2012 Berkeley Community Fund High Hopes Scholarship recipient- University of the Pacific
I grew up in the general area of Southern California. I say generally because I don’t recall a time where I spent more than a year in the same house, or apartment or hotel room. While I lived at home, my mother spent her days at bars. I may not have received the, “You can do whatever you put your mind to” speech but at home, alone, somehow I figured it out for myself. I got lost in my own music, it was my one constant. After a long day at school I knew my horn would be waiting at home, to make all my problems go away. My mom could go to the bar and I wouldn’t notice, I was too busy focusing on my goal, my new life, my music. I play 14 instruments and love them all. I love music, I want to bring it to the world whether I am playing, teaching, recording or writing. More recently I use my musical talents to support me as an independent student. For most of my senior year I have had to live on my own and support myself and the only way I could afford rent and food is by using my talent to get myself work. College is the last step to getting everything I need to share my music with the world, I will use everything I learn and everything I gain to be a full time musician.
“His most striking personality trait is his ability to persevere despite very trying living situations and a concussion this year. He is remarkably responsible for such a young adult.”
Teacher, Berkeley High School
