The Image above is from a video recorded in 2006. This was the first time I was ever on stage, and it wouldn't be the last. My performance of Linking Park's infamous "Numb" (in a dramatic attempt to impress a crush), was the emergence of two passions that would become a huge part of my life. I fell in love with the sensation I got when entertaining others, almost as much as I adored the way music made me feel. I would find my self on that stage three more times (singing or acting) in the next two years before I transitioned into middle school, where a larger stage would await me. Whether it be Musicals, Comedies, or Murder Mysteries, I found myself on that stage time after time all while consuming my free time at home listening to music and searching for new artists. The image below is a screenshot of my oldest and largest playlist on my Spotify account. This file is more than just a collection of songs, but an autobiography of sorts, keeping record of the evolution of my music taste along with my mental state. For example, a song from 2013 can take me back to freshman year of high school, a time where I saw myself a stranger, as I had just transitioned from a public middle school, to a private high school. I had just discovered a new genre of music called Indie Electronic, and the new and experimental sounds comforted me as I embarked on a new chapter in my life. The title of my playlist is “One More Light” in honor of Chester Bennington, (lead singer of Linkin Park) who had passed away just this year. One more Light is a song by Linking Park about losing a dear friend, and that’s just how I felt upon hearing the news. Because of him and the band, I am the person you already know, or are hopefully wanting to know! Thank you.