Undergraduate / Writing Music Reviews (Common App Short Response) [10]

Help! Thank You in advance! I will critique your essays!

Since the sixth grade, I had an immediate attraction to writing my opinions. When I coupled it with my love of music, I knew I had something going for me. Writing Music Opinions has really taught me a lot about myself. Giving my opinion in writing has always been an issue for me. Writing my music reviews really gives me the confidence I have not discovered in my writing. I feel as if these reviews also help me grow as a leader. The people who are reading my reviews are trusting me to make the best judgment possible so they can make sound musical decisions.

Writing reviews is an activity that I hold near and dear to me. Whenever I need to relieve stress, all I need to do is just grab my notebook and my iPod and let the words take over.

Undergraduate / UF Application: Getting my GED-Meaningful Experience [8]

Thank You in advance!

Finding out that I could not graduate with the kids I grew up with for 12 years was probably one of the hardest things for me to handle. The second hardest thing for me to handle was the fact that I had to obtain my GED. My initial thought about this was that everyone is going to think of me as a failure because I graduated in a very unconventional way. It was at that time my perseverance went into full drive. I decided I would break away from the social stigma of the GED and show that I could be successful.

As long as I can remember I was seen as a leader to all my peers and the adults around me. I had built up a reputation of always trying to be the best I can possibly be.When I had to tell parents that I was obtaining my GED, you could tell by the look of disgust on their face that they were very wrong about me. They were very wrong, this GED was not the end of me, if anything, it has empowered me. From the time I found out that I would have a whole year to myself, I started doing a million and one things. I started my own production company with my friend, I have started reading more classic literature and have been helping out with the Hands on Orlando doing community Service.

The fact that I managed to overcome this obstacle in my life shows that anything that life hands me I will be able to handle it. I don't think that college will be any different. College will be a new part of my life that I am willing to embrace with open arms. Being the "unconventional student" (by every definition of the word), I know that the odds are against me. If admitted into the University of Florida, I will overcome any preconceived notions about my past to pave the way to a very bright and above average future.

Like obtaining my GED and not being able to graduate with my friends, going to college is an obstacle I have to tackle. If accepted into the University of Florida, I would take all the things I have learned this last year about perseverance and conquering obstacles and apply that to the many responsibilities that I will have while being an active member of the UF community.

Undergraduate / Common Application Short Response: How SGA is my favorite activity! [4]

Leadership, perseverance, and responsibility are three of traits I was taught while in the Student Government. The Student Government has been my sanctuary for the last four years of my life. From the first time I entered a Legislative Meeting to my very last Teacher Appreciation Week, I got a sense of wholeness when I am doing SGA activities.

SGA also helped me become a leader and taught me how to show my leadership skills outside of the campus. Being the voice of my peers gave me a sense of responsibility that most adults get. Being elected Student Body President really let me exercise my leadership abilities. Not only was the voice of my whole school, at time I would have to be the voice of the surrounding community. My future is uncertain but this is one thing I know. I will use the qualities I learned from SGA.

Undergraduate / My Life according to Edward Elgar- Common App! [11]

Prompt: Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence.

It's not quite finished yet, I just want to know if I am going in the right direction!

This is a story of a boy and how Elgar has molded his life. Sir Edward Elgar's Opus 36, commonly known as his Enigma Variations, has been with me from my childhood to this very moment. This piece has influenced me to become the stronger person that I am today. It has also influenced me in the sense that everything happens for a reason. Growing up as a young boy in Queens, life was hard. My family lived in the basement of my Grandmother's home. We all knew that we didn't have much, forcing us to make do with what we have. Everyone had the same mentality, except for my father. Oh, what a character he was! He is the Supporting Actor in the movie I call "Life".

Scene 1: the man, the woman, and R.P.A.

My dad was not a very thoughtful man. He made this very obvious in many ways. One way would be by always being in and out of jail (but I'll save that for later). In this scene, we have my father having a discussion with my mother. My mother has had enough of him and all of his nonsense. She says she needs a change of scenery in order for the kids to live a life she didn't live.

My Father knowing this dashed into my bedroom and took me out of my bed. I am terrified for my life because all I really hear is screaming and shouting. He started beating me because he knew I was a representation of the "relationship "that once was my mother and father. My mom desperately tells him to stop and that she was lying about leaving him. He throws me down to the floor and they leave my bedroom. It was then that Elgar changed my life. I play the cassette that my Grandmother gave me titled "Musical Masterpieces". I went through the whole cassette trying to appease myself. Then I came to Number 5, R.P.A..

Although the yelling had not ceased, I was in a place of total an utter silence. I sat there, tears rolling down my cheeks, listening to the rolling triplets. As the song progressed, the moving darkness turned into a light of melodic clarinets. It was the rolling tones of the Bass section that really made me come to terms with myself. The juxtaposition between light and dark that Elgar conveys really made a connection to my life that not a single 9 year old can relate to. At that age, I knew that the Enigma Variations was my holy trinity. I knew that it was this piece of music that would help me through all the tough times. I did not know that it would be the band-aid of my life.

It was R.P.A. that really gave me the foundation, but the rest of this opus arte magnus was what gave me the drive to keep going.

Scene 2: the inquisitive little boy and Ysobel

My family was expecting to me a definite replication of my father. In actuality, I was nothing like my father. I was a very intellectually curious child. By asking to bring home textbooks over the summer to learn more and bringing home chalk to teaching my baby sister math, my curiosity just grew. When I moved from New York to Florida, I didn't know who I was a person. My mind was doing one thing but my outside forces expected me to do something else. The identity crisis that comes to teenagers was right in my face at the age of 10. I went to my sage for the answer. I sat and entered my world again. This time the ruler was Ysobel. The moving andantino, told me that it is ok to be an inquisitive child, I am still young and my life will fall into place. As I took this advice, I felt a part of me being played by the solo viola. The lurking quarter notes used to add mystery gave me what I was looking for, acceptance. After the meeting with my savant, I still remember his wise words.

Scene 3: Closing Curtain and the Gang

After my life defining moment with Ysobel, I decided that it doesn't matter what people thought of me just as long as I became successful. At first I was like Little Read Riding Hood, I was scared but determined to get to my destination. Everything was going well until my 7th grade. My father died, drug overdose. When the event happened, I didn't know how to feel. The man who beat my mother one night but loved her next. The man who brought home large amounts of drugs. The man who refused to acknowledge his two kin. The man who threatened to kill my Grandparents. This man had done unforgivable acts but yet I could not help but hurt inside. No one understood my pain, no one but The Gang.

They went by Nimrod, WM, and BGN. WM and BGN helped me lament and heal. In the dark corner of my life, I managed to find closure by understanding the words that BGN told me. "It's ok to cry. He is your father and you loved him" said BGN. When I came to terms with the lost, WM managed to fly in and help me heal. It was not until 5 moths later Nimrod came in and pieced it all together. Nimrod told me "Don't let this stray you off the path. Continue being positive and don't let anything stop you." Nimrod also helped me realized why I the death effected me. This man made me the boy I was. If it were not for him setting a bad example, I would not have the urge to strive for the best. The subtle tones that introduced Nimrod made me seriously question his word, but as I listened on, the rolling tones of the Timpani told me that his word was the real deal. Whenever I listen to these three songs, I can't help but say Thank You.

I have not let the event that have happened in my past define as a person. I am a lot better than that. As a result, I have never shared my past with anyone...until now. My life is not defined by one moment but a whole collection of moments. These moments may make me laugh, like Dorabella or they may make me cry like C.A.E., whatever the case may be I know that it will happen and I'll have Elgar and his Variations to help me through it.