Short Essay

For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to have a life filled with music. This love of music started with me insisting on watching Baby Mozart and Little Einstein on constant repeat. Four-year-old Torron’s Christmas list consisted of one thing – a violin. Once I got this prize, my violin literally became my best friend, and we were inseparable.

My complete mesmerization with the instrument led me to be quite fascinated with the mechanics that went into building violins. So, for a while I wanted to be a luthier and build perfect string instruments. Later I dreamt of sharing my love of music with others by performing. I especially believed that high-level musicians and orchestral performance should be accessible to audiences that were traditionally unexposed to classical music.

As long as I can recall I spent much of my early years researching, listening, and obsessing over the sounds some great musicians could draw from a simple piece of string. For a while, I never would have believed I could make a sound remotely close to what I was listening to. However, as time went on and my private lessons intensified, I began to believe that I might be able to find a glimmer of that sound in myself.

Now, fast-forward a few years comprised of practicing violin, switching to the viola, summer programs at the Interlochen International Music Festival, and finally getting into the Juilliard Music Advancement Program and Pre-College Division. This is where one crystallizing experience helped shape my future.

It was last November that I had the privilege of performing in the Juilliard Pre-College Centennial Gala. During this performance, we got to play Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto with Emmanuel Ax, one of the world’s greatest pianists, in Alice Tully Hall. I had to pinch myself a few times, realizing that it really can’t get much better than this. Being able to participate in this concert was a once in a lifetime experience.

Knowing all the important sets of eyes watching and experiencing such a high level of performance, all the fragments of my earliest dreams appeared to be coming true before my eyes. From that moment forward, this memory has always represented the “light at the end of the tunnel.” Through times of arduous work or lack of motivation, I could always focus on this incredible concert and find the needed fuel to push forward in my creative and artistic pursuits.

I know now, with unwavering certainty, that I am going to be a classical musician! I still wonder whether my future is in an orchestra like the New York Philharmonic, a chamber group or as a soloist. But there is no doubt in my mind that classical music is my calling. There is no other way for me to be happy.

Beyond my personal and career fulfillment though, I believe there is a far greater calling for me. I have been accepted to The Juilliard School and I expect my next four years will be a training ground to prepare me for what I see as my destiny.

It was odd enough growing up in “Suburbia” interested in classical music, but as an African-American I felt especially out of place. I realize though that the feeling of being “alone” went far beyond just my childhood experience.

When I attend performances of professional orchestras, or watch videos, I am astounded and disheartened at the woeful lack of minority representation in this field. It troubles me that when I look at great orchestras, I rarely, if ever, see a fitting role model. Fewer than 3% of musicians in professional classical orchestras are Black. It is a disgrace.

I believe that simply by achieving my career goal I can make a difference. I would love to be that role model who doesn’t exist for me. Unfortunately though, that is not enough because it is rare for minorities to even have the interest, much less the opportunity to see a symphony orchestra.

In this regard, I am passionate about addressing an issue of huge importance to me personally, and certainly, I believe a serious social issue. As an African-American classical musician, I would very much like to find ways to bring classical music to minorities and traditionally underserved communities.

As school budgets seem to continually shrink (our district has lost nearly 25 million dollars over a five year period), the arts are often the first targets of spending cuts. In many minority communities, music and dance and all the arts are already an afterthought despite so much evidence of their value. Somehow this has to change!

My greatest challenge is to find ways to transform that mindset. To create a world where young children of color think being a classical musician is as cool as playing shortstop for the Yankees. I know it is far-fetched, but every dream, every calling has to start somewhere. Mine is just starting and I can’t begin to express how exciting it is.

I don’t often spend too much time considering “destiny.” However, becoming an agent of change, helping to expand the awareness and appreciation for some of the greatest music of all times has always been a compelling purpose for me. I cannot think of anything more crucial and integral in my life.

I look forward to attending Juilliard. To use it as a learning laboratory, a safe haven where I can gain the tools I need to begin this quest. Even more, I hope the foundation of a Conservatory education fosters growth throughout my life and that I can find the strength to become an advocate and leader fulfilling this aspiration.

– Kenneth Torron P.

