Profile
Name:
Matthew John Ignacio
Channel Views:
18,180
Total Upload Views:
179,309
Style:
Classical
Age:
19
Joined:
Dec 25, 2007
Latest Activity:
4 days ago
About Me:
This world is not my home. I'm just passing through and while I'm visiting I have a mission and that mission is to share the love of God with everyone I meet.
DARE TO DREAM
It is not because our dreams are impossible that we do not dare. It is because we do not dare that our dreams are impossible. Within my God-given dream I found a purpose driven life. I've always felt that my life would be incomplete without music. I was five when I first heard a piano and asked my parents for a piano for Christmas. But they said no because they're saving to send me to medical school. So to help them save money, I skipped high school and entered Cerritos College at age 12. College allowed me to follow my two passions which are science and music. I may be idealistic, but I really believe that music can change the world because it can change people. Music is the language that is understood by the whole world whereby we feel love, hope, yearning, and sorrow in their universality. Music is everywhere. Notice what you hear around you. How much of it reaches deep inside your heart? Music soothes and heals. The energy of music is impossible to see but it's felt.
Music is the hope for our children. I studied conducting because orchestra is about building a community and breaking down the invisible walls that divide us. We do not live an equal life, but in a community orchestra we are all equal. Orchestra unites rich and poor kids, white and black kids, Latino and Asian kids. I dream of a future where every child will have the opportunity to learn to play the violin or cello or piano. It will give kids a chance to lift themselves out of poverty because it is the gateway to lifelong learning. From the minute a child is taught how to play an instrument, he's no longer poor. He becomes a child in progress, who'll later become a productive citizen.
Why study music? Scientists have proven that music makes children smarter. They studied musicians' brains and discovered that playing an instrument changes the brains wiring system. The brain reacts to music making and lights up with electrical activity. I believe strongly that music prepared me for the challenges of medical school. A study found that 66% of music majors who applied to medical school were admitted, compared to 44% of biochemistry majors who were admitted.
The day I graduated from college, I faced the hardest decision of my life. How can I make the world a better place? I was the youngest at 14 to received a music degree. Should I audition for the Juilliard School? Or should I go to medical school? I heard two voices from within: the artist asking "Why?" and the scientist asking "Why not?"
My classmates have wanted to become doctors for so long they can't even remember what originally inspired them. My inspiration is the parable of the good Samaritan.
In Luke chapter ten. A lawyer asked Jesus, what must I do to inherit eternal life?
Jesus replied, "What does the law of Moses say? The lawyer answered, "'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.' And, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" The lawyer asked another question, "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus answered with the parable of the good Samaritan. There was once a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way he was attacked by robbers. They took his clothes, beat him up, and went off leaving him half-dead. Luckily, a priest was on his way down the same road, but when he saw him he walked to the other side. Then a religious man showed up; he also avoided the injured man. A Samaritan traveling the road came on him. When he saw the man's condition, his heart went out to him. He gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. Compassion moved the Samaritan to take action.
As Christians, we are all called to be good Samaritans. When we come across a road accident, would we know what to do to save a human life? Music is my passion, but compassion guided me to choose to become a medical doctor. Compassion can change us, and in doing so, can change the world. The doctors and nurses who volunteer for the international humanitarian organization "Doctors Without Borders" are my heroes.
By God's grace, I'll become a physician for the body and a musician for the soul. God gave each of us unique gifts and these gifts are to be used to show compassion. We can be the change that we want to see in the world. We just need to dare to dream.
Hometown:
Los Angeles
Country:
United States
Schools:
Cerritos College Class of 2009
Channel Comments
Thanks so much for your very kind and poignant comment. I am truly so happy to have found a dear friend like you. I also love your featured video. You are a wonderful pianist.
Warm regards,
Gene
I will study music too and hope to become a researcher/pharmacist :D
You are great!!!