Anna Miller

Hello! My name is Anna Miller and I am a senior at Troy High School in Troy, Michigan.

Most times when I am asked about myself and what things I like, I almost always include the fact that I love music. Many people then ask if I play an instrument or sing. Sadly, I don't do either. My music career unfortunately only lasted a year and was put to rest after 6th grade. However, I do love to listen to music.

Music plays a significant role in my life. Whether I am listening to sad songs in the car and dramatically staring out the window while pretending to be in a music video, or listening to upbeat songs and pumping my fists in the air while picturing myself on stage at a concert, music has the ability to enhance my emotions. Music has not only intensified my emotions, but has also helped influence my personality and identity.

Music has ultimately helped shape me into the person I am today. Growing up, I was very shy. I didn't like to speak up or voice my opinions in front of others in fear of being wrong or embarrassed. Overtime however, listening to motivating and empowering music has really helped build my self-confidence. It has encouraged me to have more trust in myself and my ideas. This type of music has helped me become a leader in and out of school as I am now much less afraid of sharing my thoughts and ideas. I now realize that it is okay to sometimes be wrong. The important thing is to be able to learn and grow from those mistakes. Just as Hannah Montana once iconically sang: "everybody makes mistakes." Music has also helped me become more determined. Whether it is for school or extracurricular activities, music helps remind me to give all my effort and to work even harder. Even if something is challenging and I feel like quitting, I always persevere through it. Before every high school soccer game, my coach would play the song, "I Won't Back Down," by Tom Petty. Ultimately, by playing this song, my coach's message to the team was that no matter how the game was going or how tough things got, we should never back down. This song among many others has impacted my life. I am now a very determined person and I won't back down from anything that I wish to accomplish.

I feel that it is important to find the thing in life that helps push you to be the best version of yourself that you can be. Without music, I don't think I would be the same person that I am today.