The arts gave me the confidence to become the musician my childhood self dreamed of being. I first encountered the arts at four years old when my parents enrolled me in taekwondo class. While not the first idea one thinks of given the prompt “art”, taekwondo as a martial art ultimately taught me how to lead a genuine life. I was taught to be disciplined, to persevere through problems, and to act morally even without the public gaze. However, the most important lesson I was taught was to nurture respect within one’s self, not only to others but to one’s self. What I didn’t realize until recently was that these early lessons were the paints I would brush onto the canvas of my future. In addition to martial arts, I became heavily invested in music from an early age too. Through KidzBop covers and Taio Cruz in elementary school, the angsty Radiohead and Depeche Mode tracks my parents would play at home, and my introduction to k-pop through BTS in middle school, I immersed myself in any and all types of music. Near the end of middle school, however, I started to dream of creating songs just like the members of BTS. I dreamt of traveling the world, creating songs with like-minded people, and performing for large audiences. What I wanted to do the most, however, was help others feel heard and acknowledged through song. Through my immersion in music, I often counted on specific tracks to underscore whatever current mood I had, including negative ones. Music was always there for me to fall back on: I took solace in the fact that the songs I listened to were written by someone going through a similar low. That’s the kind of music I wanted to make and the musician I wanted to be. I learned that there were far too many people in the world with invalidated feelings and unheard problems. I recalled back to my early days of taekwondo and lessons of respect. If I wouldn’t respect and help others in need, and if I wouldn’t respect myself and follow my own dreams– who else would? In 8th grade, I embarked on this journey and started writing songs on a plastic ukulele I bought on a family vacation. The melodies were janky and imperfect, and the lyrics were simple: but the songs were ones that reflected the same low points I had experienced throughout my life. They were songs I knew I’d have taken comfort in back then. My songwriting process was often therapeutic for me as well; I was able to push through rough experiences in my life just by expressing myself through lyrics and melody. Through songwriting, I could help both myself and others with difficult feelings: the realization of this fact excited and prompted me to write more and more songs. This momentum has stayed consistent up until today. I still write songs on my ukulele. I still dream of performing in front of huge crowds and traveling the world to find other like-minded musicians. And, of course, I still respect and nurture the desires I had back in 8th grade of helping those going through low points feel heard. The paints I use on the canvas of my future have only grown with me throughout the years. The piece hasn’t been completed yet, but I work tirelessly to shape it little by little. I hope one day I can inspire those who encounter my canvas to paint on canvases of their own, in ways they’ve dreamed and desired since they were young.

My world would not exist without music. That is to say, there is no world I would want to live in without music. With as many unknowns and variables as there are as an 18-year-old kid trying to pursue a music degree in a city he’s never lived in before, it would be easy for me to equate the blaring noise of uncertainty all around me with negativity. However, music has shown me that this cacophony around me isn’t unfamiliar; it’s the 4 measures leading up to a big jazz solo. I may not know exactly what will happen once I start, but as long as I trust in the practice I’ve put in, I know that at the very least the music I will create will be true to myself as an artist. Music has allowed me to take on any obstacle in my life with gusto and confidence. It has shown me that this world won’t necessarily eat me alive, so long as I have music by my side. Music, however, is not just a power-up against the challenges I encounter in my life. Music has also proven to be an extension of my memories. Every memorable event in my life has been underscored by some piece of music, whether that be Debussy’s “Valse ‘La plus que lente’”, grentperez’s “Cherry Wine”, or Katy Perry’s “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)”. Whenever I listen to a song linked to some event or general period of time in my past, I find myself transported right back to that time in my life. Even if the memory doesn’t register fully in my mind, the emotions I experienced back then feel just as powerful. In this sense, music has shown me that every experience in this world is underscored by music, regardless of whether or not we are aware of it. Lastly, music has inspired me to explore my own identity, regardless of the opinions of others. Artists like keshi and Doja Cat are heavy inspirations for me. Keshi’s social media feed is not just daily uploads of the same song with unrelated flashy content beneath it, but more so an insight into his songwriting process and life as an artist. He posts single-take, unedited clips of songs that don’t play off the TikTok algorithm at all; however, he still garners millions of views on each upload because he has always stayed true to himself through his posts, capturing the attention of fans who align with the same ideals. His artistic integrity is represented through the music he creates: soulful, complex chord progressions that emphasize beauty more than catchiness. Doja Cat inspires me not through her music but through the message she’s currently pushing on social media. Doja Cat has recognized the overdependence of artists on their audience and has radically changed her brand image to combat this movement. Her posts are zany and off-putting, going against the algorithm and ultimately turning away toxic fans who believed they had more control over her image than Doja Cat did herself. Through their music, both Doja Cat and keshi have proven that they can still be successful without damaging their artist integrity. They have inspired me to become an artist and use my platform to inspire as many fans as possible to pursue identities that reflect their ideals. Music, in a sense, has not affected my life at all during my high school years. Music has been synonymous with my life for as long as I can remember.

