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USC students are known to be involved. Briefly describe a non-academic pursuit (such as service to community or family, a club or sport, or work, etc.,) that best illustrates who you are, and why it is important to you. (250 word limit)
Throughout high school, marching band has been an integral part of my life and the values of handwork and leadership it has taught me, have shaped my work ethic in everything I do. At the end of my sophomore year with the graduation of the previous section leader, I was granted his important position, taking on a myriad of responsibilities. During a typical trumpet sectional, I run through several warm ups, check posture and form, and rehearse music, rigorously picking apart everything we play; I point out incorrect notes, poor tuning and other nuanced aspects of their playing.
I lead by example and try to to guide younger and inexperienced members to understand and absorb the hard working culture that this program prides itself on. I also teach the trumpets how to play their instruments and look better while doing so, lessons that cannot be taught by anyone other than a respectable and knowledgeable leader.
The sense of family in band creates individuals who are much more social and affable than when they first joined. This was definitely the case for me. As a freshman, I was very shy and reclusive but older members encouraged me to be social and now I am the one encouraging others. Today, many familiar scared freshmen with looks of timidity and curiosity comparable to my freshman self are joining band and I work hard to create the same environment which I was given and lead them to not only a successful marching band season, but a fulfilling life.
Describe your academic interests and how y...
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...and how others live. Whether it is going to a new foreign restaurant, studying history, or even just meeting an immigrant or someone with a unique cultural background, I constantly seek new experiences in a city with such a diverse populace to broaden my perspective on the world.
The schools I have gone to have also had an impact on my experience with different cultures. Specifically my high school, Palisades Charter High School, prides itself on having a diverse student population. My parents could have sent me to some private school with not very much diversity, but they wanted me to witness different cultures and sent me to a school where I could learn from direct experience about these new ideas. From a personal perspective, I am very grateful that my parents gave me this opportunity and my experiences in school has led to my love of learning about new cultures.
They need to start acting like leaders instead of normal kids in marching band, especially for the younger players because essential leaders are role models. If leaders are goofing off while they should be serious the rest of the band thinks it could goof off too. If a leader does nothing but complain, people are going to follow in his or her footsteps. Leaders also need to help freshmen with their parts because a lot of them do not have confidence in what they are playing. Section leaders should basically be a teacher during sectionals. For example, I basically taught Nate how to play both shows and several other things and he is a way better player than what he was. Young players flourish when they are encouraged by older
Despite not being a part of over 20 different organizations, as some claim to be, being a part of a smaller number of groups has allowed me to focus on developing my leadership skills more thoroughly than I could otherwise. Not spreading myself too thin has made me much more committed and involved in the organizations that I am a part of, making my influences so much stronger. I firmly believe that I am trying my absolute best not only in school, but in leaving my comfort zone and being an active member in our community. I am honored that I have been considered for such a prestigious invitation as
When someone asks me what marching band means to me, it’s very difficult to come up with a simple answer that everyone can understand. Marching band means belonging to something bigger and more worthwhile than just a “team”; It means having a stake in something that is a treasured part of both our school and our community. Even if it means going to bed feeling every muscle in my body ache and knowing I may wake up feeling worse, I always look forward to doing it all again the next day (and the next year). Marching band is a challenge that pushes the limits of my physical and emotional endurance in such a way that I can’t wait to come back for more because I know I will be a better person for it.
It is about who I am off the podium. For the past five years (I marched up as an 8th grader), I have been proving something to these people, so that they trust me in this position. The character of drum major or leader is one I have been perfecting since I was a freshman. For a long time I was just an actor trying to be a character. Eventually, I had acted the part so much that I became it, and it was my role. I give respect to receive it. I build real relationships of with members to achieve trust, accountability, and effort. When people are torn up inside because of their home life, which is quite frequent in Lenoir City Tennessee, I am their shoulder to cry on, or a set of ears to vent to, or a buffer to dull their anger. When people are frustrated with me for some reason, I seek them out and learn what I can do different. When there are five flavors of gum stuck to the floor of the band room at 11:30 on a Friday night, I get on my knees with a plastic fork and start scraping. When the band director constantly yells at me for this that and the other, I take into account the criticisms and practice harder. The band and the director see this character I have transformed into, or maybe the one I have always been, and that is why I have the honor of standing on the podium and wearing the gloves. I have become the band’s teacher, nurse, cattle driver, answer dispenser, and friend. Somehow, those all add up to leader. I refuse to let them down, rather I lift them
... I, too, have traveled outside of the United States and have discovered the advantages of being open to cultural differences. My experiences have allowed me to accept people on their own terms more easily than I would have were I not able to break out of my culture, even though only for a short period of time.