Short Essay

In life, our only real obstacle is ourselves – and that is exactly the obstacle that I have been working to overcome these past few years. My war with my mental health seems like an uphill battle, but no matter how bad things get, I still try to remain positive. Mental health care still isn’t very normalized in society and as I struggled with my OCD and depression, I also had to struggle with getting care for myself. My parents, as loving and supportive as they are, didn’t really see a need for me to get psychotherapy. From their experience, mental illnesses are something that can be overcome with sheer willpower. However, in modern times, we are more aware of the drastic implications of unaddressed mental illness. I had to fight tooth and nail to get help for myself, which is a feat in itself. Not only was I warring with the illnesses of my mind, but I also had to contradict everything I’ve ever known by asking for help. A depressed brain often feels worthless, like a burden, so reaching out is very difficult. For the later years of my high school career, I started to realize that I needed to address my mental issues or I might do something I would regret. I began to fight against the part of my body that wanted to stay silent and disappear and now I am actively working through my issues with the help of a therapist. It has been a long and arduous journey, but the outcome was well worth it. I am so glad to be finally falling back in love with what it means to be alive. I am excited to start my new journey in the realm of college and finally find my niche in a world that I previously saw as a pit of despair. I hope that with the help of this scholarship, I will be able to not only pay my way through college, but also continue with my psychotherapy sessions.

– Melisa F.

Introduction

Iam next. These three words are my bold proclamation to be the next African American leader in the field of science and technology. Creating the next invention keeps me focused during the day, and sleepless at night. I believe innovation through science and technology has made life significantly better for humanity, and I seek to be the next innovator and leader who ushers in a new era of technology. My work ethic, discipline, and passion for innovation constitute my drive to make this dream a reality.

My name is Dawson. As the president of my robotics team, I have learned what teamwork, ingenuity and creativity is all about. I want to employ these same aspects in my professional career as I pursue my college education.

Short Essay

As far back in my childhood as I can remember, I have long held dreams of becoming a mechanical engineer. I first discovered that I had a passion to make the world a better place, because I constantly thought about how to improve people’s lives. I dreamed of saving the world and bettering the lives of those less fortunate than me with my inventions. As I matured, I realized that my passion to build and improve upon products and devices led me to the notion that I could achieve my dreams by becoming an engineer. Our world is surrounded by different aspects of engineering by the engineered food we eat to the cars we drive. Engineering is a fundamental framework that makes up everything man made in our lives, and I want to build upon this fundamental framework. The unique opportunity of a post-secondary education would provide me with the tools and knowledge to achieve my goal of becoming a mechanical engineer. I will be attending the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering to make my dream a reality. My work ethic, discipline, and passion for innovation constitute my drive to make this dream a reality.

My ultimate goals are to revolutionize our transportation systems, eradicate life-threatening diseases, provide a platform for third-world countries to thrive, and provide technological sustenance to the impoverished in my own community. As a visionary, creating the next invention keeps me focused during the day, and sleepless at night. I believe innovation through science and technology has made life significantly better for humanity, and I seek to be the next innovator and leader who ushers in a new era of technology.

My goal is to graduate from college, work for two years, finish my graduate work and obtain my master’s degree. With my credentials in hand, I will return to my hometown in New Jersey. I want to use science and technology to solve problems in the Garden State, nationally, and then globally. I am inspired by astrophysicist, Neil deGrasse Tyson and the co-founder of Apple, Steve Jobs. These individuals are great thinkers and trendsetters in math and technology. Tyson and Jobs have made an indelible mark on society. With the love and support from family, friends and my community, I feel confident that I can make my mark. I too hope to solve problems in my community and across the globe with strategic planning, entrepreneurship, and patents that will transform our daily living. For example, my post-secondary education will teach me to think big and out the box. I will see that excellence and innovation go hand in hand. I see myself thriving in and out the classroom.

Seven years after graduating from the University of Pittsburgh, I will have my first of many patents. With those patents, I will be able to start my own company that hires men and women from our community. The money from my inventions will afford me the ability to fund multiple philanthropic activities. I want to be like Lependorf & Silverstein, P.C. I want to be highly skilled in my field so that I can reach back to help others the way that this prestigious scholarship, along with other grants, and financial aid will afford me the education and resources to be successful.

With my post-secondary education, I will have gained the knowledge needed to make the world a better place. I will create a vast network of engineers, thinkers, problem solvers to truly come together and fix the world’s problems. A post-secondary education is one the most import things in life, and is a necessary tool to achieve my dreams. With hard work and this scholarship, I will make the impossible, possible.

– Dawson W.

