Senior writing
Carlos Servin
10/5/16
Creativity has many meanings to it whether it can be from problem solving to art related creativeness there are many ways to describe this word. Although in my view I see the word creative as something different meaning that someone or something can be creative by differing from other objects or people. I myself have many creative skills for example I enjoy drawing, problem solving is one of my specialties, but my number one creative skill is playing my spanish guitar which is different from other because I use it to play mostly Flamenco which is a style of music a lot like classical music but with a more aggressive tone and faster speed. With my skill I have been able to entertain family & friends at family reunions or just hangouts. I also use my skill to pass time when I have nothing to do or when i’m wanting to learn a new song. I also use my skill to problem solve for example, when I get mad or I am feeling down, instead of screaming and raging out or sit down and feel bad I grab my guitar and play real aggressive meaning that I play really loud and get all my anger out by playing loudly or I play at a soft tone and slow speed. I am in a guitar group called the honors group and we play at events parties or get togethers and are paid at the end of the gigs. So we are treated based on our actions so if are behind in some classes we won’t be able to go to events or gigs until our grades are up and if we’re to fight or violate school property & rules we can be kicked out of the group. Knowing that our actions have consequences whether it’s in school or out of school. Guitar is one of my options from 2 others (architect, subcontractor) and I am looking forward to studying music and learning more about its history as well as new styles and techniques because it not only amazes me the way music is inspired but I also enjoy learning more and more history of the guitar.
A talent I have worked hard for I would say is speaking spanish because it took me years of learning it from my parents and teachers. I have gotten awards for my fluent and sophisticated grammar in the past. I would say that I worked hard for this talent because growing up my parents would always correct me when I spoke wrong or used words in the wrong way. They also had me enrolled in bilingual classes growing up since pre school all the way to 8th grade year. Then in highschool I took spanish 1 my freshman year and sophomore year I took spanish two. My talent allows me many opportunities inside and outside the classroom. For example from time to time I will see a spanish speaker struggling to get by because they do not speak or understand english and so I dedicate my skill into helping those with trouble getting by. In classroom sometimes there are new students that come from Mexico and do not know one single word in english and so I help the student understand and I help the teacher as well by translating what she tells the classroom to the new student. I also help my parents when they’re having trouble say something or ask for help at stores, schools, etc. Knowing that I can help people with my skill I do not mind giving out a hand and helping those in need of my assistance and never do I bother to complain because I simply enjoy helping others.
I have taken a huge advantage of guitar throughout my years in high-school. What I have done to take an advantage of this opportunity is joining the honors which has allowed me get better as a performer and a student because we play as a group for people. We get to learn and experience what it’s like to play for crowds under pressure. To join the honors we had to perform two solo pieces in front of the last honors group along with our teacher/conductor and at the end of the tryouts we were all judged based on our performance by points. The tryouts are meant to show who is able to play under pressure and how well we could play alone. This helps us as performers greatly because it helps us control our nerves for when we play for audience. Although we go through this process to help control ourselves I myself still get nervous from time to time so what I do to get better at controlling my nerves I tend to ask the teacher if it is okay for me to play by myself in front of her classes to get used to it. This has been a huge goal for me to overcome and although I have gotten better at controlling myself my instructor suggest that I keep at it and before I know it my nerves might not get too me at all. Another challenge, not only me but the entire group as well, is playing at the same pace meaning playing at the same beat. We have trouble with this and our conductor tells us that what we need to do is nod our heads and give each other okays when we’re about to perform. We need to practice this more often because once at a performance we were all separated towards the point that we could not hear one another and so we practice nodding our heads everytime we have practice now and now we play a lot more cleaner.
One thing that sets me apart from others is that I am highly different from other musicians and I have other interest than guitar. I think that I belong in a UC in a UC many outstanding students go there meaning that no one there is the same. Every student is different from another in their own way. When a stranger just meets me one thing I believe they should know about me is that I like to joke around but although I tend to joke around I am shy at first but as they get to know me I open up and am a whole different person. I am also unique because many people underestimate my knowledge do to my attitude and the way I act and I am full of surprises. You highly need to know that I am very social and like to communicate with others. What makes me, me is my creative respectful outgoing character.