On Leadership
Imagine sixty pairs of eyes watching your every move, awaiting your next command, and listening to your every word. In regard, these eyes depend on your energy and perseverance to make them better students and people. Under your instruction, these young people find avenues to advance themselves to a new level, refining their career as students in high school. It is in this position where future leaders are born, and students like myself attain the skills necessary to become successful leaders in society.
Through countless sessions on becoming a successful leader, I have learned to be committed to moral principles, a code of ethics, and to live with high standards. As a leader since middle school, I have dealt with situations where I put my ideals of integrity, respect, personal commitment and responsibility into action. In these years of leading and aiding, I have expanded my skills with communication, teamwork, and organization. These facilities have helped me complete many tasks throughout high school.
As a freshman at Mount Carmel High School, I collaborated with my Girl Scout troop in planning "Thinking Day," a field day for younger scouts to explore different cultures. Each troop member was to research, plan, make phone calls, and finalize a plan for their part of their world for Thinking Day. After over 20 hours of preparation, our planning was done, and the day was to proceed. Taking charge of money collection, informing the 300 young scouts in our division of the Girl Scout Imperial Council, and deciding a day to hold this important event, our girl scout troop was ready. The fun-filled day included leadership roles in instructing children about other cultures, different societies, and diverse environments. Through this experience, I learned the precise responsibilities, skills, and hard work needed to make a major event run smoothly. Children are the foundation of the future, and to educate them about diversity is a token to a better society in the future.
The next years in high school, I progressed further in my acquirement of skills through participation in the school's exceptional music program. In my 4 years of marching band, I have held many leadership positions, such as a section leader of the marching clarinets both junior and senior year. To be chosen as a section leader of the band, one must attend numerous leadership seminars, demonstrate excellent leadership, musical, marching, and communication skills, and write an essay explaining their aspirations to become a leader. A section leader must be able to deal with problems quickly and carefully and have the skills and character to work with other people, including students, teachers, and directors. This is indeed a very involved and time-expending task, noting that the clarinet section of 61 members is a very large proportion of the 300-member band. The responsibilities of a section leader involve influencing students to complete tasks on time, focus on assignments with discipline, and retain information and musical skills. To be successful as a leader and member of the band, one must demonstrate great discipline and attitude.
As I mentioned previously, to have sixty pairs of eyes watch your every movement as you direct a musical rehearsal is an extraordinary feeling. One responsibility of a section leader is to lead and plan weekly rehearsals for the 60 clarinet players. In these rehearsals, the section leaders inform and instruct the students how to play their music and how to march correctly with control. Most high school students don't have the chance to be able to lead other people in a positive direction. It really is an inspiring experience to be able to influence other students and spread knowledge, knowing that you are affecting lives of the future.
As a member of the undergraduate student body at the University of California, I believe my experiences and skills as a leader and accomplished student will enable me to provide much character and advancement. My individuality and perseverance will add to the learning environment of the university and allow other students to have a better experience in education. I can contribute my background in helping others and commit myself to helping others while at the university and for the rest of my life, promoting a better future for all.
Offices
· Section Leader, Mt. Carmel Marching Band Clarinet Section 1997-1999
· Treasurer, National Honor Society, 1998-1999
· Vice President, California Scholarship Federation, 1998-1999
· Principle clarinet player, 1995-1996 and 1998-1999
Activities
· Girl Scouts, participation from 1985 to present, completed the Silver Award
· Ballet Dance, participation from 1988 to present, Exams grades1-5 and Majors
· Marching Band 1995-1999
· Academic League 1995-1996
· California Scholarship Federation 1996-1999
· National Honor Society 1997-1999
· Wind Ensemble and orchestra 1996-1999
· Key Club 1997-1999
· School Musical 1998
· Link Crew and Student Senate1998-1999
Volunteer
· Tutoring- individuals in math, English, music 1994-1998
· Mt. Carmel Tournament volunteer, 1994-1998
· Pet Clinic, Wild Animal Park Volunteer 1995-1998
· AIDS Walk, Children's Hospital volunteer 1998
· Community Band 1998
· Poway Community Film Festival 1998
· Thinking Day 1996- organize a day of cultural, worldly knowledge for young girl scouts
Honors and Awards Received
· Ballet Major Exams-Commended 1996
· Spanish Student of Year 1996
· Golden State Exam Geometry High Honors 1996
· Who's Who Among High School Students 1996-97 and 1997-98
· Perfect Attendance 1996-98
· Honor Chain 1998
· 4.0+GPA Awards 1998
· US National Band Award 1998
· Hall of Fame Band Award 1998
Work Experience
· Kumon Learning Centers, Assistant Teacher 1997
Monitor the overall process of the class, assure a student's correct study habits, make learning positive, help children apply skills individually aid children and score their work
· Heritage Festivals Stage crew and usher 1998
Summer Programs, conferences or special events attended, travel experience
· Kumon San Francisco Conference 1997
- Review procedure and learning studies and habits of different profiled students
· Band of America National Band Festival 1997- Top 10 concert bands in the United States
· Individual Travel
- Northern and Southern California 1995-1998
- Canada 1995, 1998
- Washington D.C. and Baltimore 1998
- New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island 1998
· Dave Kuhns Leadership Seminars 1996-1998
· Summer Dance Programs, 1988-1996- classes, choreography, repertoire, and final performances
Other Special experiences or background, or unusual hobbies
· World Wide Web and HTML knowledge
· Computer Graphics and Adobe PhotoShop comprehension
· Pascal Programming
· Musical instruments- Bb clarinet, electric bass guitar, piano
· Dance- Modern, Ballet, Character, Pilates
