“I simply love music,” says Ashlee Sanchez, a Paliwal Club of 100 Music Scholars Fund winner. “I love creating it and I want to be an example to other women to pursue their dream — regardless of if they’re the only woman in the room.” As a senior at Capital Community College studying Music Industry, she’s also thinking about her own next steps as she pursues her musical dreams.

What is your professional dream?

I want to be a professional musician/producer.

What does being in the Paliwal Club of 100 mean to you? 

It means I am supported and seen. This is very encouraging to my dream.

Women are underrepresented in the S.T.E.A.M. (science, tech, arts or math) fields and music industry. How can we change this? 

The more women are supported in their endeavors, the more empowered they become. 1DF makes a difference for women by providing us with resources that give us a helping push toward our dreams. Offering mentorship and services that help women grow in the direction they’re looking to develop makes a world of a difference.

What are some of the challenges you have faced along the way?

I have faced a lot of sexist comments, prejudice, and judgments before knowing my range of skill or knowledge — only because I am a woman working in the music industry. This used to get to me. It used to bother me to the point that sometimes it was hard to sleep because of how angry it made me.

But, over the years, it taught me how to maneuver these kinds of conversations and interactions. And it showed me how my love for music can never be taken away by anyone’s comments, character, or the way I’m treated.

How will this grant from the 1,000 Dreams Fund help you reach your goals?

This grant will help me to get new equipment to record for upcoming projects. I plan to buy microphones and a new drum set that will be easily portable when I get together to record and jam with friends. This means the world to me.