Personal Narrative: My Love Of Choosing High School

Through my time growing up in Corona Queens as a kid I had come to realize something, I was beginning to get shorter as time progressed, the odd part was that I was the tallest in my class, standing at 5,10 in the 7th grade I was considered tall for a kid my age, in addition to only being 12 but regardless as I kept on coming home, I only felt as if I'm getting shorter. one day returning from the library and my reading session about the book Nature I was still in shock about what Henry David Thoreau has said about "sucking the marrow of life", and as I was attempting to think of how I can accomplish what he said, I fell and nearly broke my skull. it was then that I realized that what seemed like a footstep to walk into my home was a 10ft fall.

My transition into high school was as easy as taking a breath. I had always found school quiet easy and I never had to put much effort into getting promising grades. Before high school I had my whole life figured out, or at least I thought I did. I had planned that I would attend a law school or major in English. After a while of being in high school I started to realize many things. My parents did not have the financial stability to send me to a law school, I was not as smart as all the other kids, little by little I began struggling with a negative mentality about myself and my future. I slowly let go of my dream of becoming a lawyer and decided to join the Health Careers Academy. Soon enough, I began to have a deep interest in the medical field but then again I continued to have the same question; how can I afford going to a medical school? I did not know much about college or what it took to get into college. I assumed I just had to have a pretty transcript and that was all it took. My self confidence began to lower as I saw how other students cruised through their high school years so effortlessly. I never wanted to ask for help because I did not want to seem “dumb”. I would bite my tongue and hold in all the unanswered questions I had. My junior year, I was having a very difficult time. I had a tight schedule which consisted of almost all AP or honors courses. I slowly began to give up because I did not believe that I could do it. I let my grades slip failing almost

Tanner started his freshman year playing in the second best orchestra of three in his school. Here, he excelled musically and made new friends with upperclassmen. By January, one of Tanner’s older friends had convinced him to join choir, so he decided to audition for the upcoming year. As a sophomore, Tanner sang bass in the top choir, even though he did not have any prior singing experience. The same year, he also auditioned into Symphonic Orchestra, the top orchestra of his school. While he was in both the top orchestra and choir, he started student conducting for the lower orchestras and choirs. By senior year, Tanner’s schedule was almost completely filled with music classes. Consequently, Tanner grew extremely close to his high school ensemble directors. It got the point where he could casually call his Symphonic Orchestra director “mom.” This inspired Tanner to make it a goal for himself to form strong relationships with his future students. Through his experiences conducting his high school orchestras, and choir, Tanner found that he really enjoyed teaching music and decided to study music

In elementary, I was known as the best player for my patience and understanding of every piece we played in orchestra. “Your daughter is my best student in all 4 schools that I teach,” exclaimed my orchestra teacher, Ms. Nichols, to my mother. Ever since then, I have been practicing my violin every minute of every day. At the end of my sixth grade year, I received a letter stating that I have been invited to audition for the East Valley Youth Symphony. The desire I had to audition felt like someone hitting me with a hammer.The tears of joy that fell from my parents’ faces were overwhelming, but I knew there was no reason to celebrate because it wouldn’t be easy to get into. At that instant, I had a panic attack and couldn’t stop until the next morning.

Imagine a third grader, small and blonde, standing on a stage that practically swallows her. She gazes in awe at the bright lights that seem to tower miles above her head; likewise, she follows with a stare, fixating on the hundreds of darkened faces that remain directly in front of her. Unlike her classmates who fidget with nerves beside her, she feels a rush of adrenaline. What may have seemed to some an ordinary choir concert in a dull auditorium, was, to me, a life changing moment. Ever since this day, for 9 years now, I have had an unwavering passion for music and performing. As I aged, I found myself excitedly learning how to play 7 new instruments, but even considering the vast number of bands, orchestras, choirs, and instrumental lessons that I joined, I noticed myself

I am a dedicated and conscientious student in class, and a key member in many extra-curricular activities. As a keen musician, playing violin, trombone and piano, I contribute to a number of musical ensembles in school and played an integral part in the organisation of our school’s summer concert. I am also a member of several local youth orchestras and bands, with whom I have toured abroad many times, most recently to Italy, France and Belgium.

