Music

To me music is a universal language. When I think back on my childhood I would say that I associate soul, disco, R&B, funk, jazz and rock with my young childhood. My father was a really big fan of Earth, Wind, and Fire. Growing up he would blast their record through the house and my brother, sister and I would dance, sing, and put on our own concerts. The music my mother and father would listen to brought joy and happiness to me. When the music began to play I knew we were going to have a good time. All my childhood experiences with music were positive and at an early age I began to associate music with happiness and fun.

My adolescence ages was the time in my life where I was most affected by music. I would say it helped me through finding my identity. During this time I also began to learn how to play instruments. As I grew into my adolescent ages I began to select my own choice of music. I loved R&B, soul and pop such as Whitney Houston, Luther Vandross, Michael Jackson, and my favorite was Prince. I think that during this time in my life music had a positive effect on me. I did use it to fit in with certain people. I was in the band so it helped me make friends with people who had the same interest as me. It put me closer with a more positive group of teenagers. We were not into sex and drugs we were more into music and education. I was able to travel because I was in the marching band and we were invited to march in the Rose Bowl Parade. So again even as an adolescent I associated music with happiness and fun.

Music influences me in many ways. The number one way music influences me is in my mood. If I am upset or down about something, and I listen to one of my favorite, up-beat, more happy songs my mood will change. If I am already happy, and I listen to a slow, sappy song, that makes me think of sad things in my own life. I always associated Gospel music with comfort. I could always link something going on in my life with a song whether it was good or...