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Quinton Porter

Mrs. Burkamp

AP English Literature

06 September 2017

BYU College Essays

List and describe (in 100 words) up to five of your most meaningful and significant

activities, awards, and/or experiences you have had since beginning high school.

Early morning seminary has undoubtedly been among the greatest experiences of my

high school career. Scouting has provided me with necessary life and leadership skills. My AP

Euro teacher educates marvelously, and instilled a love of history in me through fantastic

lectures and interactive activities. Music classes such as Wind Symphony, Mixed Choir, Jazz

Band, and Music Theory have had a colossal positive impact on my life. Lastly, Winning the

Texas Bandmasters Association 2017 Melody Contest and having my melody arranged into a

full band piece play the US Air Force Band is perhaps my magnum opus thus far.

What is one of the most difficult things you have ever done or experienced? What

did you learn from it?

My utmost struggle in life hasnt been a physical trial, or even an emotional trial. It was a

mental trial - my journey to become motivated and productive. In years past I would spend two

or three hours every day on Netflix, YouTube, and various gaming systems. Homework, music

practice, chores, and other responsibilities were merely an afterthought, done in the thirty

minutes of leftover time before going to bed. I binged TV show after TV show, watched video
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after video, beat game after game, but never advanced very far academically or musically, and I

wanted that to change. Ive always wanted to be the smartest I could be, and the best composer

and performer possible, but I was never willing to put in the effort until the beginning of this

year. I decided that no longer would I simply hope for a magical conversion to come over me

and force me to start practicing piano for eight hours a day. I would provide that conversion

myself, and drive myself to spend my time accomplishing goals that require creative thought and

intellectual exertion. At first, to tell the truth, it was miserable. Undertaking household

responsibilities or studying at my desk for hours at a time while temptations of whatever game I

still hadnt beaten or episode I hadnt watched loitered in my thoughts was torture. But I

persevered, and now I spend all day, every day, doing the things that I know will make me a

well-rounded and intelligent person.

Given the choice, which CES school would you most like to attend, and why? Please

be specific.

I would prefer to receive my education at BYU Provo for a few reasons, one of which

being the general atmosphere. I went to EFY at the Provo campus, and everything about the

place seemed to resonate with me. I loved the people, the scenery, the library, the bookstore, and

the simple feeling of being surrounded by righteous people. I would also like to attend BYU

Provo because of the School of Music there. Music is definitely my passion, and I spend about 5

hours a day practicing, composing, and learning music theory. The School at Music at BYU

Provo has some of the top performing ensembles, finest music professors, and performance

opportunities in the country. I desperately want to advance my musical abilities, and I think the

School of Music at BYU Provo is the best fit for me to do that. Yet another reason to attend that
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CES school instead of a different one is because of my best friend. At the first EFY I ever went

to, I felt prompted by the Spirit to go listen to the less popular speaker when given a choice.

Following that prompting allowed me to learn an important lesson; a true friend is someone who

helps you feel the spirit. My best friend is certainly a righteous influence on my life, and helps

me feel the spirit more than any other friend Ive ever had. If he wants to go to BYU Provo, then

so do I.

Tell us anything else you want us to know about yourself that you havent had the

opportunity to describe elsewhere in the application. Include any special circumstances,

experiences, talents, skills, etc. that you think would have a positive impact on the

Admission Committee.

I have put on multiple performances at assisted living centers. I love to perform, and to

serve those in need, so this offers a satisfactory outlet for both of those desires. I have done these

performances in Utah and Texas, and performed pieces such as Christmas Medley by John

Schmidt, various Christmas piano solos from Peanuts movies, Clair de Lune by Debussy,

Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum by Debussy, Libertango by Piazzolla(arranged by Jacob

Koller), and other piano solos. The smiles and comments of the senior citizens make the

performances one-hundred percent worth it. I have also given many performances in church

activities, such as sacrament meeting, ward conference, stake music nights, youth talent shows,

stake Christmas orchestra concerts, and teacher appreciation nights. Performing is my way of

using my talents to give happiness to others. I have tried my best to not turn down performance

opportunities, and as a result I have accompanied for many friends desperately searching for an

accompanist less than a week before their upcoming performance, and find myself performing in
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some sort of venue about once a week. I find that while I am as good as the next person at giving

service through manual labor (and my music isnt an excuse to shrink from that kind of service),

my musical abilities allow me to provide specialty services to those who simply want a little

more joy in their lives.