Various pieces of Chopin and Beethoven from different rooms entered my ears as I walked into unfamiliar buildings. Being the curious child I was, my wide eyes peered into the window of a small room. A tall, young man sat on the stool, immersed in the notes of Frédéric Chopin's Waltz in C sharp minor, without a care of the short girl staring intensely into the practice room. That man would be the current head of the music school I was enrolled in, and it was from that moment that I decided I would learn the piano. I had no idea what the next 14 years were to be. Despite my initial curiosity, as I continued my lessons, I did not think too much about music. It was just another timewaster to fill up my empty schedule. Expanding my musical education never crossed my mind—until middle school came along. Being dragged by my friend, I walked into my school’s band room with sweat running down my face. But my worries were cast away when my band director greeted me with a warm smile and said, “Welcome.” Soon enough, I grew accustomed to the welcoming and collaborative environment I never had playing piano solos. Soon enough, the band room became my second home. For the first time, I felt something for playing my instrument. Entering high school, I knew I wanted to continue participating in music at school. On the other hand, the ongoing pandemic of COVID-19 limited in-person group performances my freshman year to solo recordings within the walls of my house. By the winter concert, however, I was amazed at the production of individual videos into one, and how music was still being made. No matter who and where you are, music is universal and can be achieved through effort. Throughout my sophomore year, I was given multiple opportunities besides the winter and spring concerts to enrich my music experience in the Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, and Symphonic Orchestra, such as the CSA Leadership Conference, Music in the Parks, and NYSSMA Majors. I’ve taken an active role in my school’s music program, engaging in leadership within the band as a band council member and the section leader of Wind Ensemble’s percussion section. These opportunities allowed me to grow closer to fellow musicians and meet my closest friends. Outside the classroom, I am engaged in music just as much as in the classroom. With my bandmates, I can apply what I learned to informal performances and external activities such as the Young Musicians Program at the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, my church’s youth worship group, and S!NG. I am proud to use my skills through NYSSMA Solos, in which I was able to score a 99/100 for a level 6 piano solo. Besides applying my skills outside the classroom, these external performances are significant to me because I can share the joy I have in making music with people who may not be as involved in music as I am. After high school, I plan to continue my musical journey in college. I am excited to participate in professional settings such as college orchestras and performances, as well as meeting and bonding with other musicians. I can confidently say that I would not be the person I am today without music, and I cannot leave this crucial part of myself when I graduate.