One Step Closer To Something Great by Rocklee

One Step Closer To Something Great by Rocklee - March 2025 Scholarship Essay

In order to see myself 10 years from now, I believe I need to acknowledge where I am today and where I want to be. I am currently a freshman in college, majoring in business marketing, working towards transferring into New York University (NYU) from my current college for a better chance at an academically rigorous environment and a plethora of career contingencies. 

By this point in my career, I see myself using my marketing degree and career networking from NYU towards my music career as a performing artist. Although I do not picture my life in a glamorous way with a big penthouse view overlooking the bustling Manhattan streets, I do see myself proud of the career I have built through multiple sold out tours and openings for fellow artists and connections I have made in and out of the studio with other artists and managers within the music industry beyond my time at NYU; even if it means I am living in a studio apartment with no in unit washer and dryer. However, in order to get here, I believe I need to make the most of my time at NYU by actively engaging in NYU Stern’s business clubs consisting of: NYU’s Marketing Society, Business Analytics, and Stern and Tisch Entertainment Business Association clubs in order to properly prepare myself for marketing as an artist in the music industry. I also see the guidance of NYU professor, Leslie Ferraro, as a pivotal role in my business readiness because of her well-established career as media President for Walt Disney company, and her modern Entertainment and Media Industries course that relies on the usage of social media for marketing. All of which will help me navigate the new music industry with knowledge of using social media to my advantage towards promoting my own music and shows.

By this point in my life, I may be ready to return home and leave the city. Not because I am tired of the city because you never grow tired of New York City. Instead, I am ready to leave New York because I want to begin a new chapter of my life; one that pushes me in a personal way that is not just about my career. My 20s will be spent dedicating most of my time towards building up my music career. However, before entering my 30s at this point, I believe I will be ready to settle down; which is only achievable after truly experiencing the “Big Apple” while in my 20s. This scholarship will hopefully help push me ever closer towards making my dreams come true of becoming a musician using my marketing knowledge gained from one of New York’s most influential business schools to avoid stagnation in my career while also advertising my music through networking and social media. 
My freshman year so far has been spent advocating my time towards the future I want for myself by preparing to transfer out from my current university, but cost will always be a challenge I will have to overcome to make my dreams come true. However, just because it is a challenge, does not mean it will hold me back. This is my way of combating this challenge because no challenge will stop me from reaching something great—and I believe this scholarship is a step closer towards something great.