This is Cameron. After experiencing years of bullying, music is what gave him the motivation he needed to continue his education.
Cameron’s music teacher and mentor, Mr. Schmutz, died of cancer last April, during Cameron’s junior year of high school. Cameron spoke and performed at his funeral, and at that time decided he would follow in Mr. Schmutz’s footsteps and become a music teacher, too.
One year later, Cameron is a student at the University of Southern California, studying music education. He hopes to give other children the same second chance he received from Mr. Schmutz. “Though I can’t share this with him, I know he would be proud, because I did it. I did it because I said I would.”