Personal Narrative Analysis

Summer before junior year of high school, I was looking at a lot of standardized tests, essays, a heavier school workload, college applications, and getting a driver's license; my most immediate concern, however, was the soon to begin marching band season. Spring semester of sophomore year I had decided to audition for a leadership position in the band, and I suppose I was the best candidate because I managed to snag Section Leader for my instrument, clarinet. As the final days of July passed by, I anticipated the start of a season where I would be mentoring and teaching my fellow clarinet players the complex art of marching band. A few days before leadership camp I received a letter in the mail from the Head Band Director, Mr. Larry Brown, and immediately I knew things were not going to be what I expected.

Through music, many paths are able to come together. Although we come from different backgrounds, we are able to bond over the wonderful gift of music. The connection we have through music makes participating in the band program the most meaningful activity for me. The band program opened up my horizon and made me feel like I finally belonged somewhere. The diversity of the people in the program taught me how to be versatile. The age range amongst the members vary in which in one moment you have to respect and listen to who is in charge, then the next moment your peers are waiting for your orders. Learning to respect and handle being respected is an important lesson I am still learning. The position of power is something that should not go

It is during monotonous afternoons in the sweltering heat where one discovers the true limitations of his or her resolve. Remarkably, our exuberant group of approximately 160 members repeatedly managed to accomplish a new feat and set a precedent after every repetition. Much of this persistence I attribute to our band director, whose passion and resolution roused us to attain superior versions of ourselves. Often, he would remind us that “what was acceptable yesterday is not acceptable today”, a sample of his wisdom that prompted me to audition for the role of drum major. A drum major is essentially the foremost proprietor of student leadership within a marching band and he or she functions as a musical conductor during performances. Though I was not chosen at the conclusion of my freshman year, my commitment only intensified. I auditioned once more at the end of the following year and was selected. Suddenly, I was thrust into a renowned position of liability. My success depended on effectively communicating with individuals unfamiliar to me on a daily basis and defusing stiff situations. Stressful and tedious as I have discovered the role to be, it has bolstered my confidence and allowed me to acknowledge the mantle of leadership in a new

In the first grade, I picked up a clarinet. It was my sister’s, collecting dust while waiting for me to play it. From the moment I produced my first sound, an ear-piercing squeal that frightened my dog, the path of my life took a turn for the better. I began teaching myself for the following three years, along with learning from my sister how to properly play the beautiful instrument. The music pushed me out of my comfort zone: concerts that forced me onstage, tests that made me play difficult songs, and teachers that pushed me to be an exceptional player. From the shy elementary school student I used to be to the outgoing band member I take joy in being today, music has shaped my everyday life.

Ever since I stepped foot in my high school band program, I aspired to exceed my band director’s expectations and be able to perform to the best of my ability as a member of such a successful program. My band director has always been, and remains to this day, an exceptional

But once I joined, the class went too slow of a place for me, and I quit. Then in fifth grade, I joined band because I loved music, but that wasn’t such a good idea because that class went at a slow place again. In sixth grade I joined orchestra again, and here I am, writing this essay for orchestra in seventh grade.

Once high school started, I got way more into band than I had been previously. Because there are so many people at the high school the department is split into two bands, and we have to try out if we want to get into the better one. I wanted to be in the better one because my dad conducts it, so I practiced more than I usually did to have a higher chance. I made it in as last chair alto saxophone in the symphonic band, with all the other saxophones being some of the

To be honest the previous three years of my marching band experience in high school was only a small part of a larger whole. All the way back in the fifth grade when I picked out my instrument and made the choice to learn how it works, to accept the help of others along the way and to assume responsibility for it and other scholarly activities is just the beginning of what got me to where I am. Next came the middle school experience with increased difficulty of lessons and technique as well as the camaraderie between teachers and friends, the same comradery that brought us all together in high school and kept us together to work on, an at the time, an impossible feat. To be honest, the simple fact that not one action or moment defines my experience to this day will also define my experience in the future. Just as i have received help from various sources to get to where I am, I also count on you, the staff of Midwestern University, to help and guide me through any and all fields of study I

