Hello, I am Nicole Shum and a graduating senior of the Class of 2023. I have been enrolled in EKS Music School since the 5th grade, 2016, and have been very fortunate to have taken various classes as well as being able to study under many talented teachers. At EKS I have taken vocal lessons with Mr. Austin Burns and Ms. Jennifer Pearl, guitar lessons with Mr. Raley Beggs, piano lessons with Ms. Ellyses Kuan, and music technology with Mr. Andy Lo. With each of these staff members, I was able to learn and build a strong basic understanding of music. By having this foundation, I was then able to take music to the next level, by adding in my own artistic spins to music. I believe that this is what makes this school so special because all the staff here, truly encourage their students to develop their own unique artistic and musical styles. They also push their students to strive to do their best not only in musical settings but outside the classroom. In totality, the staff at EKS really care about their students and you can really see it as they teach their students. I have been so lucky and grateful to have had so many as my instructors. They have taught me many things about music, but I also feel that I have learned many life lessons to takeaway from all these years at EKS. After this year, I am planning to continue my studies at Northeastern Univerisity where I will be majoring in Psychology and Music on the Pre-Dental Track. I will be continuing my music studies there and will be sure to take my learned lessons with me. So, to all the young music students at EKS, I’d say that from what I’ve learned, what’s most important, is that you should try and take every opportunity that is given to you because you will never know unless you try.