College Admissions Essay: A Career In Music Therapy

Growing up, I was always an outgoing child, but I never liked being the center of attention. I’ve always had a passion for music, and in the sixth grade, I started taking voice and piano lessons. Once I made it to high school, I was certain that I wanted a career in music. I convinced myself that music is what I was destined to do. During my junior year, I stumbled upon music therapy, which was a great combination of my two favorite things—music and helping others— and ultimately decided to apply for Belmont. The first few months of classes were great; I was even more in love with music therapy and how it can change peoples’ lives. However, at the end of second semester, I had a change of heart and mind. I realized that even though I have always loved music, maybe I could make a difference in people’s lives without using music.
All of my results from the Focus test were spot on. I focus my attention on the exploration of new ideas that can lead to improvements that can benefit people. I’m enthusiastic,
spontaneous, and strive for perfection in subjects that appeal to me. I enjoy influencing others and being in a leadership position. I do believe that studying sociology will give me an advantage in my future career path that others might not have. I will be able to show how groups of people adopt certain kinds of behaviors, attitudes, cultures and social organizations.
I spent months thinking about where I’d be in ten years.
All of my friends knew what they wanted to do and I felt behind. I changed my major to sociology, and it wasn’t an easy decision; but I know now that it was the right decision. Nonetheless, for the first few months, I still wasn’t sure what career path I wanted to take. Then I had an idea; I can join the military. My brother is in the Navy and a lot of my family members have served in the military as well. I think back to my days in elementary school, when we had to line up to take group bathroom breaks and lunch breaks. No one ever volunteered to be the line leader except for me. Due to my last name, I was used to being in the back of the line; but I did everything to avoid it. Being the caboose meant that I had to be a follower; and I’ve never been a follower. Even in terms of fashion, I’ve always worn quirky and unique outfits because I love who I am, and I don’t see a reason to conform to societal
norms.
This might sound crazy, but joining the military means that I can be a leader. I have the opportunity to make a difference; I can, even in the smallest sense, change the world and the lives of people around me. Being an officer means that I can be in charge, and it will signify to others that no matter the situation, the environment, or the stakes, I can make the right decision when the going gets tough. I finally feel like I am doing what I’m meant to do, and I can’t wait to see where this journey takes me.