Young Quebec Musician with Trisomy 21 Shows That Dreams Have No Limits

Sometimes the biggest changes begin with one small step — a new class, a new challenge, or even a writing prompt on a blank page.

For Meagan Hawes, who grew up in Saint-Hubert, Quebec, each step opened the door to something bigger: confidence, creativity, and the belief that dreams can grow at any age.

Hawes attended Saint Lambert Elementary School and Centennial Regional High School. She later enrolled at Champlain College in the three-year Adam’s P.A.C.E. (Post-secondary Alternative Community-based Education) program. This program was inspired by Adam Taylor, who was born with trisomy 21 and dreamed of attending college. His determination created an inclusive environment where students could audit classes, participate in work-study internships, and build skills for independence.

The program helped Hawes, who also has trisomy 21, imagine new possibilities and build confidence beyond the classroom.

After completing the program, Hawes worked for five years as a kitchen helper at Tim Hortons. While she enjoyed the routine and sense of responsibility, the COVID-19 pandemic led to job loss — a difficult turning point that forced her to slow down and reflect.

With more time at home, Hawes began exploring creative outlets, including writing and learning to play guitar. That creative spark, she says, was largely inspired by her brother Thomas, a professional photographer and songwriter.

“I get my inspiration from my brother. So he’s writing songs. So he inspired me to do the same,” Hawes said.

Watching her brother create music showed her how powerful songwriting could be.

“My brother has this gift and a talent for song and a love for songwriting,” she said. “And when he was writing songs of his own, that inspired me to do the same.”

Music, she added, often carries deep emotional meaning, especially during reflective times of year.

“Sometimes music is a powerful thing around Christmas time, as always. So it’s good to be writing,” she said.

Listening to music also helped Hawes understand how deeply songs can connect people.

“Sometimes it’s beautiful. But sometimes it can be very emotional,” she said. “And what really grabs me is that it’s a powerful thing. And you really feel something from other people’s music.”

For Hawes, that emotional connection is what fuels creativity.

“Whenever we feel something from other people’s music, we get very inspired by them and new ideas, new feelings, new songs,” she said.

Guided by her brother and inspired by artists such as Jelly Roll, Hawes began writing songs of her own. Jelly Roll’s music, she said, resonated deeply with her personal experiences.

“I know Jelly Roll has been through a lot of things in his life. And I can relate to that,” Hawes said. “I’ve been through a lot of things in my life too.”

While their experiences differ, she said the emotion behind his music feels familiar.

“And that’s why the love can come out of that song that he can write,” she said. “Jelly Roll made me very inspired to not write the same song, but a different song that can really impact that feeling, the emotion.”

One song in particular left a lasting impression. Jelly Roll’s “I Am Not Okay” became a turning point for Hawes, showing her that music can capture raw emotion and help others feel understood.

“One day I listened to this song and it really grabbed me. It brought tears to my eyes and that’s when it hit me,” she said. “Music is one of the powerful things in life.”

Through songwriting, Hawes learned to sit with her emotions and release them when the time felt right.

“It’s OK to cry,” she said. “Sometimes it’s hard not to cry when you really want to. But when you want to cry, sometimes it’s beautiful to let it out.”

Music, she believes, creates space for people to feel — without pressure.

“I think, no matter what you’re feeling, sometimes it’s not always easy to let it out,” she said. “And sometimes you have to sit with it for a while to let it breathe.”

For Hawes, music carries a message far beyond the song itself.

“I think music is very powerful,” she said. “It brings out a beautiful message to other people to feel the same thing. It’s good to have a purpose, to have a dream, do something about it, and then pursue it after that.”

Inspired by Jelly Roll’s dedication to songwriting, Hawes began writing with a long-term goal in mind: sharing her music with the world.

That inspiration sparked a bold dream.

“That’s when I got the love for songwriting to maybe sell,” she said. “And I would love, love to meet Jelly Roll and sell it to Jelly Roll.”

Hawes says she’s determined to seize opportunities when they come.

“When they do, you gotta grab it by the horns,” she said. “I want to grab it by the horns, go for it, pursue it.”

She knows success doesn’t come overnight, but believes it’s always possible.

“Cause you never know, it takes only one song to make a hit,” she said. “And Jelly Roll did that, and I want to do the same.”

With music as her outlet, Hawes writes songs that reflect her experiences, emotions, and dreams. One of her first completed songs, “Holding Hands,” tells the story of two friends growing closer.

Songwriting, she says, has also become a family effort.

“One day, my mom and I got together,” Hawes said. “We got to talking and we made that song up together actually.”

Having that support means everything to her.

“It’s really nice to have the help of my mom,” she said. “Because she’s always been there for me.”

Hawes continues to build her skills through guitar lessons and draws inspiration from country and pop artists such as Reba McEntire, Dan + Shay, Michael Bublé, Keith Urban, and Chris Stapleton. A gift of 300 Writing Prompts from a friend of her brother’s also helped encourage her creativity.

This past August, Hawes joined ACCESS, a social participation program for adults with special needs. She is currently working toward two goals: independent living and learning French.

For Hawes, these challenges are reminders that growth doesn’t stop after school, and that it’s never too late to learn something new or chase a dream.

Hawes believes courage and perseverance are essential when following your passions.

“It doesn’t matter what age you are, if you have a dream, go for it,” she said.

She acknowledges that finding the right words — or even the right path — can take time.

“You will know when you are ready to share a beautiful message and put it out there to a lot of people.”

Hawes says music reminds her that everyone carries unseen struggles.

“We’re all different and we’re all human beings. We all have feelings. We all have emotions,” she said. “I always say that life is a roller-coaster because life has ups and downs along the way.”

She believes courage often means trusting the process.

“It takes courage to follow your heart, to know what you want to do,” she said. “Maybe it’s going to be five years, 10 years, 15 years to do something you want to do.”

For Hawes, dreams require action.

“You can’t wait for things to fall into your lap. You can’t wait for things to happen,” she said. “You go make it. Don’t fake it. Feel it. Go out there and just do it no matter what.”

With the continued support of her family, Hawes is refining her songwriting and pursuing her dream of one day publishing her music.

“No matter what dream I have, I know it in my heart that I have one,” she said. “And I get that from my brother.”

One message, she says, continues to guide her. “One of my brother’s messages is to go with the flow with music,” Hawes said. “And I think we should all do that.”

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