13th
My College Essay my first Essay with an A in a college class
It is a Sunday afternoon; I am sitting on the couch with my eight year old sister combing her favorite doll’s hair. My brother is in his room actually being quiet! On the television the Steelers, my all time favorite team score a touchdown. I yell with excitement and I get up and fling my arms in the air as my happy dance ensues. My sister laughs at my frantic movements and gives me a high five. The local station shoots to commercial and my iPod comes out of my pocket, headphones are on my ears, and my American Idol reject singing begins. My sister now is rolling on the floor laughing at my performance! That is a typical day.
Life was not always this relaxing. I was diagnosed with uterine cancer in September 2004. I was given six months of chemotherapy treatment. It is one thing that I wish never existed. The pain was as if my limbs were constantly being stretched. I was always weak. I remember one instance in particular where I needed help opening doors to opening a soda can. The one change that made me see how sick I actually was is when every little hair I had was no longer a part of my face. No Eyelashes or eyebrows made me see how tired my eyes always were. I would always laugh because I thought I was one ugly bald kid. Throughout the entire situation I would get pitied looks, from school-to the store-even at home. All I did was smile. My attitude during this experience, as well as today is that I can let this bully of a disease beat me by feeling sorry for myself or I can fight it with a smile on my face. I felt like there is no reason to be sad about what already is. So I fought and I won. On April 20, 2005 I was declared cancer free. Now I am writing a college essay looking at the future and learning from the past. This experience teaches me strength and how lucky I am to still be here. It taught me that I have been given a second chance and I should not waste it.
Ever since, music has become a big part of my life. I found out my name-Shantel-means song! How cool is that! I write lyrics and I am learning to play the guitar. I hear my singing is terrible so I go outside usually and “howl with the dogs” as my brother would put it. Music speaks in a powerful way. To be able to craft something as gorgeous as a song that can bring one person bliss is something I admire in a person that can accomplish that. It is one of my many farfetched dreams. I think first I have to become a good writer of course!
Thanks to A. P. Language, I have become fonder of music that is richer in lyrical meaning instead of in entertainment. This class helped my find Alex Deleon who is my favorite singer and writer, who wrote “Wings Were Meant to Fly, Not to Hide a Fragile Spine.” When I first saw these words, I knew I would cherish them and hole them in a special compartment in my rest of my heart for the rest of my life. These words stand for everything that I believe in and what I stand for. I have wings that are taking me places. Nothing is going to slow me down. These wings are here for me to fly not to hide behind any excuses or anything that has affected me in the past.
Now I am this young lady with a plethora of dreams that some might say are crazy. Either way they are coming true starting with this college essay. I’m tackling it head on with a little help along the way. If I did not I would not be the crazy, goofy, music loving writer I am now.
