UC Essay Prompt

Prompt 1: Describe the world you come from — for example, your family, community or school — and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations.

The school that I come from, Campolindo High School, is one of the best high schools in the state. We were often told to not be worried about getting what we believe to be bad grades in the harder classes that we take because getting a B or sometimes even a C is equivalent to get an A in most other high schools. We have been told throughout high school that a high standard is expected of us, like receiving high scores on standardized tests like the SAT, ACT, AP exams, the CAHSEE, and the Star tests. We are also expected to behave a certain way outside of school because it has a reputation to uphold and all of us are linked to that reputation. I think that high standard from Campolindo has transferred and been engrained in life outside of school. From this point on in my life, I will expect only the best of myself because anything less than that isn’t worth the time or the effort and it just looks bad to other people as well. I don’t have to succeed all the time in everything that I do, but I must always learn from what I fail at so the next time I attempt it, I will succeed. Campolindo High School has opened up endless possibilities for my future and I am very excited to experience them.

Prompt 2: Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud and how does it relate to the person you are?

Going to Hayward La Honda Music Camp is an experience that I will never forget. The camp feels like its cut off from the rest of the world, none of the problems from my life follow me to band camp. It’s a place where I forget all of my troubles for the week that I am there, a nice escape from reality. It’s also a place to meet fun and interesting new people. The campers who go there range from entering sixth grade to graduating high school. All the different levels of musicianship come together within several bands, orchestras, and even choir. Everyone always learns something about playing better because there is always someone who is better than them at La Honda. Band camp is the best place to hear strange stories as well as the best place to get stories to tell to friends at school, because everyone loves a story that starts out with “one time at band camp”.
La Honda doesn’t just teach me how to play my oboe better; it teaches me how to grow as a person. I learn about teamwork and how to communicate with others with gestures and thoughts instead of words. I have also learned about disciplining myself, holding back impulses, thinking things through before I make a decision. All of these skills that I learn at band camp will not only help me when playing with a band or orchestra, but in all areas of my life. What I learn at band camp can’t be learned in my high school band. At high school, most of the people aren’t committed to making music, they take band because it’s an easy class to get a good grade in, their parents made them take it, it looks good for college, especially if they started in sixth or seventh grade, they can screw around with their friends during rehearsal, or they need at least one year of a performing arts class in order to graduate. At La Honda, everyone is there because they want to work together to create the most beautiful music that they can possible create. La Honda isn’t just about playing music though, it’s about making friendships and learning all kinds of skills that will last throughout your life.