While finding their place in the world, it's almost inevitable that every child and young adult will go through a series of potential goals and aspirations before they find what it really is that they want to do with their life. While children are innocent, young, and naive, fantastical dreams of becoming a superhero or a princess seem attainable and ideal. However, through the process of growing older and therefore more in tune to the world, one comes to realize that the idea of having a dream of what to be in life does not and must not rely solely on make-believe fun or whim, but on passion. After all, if you love what you do, it must be true that you'll never really work a day in your life.

With all of that in mind, I'd like to make it known that I believe that I have truly chosen a career path that is right for me. Although I am far from being a part of the work force under the umbrella of said career, I am currently an undergraduate student at SUNY Fredonia, studying to one day become a music educator. I'm only a freshman, but yet I have already overcome and dealt with many of hurdles that go along with the course of study that I have so willingly chosen for myself. To name a few, I was never one to imagine leaving home, but now I am away at a school that is very far from my hometown, because it has a program that is fantastic for what I’m studying. Furthermore, being a music major also comes with a lot of work, and requires a lot of discipline that takes much time and effort to build up. Due to these challenges and stressors that go along with my pursuit , one may wonder why I am doing all of this in the first place. Why am I putting myself up to all of these hard endeavors? Why didn't I choose another major? Well, to me, the answer is quite simple:

When I was in 7th grade, I simply knew that music was something I could, without a doubt, see myself doing for the rest of my life, and ever since, it has been my goal to make a career out of it. As I grew up even further and learned under the direction of many influential music teachers, I decided that music education was the path that would be best for me. In simple terms, I wanted to apply my gifts and passion for music to the idea of giving back the wonderful influences that multiple music educators had on me throughout my time as a student. Maybe I'm far away from home, buried in homework and hours of required practice. Maybe it isn't easy. However, I'm doing all of this for a good reason: Although my dream may be simple, I am chasing it with all of my energy. I know that someday, I will look back on all of the challenges I will have faced in college, and realize that it was all 100 and 10 percent worth it. I do it for my future as a music educator, and with that, I go to bed each day knowing that I am doing what I am meant to.