Angles and Demons by Dan Brown Essay Example for Free

Angles and Demons by Dan Brown Essay Angles and Demons by Dan Brown was a reading choice out of curiosity rather than real interest because of the Da Vinci Code by the same author. I wanted to see what other works of fiction Dan Brown came up with before his controversial book. This book had me raising my eyebrows more than a few times with story line but that did not stop me from turning the pages until I got to the end. Angels and Demons basically follows the same formula as the Da Vinci Code. It begins with a murder which only Robert Langdon seems capable of solving with his knowledge of religious iconology and history; a strong female character, Vittoria Vetra, daughter to the murder victim Leonardo Vetra, assists Langdon in his â€Å"quest†; a hired assassin who is delusional, a fanatic and has unquestionable loyalty to his belief carries out an unforeseen but well-crafted plan; an ancient secret society, the Illuminati, is out to get revenge on the Church; finally, an unexpected mastermind who calls himself as Janus, works behind the curtains. An anti-matter canister was stolen from CERN when Leonardo Vetra was murdered and this is assumed to have a life span of 24 hours before the batteries die and it explodes. Brown remains true to using archaic bits of knowledge to leave a trail for Robert Langdon and Vittoria Vetra to follow from Switzerland to the Vatican City in order to find the missing anti-matter canister and find the murderer of Leonardo Vetra. The plot thickens when the anti-matter canister bomb threatens the Vatican and the conclave in the process of choosing the new Pope. The book ends dramatically with a seemingly miraculous event followed by the declaration of a new Pope. Though I enjoyed the chase more from Angels and Demons rather than the Da Vinci Code, I must say that, as a priest, Brown seems have some issues with the Church to come up with troubling concepts for his books. First you have Leonardo Vetra, a priest who turns away from the Church. He becomes a leading physicist of CERN and, together with his adopted daughter, tries to find God through science and research. They seem to be successful with the development of the anti-matter, which was stolen when Vetra was murdered. You also have a Pope who sired a child with a nun, though through artificial means. The child later becomes his camerlengo, the Pope’s Chamberlain. The camerlengo, Carlo Ventresca, unaware of his paternal parentage, murders the Pope upon knowing his dark secret with the belief that he is both cleansing and protecting the Church. Though the book is admittedly a work of fiction, it borders on tarnishing how Catholics and non-Catholics may view the Church and its priests. Brown puts into question the honesty and loyalty of priests to the Mother Church and their commitment to the vow of celibacy, as seen with the Pope. It is appalling to think that Jesus’ surrogates on Earth would be the first ones to violate their vows. Brown also pits religion versus science. Leonardo Ventra is murdered for his research on anti-matter which can supposedly prove the beginning of life, that science can prove God’s existence. I’d like to think that religion is a matter of faith and science is a matter of fact, the two just can’t mix when it comes to explaining God. Then you have the camerlengo who is himself delusional and a fanatic in his belief that the Church, and not science, is the saving power of the world with himself at the wheel of salvation. He goes to great lengths to get the world’s attention, discredit Science and put the Church on a pedestal for the world to see. Angels and Demons made me uncomfortable with the image of the Church that it created – a divided, secretive, vindictive and vulnerable body. Readers, both Catholics and non-Catholics should be discriminating of the events in this book, lest they forget that this is only a work of fiction.

