Undergraduate / 'The Perks of Being a Listener' - Penn Benjamin Franklin Quote Essay [3]

The Perks of Being a Listener

Since I am quite familiar with the process of being relocated by my parents to a new place every few years, friends may jokingly describe as being literally, quite movable. Coincidentally, I categorize myself as being movable as well, but for a different reason. I consider myself to be movable in both thought and action because people can impact my decisions.

Are you even listening to me?

Please help me edit this. Any advice/comments would be greatly appreciated as well.
Also, it's 504 words including the title! :( The limit is 500 words... Should I shorten it? Thanks!

The Perks of Being a Listener

Since I am quite familiar with the process of being relocated by my parents to a new place every few years, one may describe me as being literally, quite movable. Coincidentally, I categorize myself as being movable as well, but for a different reason. I consider myself to be movable in both thought and action because people can impact my decisions.

Are you even listening to me?

In modern society, listening is an undervalued skill. In reality, it is a difficult skill to master. In many conversations, people end up so focused on expressing their own views that they end up not listening to what the other person is really saying. Benjamin Franklin once said "the great secret of succeeding in conversation is...to hear much; always to distrust our own reason, and sometimes that of our friends...". At a young age, I cultivated the skill of being a good listener. Through listening, I have been able to process and reflect on new ideas to which I am introduced in conversation. In discussion, I see myself as a block being pushed around on a frictionless surface, unrestricted by my own reason and limited only to the area encompassed by my morals and beliefs. By a little push from a companion's words, I am free to explore and reflect on people's ideas, sometimes discovering new ideas in the process. However, I do not blindly adopt people's views as my own. Rather, I eventually develop a decision on where I place myself on the issue.

Furthermore, I admit that as a human being, I have flaws and weaknesses. It is because I am able to recognize having room for musical improvement that I go to piano lessons. Likewise, it is for the melioration of my own performance that I attend concerts and listen to recordings of other pianists. In my 13 years of playing piano, I have yet to have a lesson that consists solely of my teacher lavishing me with praises concerning the magnificence of my playing. Instead, most of my classes are chock-full of conducive advice on trying new techniques and a variety of interpretations which contribute to my own eclectic interpretation. Ultimately, the applause that follows my concerts acknowledges my accomplishments, but I know that the gentle encouragement and light critique from my teacher always play an undeniable role in prodding me along the rough path to a successful performance. Constructive criticism and compliments combined with my diligence is what enables me to see my own imperfections and fortes, providing me with the inspiration to improve. I would be lying if I said that I have remained the exact same since childhood. To say that I have personally initiated the majority of the changes in my life would also be a lie. In reality, it is through the meticulous listening of others' ideas and advice that I have been able to develop and to improve.