Prompt: The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
NOTE: THIS ESSAY BELONGS TO A STUDENT AND IS PROTECTED UNDER U.S. COPYRIGHT. IT IS PROVIDED AS AN EXAMPLE TO HELP OTHER STUDENTS FIND THEIR OWN TOPICS AND WRITE THEIR OWN ESSAYS, NOT TO COPY.
Alright. Let’s try this again. First finger barred over the first fret. Perfect. Second finger on the second fret; third and fourth fingers on the third fret. Yes! This is it, I finally have it! I go to strum (I’ve got it, this is going to be so great!), and my ridiculously tiny fingers slip again. Why is this so difficult?
I picked up a ukulele in seventh grade and absolutely fell in love with it. Since then, I’ve spent countless hours sitting on my bed figuring out the chords to my favorite songs. Two years after discovering the uke, I decided to try out the guitar. How hard could it possibly be?
As it turns out, very. I discovered that two extra strings make a big difference. I’ve slowly become more and more skilled, but no matter how hard I try, I can never seem to hit my musical nemesis: the F-chord. My best friend is from Peru, and I can sit at her family’s dinner table and follow the conversation in a language I had to learn well past toddlerhood. I can remember others’ birthdays like they’re my own. Give me any knot and there’s a pretty good chance I can untangle it for you. I can name all 50 states in alphabetical order in under 20 seconds. I can sing any Taylor Swift song on key, by heart. But the F-chord? Tiny hands--it’s nearly impossible.
I have spent hours trying to make this chord happen. Several times, I’ve sat down with other guitar-playing friends and asked for help. I’ve watched almost every YouTube video there is explaining it--none of them seem to help. It’s the worst when I almost get it, just one finger left to place. As my finger gets closer and closer to the string, another finger slips. Again. For what seems like the 204th time that day. Wonderful.
Why is this F-chord so important? Music is a big passion of mine. It’s a way to convey a message that might not be apparent through words alone. You can have the happiest lyrics on the planet, but add a melody in a minor key and it’s immediately a song that might mean well but puts its listeners in a sad state. Music has power that is very hard to match through other forms of communication. And not being able to hit that one chord is like missing a piece of a puzzle or not having a certain color for a painting--it’s almost complete but not quite there.
Music has always come naturally to me. For example, when I got my ukulele, I was playing full songs within 2 hours (playing them poorly, but playing them nevertheless). Having played the guitar for over 3 years, you’d think I’d have the chord by now. I don’t, but that doesn’t mean I never will. I’ve learned that although we always want our passions to come naturally, perseverance is key. And I don’t see myself giving up on it anytime soon, if ever.
So, let’s try this again. Today’s the day, I know it. First finger barred over the first fret...
THIS ESSAY BELONGS TO A STUDENT AND IS PROTECTED UNDER U.S. COPYRIGHT. IT IS PROVIDED AS AN EXAMPLE TO HELP OTHER STUDENTS FIND THEIR OWN TOPICS AND WRITE THEIR OWN ESSAYS, NOT TO COPY. PLAGIARISM WILL BE PROSECUTED TO THE FULLEST EXTENT POSSIBLE.
NOTE: THIS ESSAY BELONGS TO A STUDENT AND IS PROTECTED UNDER U.S. COPYRIGHT. IT IS PROVIDED AS AN EXAMPLE TO HELP OTHER STUDENTS FIND THEIR OWN TOPICS AND WRITE THEIR OWN ESSAYS, NOT TO COPY.
Alright. Let’s try this again. First finger barred over the first fret. Perfect. Second finger on the second fret; third and fourth fingers on the third fret. Yes! This is it, I finally have it! I go to strum (I’ve got it, this is going to be so great!), and my ridiculously tiny fingers slip again. Why is this so difficult?
I picked up a ukulele in seventh grade and absolutely fell in love with it. Since then, I’ve spent countless hours sitting on my bed figuring out the chords to my favorite songs. Two years after discovering the uke, I decided to try out the guitar. How hard could it possibly be?
As it turns out, very. I discovered that two extra strings make a big difference. I’ve slowly become more and more skilled, but no matter how hard I try, I can never seem to hit my musical nemesis: the F-chord. My best friend is from Peru, and I can sit at her family’s dinner table and follow the conversation in a language I had to learn well past toddlerhood. I can remember others’ birthdays like they’re my own. Give me any knot and there’s a pretty good chance I can untangle it for you. I can name all 50 states in alphabetical order in under 20 seconds. I can sing any Taylor Swift song on key, by heart. But the F-chord? Tiny hands--it’s nearly impossible.
I have spent hours trying to make this chord happen. Several times, I’ve sat down with other guitar-playing friends and asked for help. I’ve watched almost every YouTube video there is explaining it--none of them seem to help. It’s the worst when I almost get it, just one finger left to place. As my finger gets closer and closer to the string, another finger slips. Again. For what seems like the 204th time that day. Wonderful.
Why is this F-chord so important? Music is a big passion of mine. It’s a way to convey a message that might not be apparent through words alone. You can have the happiest lyrics on the planet, but add a melody in a minor key and it’s immediately a song that might mean well but puts its listeners in a sad state. Music has power that is very hard to match through other forms of communication. And not being able to hit that one chord is like missing a piece of a puzzle or not having a certain color for a painting--it’s almost complete but not quite there.
Music has always come naturally to me. For example, when I got my ukulele, I was playing full songs within 2 hours (playing them poorly, but playing them nevertheless). Having played the guitar for over 3 years, you’d think I’d have the chord by now. I don’t, but that doesn’t mean I never will. I’ve learned that although we always want our passions to come naturally, perseverance is key. And I don’t see myself giving up on it anytime soon, if ever.
So, let’s try this again. Today’s the day, I know it. First finger barred over the first fret...
THIS ESSAY BELONGS TO A STUDENT AND IS PROTECTED UNDER U.S. COPYRIGHT. IT IS PROVIDED AS AN EXAMPLE TO HELP OTHER STUDENTS FIND THEIR OWN TOPICS AND WRITE THEIR OWN ESSAYS, NOT TO COPY. PLAGIARISM WILL BE PROSECUTED TO THE FULLEST EXTENT POSSIBLE.