Ashley Lee (Piano) – Santa Ana Branch
Northwood High (Class of 2022)
Joining Love in Music as a freshman, I thought the task of teaching music every Saturday would prove to be quite simple. But interacting with students each week, I realized being a teacher meant being a mentor and becoming involved in the future of my students. If the most important lesson I wanted to teach freshman year was technique, it is now the ability to hold confidence in every aspect of life because believing in oneself can take you farther than you can expect. As a teacher and mentor, I hope to have inspired my students to go off to change the world for the better. Instead of settling for the daunting realities and problems our world is currently facing, I know they will take a stance for change through creative solutions and empathetic hearts.
Love in Music was more than my role as a teacher to students. It was about joining a community of compassionate parents and family members and creating long-lasting connections. This community will always have a special place in my heart as I move on to the next chapter of my life.
Lastly, I want to thank my students for coming to class ready to learn and for teaching me more than I could have ever expected. Seeing my students wanting to perform for family members and friends, I realized music is ultimately for others. They have helped me grow from a musician who focused on improving technique to someone who wants to bring people together through music.