Hi, my name is Jaabili Gosukonda, and I am a student at Houston County High School.

Growing up, music, debate, and Disney played a very important role in influencing my perception of the world, as they did with many other children of my age. One episode in particular of the very popular show “Girl Meets World” revolved around a debate between two characters about the topic “Is beauty only skin deep?” Though the topic of the debate didn’t stand out to me, the debate itself left me pondering the impact of vocalizing issues that resonate with me. Since then, the debate became an activity that I was eager to pursue, and once I became part of my school’s speech and debate team, I began to discard my inhibitions and realized how important it was for me to advocate for issues I cared about, from racial equity and environmental consciousness to impartiality in art. 

From singing Carnatic music when I was younger to play the tuba in the middle school band to then playing the piano for the past several years, music has been a significant part of my life. A particular piece titled “Dawn” by Béla Bartók was especially difficult for me to learn at first, but after overcoming the initial hurdles, I loved that piece and was in awe of the calming and peaceful message that radiated from the music, and how the unique colors of the piece played a major role in conveying that message.   What I found through my participation in high school debates surprised me. The speech is an authentic method to share important messages. By discarding perfection and embracing authenticity, I was able to realize that I could help others by being my true self, the real me, without putting on a fake persona. 

Using this podcast platform, “Notes of Harmony,” I hope to share my voice with a wide range of audiences to involve them with issues that are of importance to me. As music can transcend various barriers, it is my goal to reach the audience through discussions and dialogue to create a positive change and impact on society. My mission is to encourage fellow youth to do the same, as more youth begin to feel confident in their abilities to share their thoughts and ideas with others, the world will soon become a much more inclusive and accepting place. 

Contact Jaabili for more information.