My name is Dymphna, and I’m a musician. It’s well known that for most, there’s no money in music. Or any branch of art for that matter. But any artist will tell you that’s not the point. Music is the cornerstone of who I am. Ever since I can remember, music has played a massive part in my life. My earliest memory is hearing my dad playing Ravel on the piano at night as I listened from my bed. I always had a song in my soul and as I went about my day I would walk around the house or the backyard, dancing, and singing songs I made up. I remember being encouraged to sing for family members, and singing Danny Boy with my grandmother when we would visit her. That was the beginning of my performance experience, and what gave me the foundation of confidence to keep performing, even today. In high school, I was given the option to participate in a sport or start taking voice lessons. I chose the latter and soon realized music was what I truly wanted to do. I was often told that I needed to pursue a “real” degree; I was told music would never be a profitable career, and nearly let myself get pressured into pursuing engineering. But after my one-year-old sister nearly died due to diabetic ketoacidosis, I came to realize how short life is. I won’t get to pursue music “next time”. This is my opportunity to pursue what I love with total abandon and without fear. However, my dream is not only to chase what I love but also to use music to help others. Music is a crucial part of how I process events. Without it, the emotions I need to process are either completely overwhelming or distant to me, making moving on impossible. But I am free when I can compose or listen to the right song. The only thing that held me together during the aftermath of traumatic life events was listening to music to process what happened. Learning to compose helped to pull me out of depression during one of the most difficult times of my life. The necessary role that music had in my mental health journey during that time made me realize I wanted to be able to give back. I want to use my talents to help others in the same way so many artists have helped me. To tell stories and express the beauty unique to the musical experience. I want to inspire other girls to compose and give them someone to look up to. Music has allowed me to see the world in ways I never dreamed possible. Without my music scholarship, I wouldn't be able to afford to go to college. As a member of KU’s chamber choir, I was allowed to compete in an international choral competition in Preveza, Greece. That week was one of the most life-changing I’ve ever experienced. It was my first trip abroad, and getting to sing and dance to the same song with a choir from across the globe brought me to tears. That level of human connection was incredibly special. Not only that but getting to hear music from so many different composers helped to spark my drive to become a composer. So how has music changed my life? I wouldn’t be myself without it. It has given me community, catharsis, friendship, leadership, an education, and perspective, but most importantly, it has filled my life with joy. As a budding composer, I can't wait to see what the future holds.

My name is Dymphna, and I’m a musician. You may wonder why. It’s well known that for most, there’s no money in music. Or any branch of art for that matter . But any artist will tell you that’s not the point. Ever since I can remember, music has played a massive part of my life. My earliest memory is hearing my dad playing the piano at night as I listened from my bed. I always had a song in my soul and as I went about my day I would walk around the house or the backyard, singing songs I made up, regardless of how it annoyed my brothers. I remember being encouraged to sing for family members, and singing Danny Boy with my grandmother when we would visit her. That was the beginning of my performance experience, and what gave me the foundation of confidence to keep performing, even today. In high school, I was given the option to participate in a sport or start taking voice lessons. I chose the latter and soon realized music was what I truly wanted to do. I was often told that I needed to pursue a “real” degree; I was told music would never be a profitable career, and nearly let myself get pressured into pursuing engineering. But after my one-year-old sister nearly died due to diabetic ketoacidosis, I came to realize how short life really is. I won’t get to pursue music “next time”. This is my opportunity to pursue what I love with total abandon and without fear. However my dream is not only to chase what I want, but also to use music to help others. Music is a crucial part of how I process life events. Without it, the emotions I need to process are either completely overwhelming, or distant to me, making moving on impossible. The only thing that held me together during the aftermath of traumatic life events was listening to music to process what happened, such as when I had to talk my brother down from jumping off a bridge. The necessary role that music had in my mental health journey during that time made me realize I wanted to be able to give back. I want to use my talents to help others in the same way so many artists had helped me. It is my dream to become a composer. I know I have a spark and a unique musical palette, and I want to learn how to bring it out of my head and into the world. To say the arts are important simply doesn’t capture their necessity. The desire to create and to enjoy art is indelibly stamped on our hearts across the entirety of humanity. It connects to each other both globally and individually. I think that’s the most beautiful thing about us. And I can’t wait to be a part of it

