Love and Companionship

            All about the world, love and companionship can be observed in every corner. People need other people, or maybe even animals, to feel whole. In the Bible, it is said that Eve was created for the sake of keeping Adam company, and as Mother Teresa said, “Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty.” All of mankind needs love, for being without it is like living as a hollow shell. In addition, love is required for people to reproduce and keep the population growing. Social ties have extended as far as even the internet, for social media has become immensely popular in recent years. This allows relationships to grow beyond initial boundaries set by physical limitations. People can befriend others from all over the world without worrying about how to talk to or meet them, for the internet reaches its hands into every country in the world. People need this love and companionship, for loneliness can drive them to insanity.

Project Essay

            Personally, I have had many projects in the past that I have worked on, both for educational and recreational purposes. However, I cannot pin a specific project that seems to stick out in my head. Instead, I feel as if my musical ‘career,’ so to speak, is one lump project that I have worked on for a few years. For me, music has served as not only a personal project, but educational as well, for I have learned a great deal in my time spent towards it. The most significant lesson that I have learned in my experiences is… writing music is challenging. Really challenging. So much so that I cannot say that I have produced a single song of worth in my two years of diligence. I have made many attempts, but just as many failures. Some of my friends and family claim that they enjoy what I write, but if a creator cannot take pride and joy in his work then what good is it? In spite of this, however, I keep at it even today, learning more still. Although, the very same barrier that stops me cold in every attempt seems to be consistent in its efforts. As my knowledge expands, I still find myself stuck behind this wall. I find that varying the music is extremely challenging and it is an impassable hurdle. Instead of making efforts toward getting over it, I seem to be insistent on going under or around it, getting me nowhere in the long-run. Perhaps eventually I will discover some method of conquering my musical foe. Until then, I shall keep learning, so whenever I do I am prepared for what lies beyond the wall. Let it be said though, that I do not regret using my time as I have, for much good has come doing so. I have a deep understanding of music as well as the make-up of sound in general. I can name just about any type of soundwave whether it be from hearing it or seeing a diagram. So, in general, one learns from failure, and I have most certainly done so, without regrets of any kind.

 
            The following video is a sort of demo-reel showcasing some samples of my music. Keep your volume a bit lower during the "Castlevania-esque" one, the song that follows is a little loud.

Exploration Essay

            Throughout history, mankind has had an inert desire for knowledge. This primal, instinctive curiosity is what has driven the courageous and brave into the vast unknown. To explore is in human nature, people want to know what awaits them beyond the next bend. Such explorers are the ones who have charted undiscovered lands that lie across seas or over mountains. To do so, however, requires the proper equipment. Mode of transportation is vital, whether it be by boat, plane, train, car, or even foot. Adventurers have made use of many different vessels in the times past. In early ages, boats and ships were most common amongst those willing to trek into the lands beyond. Since then, however, technology has advanced greatly, allowing for more efficient means of transportation. Airplanes especially have made exploration an easier task; they give the ability to take to the skies and thus avoid any obstacles and hazards that may be between one and his destination. A desire for knowledge is strong enough to push many into the skies, despite a fear of heights being very common in human beings. Knowledge, however, is not the only motive that could bring someone to tread dangerous ground. There are many possible reasons to do so.

            For some, exploration could mean life or death. For others, it could mean as little as what socks to wear around the house. Because of this, some people may require a motive much more enticing than just knowledge. Human nature comes into play, bringing such people to want something for their own personal gain. The desire for material items is a deep-seated instinct within all humans. If putting one’s life on the line could result in wealth and fame, then the amount of people willing to partake in the specified activity will rise dramatically. To become the center of attention and receive praise for performing something worthwhile is desired by all; throw a hefty amount of money into the mix and they are sold (quite literally). Even so, some people would still not be interested in dangerous activities, wealth or not. For them, the price of doing so is higher than that which they are being paid.

            Exploration, like anything, can come at a great price. Depending on the given explorer, however, the price can vary. As previously stated, the price of adventuring could be death, or perhaps something worse. If someone were to go so far as to devote their life to their travels, they could lose more than just their life; family and friends could be lost. Adventuring consumes a very large portion of time and effort, resulting in less time with loved ones. Said people could feel offended or ignored, and may simply leave on their own. Or perhaps an explorer could find himself without time enough to settle down at all, leaving him without friends or family to lose, which is worse. Loneliness can greatly affect the mind and emotions, leaving one to endure a pain and suffering far more debilitating than any possible injury. What follows is nothing but a shallow existence. What good is exploration when one has not a soul to share it with?

