my passion...

"What are my passions? After much thought and analysis, I came to the conclusion that I don’t really have one main passion."
–Tristan Darling


I, like Tristan, would consider myself a complex person. I have a wide variety of passions that make up my personality. Although, I would say that the thing that makes me “tick” is probably singing. I have been singing since I learned to talk. As a little girl, I would sing along to my Dad’s favorite country songs. In fact, there is an embarrassing home video of the three year old version of me performing “She’s in Love With the Boy.” Ever since I was young, singing has been a part of me. It has always been an outlet for me and the way that I express myself. Music is my way of relieving stress and improving my mood, similar to running. Throughout school, choir has always been a break in my day. I have always looked forward to the time when I can be “footloose” and focus on something that I truly enjoy. It is a time when I can let go of my worries about school and friends and the future. When I sing, my true colors come shining through. I can forget about the outside world for a little while and feel comfortable just being me. I feel free when I am singing, whether that would be in the shower or on a stage. When I sing, my anxious nature just seems to disappear and I get a “sugar rush.” It could be the worst day of my life and I could be in the worst mood, but if I get a chance to sing I will end up having a huge smile on my face. The power of music is truly remarkable. Music can provide motivation, hope, and faith. One of my favorite songs that has been an inspiration to me is “When You Believe” from “The Prince of Egypt.” As represented by this uplifting song, music is truly a gift from God, and I thank him for it every day.

so much better...

Musicals are one of America’s greatest past times. I absolutely adore getting all dressed up and going to the theatre. The lights, costumes, and scenery are thrilling. Ever since I was a little girl, I have fantasized of being in a Broadway production. Singing, acting, dancing, and being on the stage are my passions. This past March, one of my lifelong dreams was fulfilled. My high school concert choir took a trip to the big apple, and I am not talking about fruit. I am referring to the city of lights and Broadway, the great New York City. I got to spend five days surrounded by billboards and lights with about fifty of my good friends. It was an experience that changed my life and I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. As I walked along Times Square it was just like being in a movie. It was as if I had left reality and entered some alternate universe called Broadway. It was a magical place with lions, flying nannies, and a blonde girl aspiring to be a lawyer and win back the heart of her love. “Legally Blonde: The Musical” is one of my newest Broadway obsessions. I nearly screamed with excitement when I saw the billboard for it in NYC. The music in it has really had an impact on my life. This song in this video “So Much Better” is my motto. I was recently very ill and ended up in the hospital, and was not doing very well for quite some time. However, know that I am fully recovered these lyrics ring in my ears. Now that I am back I am extremely motivated and nothing is going to stop me. I feel “so much better than before, “and I am determined to not let anything stand in my way.

essay on anthony's essay

“This quote applies to me because up until my senior year of high school I'd been told what to write about, and how to write it.” –Anthony Diers

I empathize with Anthony because I have had a similar experience in my educational career. My teachers always told me what to write about and I felt extremely limited. It always seemed like I was not able to truly express myself. The point of writing is for an individual to express his personal thoughts and feelings. It seems unrealistic to force someone to have feelings on a topic that he is not passionate about. Also, it seems unfair to force someone to care about something he is ignorant of, or does not have a particular opinion on. On the other hand, I can see why teachers assign specific topics. Teachers want the students to become well-rounded, well-educated individuals. Teachers aspire to assist the students in learning the material presented in the textbook, as well as information about themselves as individuals. Writing outside of one’s comfort zone increases his knowledge of himself and the world around him. One can find new interests, passions, and traits to his personality by expanding his horizons and writing outside the box. It is said that “what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger.” This is extremely true of writing. The experience and growth is what is most important. When it comes to writing, practice is what helps one to grow. Practice provides a writer with confidence, ease, and experience for the future. The more one writes, just like with anything else, the better one becomes at it. As the saying goes, “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” It is also true that great writers are not created over night. It takes time, patience, and practice to develop one’s unique voice and style. Also, unfortunately it means doing things that one does not necessarily want to do, which includes writing about topics that may not seem “appealing.”

Quotation from Atwan02

"I am predisposed to the essay with knowledge to impart-but, unlike journalism, which exists primarily to present facts, the essays transcend their data, or transmute it into personal meaning. The memorable essay, unlike the article, is not place or time bound; it survives the occasion of its original composition. Indeed, in the most brilliant essays, language is not merely the medium of communication; it is communication."

-Joyce Carol Oates

As a writer, I have envisioned being remembered long after my time. While reading quotes by various essayists, the title “The Memorable Essay,” leaped off the page. Since I first put pen to paper, I have always longed to write a piece so intuitive and creative that it would still be inspiring readers for years to come. However, before reading Oates’s words, I never imagined an essay holding that kind of power. I always thought essays were informative and focused on the facts. How could something filled with data and quotes be memorable? I had always associated memorable writing with creative ideas and sensory details that caused the reader’s imagination to come alive. However, as Oate’s explained, an essay is distinctly different from journalism and articles, which seek solely to inform. Oate’s words opened my mind to what an essay truly is. There is so much more to an essay than one might think. A good essay presents facts, but also gives them personal meaning. An essay is made memorable in its ability to connect and relate to its readers. Whereas an article stays in a person’s memory until the next magazine or newspaper is delivered, a good essay can make an impression that lasts a lifetime. As Oates explains, in a great essay, time and place are not barriers. It is an essay’s ability to give mere facts and data personal meaning that makes it memorable. The facts are presented in such a way that everyone feels a sincere connection to the topic, even if the topic is an issue that took place fifty years before they were born. As Oate’s describes it, in a good essay, the author’s language is communication. The words, ideas, statistics, and thoughts speak to the reader and create an intense feeling of solidarity.

Information on Joyce Carol Oates:

New York State Writers Institute

Celestial Timepiece: A Joyce Carol Oates Home Page