I've always known that music was my passion, and as I've grown older, my desire to pursue it as a career has only been fostered even more. I grew up playing the viola in my school orchestra through high school, and have played electric bass and drums in rock bands performing at restaurants and venues since I was 11. I've always been surrounded by music, yet I haven't seen many musicians that look like me (African-American women) in the part of the music industry I want to be part of. I really hope to add representation for black women and LGBTQ+ women in the music industry, especially in the rock and metal genres. There aren't many black voices that are part of the music scene and the dreams that I aspire to be part of, and I would like to add some color to the metal music industry. Music and advocacy are my true passions, and I hope to share my creativity in a way that inspires other minorities and women of color to pursue their dreams despite the stigmas and obstacles that may get in the way. I'm going to college to study Music Production with a minor in Marketing and potentially Political Science, so this scholarship will greatly alleviate the financial burden that comes with college allowing me to achieve my goals with music. Hopefully, with my education, I'll harvest the tools necessary to not only help with my personal musical career, but also provide opportunities for other aspiring musicians that are women, people of color, and/or LGBTQ+. *The song I shared is a song I wrote on electric bass with my band that my brother is also in. Hope you enjoy! Band Song: https://soundcloud.com/user-699765780-842269000/big-boi-conglomerate-jek?ref=clipboard&p=i&c=0&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing Bass Covers: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLG2sFo-oZ1zKNPyAgyJt5McdmCwGXmbjc

I've always known that music was my passion, and as I've grown older, my desire to pursue it as a career has only been fostered even more. I grew up playing the viola in my school orchestra through high school, and have played electric bass and drums in rock bands since I was 11. I've always been surrounded by music, yet I haven't seen many musicians that look like me (African-American women) in the part of the music industry I want to be part of. I really hope to add representation for black women and LGBTQ+ women in the music industry, especially in the rock and metal genres. There aren't many black voices that are part of the music scene and the dreams that I aspire to be part of, and I would like to add some color to the metal music industry. Music and advocacy are my true passions, and I hope to share my creativity in a way that inspires other minorities and women of color to pursue their dreams despite the stigmas and obstacles that may get in the way. I'm going to college to study Music Production with a minor in Marketing and potentially Political Science. Hopefully, with my education, I'll harvest the tools necessary to not only help with my personal musical career, but also provide opportunities for other aspiring musicians that are women, people of color, and/or LGBTQ+. *The song I shared is a song I wrote on electric bass with my band that my brother is also in. Hope you enjoy!

Being a black woman in America is one of the most dangerous experiences one will have. Black women already struggle with intersectionality, as the worlds of racism, sexism, and misogyny can be seen working together in ones daily life. Growing up, I have always been perceived as underqualified and less-than. In school, the white students would openly express their sense of intellectual superiority over me because I was both an African-American and a girl. This sort of prejudice followed me through high school, where I met other female students of color experiencing similar events. Many stereotypes plague the black community, especially for black women, and when I would meet people, comments they would make included "You're smart for a black girl." or "You're not loud and ghetto like other black girls." They thrived off of the ignorance of their prejudice and microaggressions. The perpetuation of the way black women are seen and treated in society finds its way into the daily lives of all black women. Even black men will openly mistreat black women for the same stereotypical and misogynistic reasons that are allowed in society, especially when there should be a sense of empathy and encouragement from them. I struggled with romantic relationships as most people I was around had a "preference" for white women. I am also a bisexual woman, and gaining acceptance and validation as a black LGBT woman of color was yet another form of adversity in itself. Advocacy is something I have always felt a burning passion for. When I see injustice, my instinct is to speak out and become a helping voice for those who are not listened to. As I'm going into college, I have already decided on two work-study programs I would like to participate in. One is for women's empowerment and education on the different dangers and struggles of being a woman, such as sexual abuse, rape, sexuality, and birth control. The other focuses on inclusion and diversity, providing advocacy and shelter for women, people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, and all religions. No matter what career I find myself engaged in in the future, advocacy and education on the oppression of marginalized groups will always be something I will involve myself with. I firmly believe that spreading positivity and destigmatizing the struggles of black women and other oppressed groups are the only ways these issues can be combated. I hope to help create unity and equity for uplifting black women and other oppressed groups.

