Undergraduate / USC "Only passions, great passions" USC Transfer Essay [5]

Question:The 18th century French philosopher Denis Diderot said, "Only passions, great passions can elevate the soul to great things." Describe one of your passions and reflect on how it has contributed to your personal growth.

Essay:

When one of my favorite bands, The Graduate, took the stage on a school night of my senior year, it was just like any other concert; pushing and shoving left me drenched in what I try to tell myself is just my own sweat. Afterwards I went home and collapsed into my bed, my unfinished homework lying next to me.

However, the next day was unlike any other. My best friend received the decision from his top choice school, Queens University, located in Ontario, miles away from my small town in California. He got in. The decision only became more devastating as my rejection letters started flooding in. After only two acceptances from Sonoma and San Francisco, schools I didn't particularly want to attend, thinking that neither of them are the best schools to help me reach my dreams of becoming an Artists and Repertoire representative for a record label. I decided to attend community college in the fall in hope to make my dreams a reality.

My friend left last Thursday for Canada and my desire to go to a University and pursue a higher education only burns stronger. I have come to the realization that listening to music all day and attending concerts at night is not going to get me anywhere. Sporting those oh-so-trendy skinny jeans that have solidified my nickname as "chicken legs," is not going to help me start a career in the tumultuous music industry. It was going to take an education. It was going to take one of the only schools that I have seen that offers a major in "music industry."

I have always loved music. Especially now as I struggle to teach myself the piano, I am astounded that anyone can pick up an instrument and piece together sounds to make something so magical. It was only after two years of telling everyone I knew that I wanted to design video games for a living, strictly for my love of spending hours with my XBOX 360, that I became involved in a discussion about dream jobs. I excitedly told the others I wanted to "Be in a band, or scout out new bands for record labels to sign." Being the genius that I am, I thought, "you know, that could be an actual thing." Google confirmed my suspicions; the job was titled Artists and Repertoire, A&R for short. I immediately shifted my goals. I wanted to be an A&R rep.

My passion for music and strong desire to spend the rest of my life helping out smaller bands who deserve the fame and attention that is unfortunately given to the wrong acts, helped me make the decision to continue my studies by going to Foothill College, because of the reputation of their transfer program. After barely keeping my 3.0 average throughout my high school career, Foothill has given me a second chance. I am now enjoying school and working hard, knowing the effects of my hard work now will take me far later in life when I need it. Of course, I am still going to concerts, because it is what I love, but I now retire in a bed with a tidy backpack next to it prepared for my next day at school. I have come to realize that without an education, I will not be able to continue doing what I love.

Music fuels my every move. All the hard work I am now investing in Foothill will hopefully allow me to attend USC in the fall of 2009 to work around so many industry experts that will help complete my goal of working with music for the rest of my life.