Breaking the Ice by Paige

Breaking the Ice by Paige - November 2014 Scholarship Essay

High school – it’s the best years of your life. This tired phrase has been told to incoming high schoolers for decades, whether it comes from your grandparents, television shows, or your friendly neighborhood mailman. But maybe the reason the phrase is so overused is that it still rings true? Now, I’m not saying that by attending high school, it will automatically be the highlight of your life, and it is all downhill from there. I’m merely saying that it can be a source of great memories that can be cherished long after graduation.

While I was in high school I always wanted to get it over with. I had friends who were upperclassmen that graduated each year, and moved on with their life to bigger and better things. I missed my friends, and it felt like I was being left behind. But when I look back, I realize that there was one activity that attributed to all these wonderful people I met. That activity was band. I pretty much participated in every instrumental opportunity that my school offered, with the exception of one: Jazz band. I never could fit that into my schedule. And even though every year I had friends who graduated, there were also a whole class of people who came in and joined the band. Every year my band family expanded, and within this group everyone was so accepting, just because we had this common interest of music. I also became close with my band directors, who became my mentors, my sources of recommendations, and, especially my senior year, my friends.

Just so we are on the same page, I’m not saying the only way to meet people is to join the band at your high school. I’m saying get involved with something that you love, because once you do, it gives you the opportunity to meet a whole group of people who love what you love. These people understand your love for soccer, or manga, or Spanish! These people understand you in a way that another person would not. Through this common interest, you find the people that will get you through the last minute study sessions right before a big test, the break ups, and the days you forgot your lunch money. They will make the daily trials of high school life not so grueling, because you know they are right there with you.