Ever since I can remember, I have had music in my soul. As a child, I remember singing with my grandmother and constantly making up songs. One of my earliest memories is hearing Billy Joel's Piano Man at the pool during the summer, and thinking, "I want to write music like that". Music is my heartbeat. It is how I process emotions, how I perceive the world, how I express myself, how I heal, and the deepest connector across humanity; I want to weave it into art I can share with the world. I was often told I needed to pursue a "real" degree in college and that music would never be a profitable career. But I came to realize just how short life is, and that I won't be able to pursue music "next time". This is my opportunity to pursue what I love with total abandon and without fear, so I am currently pursuing my undergraduate degree in music composition. I am passionate about exploring all the opportunities pursuing my education gives me; I’m finding new interests, honing my abilities, learning about other cultures, learning leadership and cultivating relationships with others. My dream is to compose soundtracks, my own solo albums, choral music, and musicals. With my degree, I will learn how to write for each instrument, how to compose in a digital audio workstation, how to arrange for an orchestra and so much more. Music is my heartbeat, and I want to share it with the world I maintain a near-perfect GPA, and am a participant in several campus organizations, including the international-award-winning KU Chamber Choir, and president of the American Choral Directors Association at KU. In high school, I was fortunate enough to take dual-credit classes, so I was able to finish my associate’s degree from Johnson County Community College just a year after graduating. My current goal is to complete my degree and I am making steady progress towards my Global Awareness Program Certificate, as well as my Music Recording Certificate. Roadblocks never slow me down for long. In an effort to save on room and board, I commute from Overland Park every day, taking the K-10 bus. That means catching the 6:30 a.m. bus in order to make it to my 8:00 classes. I am one of seven children, and my youngest sister has type-one diabetes, an extremely costly medical condition. Because of this, I am paying my own way through college, and as a transfer student, there is far less financial aid open to me. However, I still persevere, because I am determined to become the best I can be. I want to learn how to truly use my instrument to help share the beauty in music with others. We each get one life and I am determined to make the most of mine.

Ever since I can remember, I have had music in my soul. As a child, I remember singing with my grandmother and constantly making up songs. One of my earliest memories is hearing Billy Joel's Piano Man at the pool during the summer, and thinking, "I want to write music like that". After that, I fell in love with his music and he's been my favorite artist since then, writing music almost in a genre of its own. Like him, I want to write a genre of my own. Music is my heartbeat. It is how I process emotions, how I perceive the world, how I express myself, how I heal, and the deepest connector across humanity; I want to weave it into art I can share with the world. I was often told I needed to pursue a "real" degree in college and that music would never be a profitable career. But I came to realize just how short life is, and that I won't be able to pursue music "next time". This is my opportunity to pursue what I love with total abandon and without fear. However, my financial situation is putting this at risk. I am one of seven children, and my younger sister has type-1 diabetes, an extremely costly medical condition. The result of this is I am paying my own way through college. To save money on room and board, I commute an hour from home, taking the bus every day. However, this means it is difficult for me to work, as the buses are often unreliable and the times they run make it extremely challenging to fit in a shift. On top of this, because I am a transfer student from community college, there is far less financial aid available to me to begin with. So although I am working as much as I can, it's not enough to cover tuition. Despite this, I'm determined to pursue my degree. My dream is to compose soundtracks, my own solo albums, choral music, and musicals. With my degree, I will learn how to write for each instrument, how to compose in a digital audio workstation, how to arrange for an orchestra and so much more. This scholarship will help me to do that. I am determined to make the most of my life and to never let roadblocks stop me from pursuing my passion. Thank you sincerely for your consideration.

Ever since I can remember, I have had music in my soul. As a child, I remember singing with my grandmother and constantly making up songs. Music is my heartbeat. It is how I process emotions, how I perceive the world, how I express myself, and the deepest connector across humanity; I want to weave it into art I can share with the world. I was often told I needed to pursue a "real" degree in college and that music would never be a profitable career. But I came to realize just how short life is, and that I won't be able to pursue music "next time". This is my opportunity to pursue what I love with total abandon and without fear. However, my financial situation is putting this at risk. I am one of seven children, and my younger sister has type-1 diabetes, an extremely costly medical condition. The result of this is I am paying my own way through college. To save money on room and board, I commute an hour from home, taking the bus every day. However, this means it is difficult for me to work, as the buses are often unreliable and the times they run make it extremely challenging to fit in a shift. On top of this, because I am a transfer student from community college, there is far less financial aid available to me to begin with. So although I am working as much as I can, it's not enough to cover tuition. Despite this, I'm determined to pursue my degree. When writing music, I use the right and left halves of my brain, although I often have to be careful to separate the two. I have what I call "the artist" - the right side, and "the editor"- the left. The artist must be free, and I must let her create without second-guessing. Otherwise, the editor will jump in and smother her and I'm left paralyzed with a blank piece of paper. Once the artist is done, she looks over my shoulder while the editor cleans up the stray glitter. A piece would not be complete without both of them. My dream with my degree is to compose soundtracks, albums, choral music, and musicals. With my degree, I will learn how to write for each instrument, how to compose in a digital audio workstation, how to arrange for an orchestra and so much more. I can't wait for what my future holds, and I won't wait to pursue my dream. I am determined to make the most of my life and to never let roadblocks stop me from pursuing my passion. Thank you sincerely for your consideration.