Educating Rita :: English Literature

Educating Rita Willy Russell’s play â€Å"Educating Rita† only uses one main setting and two main characters. Some people may think that these would make the play seem boring. Russell actually makes the play quite interesting and entertaining by using dramatic devices such as the whiskey bottle and the telephone call. He does this to give us as much information as possible about the characters and their personalities. The play, which is set in the early 1980s, deals with the clashes between education and culture. It is about a middle-aged university lecturer called Frank. He is currently in a relationship with Julia. This relationship is not going too well as Frank is an alcoholic and would much rather go to the pub than go home to Julia. There is also Rita a 26-year-old woman who didn’t have a good education when she left school due to her parents’ working class background. She is now keen and eager to learn even though her husband Denny thinks that it is time for her to settle down and have children. Rita has set her sights higher than this. Rita is currently working as a hairdresser, but wants to achieve so much more than that, she wants an education. We get an idea of what sort of personality Frank has got by the conversation he has with Julia when she calls him to see when he was coming home. Although Frank had other Ideas, he was planning on going to the pub. We could see this by, â€Å" Yes I shall go to the pub† and â€Å"I don’t need determination to get me to the pub†. We get the impression that Frank does not care a great deal about Julia although it’s clear she loves him. When Frank was told that he was going to be tutoring Rita who is an open university student he was not very happy, the only reason he had took the job was so that he could make more money to spend on alcohol. Frank guessed that she was going to be â€Å"some silly woman†. This gives us the impression that Frank likes to use stereotypes and thinks that there is not much point. He soon realises that Rita has quite a lot to offer in regard to he uniqueness. The Playwright Russell wants to show how class affects education. When we first meet Rita we see that she is not the normal student Frank was expecting. She swears and uses informal colloquial language. This makes us think that Rita is not at all nervous about starting Open University and also makes her working class background obvious.

Is Chivalry Dead

Is Chivalry Dead?! What do you think of when you hear the word â€Å"chivalry†? I can’t speak for everyone but I know most of us, when we hear or think about the word â€Å"chivalry,† automatically we picture images of such figures as the legendary King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, Prince Charming, Gawain and The Green Knight, castles, and images of heavily armor knights saving princess or the cliche-ic â€Å"damsels in distress†. Though myths and fairytales illustrate this picture of chivalry, this in fact is a result of what the world has come to mean.Originally, the word â€Å"chivalry† had a different meaning. During the middle ages, the individuals who lived during this time use chivalry as a â€Å"code of conduct†. This â€Å"code of conduct† was put in place help the society become better by organizing it. People who lived during the Middle Ages supported the â€Å"code of conduct† because they felt it may h elp control the nation and help it gain more power. With any society, if chaos arises something is put into place for it to be demolished.For example, laws are created to provide a society with some type of order. Therefore, chivalry was created to control a society. â€Å"Chivalry wasn’t only to regulate the disorganization within a society but it also provided individuals at the type of the social ladder to be viewed with high esteem, particularly knight†. In order for a knight to make a name for himself or be recognized as honorable, he had to follow the behavioral code of chivalry.In modern society, one might speculate if chivalry has influence other people from across the globe. Although it pretty safe to say that in our society, chivalry has not fully impact us as a society, neither socially or culturally. Therefore providing truth to the saying that chivalry is dead. In medieval times, power in Europe was dispersed to the people of hierarchy. The people of great nobility, such as the king, had control of people who were viewed as inferior, such as the peasants.The earliest way for the nobles to protect themselves and land is through feudalism. Feudalism is a social system based on a hierarchy which consists of social, political, and economic systems. The purpose of the feudalism system was to give the nobles a chance to have power over lands and people. â€Å"This control would be so successful that it would provide a way for the king to give knights things such as gold or land in exchange for their loyalty and service to the kingdom†. This was the bases for the â€Å"code of conduct. †

