My name is Lillian Spaeth, and I just turned 17 years old. For as long as I can remember, my biggest dream has been to become a singer. Music has always been my safe place, but it became even more important to me over the past six years as I’ve battled cancer and faced other challenges in my childhood. Through every tough moment, music has been the thing that kept me going and gave me hope for the future.

Last year, for my 16th birthday, I went to Boston wanting to try something different, and I immediately fell in love with the city. For my 17th birthday, I went back and toured Berklee, and I fell even more in love with both the city and the school than I ever thought possible. Now, I finally have the chance to take a big step toward my dream by attending the Berklee College of Music summer program. Berklee is my dream school, and this program would give me the knowledge, skills, and experience I need to grow as a musician and strengthen my application to get in. It would also give me college credits and the chance to learn from amazing teachers and other talented students. This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me.

The only thing standing in my way is the cost. My family can’t cover it on our own, so I’m reaching out for help. My only wish is for people to support me in making this dream come true. Any donation, big or small, would mean the world to me and help me get one step closer to sharing my music with the world.