin and I never touched a violin before in my life. It was entertaining and complicated. To be honest I believe that is one of the most complicated instruments I have ever played in my life. Even though I had my struggles learning the violin at the beginning. I started enjoying playing the violin a lot. If you ask why it's because through music I could release all my stress and worries. When I play music I'm able to forget about all my problems and just be in another world playing and feeling. Music helps me through all my processes of adapting to a new country. I can tell that I was really confused and sometimes when I didn't feel well the only thing I had to do was play and I started feeling better. I use music as a way to pray as well. Because there are some times that I want to say to God but my words are not enough. When I play my instrument I play it with my heart. Therefore when I want to say something, I just have to play the melody in my heart at that moment. When I finished playing the music I felt that my heart told everything that I wanted to tell God. That feeling is the best in the world. When I play with the orchestra at school it is marvelous. Because when I play with everyone I know that it's not just me but all the other instruments. We have to listen to each other while we play and we work at the melody together as we are just one instrument. I have just one year playing the violin and it has been wonderful. I play a little bit of piano and guitar as well. Music has truly changed my life, music has brought hope to my heart. Sometimes music gives me even strength to keep going and fight for my dreams. I am still playing music at school and church. I do want to still give a chance to music at college. Because "Music is the true language of the soul".

"Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm". Abraham Lincoln Being a first-generation student and being new in a country, it's not an easy thing at all. My name is Tifany, I'm from the Dominican Republic and I'm a first-generation student. “Ve con Dios, mi amor” Those were the last words I heard from my mom and grandma at the airport. When I came here everything was too different, the language, the people, and the culture. I won't lie, it was tough for me to leave my family behind. I came here to study, to become someone who in the future can help them and provide for them. “You will have to repeat two years,” My school counselor said. Wait! What? I had good grades and I never failed a subject. She explained that I didn’t have the math required to graduate. I was confused and sad, I thought that I was trapped for 2 more years. “God, why do these things happen to me?” I asked aloud. I didn't give up questioning and trying to find a solution. Thank God I had the opportunity to do a summer acceleration just for math that helped to skip a grade and be a senior in high school this year. I studied intensely to learn a whole year of math in one month. The most difficult part was that in summer they didn't have an ESL teacher who could help me if I didn't understand something. I did my best, but sometimes I did things incorrectly because I didn’t understand. Of the three students, I was always the last to understand and for that reason, I had to study a lot of extra hours after class by myself. I passed the class with a good grade! I realized at that moment that I needed to make some sacrifices to succeed. My family was proud of me. " You have something important and is God in your heart". People say that to me a lot. When I feel tired or want to give up I remember that phrase, it makes me remember that I'm here with a purpose and God has a plan for me. I keep doing community service at church and school. I teach at church about God and at school, I teach music. I play the piano as well. Now that I'm thinking about college everything is more difficult than I thought. First, because I am still learning a lot of things and my family doesn't know exactly how college works. I know that education it’s not just a college degree, but I want to take my learning further and learn more so I can use my knowledge to change the world. It has been difficult for me to find a way to reach that college dream and education. “That is the only option that you have !“ “ That is the only thing you can do!” “ You have to be like your cousins!” Those comments I had to hear almost every day concerning college. But I want to be different, I want to give myself a chance and see what I’m capable of doing. I decided that I wanted to give a chance to college and I started searching for it with the Idea that I have neither the money nor the support to do it. Now I have to be sure to put my feet in the right place, and then stand firm.

“ Tifany you are leaving for the United States! You have residency from your dad! What a blessing”. My mom excitedly said. It was a big surprise. My mom and dad are divorced so I was the only one qualified to come with him. I came alone to the US because my dad didn’t want to take the responsibility. "Ve con Dios" were the last words that I heard from my mom and grandma in the airport. When I came here everything was too different, the language, the people and the culture. “You will have to repeat two years,” My school counselor said. What! Why? I had good grades and I never failed a subject ? She explained to me that I didn’t have the math required in order to graduate. I was confused and sad, I thought that I was trapped for 2 more years. “God, why do these things happen to me?” I asked aloud. I didn't give up questioning and trying to find a solution. I had to sacrifice my summer and couldn’t visit my family in the Dominican Republic. I studied really hard trying to learn a whole year of math in one month. The most difficult part was that in summer they don’t have an ESL teacher who could help me if I didn't understand something. I did my best, but sometimes I did things wrong because I didn’t understand. Of the three students I was always the last to understand and for that reason I had to study a lot of extra hours after class by myself. I passed the class with a good grade. I realized at that moment that I needed to make some sacrifices in order to succeed. But I have my family support and I know they are really proud of me. I decided that I wanted to exit the ESL program in my first year. My English teacher Mr.Mandel always supported me and we wrote this comment last year about me: “ Tifany is an outstanding student. She has an outside shot to exit from ESL on this year's ACCESS for ELLs test. If she does not, she definitely belongs in the Advanced ESL class for next year” . When I read that comment I thought that I could do it, I thought if my teacher could see that in me, I definitely could do the same. I started thinking positively. Even when people told me that a really low percentage of students could do it and I should take it easy, I never stopped working and trying. I did! I have one year in this country, I’m a senior, I’m not an ESL student anymore. It has been difficult but not impossible. I learn that mistakes show that we’re trying. Step by step we can reach the goal. We can do it if we try, and nothing is impossible if you trust in God. Now I'm working hard to try to accomplish my dream of attending college and get my degree in engineering. Because my family doesn't have the money to help me pay for college that's why this scholarship will make a big difference in me by helping me to achieve my dreams .