Aristotle s Views On Morality And Happiness - 1948 Words

Jared Sanders 5/4/16 PHI 372: Ethical Inquiry Term Paper What, if anything, does happiness have to do with morality. According to Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, there is a direct connection between morality and happiness. Aristotle states that happiness is the main goal of human existence. He follows this idea by saying the only way to achieve happiness is through his account of morality. Aristotle’s â€Å"happiness† is a translation of the Greek word Eudaimonia. A definition of Eudaimonia could be â€Å"the highest human good† or â€Å"well-being†, but it is not simply a word with a definition but a concept that needs to be broken down and understood. In connection with happiness is morality. According to Aristotle, only certain actions have genuine moral worth, which is heavily based upon reason. To live a moral life and achieve happiness one must achieve human excellence through moral and intellectual virtue. To make the connection between morality and happiness, we must understand these concepts in accordance with Aristotle. Aristotle’s concept of happiness stems from his search to find the â€Å"Highest Good† for man. His process starts with the idea of ends. An end is a good at which all things aim. An end can be considered to be an end â€Å"goal†. He makes the point that there is a cycle where you aim for an end which will help you achieve another end, which will help you achieve another end. An example of this is going to college. You study hard in high school to achieve the end ofShow MoreRelatedAristotle And Aristotle s Theory Of Moral Virtue1229 Words   |  5 PagesNietzsche and Aristotle were two of the most significant philosopher of not only their time but their works has lasted throughout the centuries to influence even some today’s greatest minds. Their works however could not be any separated, Aristotle is a prominent figure in ancient Greek philosophy, making contributions to logic, metaphysics, mathematics, physics, biology, botany, ethics, politics, agricult ure, medicine, dance and theatre. He was a student of great thinkers such as Plato and SocratesRead MoreEssay about Morals and Ethics1134 Words   |  5 Pages Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, and Nietzsche all had their own ideas for which one could reach happiness in his/her life. All have similarities in there reasoning except Nietzshe, who contradicts the others entirely. Plato states that to understand virtue is happiness. In turn virtue suffices for happiness and is necessary. Also he intuits that human reasoning prevails over spirited element or a person?s appetite. Aristotle?s arguments relate with Plato, but he builds more to it and finds his ownRead MoreComparing Aristotle And John Stuart Mill1130 Words   |  5 Pages231: Ethics 28 April 2015 Essay 2 Comparisons on Pleasure in Morality The role of pleasure in morality has been examined thoroughly throughout the beginning of philosophy and continues to be a questionable issue. With these in-depth examinations, some similar outlooks as well as differing views have been recorded. Many philosophers have dissected this important topic, however I intend to concentrate of the famous works of Aristotle, Immanuel Kant, and John Stuart Mill. After meticulously analyzingRead MoreAristotle on Happiness and Virtue Essay1749 Words   |  7 Pagestheir philosophical discussions. The most ancient and long-lasting literature on moral principles and ethics were described by Greek philosopher Aristotle. He had an excellent command on various subjects ranging from sciences to mathematics and philosophy. He was also a student of a famous philosopher. His most important study on ethics, personal morality and virtues is ‘The Nicomachean Ethics’, which has been greatly influencing works of literature in ethics and heavi ly read for centuries, is believedRead MoreAristotle, The Man Of Thinking1025 Words   |  5 PagesAristotle, the Man of Thinking Aristotle is his name, philosophy is the game. Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and scientist who was born in Stagira Greece in 384 B.C. He lived to be 62 years old, which at the time, was a very good lifespan. Aristotle’s place of death was in Chalcis. His full name is Aristotle Stagiritis son of Nicomachus. He had a wife by the name of Hermias and a son with the name of Pythias. Aristotle is known well for teaching the world renowned man, referred to today as AlexanderRead MoreDavid Hume s Views On Morality972 Words   |  4 PagesHume focused on the question does our morality come from our rational nature or our sentiment nature? According to Hume, the judgments and recommendations of morality arise not from reason, but from moral sense. Hume argued that virtue is always accompanied by a feeling of pleasure, and vice by a feeling of pain. Therefore, we praise an instance of virtuous action precisely because it stimulates in us a pleasing feeling, and we avoid committing a vicious action because we anticipate that doing soRead More Ethical and Philosophical Questions about Value and Obligation977 Words   |  4 Pageshow can we view the philosophical ethics of Mill, Kant, Aristotle, Nietzsche, and the ethics of care? III For Mill, the question is what is the relation between his (metaethical) empirical naturalism and his (normative) qualitatively hedonist value theory and his utilitarian moral theory? One place we can see Mill?s empiricism is his treatment, in Chapter III, of the question of why the principle of utility is ?binding?, how it can generate a moral obligation. Compare Mill?s treatmentRead MoreJohn Stuart Mill s Ethical Theory920 Words   |  4 Pagesamount of happiness or unhappiness caused. A good man is one who considers the other man s pleasure as equally as his own. Each person s happiness is equally important. Mill believed that a free act is not an undetermined act. It is in fact determined by the unconstrained choice of the person performing the act. Basically Mill is saying consider others feelings before acting on a decision. Make sure that no one is affected by my choice. My happiness might not be your happiness. What ifRead MoreAristotle s Contributions Of Western Philosophy1124 Words   |  5 PagesOne of the greatest classical Greek philosophers still known is Aristotle. His contributions to Western philosophy are in the areas of nature, nature, logic, metaphysics, the soul, morality, and politics. He was one of Plato’s students and studied under him for twenty years in the academy in Athens. He started to lecture about his on top of rhetoric. Aristotle became well known for his philosophies he began to tutor Phillip of Macedon son Alexander. After the death of Phillip’s, the school of platonicRead MorePlato And Aristotle s Theories Of Utilitarianism And Kantian Ethics1408 Words   |  6 PagesThe ancient theories of Plato and Aristotle differ greatly from the contemporary theories of Utilitarianism an d Kantian ethics. Plato and Aristotle focused on the importance of virtue in an individual’s life. Plato believed that purity of the soul was the most important thing in life and can be achieved by mastering the four virtues: justice, wisdom, courage, and moderation. Aristotle believed that the goal of human life was to achieve happiness, which is made possible by the cultivation of a just

