Level with the Ground by Kelly

Level with the Ground by Kelly - October 2013 Scholarship Essay

My earliest, fondest memories of my childhood reside one foot above the ground. The stool was wooden, painted a shade of creamy ivory, with stenciled pink and green letters spelling out my name: K-e-l-l-y. Every evening my older sister and I rushed through dinner, so we could sing on top of our stools for our parents. I sang, I danced, I put on a show. From day one, I had an appetite for the spotlight. Whether there was an audience or not, I belted out every song I knew, with a light in my eye. From singing karaoke, to entering local talent shows, I thrived from the attention and liberation evoked by singing. At age six, my passion was jumpstarted when I was cast in my first musical. Eventually I was involved in several theatrical productions per year. From auditions to rehearsals to performances, I loved the way theater took me away, it gave me life. It enabled me to become someone else, to forget who I was and what struggles I faced. I was able to learn and teach lessons through the characters I embodied. When I was on stage I was four feet above the ground, with all eyes on me.
At age fourteen my mother announced that I was going to meet with a new professional vocal coach. I was ecstatic for the opportunity to develop my talent. After two appointments, which resulted in the loss of my voice, my coach was concerned. She said it was not healthy for my voice to tire and become hoarse so quickly. My coach refused to work with me until I saw an Ear, Nose, and Throat Doctor. After doing several tests, the doctor diagnosed me with acid reflux and vocal nodules. This meant that I had a mass of tissue swelling on my vocal folds, caused from stress and strenuous overuse of my voice. These nodules impair and limit my vocal ability. My doctor told me that I would never achieve professional success in a field dependent on consistent production of powerful and rich vocal tone. Essentially, this doctor told me to surrender my dream. These words kicked my metaphorical stool out from under me, leaving me and my dreams devastated, on the ground. After performing and singing for two more years, I discovered for myself the unpredictability and unreliability of my voice. With my health at risk, and the frustration of constantly feeling inadequate, I retired from the theater community.
Now that the focus was no longer on my singing, I discovered many of my additional valuable talents. I am perceptive and insightful, I enjoy being an advocate. I have the ability to think logically, and I am good at dealing with people. I enjoy writing persuasive essays and I am capable of objectively analyzing and understanding any side of an issue. I am assertive and always speak for what I believe is right. Whether I’m protecting a fellow classmate, or advocating for myself to a teacher, I love seeking justice. After reading the classic, “To Kill a Mockingbird”, I was inspired by the courage and justice Atticus Finch promoted. Abruptly I discovered my calling- to become a lawyer. Due to my savior complex, it is imperative for me to pursue a career in a field that defends those who cannot defend themselves. Although my theater days are in the past, I believe that the court room could be my stage. My passion and experience in performing will be demonstrated when I work in law; considering both require long hours, memorization, and embodiment of each case/role I will portray. When I am an attorney, the judge will be the critique, the defendant and the prosecution will be my co-cast members, and the jurors will be my audience. I will be level with the ground, all eyes on me.