When people ask you what you want to be when you grow up in third grade, the answers are somewhere between the fantastic like "astronaut" and the mundane like "businessman" (or woman). "Musician" is rarely a career path that anyone considers at that age, myself including, but here we are nine years later and my answer is now "musician."

In elementary school, I played the recorder like every other kid in the American school system; I was nothing particularly special. I had joined the before-school recorder ensemble and ended up liking it. When the time came to sign up for middle school classes, I said "what the heck" and signed up for the band, not knowing where that choice would take me.

In middle school, I was offered the opportunity to play the tuba... which I declined and chose the flute instead. Middle school happened with success; I loved playing the flute and I loved the social atmosphere that the band offered. When the time came around, I signed up for high school band because it seemed "fun." I didn't know that it would be life-changing.

Next came high school band and the community of kids that only ever hung out in or right outside of the band room. These were the kids that if you asked them to hang out, they would reply with "sorry, I have band." I was one of them and I loved it. Elementary and middle school are where I began this journey of music, but high school is where I developed an undying love for the art.

In high school, I realized that instrumental music is a multi-dimensional form of art that touches every area of daily life. Practicing teaches self-discipline, marching band teaches respect and camaraderie, and ensembles teach collaboration. Music is also a truly universal language, and it allows musicians to communicate regardless of language. We speak through melodies and phrases, notes and rhythms. We communicate smiles and tears through trills and silence.

Music is my passion for many of these reasons, but most of all because of how it pushes me to grow every single day. Every time I pick up my instrument, it forces to me grow and become dedicated and disciplined in areas outside of music. I love the opportunities music affords me to grow as a person and to develop relationships with others on the same journey. I am not a person who does well with stagnation in a job or hobby, so music allows me to learn with every note, rhythm, and piece that I play.