Posts by bparham79

bparham79

Apr 19, 2011

Scholarship / "I plan on teaching guitar, writing, performing" - I Love Music [8]

Thank you so much for the feedback. I sincerely appreciate it. It was EF_Kevin that really motivated me to narrow in on my focus and answer the questions. Thanks very much EF_Kevin for the advice.

Also, Missticcz, thank you so much for the encouragement. You just made my day :)

I'm going to make the changes you suggested and I'll post any updates regarding the scholarships. I'm meeting with the head of the department on Thursday of this week to help touch up my applications.

Thanks again! :)

Brian

bparham79

Apr 19, 2011

Scholarship / "I plan on teaching guitar, writing, performing" - I Love Music [8]

Scholarship Essays -Final Drafts - Please Help

Hello everyone. Thanks for advice thus far EF_Kevin. I've made an overhaul to my essays. I'm passionate about my subject. I'm the hardest worker in my program. I'm a straight A student and I know I'm the perfect candidate for the scholarships. I want to show those traits in my essays.

Any and all tips are greatly appreciated :) Thanks so much in advance.

2. Describe a challenge you have faced or a personal accomplishment you achieved. Describe the strengths and skills you used to face the challenge or achieve the accomplishment.(300 to 500 words)

April 18, 2011

Greatest Accomplishment: by Brian P******

My greatest accomplishment was overcoming poverty, discrimination, and a lack of opportunity - and creating the conditions necessary to pursue my dream: music.

It demanded everything of me: courage, determination, discipline, enthusiasm, and passion.

My journey started in a small coalminers town infamous for it's drug abuse and high suicide rates. I didn't have many opportunities growing up, but I built the courage and determination necessary to leave this sad town through competitive sports and the writings of great authors such as Leo Tolstoy, Jack Kerouac, and Cervantes.

After backpacking across the country I settled in San Francisco, CA for 5 years of hard work. Holding a full time job as the General Manager of the Environment Protection Agency's fitness club, I woke up every morning at 5 AM to train clients, teach spin classes, and complete my administrative tasks.

Organized and enthusiastic, I consistently practiced my instrument afternoon and night on an average of 6 hours a day. Often I'd drag my guitar and a stack of music books to work with me and performed for the members or hit the nearest park during my lunch break to practice for the hour.

The gym members soon became amazed by my dedication and progress. I'm proud to say that I inspired more than a few EPA employees to dust off their old instruments, take some music lessons, and even shared the stage with some of them at government events and parties.

After work I often biked through the jam-packed city streets to the local community music center where I was lucky enough to study with inspiring teachers and to become part of a vibrant musical community.

My musical projects and professional ambitions grew and matured with time. My passion was leading me to become a full-time music student. After carefully reviewing the music programs in my city and around the country I chose PCC and moved to Portland with my wife, who happens to find my enthusiasm contagious.

Leaving a great job and lots of friends required a leap of faith, but after three semesters at PCC, I know that I'm exactly where I'm meant to be.

My biggest challenge was creating the opportunities I wasn't afforded early in life. And my greatest success is that I get to wake up everyday and do what I love more than anything else in this world-play music.

bparham79

Apr 19, 2011

Writing Feedback / IELTS: Nowadays there are more opportunities for women than there were in the past [6]

Thanks for sharing this essay. It's a super interesting topic. I think you could dig into it much deeper. What you've covered was good from an instinct level, but it's a subject that has far greater implications than what you've covered. Why not research this topic further. I've seen some fascinating interviews by Dr. Gabor Matte on the subject. Look him up if you get the chance. Many of the interviews have taken place on Democracy now. So you might want to google those two names together.

Again it's a fascinating and complex issue that deserves a thoughtful approach. I'm certain you can do it justice! Best of luck :)

bparham79

Apr 19, 2011

Research Papers / Trade economy subject - how to start? [6]

My wife is a French Native and she finds the same problems. Over time (we've been married just under 3 years) her english has improved greatly. Although, she'll always speak english with an accent, it's a source of great charm for her.

We've found that being bi-lingual has always been a great bonus for her. She's always been able to work in the states based on the fact that she was fluent in French. I suspect it would be the same for you.

Oh and one last thing... There are no jobs anyways. I have friends with PHD's. Master Degrees. Speak 3, 4, even 5 languages. And they can't find work. Nobodies finding work anywhere. So who cares. Do what you love and don't worry about financial end of it. :)

bparham79

Apr 14, 2011

Scholarship / "I plan on teaching guitar, writing, performing" - I Love Music [8]

Thanks a ton. I really appreciate the advice. I'm going to work on these essays this weekend and I'll repost what I've come up with.

Thanks again for taking the time to respond. Greatly appreaciated!

bparham79

Apr 11, 2011

Scholarship / "I plan on teaching guitar, writing, performing" - I Love Music [8]

Hello Everyone. I'm so happy I found this site. It's been a long time since I've written anything and I could really use some help proofreading what I've done so far.

Here is the essay question:

Explain your career goals and your educational plan to meet these goals. (300 to 500 words)

My Essay is pasted below. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
...

I plan on teaching guitar, writing, performing, and starting a non-profit music school giving lessons to underprivileged kids in Portland.

Portland Community College is already helping me to reach those goals. By delving into the Professional Music Program I've already grown tremendously as a musician. Since enrolling I've begun writing compelling jazz compositions, performing with up and coming singer-songwriters, opening my ears, and broadening my musical interests.

My guitar playing has also grown by leaps and bounds. As a relative newcomer to the instrument, I've already blossomed into an elite player and am getting better everyday.

I hope to be one of the premier blues and jazz guitar players in the Portland scene for years to come. To help accomplish this, I plan on completing the entire series of Band Performance I-III and Jazz Improvisation I-III classes offered at the Cascade Campus and performing with everyone from PCC faculty to fellow students.

I've also begun singing through the Contemporary Singing Classes, which is something both terrifying and exhilarating. Although I haven't been blessed with a natural singing voice, singing is important for instrumentalists because it develops the ears and allows the performer to get involved in the music on a physical level.

After all the human voice is the archetype of which all other musical instruments were designed. Singing brings you closer to the essence of the art, and allows the performer to literally feel the intervals in your body.

To further improve my voice and open my ears, not only will I be completing the entire series of Contemporary Singing Classes this year, but I will also be enrolling in the Group Vocal and PCC Voices of Soul Chorus offered at the Sylvania campus next year.

Performance and technique is only one side of the Professional Music Industry. I plan on completing the entire gauntlet of classes (from Studio Technology to Digital Recording - and everything in between) offered by the Cascade Campus' Music Production Department next year.

Mastering an art form is a lot of work. Seven days a week. Weekends included of course. It's cost me jobs, friends, and thousands of dollars in education and equipment.

But I don't mind. I consider myself lucky. Blessed even. One of the chosen few that wake up excited in the morning and who lie awake at night dreaming of tomorrow's gains.

In many ways music has given me a second chance at life: a chance to pursue something far greater than myself. A chance to hope. To dream. To grow.

Not only is music a source of joy and pride, but it's also taught me many of life's greatest lessons as well - lessons like humility and sacrifice, dedication and the self-confidence that comes from setting goals and achieving them.

With the help of the PCC Foundation Scholarship, I will have the opportunity to grow and blossom into one of the areas top talents and to become a dedicated member of Portland's vibrant music scene.