Undergraduate / Experience-Washington Youth Tour - Common Application [6]

Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.

This past summer, I had the honor to be one of ninety-nine students from all over Georgia to attend the Washington Youth Tour. The trip was not only fun, but fulfilling, and I got to experience more than I ever thought possible in only one week. It was a trip that I will never forget and one that has helped me grow as person and as a leader.

From the moment I discovered that I was nominated to compete for a spot on this all-expenses-paid trip, I knew that I would do what ever it took to get it. The past few years have not been the best for my family financially, so I knew that this might be my only chance to do something like this in high school.

Although I couldn't wait to start my trip, I was a little nervous about leaving my family for a week and living with people that I had never met before. Until then, all of my experiences were with my family, so the idea that I would be leaving them, as well as the pressure of representing my community increased my overall uneasiness. However, after getting to know my new roommates and the other students on the trip, my fears quickly subsided. By the time we actually boarded the plane, most of my fears were gone.

On the tour we visited almost every major monument, building, and museum in Washington, D.C., from the Holocaust Museum to the Newseum. Throughout the whole tour, I could not help but be captivated by the whole experience. To set foot on same hallowed ground that such great leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. stood was both exhilarating and humbling. While visiting these places, I became all too aware of the sacrifice and the courage that it has taken to make the United States what it is today.

One of the best parts of the trip was getting to meet the senators and representatives of Georgia. Our congressmen actually came and spoke to us about their politics and their individual duties. It was great to get to learn about how they are working to resolving the issues facing our country, even if I didn't totally agree with how they believe it should be done. They encouraged us to take initiative when we see problems that need fixing.

I feel proud for having participated in the Washington Youth Tour because I not only represented my family, but my school and community. The trip also allowed me to overcome my own fears and preconceptions, but it also taught what it means to be a leader. Since this trip I have also sought different leadership roles in my school, including Student Government Association Secretary, and I will continue to do so in the future.

Undergraduate / UC prompt 1: How band helped me realize how change can be good [13]

Describe the world you come from - for example, your family, community or school - and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations.

When moving day finally arrived July of 2007, I was full of mixed emotions. My parents were forcing me to leave my home of eight years on Long Island, New York to find a new home in Douglasville, Georgia. I had no idea what I would do without my friends, teammates, and family still in New York. The plan that I had set for my life was changing, and there was nothing I could do about it. Despite these negatives, I knew that moving would be a fresh start for me. My mother also always reminded that I could do well no matter where we lived or what school I went to. Even though I did not want to believe her at the time, my mom was right. I never expected that my new school would be such a focal point of my life and shape so much of who I am today.

One of the first important decisions I made my freshman year was to join the school marching band. I had participated in band playing the clarinet since the fourth grade, but I had no idea what to expect when I arrived at practice after the first day of school. I had not gone to band camp so Mr. Moran, the band director decided to put me in the front ensemble, playing the xylophone until he could find a spot for me in the drill, or formation. I stood there looking at the alien instrument, wondering how I would learn to play the music in time for the first game.

Luckily, a couple of weeks later, a spot in the drill was found for me. Now I had even more to learn, but I was up for the challenge. The first game, in which I actually marched, was one of the most nerve-racking experiences of my life. All that I could think about was what if I got out of step or what if I can't remember any of the notes. I was glad when the performance was over, but I knew that I would have the rest of my high school career to improve on that performance, so that is what I did.

I am now one of the woodwind captains of the band, and I cannot imagine what my life would be like now if I had not made the decision to join. I have gained invaluable friendships, while gaining confidence in myself as a person and a performer. I love the challenge of learning a difficult piece of music and the fulfillment I get when I have mastered it. Through music performance, I am constantly learning the value of persistence and dedication, whether it be a twelve hour day at band camp or sitting at home practicing. I look forward to continuing my study of music into college as well as the visual arts and hope that I can blend both of my interests into my future career. The future is full of possibilities, so I always remember that even when things do not always go as planned; something great will still come in the end.