Growing up music ran through my body like blood cells in a vein. As a little baby I used to wiggle my feet, hands, and smile as songs would play on the radio while in my car seat. I always tried to sing as a kid but was made fun of often because of the such high, annoying, girly voice I had. Getting older I started to drift away from music because of everybody else's opinions and had started to become an athlete instead. When I look back at the fact I stopped because of other peoples opinions I feel like I should have not cared about it because they aren’t me. They didn’t feel the way I felt about my passion and it shouldn't've been their choice for me to stop doing something I love.

I was really good with basketball and football my whole life and thought my dreams would take me somewhere great while doing it. In high school I started to see sports were slipping away with the “sport politics”. I’d be so mad at how some kids would get more attention because of their connections with the coaches. I made the team and was very talented among my teammates but never played more minutes than them.   

Through the season I’d listen to music to get pumped up for the game and as I’d hear a beat coming up with lyrics seemed too easy to me. It was then on our game bus I started writing lyrics about my life and things going on involving my feelings. I was so into incorporating lyrics with my reality  it was almost like I was meant to do it. I felt so free after writing lyrics and making it all fit together with a beat. I truly found my second hobby it seemed and that was creating music.

After the season was over I started to write more and more getting better and better with every thought and metaphor that rhymed. It was like something sparked inside of me to do this and I never slowed down.  It came down to the last month of the school year I had bought an USB microphone to record a song I’d been writing for some time. I recorded my first song named “Firestarter” out of my room closet with a shiny, silver, cheap  USB microphone bought offline and a bed pillow surrounding the mic to help the sound quality. People started to blow up my phone about how good it was when it was only my first song and I was shocked at the outcome because I never thought they’d care. 

The following year there was a talent show posted all over the school walls and I wanted to do it really bad so I signed up. I auditioned and got a spot not knowing the outcome of the show. I rehearsed night and day trying to make my performance perfect. I had one thing on my mind and that was to “win”. The night finally approached me and people started to tweet me telling me they’d be there to support me which made me happy but also made me nervous to the point where I wanted to puke because I was petrified of performing and thinking that I’d probably pass out if I messed up. This was my first time ever performing so I had no choice but to be nervous. I was backstage feeling lost and thinking of every bad scenario that could happen.

It was finally my turn up and the lady calls “Kyle J.” performing his original song “The system”. I slowly approach the wide dusty stage with super sweaty palms as she handed me the mic. I felt light headed because of the really bright lights shining in my retina and of course the amount of people gazing at me made it 10 times worse. As I got to center stage the audience would not stop cheering until host’s had to tell them to be quiet. The beat finally started and the only thing I had on my mind was to win by showing them my talent and confidence and that attitude lasted for  a good five seconds before I got nervous again. I gulped, closed my eyes, thought of the first line and then as soon as the deep drum bass dropped I performed with so much confidence because of how much meaning, passion, and delivery I put into my lyrics. I tried my best to seize the moment and connect with the audience no matter if I knew them or not, I just wanted them to feel what I was feeling. After I said my last words everybody stood up and gave me a phenomenal standing ovation. I headed backstage after my performance feeling so relieved. After the last performer all of the performers including me were called out onto the stage to reveal the winner. I remember closing my eyes and thinking about how the trophy would look on my stained wood nightstand next to my comfy bed so everytime I wake up I’d get to see it . I hear the drum roll and all of a sudden the host’s yell “Mackenzie Woodward is your C factor Champion!” I started to clap with a little frustration but happiness at the same time because I didn't win but at least I gave it my all. After the show at least 20 people approached me telling me how good I did, hugging me and taking pictures. They were telling me how I should have won but at the end of the day I was happy that people saw my potential with music. It felt like I won respect instead of anything materialistic and I felt like that lasts way longer than some trophy. Winning a tall golden trophy didn’t matter that night because after I lost I realized winning the respect of people mattered way more to me at that point and it was at that moment I knew I wanted to pursue music.