How to Put Together a Poetry Manuscript for Publication

Putting together a poetry manuscript to submit to contests or publishers is not a walk in the park. Expect it to take an hour or two a day over the span of a week, month, or even a year, depending on how much work you have, how polished the pieces are, and how much time you can afford to spend on the project.   Despite that, creating a poetry manuscript for publication is an important next step in a writers career. Heres a step-by-step guide on how to make this goal a reality. Step 1: Choose Your Poems Begin by typing (or printing from your computer files) all the poems you want to consider putting into your book, one per page (unless of course, the poem is longer than a single page). This is a chance to make any small revisions you want to make to individual poems so that you can concentrate on the shape of the book as a whole. Step 2: Plan the Book Size To get started, decide how big of a book you want to create—20 to 30 pages for a typical chapbook, 50 or more for a full-length collection (more on exact page amounts later). You may well change your mind about this when you are actually selecting and ordering the poems, but this will give you a starting point. Step 3: Organize the Poems With the length of your book in mind, sift through all the pages you have typed or printed up, and put the poems into piles that you feel belong together in some way—a series of poems on related themes, a group of poems written using a particular form, or a chronological sequence of poems written in the voice of a single character. Step 4: Take a Step Back Let your piles sit at least overnight without thinking about them. Then pick up each pile and read through the poems, trying to see them as a reader and not as their author. If you know your poems well and find your eyes skipping ahead, read them out loud to yourself to make sure you take the time to listen to them. Step 5: Be Selective When you’ve read through a stack of poems, pull out any poems that no longer seem to fit in that particular pile or seem redundant, and put the poems you want to keep together in the order you want your readers to experience them. You may find yourself doing lots of reshuffling over time, moving poems from one stack into another, melding whole groups of poems together by combining stacks, or discovering new groupings that need to be separate and on their own. Don’t worry about it. You will likely come across new ideas for books or chapbooks and also change your mind a number of times before the poems settle into the shape of a finished book manuscript. Step 6: Take a Breather After you’ve pared down and reordered each pile of poems, let them sit again at least overnight. You can use this time to mull over your reading, listening for the poems that stand out in each stack and how they sound together. Pay attention to other poems that may have popped into your mind when you were reading a certain stack to see if you should add them or replace similar poems. Step 7: Reevaluate Book Length Think again about the length of the book you want to create. You may decide that one stack of related poems would make a good short chapbook. You may have a really large pile of poems that will all go together into a long collection. Or you may want to combine several of your piles to create sections within a full-length book. Step 8: Create an Actual Book Next, try actually making the manuscript into a book that you can live with and leaf through. Staple or tape your pages together put them into a three-ring notebook, or use your computer to print them out in book format. If you’re preparing an email or online submission, you may still want to print up the poems you’re considering—shuffling paper pages is easier than editing a computer file. If you have several long pieces, you may wish to lay everything out in a word processing document with the correct margins for the completed book size, to see how more exactly how many pages the collection will consume. For a typical 6-by-9-inch printed book, youll want the final page count to be divisible by four (include room for a title page, dedication page, table of contents, copyright page, and acknowledgments page in your count as well). For ebooks, the page count can be any number. If you want your document to look like a finished book when printed out, use your software to make mirror image pages when setting up your page size so that the left and right pages will face each other as they would when professionally bound, and add page numbers in a footer or header. That said, don’t think too much about typography or design at this point. You want simply to put the poems together so that you can read through the book and see how they interact in that order. Step 9: Choose a Title After you’ve decided on the length and general shape of your manuscript, choose a title for your collection. A title may have suggested itself during your sifting and ordering of the poems, or you may want to read through them again to find one—perhaps the title of a central poem, a phrase taken from one of the poems, or something completely different. Step 10: Proofread Carefully proofread your entire manuscript from beginning to end after you’ve put it in order. If you’ve spent a lot of time with the book, you may be tempted to give it only a cursory read-through. In this case, you need to set it aside for a few days or weeks so that when you come back to it you can pay close attention to each poem, each title, each line break, and each punctuation mark. You will likely find yourself making additional revisions to the poems at this point—don’t hold back, as this final reading may be your last chance to make changes before you send the book out into the world. Proofreading your own work is difficult—ask a friend, or two, to proofread the manuscript for you, and go through all their notes carefully. Fresh eyes will likely spot some errors that slid right by you but do not feel that you must accept every editorial change they may suggest. When in doubt about punctuation or line breaks, read the poem aloud. Step 11: Research Venues for Submission Next, it’s time to seek appropriate venues for submission. Use a list of poetry publishers or links to poetry contests to identify places you want to submit your manuscript. It’s important to read the poetry books they’ve published or the previous winners of their competitions in order to decide if you want them to publish your work. Targeting your submissions to publishers of like works can also save you time and money on submissions that would have been rejected for not being appropriate to their current catalog. Publishing is a business, and if a manuscript wouldnt fit in with others in the companys catalog, its marketing department wouldnt know what to do with it, regardless of its quality. Weed those publishers out before sending the manuscript anywhere. Keep notes on why a publisher is a good fit, to mention in your submission cover letter. Step 12: Apply! After you have selected a publisher or a contest, reread its guidelines and follow them exactly. Print a fresh copy of your manuscript in the format requested, use the submission form if there is one, and enclose the applicable reading fee. Try to let go of your manuscript after you’ve mailed it off—it may take a long time for you to get a response, and obsessing over one manuscript submission will only set you up for disappointment. It never hurts, however, to keep thinking about the order and title of your book and to submit it to other contests and publishers in the meantime (so long as the companies you’ve sent it to accept simultaneous submissions).

