La Voz

Nathan Mertz is competing in the International Singing Cup 2007 for the third time, in the group and individual sections. He started singing at age six and began competing at eight. "Singing is a way of comfort, releasing stress and escaping from reality. I believe that music and language go hand-in-hand," he said.

He learned singing techniques from Hando Nakamura, his coach for 13 years. "He is my second father. He has been through everything with me and encouraged me to try hard and go beyond my limits," Mertz said.

Mertz listens to various styles of music, from rap to classical music. "I won't limit myself to only one type of music because people are reluctant to change their preferences," he said. "You will miss so many good singers in other fields. I want to make my own choice and what music I listen to."

Mertz believes that his life is not just about singing, but a balance between academic performance and participation in extra-curricular activities. He is the president of the Speech and Debate Club, the ICC representative of the Cheer and Dance Club, an agent of the DASB Senate, the treasurer of the Table Tennis Club and a speech tutor. Being actively involved in school affairs, Mertz has learned to multitask and manage his time efficiently. "Not only did I learn to sing, but also dedication to strive for something that I am really interested in," he said. "It takes time for me to create my own songs and learn other people's great work."

"I enjoy helping people and contributing to the society. I don't sing because of fame, money or power. I sing because this is what I enjoy doing," he said.

He has decided not to pursuit a career in the music field; instead, he would like to be a counselor or a speech and communication professor.

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