Below is my personal statement that I used to apply for a Fresno State Scholarship. It helps to get to know me a little more, as well as my writing style.
Today,
I will tell you about how I became the person I am today. I was born in 1994 in Visalia, California. After one year of Preschool, my family relocated for my father's new job to a very small town of 500 people called Independence. It is sandwiched in the Owens Valley, right between the highest and lowest points in the continental United States- Mount Whitney and Death Valley. It was there that I learned to appreciate the small things in life. Our first house that we occupied in Independence was said to be an old relocated barrack from the Japanese Internment camp Manzanar, which was five miles South from our house on Highway 395. The house was incredibly small, but as a small child, I loved the simplicity. I attended Kindergarten and First grade in this town, but after that, my parents, (being parents) thought they could do better, and decided to homeschool my sister and I. During this time, my mother kept us involved in Bible School, violin lessons, ballet, swimming, and performing for our church and memorial services. I learned I had a talent to play and compose music by ear, that today helps me better to myself, express my emotions, and encourage and teach others to use music as a main form of self expression. After four years, my family moved back to the west side of the Sierras, and I finished elementary and attended middle school and one year of high school in Porterville, CA about 80 miles from here. My experience in Porterville was not enjoyable. I was frequently a victim of racial slurs (being one of very few caucasians in all of my classes) and did not find many friends, except for a few, which I met through community performing arts involvement. After my freshman year, my parents once again decided they could "do better". We moved to Clovis so that I could attend Buchanan High School. It was there that I truly became who I am today. I met literally hundreds of great people involved in the Performing Arts and Athletic Departments, and was able to thrive. Shortly after moving to Clovis, I was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a severe collagen deficiency joint disorder which made it hard to participate in sports, including marching band. I joined the Marching Band anyways, since my mother said it was a good way to make friends, (she was right) and pushed through my sophomore year, despite some physical setbacks. I made sure to make a good impression on my band director and within one year was promoted to Drum Major. I was proud of myself for this accomplishment because I was able to stay in Marching Band despite my condition, and I earned a position where I no longer had to march and stress my joints, but was still able to encourage and represent the band. What made me the most satisfied about this achievement was that my director did not know that I had this condition, and I earned it purely from working hard without excuses. I loved volunteering for band and had a passion for the activity and the people in it. I loved helping underclassmen succeed and feel accomplished, and also got the opportunity to assist and encourage students that were mentally or physically disabled, one of which is now a great friend of mine. My senior year I was awarded the All-American Drum Major award, from United Spirit Association, (a summer leadership camp we were required to participate in to hold a leadership position in the band) and was given the honor of representing the United States as a drum major in the London New Year's Day parade, which is the equivalent of our Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade here in the U.S. Being able to travel abroad with the responsibility of representing the United States gave me a bigger outlook on the world and a huge appreciation for my life here in the United States (our economy here is actually better than it is there!). My senior year finished this past June. My last chance to participate and contribute to my school was having the great opportunity to vocally perform the National Anthem at our graduation ceremony.
