Growing up, I always connected to music in some way. I kept pushing myself as far as I could go, challenging myself and the expectations of the people around me. I knew I had to get out of my hometown and do something more with my life than the options I had back home. Not only that, but I knew that if I were to do something with music, I needed to expose myself to more musicians with different backgrounds, coming from various genres, and put myself into a situation where I would have to challenge myself like never before, and so I did.

I’ve worked hard to get myself all the way to get my undergraduate degree at Berklee College of Music, where I’ve learned so much. I’ve broadened my horizons regarding the genres I perform, taking stylistic inspiration from artists such as the New York Voices, Lalah Hathaway, Adele, Michael Mayo, and more. I want to make people feel good and transport them somewhere else from their daily lives through performing music. I also would love to advocate for music education funding in public schools and help those who don’t have access to resources to study music break down barriers. I’m finally starting to feel confident as a musician, but it wasn’t always this way.

I felt like a small fish in a big pond when I first started at Berklee College of Music. I knew I felt different, but I thought that was because of my small-town upbringing. What I didn’t know was that I was also dealing with disability. I later found out that I’m an Autistic person who deals with anxiety, depression, ADHD, and other physical conditions, which together can bring pain and isolation. Dealing with this over the past few years made me think about what others might be going through and what future generations would have to endure. I couldn’t help but think about the area I grew up in. Reflecting on this, I want to do more for the disabled community and advocate for disability rights. I don’t know exactly how to do that yet, but I’m ready to learn.

Whatever happens next, I’ll do my best to embrace it, flourish, and help those who need it most.