To the County High School Class of 2012: As you sit in front of me, I know what most of you are thinking at the moment. There are those who are already pondering about what life without high school will be like; those who are debating whether or not to tell your crush tonight about your whispers of adoration you’ve secretly held for four years; some simply want to get out of that ungodly chair, get that thing that isn’t really a diploma but only tells you when to pick up the thing, and then be the first one on the green bus to the grad party — you know who you are. And the rest, well, the rest aren’t even paying attention, you’re thinking, “Great, here comes one of the valedictorian speakers. Next up: a boring speech straight out of the pits of scholarly hell.” And it’s OK, I don’t mind — that sort of thing comes with the territory. But tonight, I ask that you give me a chance to break that stereotype so that I may address you in the full splendor that you deserve after 13 grueling years of work. I do not want to be known as your “valedictorian” as I stand here, c’mon guys, there is no time left to place labels on people anymore, instead I ask that you accept me as one of your peers — and as a man who will enjoy becoming a graduate alongside you.
Over the past four years, we have grown from insecure, immature freshmen to successful, focused and confident young adults. This incredible transformation has been the result of our entire high school experience. Everything from that first homecoming game, to late night cramming, to the last dance at prom. These experiences have pulled us together as a class and we have learned to love and respect our fellow classmates.
When I was first elected as section leader in the TWCP Marching Band my junior year, I had a copious amount of hope in the people around me. Even though we did not share the same beliefs and interests, I felt that with my leadership position, I can still help those newer members thrive in band and make their time worthwhile. I was the first chair bassoonist in the top band and had placed well in multiple prestigious competitions, so I was confident in my abilities. This task was a relatively simple one for me. Always understanding of the younger students’ interests, I knew exactly how it felt to be in their position. Band was enjoyable for me, I lived for the competition
When I was in elementary school, I loved to read. I was a total nerd back then ... okay maybe I still am, but one thing has changed. Now I don't so much like reading. My favorite poet was Shel Silverstein, who wrote "Where the Sidewalk Ends." He seemed like he was a total hippie, but that's cool because I like hippies. My grandma is a recovering hippie. I like her too. Anyway, Shel Silverstein wrote about the coolest things. He wrote about magical erasers, eating whales and a boy with long hair flying away from people who were taunting him. He captured all of the things that I loved without knowing that I actually loved them. Now you may ask, how does this hippie relate to our graduation? Well, he wrote a poem entitled "Traffic Light" and this is how it goes:
Being a member of the marching band gave me a new perspective of myself. My sophomore year I became the clarinet section leader. I was nervous at first because I had never been a leader of anything. But, as the marching season progressed I started growing leadership qualities. Throughout the season, I helped
You may think I’m talking about politics or something of that nature, but I’m definitely not. I’m talking about High School Marching Band. My band director has a saying that he repeats quite often. When he thinks that we are getting out of hand, he says “This is not a democracy, this is a dictatorship.” Meaning that we do not make the rules and he does, which is sometimes frustrating. Such little words give off such a big lesson, showing all of us that we will not always get what we want and not all things will be up to you. Little lessons like these are taught every day in the classroom and on the field. It takes a lot from you, but it also gives a lot back. Marching Band gives students an opportunity to learn how to be responsible, shows them that you can have fun as you accomplish something hard and teaches them several valuable life lessons.
Different cultures, or environments make up how people live their lives and how they may act on a daily basis. These cultures are common all throughout the world, even throughout the different places within the United States. Going on my school trip to New York City made me aware of these cultures changes and when are plane landed back in Minnesota I was so thankful to be back to the places and faces I had always been used to.
One of the first things we are taught as Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Ambassadors is that an effective leader teaches others to become leaders in their own right. I feel like participating in this, and in my other service opportunities, has helped me grow as a person, develop my leadership skills, and become closer to being the person I want to
At the time, I was still learning how to speak english, so participating wasn’t comfortable for me. I usually talked in an unorthodoxed way as I would use a mix of both Tagalog and English within my sentences. This was unusual because I did well in my special English-speaking class designed for foreign students. Although communicating the language was difficult, it didn’t stop me from excelling in school or making friends. Overall, the academic experience of American schools had a more relaxed and fun vibe in comparison to what I was so used to. It gave me more freedom for expression with myself which I think my old academic lifestyle
I have been in multiple leadership roles throughout my life. I am the first chair in the Henley Jazz Band, president of the Model U.N. club at Henley, and an Editor in Chief of the Henley Newspaper. Being the first chair in Jazz Band, I have not only had to work hard to set a strong example, but have also worked with the other trumpet players in the group to help them both musically with notes and rhythms, and with performance abilities by growing their confidence.