Undergraduate / "marching band" - UMich Short Essay -COMMUNITY [2]

Approximately 250 words
Everyone belongs to many different communities and/or groups defined by (among other things) shared geography, religion, ethnicity, income, cuisine, interest, race, ideology, or intellectual heritage. Choose one of the communities to which you belong, and describe that community and your place within it.

Marching onto the field all I could feel was my heart pounding and my brain telling me "Don't mess up." As a freshman in high school and a newcomer to Georgia, I marched a show for the first time ever. This show was one of the many I was yet to march over my four years in high school.

Marching band was the first community I had in my new home. Through the band program at my school, I have made lifelong friendships, while also gaining valuable leadership skills. Being a leader in band since the tenth grade forced me out of my shy shell. I had to call commands and help teach new members marching techniques. Soon I realized that being timid would not get me anywhere if I wanted to be a leader, so I learned how to be assertive and gain the respect of my peers, while still having fun.

Band always reminds me that I need to do my best to be the best. When I got the position of first chair clarinet in my first ever winter concert in the ninth grade, I knew that I had earned it through hard work and dedication. Learning a new piece of music is always a challenge full of discovery, and performing it well brings out the joy in me and all of my fellow band students. Thusly I am reminded that I am not just a member of my high school's band but a member of a worldwide community of musicians that hope to further discover as a Michigan Marching Band member.

Undergraduate / "Digital Media Design" - Penn Supplement [3]

Considering both the specific undergraduate school or program to which you are applying and the broader University of Pennsylvania community, what academic, research, and/or extracurricular paths do you see yourself exploring at Penn?-500 words

When I was younger, often times my peers would complain about how much they hated certain subjects. I never did because to me every subject was interesting and fun to learn. Throughout life, people have always asked me, "What do you want to be when you grow up?", and more recently the question asked has been "What will your major be in college?" Being a person with such varied interests, answering those questions has always been a struggle. However, through researching the University of Pennsylvania, I found a program that helped me answer those questions: Digital Media Design.

My interest in art started at a very young age. My mom has always told me that I could draw as soon as I could hold a crayon. Therefore, art has always been something that I love to do and something that I could consider as a future career. I am interested in studying all parts of art and design, including painting, architecture, photography, graphic design, sculpture, and animation. Besides art, I have always also been fascinated with science and technology and learning how our world works. I know I want to be an innovator in whatever I do and the Digital Media Design program will allow me to do that. I would love to have a career in the movie or gaming industries, and with DMD I will be able to learn both the artistic and technological aspects of animating and interactive media and technology.

Another one of my interests is music. I have been playing the clarinet since the fourth grade and cannot wait to continue playing into college. I am also interested in learning about jazz and the music of different cultures around the world, so I am contemplating a minor in music. I plan to be very involved outside the classroom, too. I have been a part of my high school's marching band for all four years of high school, so I would love to join Penn's Fighting Quaker Marching Band, as well as any other music ensembles I have time for. I have also been playing soccer since the second grade and plan on continuing to play, either on a club team or on an intramural team. As well as continuing my interests from high school, I plan on taking advantage of Penn's proximity the mountains by learning to how to snowboard. Additionally, I want to serve the community however I can, especially through spreading a love of art to the children of Philadelphia with the Penn Art Club.

What ever my future career may be, I know that the University of Pennsylvania will give me the tools to succeed. With a foundation in the liberal arts I will be able to explore all of my interests and gain a varied knowledge. I will learn about subjects I have never even heard of before and challenge myself in every way I can. The possibilities are innumerable at Penn, and I cannot wait for my journey to begin.

Be harsh if needed. Please also read my other threads because I want to use one for my common app essay. Tell me which one is better. Thanks :)