Introduction

My time as a musician has been prosperous, and while I reflect on my achievements and awards I am reminded of the blessings that come from being a musician. I am humbled in saying I have been a member of All South Jersey since 2015. In 2014 I auditioned for All South Jersey and did not make it. Instead of allowing that to discourage me, I made it a goal to not only make it in to All South Jersey, but to also be a member of the All South Jersey Wind Ensemble. I am happy to say this year, I achieved my goal and I am in both Wind Ensemble and Orchestra. With the exception being in 2014, I have participated in the Western Burlington County Honors Band since 2012. My participation in WBC has allowed me to meet numerous friends, teachers, and conductors. It has been a privilege being around other people who have a genuine love for music as I do. I have been a member of Rancocas Valley Regional High School’s instrumental audition groups, Wind Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble, since 2014. In 2016, I earned two “Best Soloist in Band” awards during competitions. I am currently a section leader in jazz ensemble. In addition to jazz ensemble and wind ensemble, I also participated in marching band from 2014 to 2016. I am blessed in being able to say I was a section leader in my last year of participation. I am also blessed in being able to say I have played in my school’s pit orchestra. The director of the musical typically hires professional musicians, so the invitation to play in the pit is an honor. Recently, I successfully auditioned for both Berklee College of Music and The University of the Arts. I was accepted into both colleges as a performance major, and I am in the process of deciding which school I will attend. As a musician it is extremely important to be versatile, so I have made it a point to songwrite, compose, and produce. As a songwriter I’ve had a considerable amount of success. In 2016, I was featured in the Burlington County Times for the performance of my original song at my school’s annual Grandparent’s Day. Last year I wrote three promotional songs (one that was for Autism Awareness Month) that have been broadcasted over the school’s news station (RVTV-an educational/government information channel provided by Comcast Cable Television Company). My songwriting ability has resulted in invitations and performances at Relay For Life (a beautiful fundraiser for the American Cancer Society). Although I have had my fair share of achievements and accolades, I value my failures just as much as I value my achievements; for the ultimate reward for studiousness and grit is not tangible like that of a certificate or badge, rather it manifests itself as life lessons, memories, and experiences.

Put simply, music makes me happy. I start my day by listening to music, and if I misplace my headphones, it is a serious issue. In conjunction with the deep love and passion I have for music, there is an eternal reverence that comes with understanding how infinite and extensive a study of music is. I have been humbled as a creator, performer, interpreter, and avid listener of music; a lifetime of studying music could never teach me enough. There will always be room for improvement, and there will always be a need to learn. Though I am imperfect, music (especially the performance aspect) demands perfection from me. Unlike any other activity, music exposes my limitations with the purpose of challenging me to be better. Studying music has taught me not to compromise; I do not practice until I get the part right, I practice until I cannot get the part wrong. Music has forced me to cultivate self-discipline, grit, patience, and determination, all of which are applicable in life. I might not possess the ability to do something today, but if I am persistent and if I work at it, at some point in time it will be achieved.

Short Essay

Music is more than a hobby, more than something I enjoy creating or listening to. Music is my sustenance, the very thing that nourishes my soul and makes me who I am. I attribute a large part of who I am to music. Many of the life skills I have developed were acquired from studying music. In learning about music, I learn more about myself; and by losing myself in the music I find the foundation of who I really am as an individual.

I knew my aspirations in life at a very young age. I want to perform, produce, compose, engineer, and collaborate. I want to participate in every aspect of music, from its raw genuine creation, to its radio-ready refinement. To be a great performer, producer, composer, and engineer, I understand experience and education are necessities for me, so my immediate plan is to attend college and learn as much as possible. I intend on taking advantage of every opportunity I am presented with and I intend on making my own opportunities. Exceeding any degree I may obtain from the completion of coursework, I am really seeking experience I can glean practical information from. I plan on performing as much as possible while collaborating (whether that means ghostwriting, playing my instrument, or producing) with other musicians on their projects and on my projects. I really want to be a full-time musician. I want to wake up and be excited not to go to work, but to further my career and passion teaching private lessons, having studio sessions (as an artist and an engineer), performing and touring, and composing. I want to be able to sustain myself by doing the thing I love.