Tinker Vs. Des Moines Essay - 1516 Words

The Vietnam War a time where a lot of American’s believed that American’s shouldn’t have been a part of in the first place. â€Å"Tens of thousands of soldiers received dishonorable discharges for desertion, and about 500,000 American men from 1965-73 became â€Å"draft dodgers,† with many fleeing to Canada to evade conscription (Vietnam War History).† During that time there were thousands of protestors against the Vietnam War â€Å"On November 15, 1969, the largest anti-war protest in American history took place in Washington, D.C., as over 250,000 Americans gathered peacefully, calling for withdrawal of American troops from Vietnam (Vietnam War History).† A case that is known in history forever â€Å"Tinker v. Des Moines† case was a very good example of anti-war protest and was proven to be an example of freedom of speech. Tinker v. Des Moines case involves two main students. Others students were also involved. The two main studentâ €™s names were â€Å"John and Mary Beth Tinker (Landmark Cases).† They were from Des Moines, Iowa and this case took place between the years 1965-1969 (Landmark Cases).† The problem with this case was there form of protest. â€Å"They wore black armbands to their public school as a symbol of protest against American involvement in the Vietnam War (Landmark Cases).† When their school found out about what they were doing they had an issue with it. â€Å"When school authorities asked that the Tinkers remove their armbands, they refused and were subsequently suspended (LandmarkShow MoreRelatedTinker Vs. Des Moines1399 Words   |  6 PagesCase Name: Tinker vs. Des Moines (1969) Facts of the case: In December of 1965, a group of Des Moines students held a meeting at 16-year-old Christopher Eckhardt’s house to plan a public showing of their support for a truce in the Vietnam war. They came to the decision that they would wear black armbands during the holiday season and fast on December 16 as well as New Year’s Eve. When the principals of the Des Moines school learned about the plan, they met on December 14 to create a policy statingRead MoreThe Tinker Vs. Des Moines Case1498 Words   |  6 Pagesteenagers endure the same issues in their lives. The Tinker vs. Des Moines case helped determined and interpret legal rights of young citizens for the first time. A group of students made a decision to wear black armbands to school to support a peace establishing agreement during the Vietnam War. As a result, the participating students; Mary Beth Tinker, Christopher Eckhardt, and John Tinker got suspended for their actions (Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District).The school outlawedRead MoreTinker Vs. Des Moines861 Words   |  4 PagesDann Harvey Villanueva English 11 Sem 1 1.3.9 Tinker vs. Des Moines December of 1965, a group of adults and a few students of Des Moines Independent Community School District including John Tinker, Mary Beth and their friend Eckhard gathered to show they disfavor towards American involvement in the Vietnam war. Few students decided to wear black armbands to express their objections to the hostilities in Vietnam. The three Tinker students among with their friends were suspended for wearing theRead MoreAnalysis Of Tinker Vs. Des Moines, And Bethel V. Fraser905 Words   |  4 Pagesbe said. Both court cases: Tinker v. Des Moines, and Bethel v. Fraser involved the confusion and misunderstanding of this first amendment. â€Å"In December, 1969, a group of students in Des Moines held a meeting in the home of Christopher Eckhardt to plan a public showing of their support for a truce in the Vietnam War.