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Nothing in particular happened that made me who I am today. Rather, a whole string of events Saginaw has brought into my life put me where I stand now. I used to live on the corner of Court and N. Bond in Saginaw. During the Summer of 1986, before my mother re-married, my stepfather's youngest daughter, Stacy, who is eight years older than me, used to baby-sit me. She and I would walk down to Mooney's and get an ice cream cone or go to the Court Street Theater to see a movie.

In December of 1986, my mother married Stacy's father, and I started going to Bridgeport Schools the following fall, where I made a lot of new friends. In the 6th grade, I joined the school band. I always had a love for music, probably because my mother was president of her high school choir her senior year at Swan Valley and the fact that my sister is a fantastic dancer. She got her BFA from Western Michigan University and is now in a professional dance company in Minneapolis. Therefore, I thought I would give music a try.

By the time I was in 7th grade, I held first chair trombone and was untouchable. Nobody could out do me on anything! When academic track rolled around in the spring, they needed help in the 8th grade academic track competition band: I was chosen! Academic track is where you compete against other area schools in academics rather than in sports. Having someone younger in the band could have gotten us disqualified. Instead, we won our meets, and won all-area at the Temple Theater in Downtown Saginaw. It took a lot of hard work, practice and dedication. I was so glad to be a part of it, even if it did cut in on some free time. The following year our band made it to the Temple again, but lost to Birch Run. We were still proud though.

In the ninth grade, I got the award in band for Outstanding Freshman. The following year I got Outstanding Sophomore, and in my junior year I got Outstanding Junior, and Most Outstanding Musician. Those awards weren't give out my senior year under the direction of our new instructor. Around the beginning of October 1999,I was invited to be part of the ABC 12 Honors Chorus for the Christmas Pop's with the Saginaw-Bay Orchestra. We met every other weekend for rehearsal, and finally on December seventeenth, in a packed Heritage Theater, we sang everything from "Joy to the World" to songs from The Nutcracker. I was never big on water, but after that performance, that was the only thing on my mind!

I applied in early May for a scholarship through the Bridgeport Scholarship Commission. At the Senior Honors Banquet, I received the Russel Glass Memorial Scholarship. Russel Glass was a man who gave private piano lessons in the Bridgeport area for about twenty years, and died around 1991. The scholarship wasn't to any particular school. It was just an award worth $500.00 to further my education in music. When I become a music teacher someday and I feel so rewarded doing what I've always loved, Saginaw will be in my heart as the place where it all started. Early in the Fall of 2000, I was even invited to play at my old high school's homecoming game in the alumni band. Despite the fact that I was sick for over a week from playing in the pouring rain, I would do it--if the sun is out!

Another thing Saginaw has given me is respect for everyone as a whole, despite their race. Saginaw is very culturally diverse. I've grown up around African Americans as well as Hispanics all my life. Working with, going to school with, and being friends with people from every different type of background imaginable has brought me to an understanding and respect for everyone's struggles to get to wherever their dreams can take them.

All in all, going from the North Corner to the South corner of the city of Saginaw has made me who I am today. Not just one thing happened, but a whole string of events happened. Sometimes life is like that: either you find something you love, or something you hate. Luckily I found my love for music, along with a never-ending respect for every person as a whole. I owe Saginaw my utmost gratitude for putting me in the position where I stand now.