four years ago, i went through the all-state process for the first time. i remember freaking out over my recordings when i would mess up a scale for the twentieth time and crying when the audition videos randomly disappeared from my camera roll. as the time passed and as my schedule began filling up, i began wondering if i would ever make it again. but here we are, four years later, and i can proudly say that i held my promise to my 14 year-old self: i made all-state four years in a row. i’d like to thank my mom for driving me to and from ames weekly for lessons, my dad for reminding me to practice, and my brother for being a shoulder i could lean on during the stressful fall months. without them, i don’t think i would have made it this far as a musician. i’d like to thank my friends for putting up with my band kid/all-state rants. i’d like to thank my directors for being more than willing to help out with my audition repertoire. most importantly, i’d like to thank my clarinet lesson instructor for pushing me musically and helping me to grow as an individual. last night, the tears of stress finally turned into tears of joy. these past four years have been an unforgettable experience that i am endlessly grateful for. 🤍🎶