†1 These students decided to wear black armbands to show their support. These students included: John F. Tinker, Hope Tinker, Mary Beth Tinker, Paul Tinker, and Christopher Eckhardt.Read MoreCase Study: Tinker vs. Des Moines795 Words   |  3 PagesCase Study: Tinker v. Des Moines The Vietnam War was, and still is, a highly controversial subject within American history and politics. Thousands of Americans took to the streets to show their discontent for the nations actions abroad. It was during this time that Tinker v. Des Moines took place, forever changing the way the nation viewed free speech. The case of Tinker v. Des Moines revolved around Americans discontent for the actions the country was taking overseas in Vietnam. In 1965Read MoreProtecting Life, Liberty, and Property in the Bill of Rights848 Words   |  4 Pagesletters that do no threat. The court case that involved amendment one is Tinker vs. Des Moines in 1964. Mary Beth Tinker and her brother wore black armbands to memorialize the Vietnam War. The principle, Des Moines suspened both of them because they refused to take them off. The court case was sent to the Supreme court because Des Moine interfered with Tinker’s right of freedom of speech. The ruling was seven to two in Tinkers favor. The Supreme court stated that students should not shed their constitutionalRead MoreBill of rights Essay955 Words   |  4 Pagesletters that do no threat. The court case that involved amendment one is Tinker vs. Des Moines in 1964. Mary Beth Tinker and her brother wore black armbands to memorialize the Vietnam War . The principle, Des Moines suspened both of them because they refused to take them off. The court case was sent to the Supreme court because Des Moine interfered with Tinker’s right of freedom of speech. The ruling was seven to two in Tinkers favor. The Supreme court stated that students should not shed their constitutionalRead MoreThe United States Constitution Is The Backbone Of Our Country1861 Words   |  8 Pagesschool, they are not unrestricted. The Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District case was a groundbreaking case that helped set the guidelines for First Amendment rights in public schools. It is a case that has provided a backbone for dozens of other cases throughout the years. While the case ultimately upheld the 1st Amendment rights of students, it was a victory for everyone involved in public schools. Case In the case of Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School DistrictRead MoreSupreme Court Cases, Thematic Essay861 Words   |  4 PagesUnited States Constitution are interpreted. Two cases in particular that expanded constitutional liberties is the case of Engel vs. Vitale (1962) and the case of Tinker vs. Des Moines School District (1969). Not only did both of these cases expand constitutional liberties in general, they more specifically, expanded rights within the school system. In the case of Engel vs. Vitale, the main topic dealt with prayer at school. The New York State board of regents composed a non-denominational prayerRead MoreShould Students Who Engage in Cyberbullying, Even Off Campus Face Sanctions at School?991 Words   |  4 Pagesthis issue is that while it may begin off campus it can easily cause problems at school. When it does, principals can act based on the disruption that occurs to the school’s program. But, based on the decision of the US Supreme Court in Tinker vs. Des Moines (1969) you can only act when student speech causes a substantial disruption to school activities. Administrators may not restrict speech just because they disagree with the student or find what they are saying it offensive. If the speech

