A Determination to Pursue a Risky Career: College Admission Essay Sample

“You would do the world a disservice by keeping your voice from it.” One of my best friends Kevin said this to me about a year ago. For years I actually refused to say I would go to school to study musical theatre. I simply told myself that it was not what my heart and soul were into. I knew even then that it was not true. But really, since about 5th grade it’s about the only thing my heart and soul were ever truly into. Between 7 years of community theatre, school musicals, and summer stock productions, performing in musicals is not only how I spent my spare time, but also how I grew as a person. My best friends were formed through shows, my confidence was raised exponentially, and I had finally found my niche. Nonetheless I would constantly deny my desire to pursue musical theatre as a career because my family insisted it was impractical. That night I casually thanked Kevin for his kind words but dismissed the comment and changed conversation.

I don’t think I knew it then, but what he said to me lit some sort of spark in my determination. I slowly began to once again surround myself with musical theatre, and performance art. I received the lead in a school musical and never felt a greater sensation than that of my peers approaching me to say “I never knew you had it in you, Hugh.” At the beginning of this school year, I gave my college advisor quite the scare by handing him an entirely new list of colleges to which I was applying and told him with a newfound confidence I was attending for musical theatre. I realize now that ever since this spark of inspiration, my love for musical theatre has grown immensely. Challenging my parents and making this decision on my own has reshaped me as a person. I realize I have control of what I do with my life, and so I will most certainly do the thing I love most in the world. I want to study musical theatre not only because it’s my art and passion, but also because it’s what makes me feel most confident in myself. I know I have the determination necessary to prove wrong anyone who has ever doubted me. It’s my dream and has been my dream since 5th grade, and to be quite honest, now I couldn’t care less if anyone considers my choice impractical. I undoubtedly have Kevin to thank for sparking this inspiration; however, I have myself to thank as well for displaying the courage and determination to pursue musical theatre despite pressure to do otherwise.