Essay 2

I never quite learned how to fly on my own. That’s probably why I have always wanted to be superhero, because with superheroium (yes, I know a word that spellcheck does not) comes the ability to soar above the entire world. Well, at least that is what Will Stanton (the main character from The Seeker: The Dark is Rising movie) thought, yet we were both heartbreakingly surprised to discover that Will could not fly, even though he was a “superhero.” I remember watching the movie at a friend of mine’s thirteenth birthday party and loving the movie so much that I just had to read to the book. So long story short, I go to the library and pick up a book called The Seeker, as it turned out, this book had absolutely no connection to the movie I’d just see, but I read it anyways. The book I read was actually of part of trilogy of books, by a brilliant author named William Nicholson. Each book began with three separate stories that couldn’t have been more different, yet by the end the three characters were all looking each other straight in the eye, fighting of course, but still looking. Now I’m aware that was probably the most pointless story you’ve ever heard (well since you see thousands of applications I am sure that you have heard of children eating their parents to make themselves stronger and pet unicorns that encourage their senses of imagination, and while I have those stories also, this one seemed more relevant and people-reading worthy).

During my high school career, I’ve learned that certain things in life are simply uncontrollable, like my ability to fly.  And as much I want to have everything in my life go the way I planned, it never happens that way. I remember being in eighth grade and telling myself that I would never take AP classes. Ever. I ended up taking almost all of the AP classes offered at my school and wishing that I could go to the school across the street that has an IB program and more AP classes. In my life, my motto has always been to challenge myself, because even if I fail, I believe that failing is always better than simply not trying at all. As a high school senior, I’ve been given this amazing opportunity to not only reach for the stars, but to land on the moon while I’m flying, figuratively of course. I refused to take the easy path out of high school, and I refuse to take it to get out of college. I want to be challenged not only in my academic career but also in a way that allows me to step off campus and out of my comfort zone. Life is too short to simply remain to simply remain in the shallow end, and because this very well might be my only opportunity to reside on this earth, I am determined to fly, even if it is only in my imagination.

College Essay One

                I can still remember my first day of Drumline practice, and thinking that those first five minutes that followed with my little bass drum were the worst five minutes of my entire life. It took hard work, time commitment, and willingness to learn but I survived. If someone asked me what I felt the most important quality that someone needed to have in order to be a part of the Bishop Verot Drumline, I would not say musical ability or experience drumming, I would say perseverance. When I started drumming the summer before my freshman year, I was awful. The music was difficult, the drum was heavy, and the members were so strange. Yet for some odd reason, I decided that I was going to be dedicated to Drumline and that no matter what difficulties come my way, I would never stop trying.

As a part of my school community, I value the phrase non-excidet, which we interpret to mean “we will not fail.” I always laugh when people understand the phrase to mean that you are never supposed to make mistakes or that you will never fail. However, that clearly is not true. I have never met a perfect person, and I predict that I probably never will. I interpret failure to occur when one has stopped trying and simply given up the effort. Sure, if I do not get accepted to your fine institution it would not be a prudent decision to simply apply every year till I’m eighty, yet does that mean that I shouldn’t try now and do whatever is in my power to be considered for admission. No.

For as long as I can remember, my grandfather and I have been saying that “cannot” died in World War I and “can’t” died in World War II. I have absolutely clue why we started this saying or what it could mean, but I use it in all of my decisions. During my four years of high school, I found out quickly there is no reality in which everything I want is awarded to me and no matter how hard I work, I can probably always find someone with better grades than me or nicer hair, yet I will not stop striving to be the best that I can be.

One of my favorite songs, the song I happen to be listening to at the present moment, is Put Your Records On by Corinne Bailey Rae. The song inspires me to take chances and risks and live as every moment is my last. I’ve been blessed with this amazing opportunity to create something completely new and perhaps even change the world. This very well may be my only to chance to live, and I want take advantage of everything afforded, and music is simply one way I enjoy life. Clearly, I am not a perfect person, I often take too many risks, and then at other times I take too few. I do not enjoy hamburgers, and I very well may be the only person in Fort Myers who is not obsessed with Moe’s. However, whichever decisions I make and risks I decide to take, I will not fail because I will never stop trying to succeed.