The dream version of my future self is someone who touches and heals hearts everywhere through the music I write.

I am afraid of my life going to waste. I am afraid that the one and only opportunity I have to make a difference will be spent scrolling mindlessly through my phone. I don't want to spend my entire life trapped by a screen or chasing the next spark of dopamine. That's why the song that has the most important message to me is "Brass Band" by Jukebox the Ghost. This song is about truly experiencing life instead of drowning in the distractions and missing out on what matters most. The lyrics to the first verse and chorus are as follows: "Boredom is a gift But I've had enough of it To last a lifetime Give me something shocking Feel like I am falling I want to wake up with a start Boredom is a gift That's why I leave my time unfilled Take the phone out of my hands I want the rarest thrills So they hit my soul like a ten piece brass band Brass band Like a ten piece brass band" I don't want my life to be muffled by all the noise and flashing lights. This song inspires me to make sure I'm not just letting life pass me by. It makes me want to live in the moment and fully experience anything and everything I do.

My biggest passion is music. Ever since I was little, I would be singing all the time. I believe it is the universal language, found in virtually every culture. It connects us all across nations. When I feel it vibrating through me, it's like I'm transported to a different world where nothing matters but the sounds filling me. When I'm singing, I can share the beauty I feel with other people and make the world just a little bit less dark. The music can have different moods, from playful and light to soulful and heartbroken. It can take you on a journey or it can bring you back to where you are. Whether singing solo or in choirs, singing is like my life-force. It helps me to process my emotions and to become inspired. I have tried many forms of art and hobbies over the years, but this is the only one that I've always stuck with. It sustains me, and is truly my passion.

I have always bounced endlessly from one passion to the next, never settling on one thing for too long. There is just too much to try to stick myself in just one box. I believe that life is our only shot to do the most we can. So I’ve always tried my hardest to learn the most I can; to pursue my different passions and curiosities as far as they can go. None of us get a do-over in life, so I also believe we have an obligation to help others in need. If we all help each other, we’ll all have a better opportunity to make the time we have count. Because we only have one shot, I want to live wild and free in the time that I have; I want to experience every facet life that I possibly can. I have a list of everything I want to try, from careers to life experiences. From going metal-detecting on a beach to becoming a bartender. I want to hike to the top of a mountain, be a bus-driver, go skydiving, and see the Northern Lights. To learn to skateboard, learn to tattoo and to play slap bass. Most importantly, I want to meet all different kinds of people. Life is too short to spend it in a mediocre way. I want to try every part of life because I only have one. I want to help others to have their best shot at life because they only have one. I want to shout from the rooftops that we all only live once. Hopefully I can inspire others and help them to pursue their own adventures. We only get one shot, so we have to make it count.

I think the best way to live a long, healthy life is to not let the world slow me down. From what I've seen, the elderly who remain active don't experience entropy as much. Even stopping in one's forties seems to cause loss of muscle and frailty much faster when ageing. Diet, of course, is incredibly important, but even the best diet without any movement won't do as much good as getting out and walking. So I think the key is to remain in shape through being middle-aged so one doesn't fall out of the habit of being active. Since I want to get the most I can out of life, I am determined to keep working out as I age.

I have always bounced endlessly from one passion to the next, never settling on one thing for too long. There is just too much to try to stick myself in just one box. I believe that life is our only shot to do the most we can. So I’ve always tried my hardest to learn the most I can; to pursue my different passions and curiosities as far as they can go. None of us get a do-over in life, so I also believe we have an obligation to help others in need. If we all help each other, we’ll all have a better opportunity to make the time we have count. Because we only have one shot, I want to live wild and free in the time that I have; I want to experience every facet life that I possibly can. I have a list of everything I want to try, from careers to life experiences. From going metal-detecting on a beach to becoming a bartender. I want to hike to the top of a mountain, be a bus-driver, go skydiving, and see the Northern Lights. To learn to skateboard, learn to tattoo and to play slap bass. Most importantly, I want to meet all different kinds of people. Life is too short to spend it in a mediocre way. I want to try every part of life because I only have one. I want to help others to have their best shot at life because they only have one. I want to shout from the rooftops that we all only live once. Hopefully I can inspire others and help them to pursue their own adventures. We only get one shot, so we have to make it count.

