My Past That Led to my Future by Peyton

My Past That Led to my Future by Peyton - February 2024 Scholarship Essay

From a young age, I have been forced to take on adult responsibilities and witness children endure things that no child should experience. These encounters helped me realize that I want to work with children and help them process their traumatic experiences. Music has been an essential part of my life and healing. With these combined interests, I discovered music therapy as a way to contribute to society.
I have eight siblings from ages newborn to eighteen in two blended families. Oftentimes, the youngest ones are disregarded and left for me to take care of. Although I usually watch after my own siblings and family members, I have also been asked to care for other peoples’ children. This has taught me various lessons in responsibility that I am fortunate to have learned at a young age. Living this way has given me a fair amount of experience with children of all ages. I have seen inappropriate disciplinary actions where I felt helpless. This excess stress has taken a toll on my mental health. I have taken measures to help process these issues such as attending therapy, talking with safe adults, involving myself in extracurriculars and taking honors and college classes as a way to help process this trauma. Some of these extra activities ended up becoming passions that I want to continue doing in my future career.
Playing music has been crucial to my mental well-being. For seven years, I have been active in band where I served as a member of the leadership team for three years. I also participated in TRI-M Music Honor’s Society for three years and held an officer position. I was honored to be voted the recipient of the Greg Daniel Award which is awarded to “the most inspirational and devoted bandsman.” I am so passionate about music that I found ways to be involved in music outside of school. I was accepted to the District Ten Honor Band, as well as The Ohio State University High School Honor Band. I will also be participating in the Mansfield Youth Orchestra. I have earned the first chair position for the last three years. No matter how difficult the workload may be, I always have fun trying to learn and challenge myself with more advanced pieces. Music has been a place where I can truly be myself. It helps me process my emotions and connect with myself, and I hope to help others make these connections as well.
The path I have taken in high school is directly leading me to the path I would like to pursue in college. By taking my combined interests in music and children’s mental health, I have come to the decision that I am going to major in music therapy and work with children. I plan to attend Baldwin Wallace and major in music therapy while being a member of the track team. Upon graduation from Baldwin Wallace, I will earn a Master of Psychology degree to become a child psychologist who is able to share music therapy.