Junior Simon Couch has been presented with an exciting opportutity this year. This opportunity comes in the form of the chance to win a scholarship based on his song writing skills.

The foundation running the competition is called Give Seven Days. Applicants have been asked to write a song about tolerance and acceptance. The only restrictions are that they must be between 14 and 21 years old and not working under a label.

“They ask you to write a song about tolerance and acceptance and then you are judged based on your lyrics, melody and recording quality,” Couch said.

Couch found out about the scholarship through De Soto High School guidance Counselor Christine Johns.

“Mrs. Johns told Mrs. Copeland about it, and then Mrs. Copeland told me,” Couch said.

All songs must be submitted by the end of January, and then the competition progresses from there.

“Based on your lyrics, melody and recording quality, the judges pick 10 composers who they then notify,” Couch said. “After that you have to make a video and from there the contest is based on the quality of your video and the amount of YouTube likes it gets.”

Should Couch advance to the video competition, he already has an idea for his video.

“I want to film the video at some public place, maybe the Plaza, and really just try to keep it light-hearted and have random strangers dancing and singing along to the video,” Couch said.

Couch settled on this idea after seeing previous contest-winning videos.

“When I looked at the past winners there was a lot of slow, sad movement and I think that can be attached to acceptance too easily, so for me it’s really just about keeping it light-hearted and fun,” Couch said.

Couch has put in a lot of hard work and is very pleased with his final draft.

“I went through dozens of drafts trying to get it together, and I’m really happy with the result,” Couch said.

Couch is most excited for the opportunity to bring two of his favorite things together, “advocacy and acceptance of diversity and song writing.”