The real purpose of extending myself and pursuing my passion for music is to connect with people. I love how music has the ability to arouse emotion. The chills and goosebumps that run through your body when you hear something beautiful, the tears that roll down your face when you hear a song that brings you back to a particular place in time, the motivation and focus you feel while your workout playlist blares in the background–that is the type of feeling I want to provoke through music. One of the most significant moments of my life followed the completion of a performance I had done for an American Cancer Society fundraiser. I wrote a song about my grandmother dying from cancer and I emphasized the need to continue to fight the disease. Following my performance a cancer survivor walked up to me and told me that my set had moved them to tears and it was the very thing they needed to hear. Moments like that, where I can use my anguish to motivate people and be a source of hope, epitomize the reason why I find my goals to be worthwhile. My musical endeavors provide me with a satisfying challenge to be a better version of myself, and it allows me to connect with other people.

– Te’Zhuen W.

Introduction

For as long as I can remember, both my parents have suffered from chronic illnesses. Nine years ago, my father had a heart attack and consequently lost his job, which then caused my family to lose everything, including our house and car. Instead of feeling grim and causing my parents more stress, I wanted to find a way to help and make them proud. Thus, I threw all my energy into my schoolwork and got involved in extracurriculars. With my focus on my studies and hard work, I became an independent and disciplined student, and my resolve to succeed was strengthened upon entering high school.

Even though my family’s condition still worries me every day, I proceed with their love and encouragement, as well as the belief that I can attain success on my own. Since I know my parents are limited in what they can do for me, I am highly self-motivated–I want to be the first generation in my family to go to college. My hope is that I can achieve this dream through grants, loans, and scholarships because I want to take the financial worry away from my parents, and most importantly to me, make them proud.

Short Essay

My family’s hardships taught me at a young age how to be positive about the things I can control, and appreciative of the things I do have. With this mindset, I have always applied myself wholeheartedly to everything I do. Living in Ewing and attending the high school, community service has been a huge part of my life. As a freshman I signed up for many different activities, all of which allowed me to play an active role in my school and community. In my sophomore year, I homed in on my passions and really developed as a leader. It was then I realized the importance and true meaning of service, which is the achievement in my life that I consider most meaningful. My current achievements and interests are an indicator of what I plan on doing in my future, both in my career and in my community. These are my passions and goals, which are all on the path of urban education and community advancement. From my hands-on experiences thus far, I have witnessed the struggles of living in an urban community, and have also seen the rewards of my community involvement, particularly through working with children. Thus, my long-term goals are teaching secondary education and creating community programs which will strengthen educational interest and provide academic opportunities to low-income students.

I am very passionate about school: I love learning and all the extracurricular activities I do. In particular, I love community service because I believe that helping others can allow them to achieve success in their lives. My favorite way to do this is through tutoring elementary and middle school students at the library, as well as underclassmen Algebra II in my school. With my goal of being a teacher, I believe that instilling a love of learning in the students I help will encourage them to stay in school, empower them through education, and help lift them out of adversity.

As Vice President of Key Club I have spearheaded the service projects for my Key Club members in my community, which have included: assisting at our community blood drives, autism walks, Alex’s Lemonade fundraisers, volunteering at holiday events (Trunk or Treat and Christmas gift giving), Kiwanis and Senior Citizen pasta dinners, helping construct a playground at the community center, park clean-ups, and consistently helping at the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen and tutoring elementary and middle school students at the Ewing library.

Another significant aspect of my service was attending the Urban Teacher Academy at The College of New Jersey this summer. Here, my eyes were opened to the disparities between children from poor and privileged backgrounds. I worked with the Boys & Girls Club and saw how eager all the kids were to learn. From this training and hands-on teaching experience, I learned that no matter the circumstances, every child deserves a good education because “a child is a child everywhere and every child is sacred,” as my program director would always tell us. Since my teachers have impacted me so positively with their passion, I love school so much that I practically live there. Their support really helped me through a difficult time two years ago when my father, now 82 years old, was in the hospital for four months, in a coma, on life support from aspiration pneumonia and multi-organ failure. Due to this, I needed to take on many extra responsibilities at home when my mother spent most of her time by my father’s side in the hospital. In order to help quell my own anxieties and get me through those worrisome four months, I became very involved at school. In effect, I also became self-reliant. I stayed there all day and threw my heart into all my activities, such that school became a second home to me. As a result of my involvement and dedication to my activities, I am: the editor-in-chief of the newspaper, secretary and chair of the Cafeteria for Student Council, captain of the girls’ varsity tennis team, chair of the Health and Wellness Committee, a Peer Leader, a member of the National Honor Society, and a frequent soloist in the Master Singers a cappella group. My teachers are my role models–they encourage me to be the best I can be, and so I want to be just like them. Hence, my goal is to go to college and ultimately get my master’s in secondary education. I want to have the same impact on students that my teachers have on me. These experiences made me realize the importance of having great teachers in urban schools because these students need someone to push them to their full potential, and I aspire to be that person. Now I know that teaching is not a job, it is a calling.