The week before all-state orchestra auditions meant everything needed to be perfect. I would meticulously practice my cello for extended periods of time, revisiting the same difficult passages until I was satisfied or my fingers became numb. There were few performance opportunities in South Dakota like all-state orchestra so I was determined to give a superb audition. Yet, regardless of the outcome I always felt proud, knowing I had done everything I could. Through these experiences I refined qualities such as excellence and diversity, which I anticipate will strengthen the student body, faculty, and mission at the Creighton University School of Medicine.

I have had the notion that I would become a choral music educator since 6th grade, however, my goals have changed throughout time. I have lived in two countries and with five different families including two foster homes; the only constant in my life has been music. These life experiences have allowed me to appreciate the power of a good education and how much of a positive impact an educator actually has. Each educational environment can be a refuge from the hardships of life and give students tools to be successful; this notion and my passion for music is what drives me to pursue a career in the field of education.

As soon as I told her I was going to be attending SYS, she told me, “You WILL be Sacramento Youth's concertmaster [the principal first violinist in an orchestra].” At that particular moment, I didn't understand what she wanted from me. However, I once again placed my trust in her. From April 2009 to September 2012, she worked with me twice a week on my vibrato, bow hold, shifting, and just making sure I had a beautiful, clear-cut and refined sound. Under her guidance, I worked diligently and became SYS’s intermediate orchestra concertmaster. Driven by my ambitions, I then set my sights on becoming the concertmaster in the advanced and symphonic orchestras. After my junior year at SYS, when I did become co-concertmaster in advanced orchestra, I played as the concertmaster in the Sacramento All-City orchestra and passed the sixth level of the ABRSM (internationally standardized music assessments) violin exam. As a result, I have set my musical goals even

Dick Clark once said, “Music is the soundtrack of your life.” With this quote, I remember walking into Baldwin Road Middle School’s orchestra room as a 6th grader. I noticed as you walked in, there was a black piano. The back of the room showed a mirror that filled the entire wall. Then in my hands, was a beautiful broken, rusted violin. Opening its case, I never realized how such a small fragile wooden object could make an enormous sound. I wasn’t the only one in the room. I could see about 30 other kids, sitting in seats, taking in the aroma of our first orchestra class. “I will be with these kids for the next 7 years.” I thought to myself.

Throughout my Jr. High and High School career, I've had many pastimes and hobbies that I found I could participate in outside of the classroom for. During the seventh grade and all the way until my sophomore year of High School I participated in basketball. From the seventh grade until my senior year of high school I participated in cross-country. In Middle School I participated in wrestling, and most recently I have partaken in soccer for my junior and senior year of High School. Besides sports I spent a good amount of time dedicating myself to volunteer for the local parks and rec center. I volunteered on projects such as the Annual Triathlon, the Haunted House, and many more. I also volunteered for the local Clinic during their annual 5K Color Run.

Throughout my years in school I have maintained a high grade point average and been accepted into clubs such as the National Honors Society. Additionally, I have had the fortune of being chosen for the schools Pioneer Superlative award, as well as, given a burrows scholar award in the area of concert band. These awards have spanned the course of my high-school career and touch upon a few areas of interest I have. One of the big areas of interest in my life that has influenced me greatly stems from music. I have participated in concert band since 4th grade and have had the ability to perform with numerous musicians and musical groups of varying ability. To elaborate, I have played with my school jazz band and concert band as

A little girl with a big dream in the music industry is tough and challenging. That little girl is me, and to pursue that dream I decided to take a challenging step out of my comfort zone; join the CSUN Youth Orchestra(s).

Childhood piano, cello and ballet lessons morphed into an offer at seven to join the NYC Opera Children’s Chorus to be in hundreds of choral numbers. Sadly, at age thirteen, puberty curtailed my ability to hit high C’s ordaining the end of my operatic career but by no means my love of music.

My time in High School was made difficult from the constant strife and conflict between my parents. This made my home an unstable environment not fitted for learning or growing as an individual. As I got older and closer to graduating High-School, I began to find my own voice with the help of my mentor Rahn Fleming, which occurred at the end of my junior year. As a result, I came in control of my life and the constant feuding started to die down. No longer did I have to worry about the next scheduled court date, or the next time I would come home wondering what may await. I felt like I was always walking on broken glass for the longest of time throughout my life, until I began to voice myself and what I wanted. My parents came to realize this