Something I love about myself is that I am blessed with creativity. But creativity doesn't just mean you can make art. It means you can think outside the box. You can solve problems with unique solutions. You have a unique perspective. I think creativity has helped me to help others, as well as to solve my own problems. Working in the service industry, you have to find a lot of ways to deal with how hectic everything is, and I'm always working to find creative ways to streamline things for everyone. Creativity helps me to express myself through art, but it also helps me to fix sticky situations. Whether it's a school project gone wrong, or a collapsed table, I've been able to maneuver a solution in unusual ways. I also have had to be creative in order to get through college. I've had to rely on talent-based scholarships and to find aid through other grants, as well as to save money on textbooks. I think creativity is the greatest gift I've been given, and I don't know how I'd get through life without it!

One of my favorite hobbies is singing. Ever since I was little, I would be singing all the time. Music is my passion, and I believe it is the universal language. It is found in virtually every culture, and it connects us all. When I feel it vibrating through me, it's like I'm transported to a different world where nothing matters but the sounds filling me. When I'm singing, I can share the beauty I feel with other people and make the world just a little bit less dark. The music can have different moods, from playful and light to soulful and heartbroken. It can take you on a journey or it can bring you back to where you are. Whether singing solo or in choirs, singing is like my life-force. It helps me to process my emotions and to become inspired. I love the other hobbies I have. They are wonderful, but this one sustains me.

I look for beauty in everything--in the smallest details and the finest imperfections. I find it everywhere and I want to share that beauty that I see with the world, and that's why art is what drives me. I see these moments and it fills me with wonder, so I am driven to create these snapshots of beauty that help other people look for it through their lives, too. I share that beauty through many mediums. Through singing, through painting, through drawing, through digital art. Anything I can do to share that beauty with the rest of the world. I have been self-taught my whole life, but I would like to take classes and learn what the masters did, and techniques and styles that I haven't tried. If I can become a better artist, I can more accurately depict the moments I am trying to capture. I buy all of my art supplies and am paying my own way through college, and this scholarship would help me to learn more about art and to continue creating it. I want to keep making the world a little brighter and to keep creating. I want to continue sharing the beaty I see with others. I want to keep learning and making art. Thank you for your consideration.

I want to experience as much of life as I can. There are no do-overs, so I have to make every minute count. I have always been a "Jack of all trades", bouncing from one thing to another, and I want to continue that to experience as many facets of life as I can. I only began writing my dreams down last year but so far on my bucket list, I have experienced mountains, horseback riding, going fishing, riding in a boat, and learned to roll a coin across my knuckles. But I have so much more that I want to do. There are many careers that call to me and I'm going to try them all. I love animals and want to try dog grooming, as well as wildlife photography. I would like to get my pilot's license, apprentice as a tattoo artist, as a welder, and be a bus driver. Bartending, hair tech, glass blowing and making floral arrangements also are on my list. I love visual and performing arts, so I want to try voice acting, write a musical, work in sound design, creature design, and try stunt-double work. Outside of careers, there are experiences I need to try. I want to learn to juggle, see the Nothern Lights, learn to play the marimba, the tambourine, and to tap-dance. I want to go hang-gliding, skydiving, spelunking and snorkeling. I want to drive a monster truck, go to a sky-park and learn to sail. To learn to surf, to go on a beach with a metal detector, to swim with dolphins and whale sharks. I want to learn to shuffle-dance and try caviar. And finally, the last item on my bucket list. I want to be able to say I have truly lived.

I believe that life is our one big shot to do the most we possibly can. To reach the highest heights we can reach. But since we all have one shot, we have a responsibility to help everyone else to have opportunities and have a good chance at life. None of us get a do-over, so I believe in helping others in need. If we all help each other, we’ll all have a better opportunity to make the time we have count. My friends often refer to me as the "mom" of the friend group. I like to make sure others are doing well mentally and physically, so I've been known to check in on people a lot. I help my friends to map out their dreams and ambitions and to problem-solve their issues. I believe I may have a calling as a life-coach. I love forming connections with my fellow students, so I love organizing zoom calls, study guides, and study sessions to make sure we all can succeed in the class and pursue our dreams. We don't just get good grades out of it though; we receive friendship and community. It makes the campus feel a little bit smaller and I still hang out with many of the friends I've made in class. I feel like we have a hard enough time getting through life as it is, and it doesn't take much for us to help each other to experience life to the fullest. It's my goal in life to continue supporting others and helping people in little ways or big ones.

This is Summer. She's a grumpy-on-the-outside, snuggly-on-the-inside kind of cat. She loves to lay in the sun, or curl up in your lap for a snooze. She loves playing with (and destroying) flowers and that's why I took this photo, which she was polite enough to sit still for. tag: summycat20