Emma writes:
I am so honored and humbled by the thought of being chosen by you all to honor the legacy of Kevin Drake with this scholarship. Thanks to his kindness and lasting impact, and your collective decision, I am able to use this scholarship to fund my Psychological studies at the University of Oregon beginning in September. At UO, I hope to use my studies to engage with mental health services around campus and learn how to help people navigate their struggles that can come from college; moving away from home, meeting new people, and difficult studies. I also am looking forward to finding dancing opportunities in Oregon! I’ve been a dancer for 15 years, and spent my last 4 years of high school on Livermore High’s Varsity Dance Team, and I am so excited to take classes at UO and possibly even minor in Dance! I know from personal experience as a dancer that music is moving and can have a huge impact on us, physically and psychologically. Not only can music create somatic experiences, it can also change and impact mood and mentality, which is what I hope to focus on in my studies. Despite my lack of musical talent, I truly believe that music is the universal connecter of everyone. Thank you all so much for this scholarship and opportunity, I truly cannot express how much this means to me.
