Undergraduate / 'art has given me awards and satisfaction' -Extracurricular Essay [5]

I would be really grateful if someone proofreads the essay and correct all the errors.
Constructive criticisms would be really welcome. This is the 4th draft I made, and I personally feel that the essay is a bit too fast.

Thanks a lot in advance =)

Prompt: Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences in the space below.
I plunged the brush into a small color bottle and dropped some water into the palette, completely oblivious to the surrounding frenzy. I swirled the dripping brush coated with bright cerulean color in water from the palette and with deep concentration, slowly moved the brush across the page to give a wash.

Much of my secondary and high school years had been spent attending art classes at a private institution and participating in various on-spot art contests. Yes, art has given me awards and satisfaction, but most importantly it has given someone as inept at writing as me the power to express myself. It has broadened my perspective of the world and enabled me to maximize use of my creativity. Regularly participating in art contests has also increased my competitiveness. I consider art a huge part of my life and I hope it will be an even greater part of my life in future.