Music has always been my first love. There's something so unique and so precious about the gift of sound.

Imagine you are in a completely dark, empty room. There is no sound, no sights, no smells. You can't feel or hear anything. Suddenly, you hear the quiet hum of one single note — that note turns into a light. Suddenly, that room is illuminated with life and love and happiness. That is what music did to my life. That's how music saved me.

When I was 12, my older sister bought a plastic keyboard from Target and learned how to play the theme of Twilight on it. She spent hours teaching herself how to play that song. I remember being jealous. I wanted to make that kind of music.

When I was 14, my sister went on a trip to Spain. I started playing her keyboard. I did the same thing she did — I listened to a song over and over again, until I could emulate the melody. Of course, my technique was awful. My awkward fingers stumbled over the keys, and my timing was either rushed or too slow. But it was the first time I felt happy - the first time I fell in love.

When I was 15, my dad bought me a solid weighted keyboard. I knew it was an investment for him, but he felt that it was worth it. I had been practicing every day and taking professional lessons. I remember sitting on the piano bench and sinking my fingers down into the keys. It felt like a piano! It had weight and depth to it. The sound resonated in the room. It was a major step-up from the plastic Target keyboard. I couldn't help but laugh when I played. It felt amazing. I felt like a pianist.

When I was 16, I had a hard time in high school. Everyone knows what that is like - the awkward stages where you don't know where you fit in, or if you should try to stand out. It was the Limbo of my high school years. At the end of every day, the only constant in my life was my piano. I couldn't wait to get home and play. That's all I wanted to do. I needed to play music. The feeling of lacing my fingers between each note, feels like poetry. It's a profession of undying love to a melody that I constantly chase.

When I was 17, I got two tattoos on my wrists. On my right wrist, I have a small treble clef. On my left wrist, I have a base clef. To me, it was a way to permanently show how music saved my life. Also, it reminds me to keep my wrists high when I play piano. There's no more room for bad technique.

Everyone has something that gives them strength when everything seems so out of reach. Remember to always cherish it. I know I will always cherish what makes me happy.