I believe that one thing everyone struggles with is being one's own obstacle. When it comes to my life and education, I've become my own biggest obstacle, and the reason is my mental health. I got stuck in a never-ending loophole of letting my life go by without much effort. I developed the habit of procrastinating because of anxiety and ADHD, especially regarding school. My sedentary lifestyle, lack of energy and motivation to do well in school, better myself as a musician, and absence of desire to grow, made me realize that I was suffering from depression. Doing simple tasks like leaving my room to eat, or practicing my instruments––which I loved doing, were ever so draining on what little energy I had. Luckily, I had the support of my friends and family, and though they inspired and encouraged me, the real improvement had to come from within myself. If it weren't for those around me in my lowest period, it would have been a much harder lesson learned later in life. As Buddha once said, "We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think." It took real self-maturation to realize the importance of the tedious and arduous school work and how they slowly helped sculpt my future piece-by-piece. I learned that mental health gets in the way of everyone, and that is okay, but if I also had to believe in myself to put my best foot forward to achieve my dreams. Empathy is the most significant source of aid for those struggling with mental health, and it develops when one experiences such influential events. People often don't feel that their struggles are valid due to the global lack of understanding of mental health. They don't consider the mind to be an area where severe diseases can develop; however, the mind is the body's powerhouse. The state and health of the mind permeate through an individual's quality of life. Being able to acknowledge, encourage, and empathize with others will always be my goal to lessen the stigma and the threat of mental health crises for everyone.

Instagram: ayojjthefool I’m proud to be part of the LGBTQ+ Community, because it means that I have millions of friends who I understand, who understand me, and who I can share my security and growth with. The community is full of people young and old that foster an abundance of experiences. We’ve each embarked on journeys unique to ourselves, allowing us to share our unconditional love and support for one another.

I believe that one thing everyone struggles with is being our own obstacle. When it comes to my life and education, I've become my own biggest obstacle with my mental health, as a student and a pursuer of dreams. I fell into a seemingly endless sedentary lifestyle, living without motivation and effort. I developed the habit of procrastinating because of anxiety about my school success. My lack of energy and motivation to do well in school, better myself as a musician, and even merely growing as an individual made me realize that I was suffering from depression. Things were challenging, and even simple tasks like leaving my room to eat, or practicing my instruments––which I loved doing, were ever so draining on what little energy I had. The COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected my mental health as well. Luckily, I had a strong support group of friends and family who were going through similar adversities and encouraged me with mine. As Buddha once said, "We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves." Although the people around me inspired and helped me, the real improvement had to come from within myself. I knew the only way to help myself out of the hole I had dug was to try my best and to believe in myself. If it weren't for those around me in my lowest period, it would have been a much harder lesson learned later in life. I will always strive to promote change, unity, love, and positivity everywhere in my life. As a musician, I would like to write music to positively influence the world. With a career in social work, I would be able to become a key proponent in increasing the quality of life for individuals who don't have the voice or access to the resources they need. I could be a mentor to teens like myself, and help them achieve their dreams. My ultimate end goal in life is to make a difference, no matter how big or small.

The songs I chose have an over-arching theme about the different corrupt and befouled aspects of life, and how it's important to find the positivity in things in order to persevere through. Some of the songs I chose were related to the adversities and tribulations of daily life, and others were about the corrupt structured systems and ideologies governing lifestyles. These songs address the darker and more intimate concepts of life that all people struggle to cope with. These songs really inspire me to meet life head-on, and they encourage me to persevere through tough times with confidence and optimism.