Dear Lin-Manuel Miranda,
First off, congrats on winning a Grammy for "Hamilton." The award is well deserved, and I'm not surprised you won. It seems now more and more people are catching on to how amazing your work really is, and let me just say it is about time. I don't want to be that person, but I've been a fan of yours for a long time and it's really great to see you getting the recognition you deserve.
I first got to know you and your work through the "In the Heights" soundtrack. I never got to see the musical but that soundtrack has meant so much to me. Thank you for writing "In The Heights." Thank you for writing a musical where I could see myself in the characters, a musical that is written in my own language, literally. When I was younger I struggled with who I was and how my culture fit into my life. I am American, but I am also Puerto Rican. I didn't know how to identify with both without being from the island. "In The Heights" helped me learn that you can still embrace your culture and heritage in your own way.
When I got older and felt powerless, you taught me to keep fighting. You taught me to enjoy the people around me and to hold onto them because people leave. You taught me to cherish home because places change. When I felt overwhelmed, you taught me to breathe. You taught me to have patience and faith. You taught me to be proud about being Hispanic and above all, you showed me that we can succeed.
Thank you for being inspirational and for giving me hope. Every speech and every interview just shows how optimistic you are about life. It's truly inspiring. And now with "Hamilton," you have personified the Founding Fathers. You took them off the pages of our history books and made them relatable and likable. Thank you for teaching me more about Hamilton and the founding fathers in a two-hour musical than I learned in four years of high school. And most importantly, thank you for creating diverse casts. Sometimes it is hard to see yourself in TV, movies and musicals, but you made it happen. You gave us a voice. Thank you for that.
It is amazing to see how talented you are and how much you have accomplished in just eight years since "In The Heights." Thank you for teaching me to want more and to go for it. I've noticed a trend in the posters for your musicals. You are always looking up and reaching toward the sky.
I don't know what you're reaching for, but I hope you catch it.
Thank You,
Leilyn