Music annd Sports college essay free essay sample

I have excelled in both Music and Athletics since I was five years old. Both of these activities have been part of my daily and weekly routines for the last 12 years. I am extremely passionate about both of them and thankful that I have been able continue both throughout high school. One day when I was five years old, my father and I were riding our bikes and we passed the Old Town School of Folk Music. There were signs for youth violin lessons and my father asked me if I wanted to play the violin. I later switched to the viola and continued taking weekly lessons, spent five summers at Interlochen Arts Camp, and become a member of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra. For me, making music is an outlet that allows me to take my mind off of everything else and lets me express myself in a more abstract way. We will write a custom essay sample on Music annd Sports college essay or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Through music camp and other ensembles I have also met some of my greatest friends, and had the chance to perform beautiful works with amazing people. A few weeks ago when I was being honored as Captain of the Whitney Young Varsity Football team at the homecoming pep rally in the gym at my school, it struck me that I was in the same room where my athletic career had begun 12 years ago, with Pee Wee Basketball. I played basketball, baseball, and football throughout grade school and high school. Athletics, especially team sports, have been hugely important to me. Hardly a day or a week, and never a whole season, has gone by without my participating in some team sport. Being a part of all of these teams has given my high school life structure, uniformity, and many great friendships. Working hard to succeed in athletic competition, and competing so often, have given me habits of effort and focusing on success that carry over into everything I do. Music and athletics have their obvious differences, but their similarities are the things I enjoy most about them. They both involve teamwork and camaraderie which allow me to be a leader. I have been a leader in both athletics and music as captain of the football team and co-principal of the CYSO viola section. Both music and athletics require large amounts of preparation, sustained over time. I have learned to appreciate the process involved in reaching my goals, whether it is learning a new piece on the viola or preparing for my next football game. I am comfortable with routines of preparation revolving around music and sports. Furthermore routine preparation carries over into my school work and keeps me on task. Music and athletics shape who I am. They drive my daily and weekly routine and allow me to express myself. I am grateful that I have been blessed with enough talent and perseverance to give my time to both music and athletics, and to continue to excel in both.