Vires, Artes and Mores: College Admission Essay Sample

“On my honor, I will do my best, to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the scout law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.” The scout law is how I incorporate Artes, Vires and Mores into my daily life. I have been a Boy Scout for eight years and recently became the Assistant Scout Master. Scouting values have inspired me to strive for excellence in my schoolwork, artwork, and personal character.

After discovering my calling as an artist I applied to a magnet art school, Design and Architecture Senior High. Every student enrolled at DASH has gone through a rigorous selection process consisting of a portfolio review and an interview. Our school days are extended an additional two hours to accommodate art classes and regular high school courses. Most students, myself included, rely on public transportation and have significant additional travel time each day. In addition to my classes, I currently apprentice with a renowned muralist, Daniel Fila, at his private studio. I am also a working artist and have collaborated with several major companies on commissioned canvasses and murals. Recently, I also served as a magazine design editor for the Museum of Contemporary Art’s annual artist magazine. Artes plays an important roll in my life and I intend to pursue the visual arts while enrolled at FSU.

At DASH I have taken the most accelerated academic courses available to me. At the end of each school year I have been recognized as the “DASH Herald.” (The designation of class “Herald” is given to the boy and girl in each class with the highest GPA.) In addition to my individual academic achievements, I have also held leadership positions in the student government. For example I was voted Student Government President last year. I am a candidate for the office this year and I have also simultaneously served as Class Historian each year. Over the past four years, I have been a member of the 5000 Role Models of Excellence (a mentoring organization for young men) and the National Honor Society. My vigorous pursuit of academic excellence and service illustrates the roll Vires has played in my life.

In addition to an array of one-time volunteer events, such as humanitarian efforts and environmental cleanups, I have devoted most of my spare time to one organization in particular, PATH (Preserving, Archiving, and Teaching Hip Hop History). I was a member of the inaugural class at PATH when it began three years ago. PATH teaches the positive and enriching aspects of the Hip Hop Culture. After graduating from the program, I returned as a volunteer mentor. I believe my commitment to Mores is best exemplified by my involvement at PATH and other community service events.

The values of scouting and the guiding philosophy of FSU, Artes, Vires, and Mores, would give me the frame-work, to take full advantage of all the opportunities available at FSU.