I will live my life

Just wanted to share a few words on how 30 Seconds to Mars have impacted my world and me as a person.

I remember when I first got introduced to 30 Seconds to Mars' music. I was studying my Psychology degree at university in 2007 when my twin sister came to me and said "30 Seconds to Mars are playing Hammersmith Apollo next year, we have to get tickets!" I knew who 30STM were because my sister was a huge fan but I hadn't really heard any of their music. I remember the first 2 songs I heard by them were "A Modern Myth" and "The Story" and that was it, I was instantly hooked. We booked tickets for Feb of 2008 in London and I got to experience them live which was incredible! The way Jared engages with the audience is like nothing I've seen before, most artists would fear actually getting up close and personal with their audience, but the way Jared plunges in to the crowd, it's clear he revels in it and I love him for that.

After that performance, Jared came outside and chatted to us for a while and again that's something you rarely see so he was earning mega brownie points in my books! I will always remember someone saying to me that it was cool that he stayed and chatted however don't expect it to last too long, because as they get more successful they won't care as much about the people at the shows. That person was VERY wrong. I recently went to see the guys again at Wembley, they delivered a mind-blowing performance and it is an experience in which I will carry with me forever. Again, after the show my sister and I hung around and again Jared came out and had a chat with a few of us. From that moment onwards, I knew my dedication to the band would be just as strong as what they show to us and my loyalty was unwavering.

My life at the moment is slightly monotonous as I am working hard to save up money to continue my studies at university in order to get to where I want to be in life. Some days it's hard to wake up and feel inspired or motivated because every day is such a routine. But when I listen to 30 Seconds to Mars, I can hear the passion and conviction in Jared's voice and it makes me think they have had to work so hard to be as successful as they are. If you want to get anywhere in life, you have to put in the work. The music of 30STM is so inspiring, I listen to "This is War" in its entirety everyday for motivation. "Closer to the Edge" particularly resonates with me as I find this a hugely powerful song. From this song, I take away the message that you should do whatever it takes in order to live your life and to feel purpose behind your actions. When I hear the words, I know that every day I'm getting closer to my goals which will ultimately lead me to where I want to be in life, and it's through 30STM' music that I realise this.

I now have all 3 albums from 30STM and their music is something I will always cherish and I look forward to expanding upon it!

The dedication and passion that Jared, Shannon and Tomo commit to their shows and to their interaction with audiences (whether it be an arena full of people or a group of 20 outside) is something that most artists can only dream of achieving. 30 Seconds to Mars delivers above and beyond all expectations and it is the reason that the Echelon family continues to grow. It is the reason why I am proud to say that 30 Seconds to Mars has had a profound effect on me as a person and the way I look at life. I can merely say thank you for that but those words can only describe a fraction of what's in my heart.

Laura De Rosa, UK
(@LauraDeRosa)