Honesty

            The value of honesty can be interpreted in many different ways, depending on the person in question. My father, for example, puts an extremely high priority on being truthful. In my household, lying is the most dire offense I can commit and it bears the worst consequences as well. Because I was raised this way, I feel that honesty is extremely important as well. However, certain exceptions can be made. When the well-being of another person is at stake, I feel that not being completely truthful is appropriate. In extreme situations, a lie can mean safety for others. For example, if a criminal were to force his way into my home and demanded to know the whereabouts of my family, I would tell him that they are not around. Whether or not it is true, it can ensure the safety of those around me.

Academics Essay

            Throughout my life, I have faced many different obstacles and have received many rewards for overcoming said obstacles. These include physical challenges, emotional hardships, and mental hurdles. I have jumped through my fair share of hoops to get to where I am today, specifically those of the academic nature. Retaining the mental capacity to endure all that I have for the sake of my education is, in a general sense, what has led me to attending Early College High School and I intend to stay. However, I will get into that soon enough.

            Academically, I have faced many struggles, as is expected. School started out as a very simple process for me. I finished everything early and scored perfects on all of my assignments. Third grade was when it all changed. I was sent to gifted classes for the first time ever and I experienced many troubles adjusting to the environment. I was not used to actually paying attention or trying, and the subject matter seemed to slip past me. Nonetheless, I managed to pass the third grade and move on to fourth. Fourth grade faced me with many challenges as well, for not only was I still in the gifted program but I had skipped a grade in mathematics. I was taking a fifth grade gifted mathematics class and took a separate English class as well. I, and a few others, was in accelerated English in a gifted program. It did not make much sense, but it was the way it was, and it caused exceptional challenges for me. Furthermore, I was surrounded by people that were not very well-behaved and I thus fell into a bad crowd. Picking on other kids, using bad language, and getting into constant trouble led me to near expulsion. I still made it through, however. Fifth and sixth grade as well as middle school seemed like a breeze in comparison, I had finally adjusted to actually working and had no trouble finishing seventh and eighth grade. Now, of course, I am in the Early College program and that itself faces me with many challenges. Taking college courses as a high school student is no walk in the park and so I now have to adjust to working extra hard, something I still have not done. It shall come to me in the near future, though, for it always does.

            Despite my many academic struggles, I have an equal number of accomplishments, most of which were listed above. Achieving the gifted status by third grade alone was quite an achievement and something well worth bragging about. I am also proud of the fact that I took fifth grade mathematics in fourth grade, and I often make allusions to that as well. Among my personal favorites, however, is something that I managed to pull off just last year. I am very proud of the fact that I scored highest in my class on our English final and my father was pleased to hear it as well. I pride myself on my writing abilities, especially those of the creative likeness. At this point in time I am working on a personal writing project, it is the first full-length story that I have ever done. My father, who is an author and freelance writer, read the prologue I wrote and loved it. That is another accomplishment that I pride myself on, for knowing that an actual author thought my work was great has done wonders for my self-esteem. However, informational texts have always seemed to be my weak point, they are not as enjoyable as creative ones. Nevertheless, I was born a writer and I shall remember to keep at it, as my father has.

            With struggles and achievements come goals, or aspirations. However, I do not have many aspirations, if any. At this point in my life, I still do not know where it is I want to take myself. Career choices are few for I do not have many talents. Even though I said that I am a talented writer, I do not feel as if I could make a healthy living off of such a career. At one point I had my eyes set on an artistic career but I have come to realize that my talents in such a field are few in number. Drawing is not one of my strong points and yet I seem to frequent it as a hobby anyway. Despite these, however, I seem to have one talent. I am quite skilled at manipulating my voice and could thus work as a voice actor if I made the attempt. Recently, I began looking on the internet for people in need of voice actors but have yet to get a job. Many of my friends and family members tell me that I would make for a good one and I agree. I find that speaking with different voices as different characters to be very amusing and I do so often. So much, in fact, that at this point I have set characters with set voices that I use more often than others. So, in conclusion, I feel that the only aspiration I have at this point in time is to become a voice actor. As to how I will achieve such a goal, I am unaware. It will come to me in due time, as everything does.

            Altogether I have had many personal experiences concerning my education ranging from absolute failure to excelling beyond success. I have gone from fumbling over myself in the third grade to stepping proudly, head high, on a college campus with nothing to fear. I have worked hard for everything that I have earned thus far, all that is left to do is pursue my career in voice acting. Where will it take me? I do not have the slightest idea, but wherever it may be, I know that I will be ready to face it head on, as everyone should with all new challenges.