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Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.
Personal Essay
My fingers are flying over the smooth polished keys, my eyes looking straight forward in perfect concentration at the papers before me. I feel my fingers growing tired, but I cannot stop. The black dots pass before my eyes, mixing with my soul to create something magical. This is but a moment of my never-ending journey. Piano allows me self-expression while bringing others enjoyment. Piano has also been my partner and teacher from the day I set out on this grand adventure. While I have only recently begun this journey, I have achieved many accomplishments with it, but most importantly, it has taught me countless valuable lessons that I will treasure through the rest of my life. Piano has taught me the importance of hard work, self-discipline, and dedication. Through my long rigorous practices, it has shown me the value of my curiosity, fueling it infinitely. Most importantly, my piano has taught me about the value of pursuing any true passion no matter what the cost.
My journey began freshman year, in my high school choir. From the moment I entered the room, I felt something different, something I had not yet experienced. It was the effort and discipline that came only from a true hunger for greatness. This is also where I was first exposed to the art of playing piano. What I witnessed truly inspired me. Our pianist was able to press these keys and create such a colorful range of subtle to majestic tones, all from the touch of her fingers. Her ability sparked a desire within me to play piano. I began practicing, just for the pure enjoyment of learning a piece. Playing casually wasn't enough for me though; I desired to be able to play Beethoven's fifth or Mozart's "Alla Turca." To do this, I knew would require hard work and discipline just like what I experienced in my choir. I thought practicing this instrument would only give me the ability to play wonderful pieces. I was wrong. I realized that the piano is like a teacher, guiding me to appreciate the value of my hard work and determination. I have become better at time management and realized what I can truly accomplish when I put my mind to the task. Also, I have recognized that most of the reward lies in the journey not the destination. Piano has shown me the value of having self-discipline and dedication and from this, I have learned to challenge myself, to want new experiences, and to desire to succeed.
Piano has also taught me the value of curiosity. I have been naturally curious for as long as I can remember, but I never thought much of it. Growing up, I always wondered how things worked, be it Legos or automobiles. The piano was no exception; from the first day I was exceptionally inquisitive about the scales, harmonies and anything else that went into a piece of music. I remember my first "real" song, "Für Elise." I desired to know everything I could about it, so I worked on it tirelessly. I even took the sheet music with me on car rides, studying the note values, rhythms, dynamics and mentally rehearsing it. I was able to complete this song in less than a week. This was one of my greatest personal accomplishments because I challenged myself to be something better and succeeded. Piano has imparted me with the importance of embracing my curiosity in my academics. I know now, because of piano, never to stop asking the important questions like "why" and "how," and to use my natural curiosity to drive me along the journey of live.
The most important quality that I have learned from my piano is to follow my passions. I am the first musician in my family, and this has made me a well-rounded individual. My parents are both athletic. Also most of my friends' passions involve playing sports, and I appreciate this. I have found from piano that individual passions are what make us all unique. Following my own path and interests will lead me in a positive direction, even if it means traveling it alone. Because of this, I believe that I will be a unique and beneficial addition to wherever life's roads lead.
My piano has been more to me than just an instrument; it has been one of my greatest teachers. It has had a huge impact on me, shaping who I am today. I have learned that hard work, self-discipline, and dedication will bear prosperous fruit; that I should use my curiosity to drive myself to succeed, and most importantly, to follow my passions. I know that these lessons will serve me well into my college years and beyond. While piano can immensely challenging at times with hard practices and difficult pieces, I welcome these challenges as they have allowed me to grow in many aspects of life.
I eagerly await its next lesson, quietly listening.
Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.
Personal Essay
My fingers are flying over the smooth polished keys, my eyes looking straight forward in perfect concentration at the papers before me. I feel my fingers growing tired, but I cannot stop. The black dots pass before my eyes, mixing with my soul to create something magical. This is but a moment of my never-ending journey. Piano allows me self-expression while bringing others enjoyment. Piano has also been my partner and teacher from the day I set out on this grand adventure. While I have only recently begun this journey, I have achieved many accomplishments with it, but most importantly, it has taught me countless valuable lessons that I will treasure through the rest of my life. Piano has taught me the importance of hard work, self-discipline, and dedication. Through my long rigorous practices, it has shown me the value of my curiosity, fueling it infinitely. Most importantly, my piano has taught me about the value of pursuing any true passion no matter what the cost.
My journey began freshman year, in my high school choir. From the moment I entered the room, I felt something different, something I had not yet experienced. It was the effort and discipline that came only from a true hunger for greatness. This is also where I was first exposed to the art of playing piano. What I witnessed truly inspired me. Our pianist was able to press these keys and create such a colorful range of subtle to majestic tones, all from the touch of her fingers. Her ability sparked a desire within me to play piano. I began practicing, just for the pure enjoyment of learning a piece. Playing casually wasn't enough for me though; I desired to be able to play Beethoven's fifth or Mozart's "Alla Turca." To do this, I knew would require hard work and discipline just like what I experienced in my choir. I thought practicing this instrument would only give me the ability to play wonderful pieces. I was wrong. I realized that the piano is like a teacher, guiding me to appreciate the value of my hard work and determination. I have become better at time management and realized what I can truly accomplish when I put my mind to the task. Also, I have recognized that most of the reward lies in the journey not the destination. Piano has shown me the value of having self-discipline and dedication and from this, I have learned to challenge myself, to want new experiences, and to desire to succeed.
Piano has also taught me the value of curiosity. I have been naturally curious for as long as I can remember, but I never thought much of it. Growing up, I always wondered how things worked, be it Legos or automobiles. The piano was no exception; from the first day I was exceptionally inquisitive about the scales, harmonies and anything else that went into a piece of music. I remember my first "real" song, "Für Elise." I desired to know everything I could about it, so I worked on it tirelessly. I even took the sheet music with me on car rides, studying the note values, rhythms, dynamics and mentally rehearsing it. I was able to complete this song in less than a week. This was one of my greatest personal accomplishments because I challenged myself to be something better and succeeded. Piano has imparted me with the importance of embracing my curiosity in my academics. I know now, because of piano, never to stop asking the important questions like "why" and "how," and to use my natural curiosity to drive me along the journey of live.
The most important quality that I have learned from my piano is to follow my passions. I am the first musician in my family, and this has made me a well-rounded individual. My parents are both athletic. Also most of my friends' passions involve playing sports, and I appreciate this. I have found from piano that individual passions are what make us all unique. Following my own path and interests will lead me in a positive direction, even if it means traveling it alone. Because of this, I believe that I will be a unique and beneficial addition to wherever life's roads lead.
My piano has been more to me than just an instrument; it has been one of my greatest teachers. It has had a huge impact on me, shaping who I am today. I have learned that hard work, self-discipline, and dedication will bear prosperous fruit; that I should use my curiosity to drive myself to succeed, and most importantly, to follow my passions. I know that these lessons will serve me well into my college years and beyond. While piano can immensely challenging at times with hard practices and difficult pieces, I welcome these challenges as they have allowed me to grow in many aspects of life.
I eagerly await its next lesson, quietly listening.