Consequently, throughout high school I have seized every opportunity to volunteer where I am needed, and I believe my efforts serving my community have made a difference, even if in a small way. Whether collaborating with others or working with one person at a time, I view my community service as work in progress. When I see the results, such as the light bulb going off in students’ heads when they understand something I explained, the appreciation on the faces of people after serving them food at the soup kitchen, or the sheer joy from toddlers receiving presents from Santa, I feel I have impacted my community and I want to do more. As Maya Angelou perfectly put it, “People will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” This reigns true in my life, especially since I have grown up facing challenges and have benefited from help myself. Thus, I want to continue involving myself in outreach programs, particularly educational, because in the long run I believe my skills and my service can help community advancement and mitigate the risk of urban children falling through the cracks of society.

– Victoria S.

Introduction

Iwas born in New Brunswick, New Jersey but I was raised without a father because my dad abandoned me and my mom when I was born. My mother and I struggled for many years. At the time, I was too young to understand the reason why my father had left. Although it took some time, I eventually got used to living this way. It felt normal to be living without a father and just having my mother by my side made me happy.

I entered high school with the goal of achieving a college acceptance to Rutgers. Fortunately for me, not only did I get accepted to Rutgers but I also got accepted to their School of Engineering. I will be receiving financial aid but the only problem that I have is that I am required to pay ten thousand dollars for room and boarding. I would like to learn to live on my own. I found the Lependorf & Silverstein, P.C. scholarship on the internet and because I meet all the requirements, I believe that this is a great opportunity for me to earn some money to pay off the amount that I will owe.

Short Essay

Computers have always fascinated me ever since my mother first bought me my first laptop when I was in the fifth grade. I remember coming home from school and spending countless hours playing games on my computer. However, it was not until I entered high school that I began to wonder how computers were able to function properly and able to let us connect with so many people on the internet. This curiosity is what led me to make the decision on pursuing a career in the computer science field. I desire to learn everything that there is to know about different languages of coding and types of programs that make modern computers run so smoothly. I would like to also learn how to fully program a computer by myself. Currently, I am taking a couple of lessons of coding on CodeAcademy and it is something I enjoy doing.

By attending college, I am certain that I will gain all the knowledge I will need regarding coding and programing. That is why, since my junior year, I have been focusing and working nonstop on improving my academic skills. It all paid off at the end because I was lucky enough to be accepted to Rutgers University School of Engineering. This is the first step to reaching my goals. Once I successfully graduate from Rutgers University, I plan on giving back to my community. In about ten years, I would like to be working on projects and other events in order to push my community’s school district to teach computer science to kids in schools. Here in New Brunswick, many people may own laptops or computers but they are unaware of what coding is and what it is used for. Like Steve Jobs once said, “I think everybody in this country should learn how to program a computer because it teaches you how to think.” Learning how to code can bring many benefits to my community. There is always going to be crime and violence in my city but with the skills we learn from coding, we can come up with better and more efficient solutions to all these problems. For example, I can use coding to program a certain type of security system in homes or stores that will have motion sensors. This system can be programed in such a way that it consumes less energy and is much more affordable. I am certain that this product can make its way into receiving worldwide recognition and helping people around the world.

I also aspire to work for Google. It is very difficult to be employed to such a big company but that only motivates me to work harder in order to make it happen. While working for Google, I would also like to introduce an innovative and better efficient laptop to the market. My invention would have all the features that can benefit an average technology user; such as being a laptop that is also a television while having the ability to be easily stored. Hopefully this product is recognized by companies and it is released to the public.

After achieving the other goals that I have set for helping my community, I plan on buying my mother a beautiful house. This is to thank her for raising and motivating me when I needed it most. Lastly, a career, financial stability, and positive influence are what I plan to have in the future. For now I will continue to strive and work hard in school so that I can achieve my goals and make my dreams become a reality. Thank you for taking the time to read my essays and I wish you good luck on the selection process.

– Delvin O.