I am using the Common App for Davidson College, and my essay topic is choice #1 (Identify a significant experience and its impact on you.)
Here is what I have so far.
"Soprano, alto, tenor, bass! Bottom of five, last system."
From the second we stepped into Lindsay Hall for rehearsal that first morning, we were thrust headlong into the intense world of music majors. At first, the activities seemed relatively normal. As the hours wore on, though, the teachers' incessant hammering of one aspect of a piece----sometimes for an entire lesson--- irked me. Why did we have to spend thirty minutes tuning a chord or come to a ninety-minute rehearsal ---at nine in the night----when the piece sounded just fine as it was?
Throughout my week at that choral camp at Florida State University in June of 2007, I wondered what I had gotten myself into. I thought camp meant a fun place, not a place where fun came to die. I have never wanted to be a professional musician, I thought. What good will this do for me?
As the camp progressed, though, I grudgingly admitted that there was intrinsic value in what we were doing. We were getting better every day, thanks to our own work and the teachers' urgings and instructions. It was also evident that all the instructors loved what they did. Their dedication and passion showed---every time they yelled "Yes!" at the top of their lungs, every time they told us "Brava!" They did not teach, play, conduct, or sing for the money. They did it because they wanted both their music and their pupils to be the best they could possibly be. I, however, did not fully fathom this ---or understand why it all mattered-----until the night of the final performance.
As we stood upon the risers in Opperman Music Hall that evening, the techniques we had learned became second nature; we used them to tell our stories through song. The Vivaldi Gloria became a song of praise instead of a source of consternation. Bloom was a beautiful, flowing melody instead of a senseless blur. Ride the Chariot was a call to prepare for the Judgment Day instead of a raucous ramble. Instead of discord, there was harmony; instead of fighting the music, we were part of it. The din from the audience was deafening when we closed the program. All the stress on technique---all the hours spent practicing----had been worth it.
That night, I realized I could apply what I had learned throughout the week about dedication, love, and passion to all my endeavors. Consequently, I did not complain so much when the demands of coursework during my junior year required me to put in more hours of study than I was used to. Though I was no stranger to toil, that year was the first time I did something without complaining how hard it would be.
The lessons I learned that summer have carried me through many a difficult task, and will continue to do so in the future. I know that my goal of becoming a physician---a goal I have had for years----will only be reached if I am willing to put in time and effort. I know I can do it, simply because I have dedication to and love for science and community service. Thus, the qualities I possess---dedication, love, and passion----will strengthen Davidson, and give me the tools necessary to carry on a successful, healthy, and happy life.
Here is what I have so far.
"Soprano, alto, tenor, bass! Bottom of five, last system."
From the second we stepped into Lindsay Hall for rehearsal that first morning, we were thrust headlong into the intense world of music majors. At first, the activities seemed relatively normal. As the hours wore on, though, the teachers' incessant hammering of one aspect of a piece----sometimes for an entire lesson--- irked me. Why did we have to spend thirty minutes tuning a chord or come to a ninety-minute rehearsal ---at nine in the night----when the piece sounded just fine as it was?
Throughout my week at that choral camp at Florida State University in June of 2007, I wondered what I had gotten myself into. I thought camp meant a fun place, not a place where fun came to die. I have never wanted to be a professional musician, I thought. What good will this do for me?
As the camp progressed, though, I grudgingly admitted that there was intrinsic value in what we were doing. We were getting better every day, thanks to our own work and the teachers' urgings and instructions. It was also evident that all the instructors loved what they did. Their dedication and passion showed---every time they yelled "Yes!" at the top of their lungs, every time they told us "Brava!" They did not teach, play, conduct, or sing for the money. They did it because they wanted both their music and their pupils to be the best they could possibly be. I, however, did not fully fathom this ---or understand why it all mattered-----until the night of the final performance.
As we stood upon the risers in Opperman Music Hall that evening, the techniques we had learned became second nature; we used them to tell our stories through song. The Vivaldi Gloria became a song of praise instead of a source of consternation. Bloom was a beautiful, flowing melody instead of a senseless blur. Ride the Chariot was a call to prepare for the Judgment Day instead of a raucous ramble. Instead of discord, there was harmony; instead of fighting the music, we were part of it. The din from the audience was deafening when we closed the program. All the stress on technique---all the hours spent practicing----had been worth it.
That night, I realized I could apply what I had learned throughout the week about dedication, love, and passion to all my endeavors. Consequently, I did not complain so much when the demands of coursework during my junior year required me to put in more hours of study than I was used to. Though I was no stranger to toil, that year was the first time I did something without complaining how hard it would be.
The lessons I learned that summer have carried me through many a difficult task, and will continue to do so in the future. I know that my goal of becoming a physician---a goal I have had for years----will only be reached if I am willing to put in time and effort. I know I can do it, simply because I have dedication to and love for science and community service. Thus, the qualities I possess---dedication, love, and passion----will strengthen Davidson, and give me the tools necessary to carry on a successful, healthy, and happy life.