sis9r2018 ‘The Common Applicaton Thad always looked up to my sister for her talents as a pianist. It seemed to me that it came natural to her and that she had a passion that | could never obtain, Just as she had done, | took piano beginning in the third grade. Every Monday we would pack ourselves in the car, many times forgetting one of our books, many times whining while being buckled in. | was doing most of the complaining because I considered the lessons tedious, but | had little choice in the matter as my mother wanted us to widen our horizons and always try new experiences (something that | later thanked her for). Eventually my whining ceased, but the lessons became more inconvenience and an unwanted weight upon my shoulders. Though improving, ! used piano as an excuse for being behind in homework or athletics. | tried to convince my parents that it ‘just wasn't for me,” but every week I would still have to load up in the car with all my books for piano lessons. Ireceived a new piece for the upcoming spring performance in eighth grade. | gave the sheet music one glance and immediately wanted to quit piano. The chord progressions contained awkward sharps and flats that made my hands numb by the end of playing. The first page of the music was so difficult that it took almost the whole lesson to learn the part for just my right hand. | silently rode home as my anger built inside me to an extent that if | had opened my mouth, | might have exploded. | resented learning the piano, | resented my mother for forcing me into it, and | resented myself for not quitting earlier. This anger attached itself to me and buried its roots in me. It dug deeper every time I heard my sister practicing the piano; sounding as though she was performing in the grandest of theaters. | decided to direct this frustration to my playing. | sat down, brought out the sheet music from the sheet protectors, and began. At first, the melody was choppy and slow, but as I persisted, it came out as though it was an actual song. Hours of practice evolved into weeks, and weeks into months, and so on. | began making time in my day to practice and I would find myself at the piano when | needed to clear my mind. | practiced that one song so many times that my parents told me to stop as it was annoying and overly repetitive, | had completely memorized the song and began playing as though | was performing. | would challenge myself by closing my eyes while playing. When my sense of sight was taken away, | heard the notes clearer than ever before and | could feel the sound waves resonate in my heart. When finished | looked at the worn, ivory keys and realized what | had accomplished: | had played equally as well as, if not better than, my sister. Thad dedicated hours of my time to practice on my own and | had played like someone who | previously though had a talent that | could never attain. | discovered through this experience that | could overcome any obstacles through hard work. Whether in athletics, academics, or social life, | will always find improvement when | dedicate my time and effort towards it. Additionally, | also discovered that my mother will always have my best interest in mind, because without her, | would never have loaded up in the car with all my books to gone to piano lessons. hps/lapply.commonapp.org/cadappiic/0307sid-681=1516081442074 1"