Hi, my name is Mary Andrews. I am 24 years old. I was an early high school graduate, so I started college 10 years ago when I was 14. I got an associates in business. I didn’t plan on g𒅌oing any further. Shortly after graduation (around 18 years old), I got married and had a wonderful baby girl. I didn’t ever plan on going back to school. As life went on, I started to feel like I was not where I was supposed to be career wise. I started looking into all types of careers, different schooling options, and many career paths. As I researched, I felt like I was being called in the music field. I really enjoy music, but it was more than that. I felt like I needed to make a difference in the world, and a positive difference. I started to realize how important music is in a person’s life and especially a child’s life as they are develꦏoping.

I felt like the way I can make the most difference in the music field is to be a music teacher. I am about to start my 2nd year at The University of Utah School of Music. I am getting a degree in Choral Education. I am now a mom of 4 beautiful children, and I have an amazing husband supporting me through all of it.  It is quite a thing trying to🔯 get an education while having kids.

I was starting to wonder if it would even be possible for me to continue scho🐠ol with everything going on. About 2 days after thinking this, I received an email saying that I have been chosen for the Undergraduate Achiever Scholarship. It felt surreal, and I couldn’t believe it. Mentally, physically, emotionally, and especially financially it has taken a big toll on our family and anything I can get will help. I am so honored you chose me for this scholarship. It will be a huge help for my family. Thank you so much! 

My school had on campus classes in the Fall. They are taking other precautions to ensure s♎icknesses don’t spread. With this in mind, I don’t feel like they need to h🍸ave online only. I believe that in person classes are a lot more efficient and easier to learn from. I think the techn🦋ology now days is amazing. I feel like it will only get better and better. Being 🗹a mom though, it is quite scary how accessible technology is to kids and the effect it can have on them. It can be used positively or negatively. If used in a positive way, it can be a big help in a lot of ways.