Music has always been a focal point in my life. From the time I was a kid, constantly listening to whatever vinyl record my dad put on, to listening to my siblings play at countless concert, pep, jazz, band and choir performances, and now finally getting to participate and play myself. The passion that I have for music is derived from the intense rush and ecstatic feeling I always get from listening to or playing a magnificent song and wanting others to experience it with me. I distinctly remember listening to a recording of the band Queen playing for Live Aid at Wembley Stadium when I was around ten years old. When I watched this event, chills were running up and down my spine and I could just feel the energy and emotion as Freddie Mercury belted out the lyrics to Bohemian Rhapsody for hundreds of millions of people to hear. My bond with music has also grown much stronger since I’ve started to play at my church. Once a month I get to come together with multiple other fantastic musicians and really appreciate the process of making music. Besides just getting to play beautiful music, I have found how sensational it is to work together. You have to be listening very intently in order to blend well with others and also communicate non-verbally to ensure we are all on the same page. From moments such as these, I have learned that music will always be a part of my life. One of my lifetime goals is to spread this love of music and become the best musician I can. As I’ve grown older, this love for music still grows, yet it seems like many other aspects of my life require more time and effort than before. Being involved in cross country, track and field, speech, the musical, academics, and also trying to be a stand-up person means I have to budget my time efficiently and give 100% of my effort in the time that I do have. This can be exemplified when I’m given music to learn, yet I never have enough time to learn it outside of rehearsal. I have to go to track practice for two hours, attend musical or speech rehearsals, and also complete my academic work. The way my life is structured forces me to involve myself deeply while practicing with the band and focus on understanding what type of music I am playing. Along with this, it is also crucial for me to put this same mindset of effort toward my school work because other activities push into that area of my life as well. This deep commitment to music and learning has helped me become very driven in whatever discipline I am involved in. Across the turntable of life, moving from The Beatles, to Mozart, or to my next essay due, my passion for music is what I strive to incorporate into all areas of my life. I always hope the next time I touch the stage for a jazz band, choir, or church performance, that I will share a little bit of joy and feeling for everyone listening. Through music, I have found a passion for living and taking on challenges. So if I have one ambition, it is to expand my understanding of the language of music and to integrate my dedication into whatever I choose to pursue.