With the songs I write, I'll be able to help as many people as I can who are feeling down about themselves.

My world would not exist without music. That is to say, there is no world I would want to live in without music. With as many unknowns and variables as there are as a 17-year-old kid trying to pursue a music degree in a city he’s never lived in before, it would be easy for me to equate the blaring noise of uncertainty all around me with negativity. However, music has shown me that this cacophony around me isn’t unfamiliar; it’s the 4 measures leading up to a big jazz solo. I may not know exactly what will happen once I start, but as long as I trust in the practice I’ve put in, I know that at the very least the music I will create will be true to myself as an artist. Music has allowed me to take on any obstacle in my life with gusto and confidence. It has shown me that this world won’t necessarily eat me alive, so long as I have music by my side. Music, however, is not just a power-up against the challenges I encounter in my life. Music has also proven to be an extension of my memories. Every memorable event in my life has been underscored by some piece of music, whether that be Debussy’s “Valse ‘La plus que lente’”, grentperez’s “Cherry Wine”, or Katy Perry’s “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)”. Whenever I listen to a song linked to some event or general period of time in my past, I find myself transported right back to that time in my life. Even if the memory doesn’t register fully in my mind, the emotions I experienced back then feel just as powerful. In this sense, music has shown me that every experience in this world is underscored by music, regardless of whether or not we are aware of it. Lastly, music has inspired me to explore my own identity, regardless of the opinions of others. Artists like keshi and Doja Cat are heavy inspirations for me. Keshi’s social media feed is not just daily uploads of the same song with unrelated flashy content beneath it, but more so an insight into his songwriting process and life as an artist. He posts single-take, unedited clips of songs that don’t play off the TikTok algorithm at all; however, he still garners millions of views on each upload because he has always stayed true to himself through his posts, capturing the attention of fans who align with the same ideals. His artistic integrity is represented through the music he creates: soulful, complex chord progressions that emphasize beauty more than catchiness. Doja Cat inspires me not through her music but through the message she’s currently pushing on social media. Doja Cat has recognized the overdependence of artists on their audience and has radically changed her brand image to combat this movement. Her posts are zany and off-putting, going against the algorithm and ultimately turning away toxic fans who believed they had more control over her image than Doja Cat did herself. Through their music, both Doja Cat and keshi have proven that they can still be successful without damaging their artist integrity. They have inspired me to become an artist and use my platform to inspire as many fans as possible to pursue identities that reflect their ideals. Music, in a sense, has not shaped the way I view the world. Music has been my world to begin with.

My mother has always had never-ending support for my brother and I. Ever since I could remember, she and my father drilled into my head that as long as I was happy pursuing what I wanted to do, they would support me regardless. My mother’s attitude did not apply to me alone; she studied psychology in college and now works as a program director for a pharmaceutical company. She uses her expertise in science and communication to help get medicine to those who need it. This humanitarian nature was infectious; I saw how much she truly cared for people and wanted to do the same. I considered multiple avenues of humanitarian careers to pursue; for a significant portion of my life, I wanted to be a social worker or police negotiator. However, something felt off in these ideas in my mind. I wanted to help people and give back to the world, but I didn’t feel inclined to pursue either avenue in terms of my future occupation; I didn’t feel personally connected to either job and had no experience in anything related to them. At some point in time during this inner conflict, I remembered the reassurance I had almost taken for granted: as long as I pursued what made me happy, my mother would support me. It was at that point that I decided I wanted to make music. During some of the lowest points in my life, listening to music was my first thought to relieve some of my pain. Certain artists and songs helped me feel that I wasn’t alone in my struggle; that was how I wanted to help people. I decided then that I wanted to make music that helps people relieve some of their pain, whether that be through an energetic, upbeat song that cheers them up or a somber, melody-heavy song that gives them something to relate to. Ultimately, my mother was the cause of this revelation; without her, I wouldn’t have been able to pursue this career and chase my dreams, to begin with. Three years ago, she was the first person I showed a particular song to; this song would end up becoming my first song released to the public. When I got one of the lead roles in my school’s musical this year, she made sure to show up and cheer me on at every performance. Currently, she and my father even pay for vocal lessons so I can develop better skills for my musical endeavors. I am eternally grateful for all of her support; every song I write and will write in the future is a testament to all that she has done for me.