Becoming a Music Director - The Bridge Program Fellowship - CROSSROAD Essay 1

Describe a time when you faced a difficult decision, explain the options and risks, how you chose, and what you learned from the experience (150 words max.)

For the first short essay (Crossroads):
What was the situation?
What made the decision difficult or non-obvious?
What options were you considering?
What factors influenced your thinking? (values, trade-offs, risks, constraints)
What decision did you make, and why?
What was the outcome, and how do you reflect on it now?

My Essay:
After secondary school, I faced a decision that quickly became more complex than it seemed. My parents had already paid ₦10,000 for a tailoring apprenticeship, but my mind was set on electronics and music. The pressure was intense; I feared disappointing them and doubted if my interests were "practical" enough for our environment.

I realized tailoring didn't match my long-standing interest in mathematics and problem-solving. I weighed the immediate comfort of following their plan against the necessity of building technical skills. I chose the latter, teaching myself multiple programming languages and eventually co-engineering a smart-home water pump system. Simultaneously, I applied that same discipline to music, becoming a Music Director and mentor.

This experience taught me to weigh external pressure against my long-term direction. I now prioritize decisions that offer growth and impact over simply taking the easiest route.

The connection between the topics and the road towards your final decision is a bit confusing to follow. The subjects do not relate to one another in terms of basis and application, which leaves one wondering how you were able to connect tailoring, math, and music to help lead you towards a final decision. This becomes even more questionable when one considers that your strength appears to be in math and programming. There is no evidence of musicality as being one of your academic or theoretical strengths. Therefore, the previous questions that you tried to respond to in the writing prompt guides were not fully addressed. You need to edit this to create a more connected and justified discussion that better aligns with the prompt requirements.

The essay cannot answer questions thoroughly and lack of clear coherence. You should further describe the emotional conflicts and economic circumstances of the family. These parts in your essay are mentioned clearly. In addition you can add assumption if you choose this option or another, which increases the persuasiveness of the text.