Undergraduate / Tell us what influenced you to select your major - Emerson College [3]

I have selected the musical theater major. This is a pretty rough draft. Thank you for any advice/critiques!

PROMPT: As you know, the academic programs at Emerson College are focused on communication and the arts. Please tell us what influenced you to select your major. If you're undecided about your major, what attracted you to Emerson's programs? Please be brief (100-200 words).

choice of major at Emerson College

The power of a performance is incredible. When watching a good performance, you are not just observing a story, but experiencing it along with the performers. Fine arts help us to reflect on our own experiences and our perspectives of the world. The theater has the capability to teach, inspire, and cause self-reflection in just two hours (with one fifteen-minute intermission.) I believe theatre brings people together to celebrate and challenge ways of thinking through the telling of stories. What is so special about theatre is that it is created in the moment. Whatever you witness at any given time is unique for every person. Musical theater, to me, is about having the potential to captivate an audience with artistic means and cause change within them. I have selected my major as musical theater because of what it has done for me and what it can do for other people. I want expand my abilities to become an impactful story-teller. The musical theatre program at Emerson stresses educating students who surpass the superficial level of performance and create reality on the stage. I want to be pushed to develop my leadership skills and bring depth to my studies. I appreciate that Emerson College values bringing innovation and intensity to all areas of study in order to create life-changing moments.

Undergraduate / Write the story of your life until now, what would you title it and why - Emerson Essay [4]

Please give me any advice or critiques you have. Thank you!

shining Light

When she was born, she did not cry. The nurses stared at the strange, incandescent newborn who simply opened her eyes and looked in wonder at the dull hospital room around her. Her parents named her Ellie, meaning "shining light." And she was.

When the girl turned six, she decided her light probably wasn't good enough. She tried to put out her flame, derive it of the oxygen that kept it going. She convinced herself it was water she wanted, not fire. But the light was stubbornly radiant, and did not go out.

When the girl turned twelve, the light was shaken. The once warm, glittering world grew strange and unfamiliar. Her trust in others faded. She was lost in shadows. At fifteen, clouds covered the light. Terrifying visions of darkness came to her. However, there was iridescent music that kindled sunlight in her and the clouds slowly cleared.

The girl is seventeen now, and her light shines bright. She continues to look around at the world with wonder, glowing with illuminating passion and burning with curiosity. Her name is Ellie, meaning "shining light." And she is.