More than a portable by Yoojin

More than a portable by Yoojin - June 2021 Scholarship Essay

Even though art is such an important way for us as humans to express our emotions and beauty that no other creation can, music class is considered a 'supplemental' elective that is optional in a majority of school districts. Budget slashes mean fine arts programs are the first to undergo personnel and program changes. Regretfully, most high school students will never step foot in a music room or participate in a recital. However, my time in high school orchestra is one that I still think about, 3 years after high school graduation.

Mr. A is a teacher that perfectly embodies kindness, passion, talent, and humor that makes his class unforgettable. Mr. A constantly had to advocate for fine arts, but when it came to relocating our classroom, the orchestra ended up moving to a portable built on the edge of the outdoor basketball courts- quite a walk from the main building. It felt like our rich and melodic orchestra ensemble was reduced to a box a door and two windows. Sitting inside the room with a low roof and poor acoustics definitely brought spirits down at the start of my senior year. Nevertheless, Mr. A made each class period so exciting and engaging that often times I forgot that I was confined to 4 walls and styrofoam ceilings. He started each class with a wide smile and joke that pushed his beard up and down with his laughter. He united the class as a whole; from the jocks to the ASB kids to the introverts- he was there for us all. I wasn't the best at playing my viola; I knew that I wouldn't continue performing anywhere past a professional level post-high school, but I wanted to remain enrolled in Mr. A's class because of how enjoyable it was.

And once class was over, his 'classroom' would be a safe space for anyone to join him during break times. There are multiple times I spent lunch periods in his portable with a few other peers, talking about a wide variety of things from video games to student loans to life and family. The lessons that Mr. A taught me go beyond what is printed in my sheet music. I still carry his advice and try to embody the wonderful parts that make him a great teacher in my college days- caring and understanding to better myself and achieve my dream of being a great occupational therapist.