One year ago when I went through the biggest event in my life. I found out that I needed to get both discs in my jaw removed and fill the empty spots with fat grafts from my abdomen. I had no idea what to expect, so I was very scared. After a five hour surgery, I woke up to find that my jaw was rubber banded shut. I was put on a liquid diet for two weeks and was not able the open my jaw for more than fifteen minutes at a time to allow me to exercise my newly created jaw joints. I had no idea how I was going to live not being able to talk or move my jaw. It was such a difficult obstacle to overcome.

My previous elementary schools had no music program, so I did not expect anything different from the new school. But, I was in for a shock. I met Ms, Nina Wilkinson in the first 3 weeks of school. I think it is because I play the violin, and ultimately met Ms. Wilkinson are two of the major reasons I became who I am now. I played for her the piece I was learning from Suzuki book 4, and I was shaking with nerves, but I think Ms. Wilkinson saw something in me, and put me in the school orchestra, second chair. I was stunned. Never before have I ever been in first violin; I was always in second. This gave me a huge confidence boost. I was always pretty shy, and I rarely spoke more than a sentence all at once. But, during orchestra when Ms. Wilkinson conducted, she would tell me good job or well done and that changed me. I became more confident in my talents and self. I think my time in that school orchestra was a powerful influence on

I lost a job and did not find another one for several months. Once I did and tried to come back I was in 2 different car wrecks with the injuries and pain I was in there was no way I would have been able to complete successfully any of my classes or have them done in a timely fashion the concussion I suffered prevented me from remembering a lot of the time as well as the pain medications in which I was placed on. I tried again once I felt fine enough to go back and then I had health issues which required me to go in for surgery not once but twice. During that time I was not able to complete the classes as well in a timely fashion not only could I not lift my arms above my head but I needed help to assist me to be able to move about and therapy

I am an over-comer. I came into this world 3 and a half months early at 3 pounds 1 ounce, even then I had the determination to fight through adversity and for life. The doctors told my parents I would have physical and mental handicaps; leg braces, back braces, no mobile function, or response capabilities, I proved them wrong. After contracting RSV at 2 years old, and suffering from multiple seizures, doctors told my parents I would have to take asthma and seizure medications, Phenobarbital, for the rest of my life. With my parents help and guidance, I have not had a seizure for over 15 years. More recently, in September 2014, my brother and I were involved in car accident, my injuries were not as bad as my brother's were, but I received a

Although, I enjoyed steady employment my desire to finish school lingered with me. I needed a guided path of straight forward thinking with no distraction also with no life worries of daily living and survival.

Becoming part of the band my freshman year was exciting, but also very nerve wrecking.

My first day of band freshman year, I remember sitting in the seats of the auditorium while the band teacher, Mr. Greene asked me which instrument I play. I’ve played so many in the past, but I decided to tell him “keyboard” over all the other instruments I had played. This was what brought me to the percussion section where I had to learn instruments I had never even heard of before: frame drums, cabasas, and güiros. I had to put myself out of my comfort zone to help the band as a whole in concerts and competitions. Wherever I was needed to help the band is where I’d go. Mr. Greene was an amazing director for the band, our band sounded amazing every time we played. He made sure everyone could play each part of every song correctly. He never felt bad about calling people out and asking them if they could play a tough collection of measures in a song because he expected us to take charge of our own learning of the music. If we didn’t put the time into learning a piece, we just didn’t get to play it with the band. I myself had to learn to play pieces on instruments I had never played before, but I went at it to the best of my ability, because I knew the band depended on me to play my part correctly to make everything sound right in the end. Over the course of my 4 years at high school, I had successfully played the snare drum, the bass drum, the xylophone, the chime and the crash cymbals. All vastly different and instruments I hadn’t even thought of picking up before. But Mr.